David R. Sands
Articles by David R. Sands
Blinken names experienced diplomat Jeffrey Feltman as envoy for troubled Horn of Africa
Jeffrey Feltman, a career diplomat who served for a time as assistant secretary of state and as the U.N.'s undersecretary-general for political affairs, has been named the State Department's special envoy for the Horn of Africa, where a civil war in Ethiopia has created a destabilizing humanitarian crisis in one of the continent's most strategic areas, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken announced Friday. Published April 23, 2021
Candidates pick up the pieces in disrupted hunt for chess title match
It was the longest halftime break in the history of tournament chess and perhaps all of sports, but Round 8 of the FIDE Candidates Tournament to pick a challenger to world champion Magnus Carlsen finally was played Monday, some 389 days after Round 7 was completed. Published April 20, 2021
U.S. to monitor Afghanistan after troop withdrawal
President Biden has put a date certain on the U.S. military's withdrawal from its 20-year mission in Afghanistan, but that might be the only thing certain about Afghanistan's short- and long-term future. Published April 18, 2021
Saudis, Iranians deny report of first direct talks in years
Saudi and Iranian officials held secret talks in Iraq earlier this month to try to tamp down a raging regional struggle for influence, the Financial Times reported Sunday. Published April 18, 2021
U.S.: Russia could face ‘consequences’ over treatment of jailed dissident Navalny
The Biden administration said Sunday it is weighing possible punishments on Russia amid reports of the deteriorating condition of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who is in the third week of a hunger strike to protest his treatment by the government of President Vladimir Putin. Published April 18, 2021
U.S. will keep tabs on terror threat even after Afghan withdrawal, Sullivan says
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says President Biden remains on high alert to the threat of global terrorism as U.S. troops prepare to exit Afghanistan by Sept. 11. Published April 18, 2021
Kremlin says U.S. has an ‘obsession’ with sanctions
The Kremlin's top spokesman Friday slammed what he called the U.S. government's "obsession" with imposing sanctions on countries it does not like, but said any retaliation for President Biden's recent moves to punish Russian hacking operations was still being considered by President Vladimir Putin. Published April 16, 2021
Tragedy and redemption at the chessboard
Chess is the ultimate game of second chances, providing fresh opportunities for redemption every time you set up the pieces for a new game. But it's not often you go from bug to windshield as dramatically and quickly as Polish GM Mateusz Bartel did in the space of a couple of days. Published April 13, 2021
Biden, world leaders not on invite list for this year’s Russia Victory Day blowout
Russian President Vladimir Putin has found a direct way to avoid the embarrassment of diplomatic no-shows at the annual May Victory Parade May 9 celebrating the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany: don't send out invitations in the first place. Published April 7, 2021
German club comes up aces in European chess clash
Turns out there's no "I" in "mannschaft," either. That's the German word for "team," and it was a classic bit of teamwork that helped German chess club SF Deizisau to a surprise win in the recent European Club Cup championship, held as a rapid online event this year because of COVID-19 concerns. Published April 6, 2021
No fooling — chessboard oddities in the spirit of April 1
With everything out there on the board for everyone to see, chess doesn't really lend itself to quality April Fool's tomfoolery. Published March 30, 2021
Stuck Suez container ship freed and on the move
The massive container ship that ran aground in the narrow Suez Canal and sparked a massive backup in global shipping has been freed and is on the move, Egyptian officials said Monday morning. Published March 29, 2021
NATO meeting doesn’t ease U.S.-German divide over Russian gas pipeline
At a summit filled with happy talk on the improving state of U.S.-European relations under President Biden, the nearly completed Nord Stream 2 pipeline supplying Russian natural gas directly to Germany remains a transatlantic sticking point. Published March 24, 2021
Eight more years — lawmakers approve bill allowing Putin two more terms as president
Russian voters may have President Vladimir Putin to kick around for eight more years after lawmakers Wednesday made progress on a bill that would allow Mr. Putin to run for two more presidential terms. Published March 24, 2021
Celebrating chess great Vasily Smyslov at 100
The competition isn't particularly stiff, but Vasily Smyslov may have been the most normal person ever to capture the world championship crown in chess. Published March 23, 2021
Recalled Russian envoy arrives in Moscow for consultations
Russia's ambassador to Washington arrived Sunday in Moscow after the Kremlin expressed fury at President Biden's characterization of Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "killer." Published March 21, 2021
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin makes surprise trip to Afghanistan
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made a surprise trip to Afghanistan Sunday, as the Biden administration faces a looming decision on whether to withdraw the last U.S. troops from what is already America's longest war. Published March 21, 2021
Chinese put positive spin on Alaska summit with U.S.
It featured a rancorous, barb-filled first act, but the two-day summit of top U.S. and Chinese officials played to surprisingly positive reviews in China's state-controlled press Saturday. Published March 20, 2021
At the chessboard, it’s Erin go blah
There are so many things the Irish are good at: lyric poetry, dark beer, dancing with their arms epoxied to their sides. Chess, unfortunately, has never been one of them. Published March 16, 2021
G-7 ministers say China pushing to kill democracy in Hong Kong
The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven industrial democracies Friday sharply criticized China's recent moves sharply restricting democratic rule in Hong Kong, saying a new law approved this week by the rubber-stamp National People's Congress betrays promises Beijing made to preserve the former British colony's political freedoms. Published March 12, 2021
