David R. Sands
Articles by David R. Sands
Mexico, Canada trade deal gives Trump China leverage
President Trump's ability to wangle a new deal from NAFTA partners Mexico and Canada will give the White House leverage to take a harder line in the escalating trade war with China, administration backers said Monday. Published October 1, 2018
Justin Trudeau calls updated NAFTA deal win for Canada
Just an hour after President Trump hailed the proposed revision of the North American Free Trade Agreement as a win for U.S. workers and a vindication of his hard-edged approach to trade, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau predicted the new deal would be "profoundly beneficial" for Canadian families and the middle class. Published October 1, 2018
Anglo-American school dating to Cold War shutting after four decades in Russia
An Anglo-American school that has operated in St. Petersburg since the depths of the Cold War is closing its doors, the latest apparent victim of the deep chill in more recent relations between Russia and the West. Published September 28, 2018
U.S. chess team starts strong in defense of Olympiad gold in Georgia
The defending champion U.S. chess squad got off to a nice start Monday as play began for the 43rd Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia, efficiently dispatching an outranked Panama as they pursue a second consecutive gold medal. Published September 26, 2018
Iran’s Parham Maghsoodloo scores breakthrough win at junior world chess championship
It may have a few problems on some other fronts, but Iran's chess future looks bright these days. Already the strongest chess-playing nation in the Middle East, Iran now has a bona fide world champion -- junior division. Published September 18, 2018
Allies plan U.N. meeting to work around Trump Palestinian aid cut-off
A group of European and Middle Eastern allies of the United States announced plans to meet on the sidelines of next week's U.N. General Assembly gathering in New York to discuss how to make up the shortfalls after the Trump administration cut off all funding for aid to Palestinian refugees. Published September 18, 2018
Russian lawmakers to weigh new regulations on dueling
Would-be Russian duelists had better be en garde -- the government is watching. Published September 14, 2018
Central control: U.S. Chess Center celebrates new digs in suburban Maryland
With more than 100 area elementary and secondary students on hand and a virtual visit from the former world champion Garry Kasparov, the U.S. Chess Center got off to a rousing start at its new home in downtown Silver Spring Saturday, a location organizers hope will boost the Center's visibility and accessibility for chess players around the Washington region. Published September 11, 2018
Hard labor — a chess champ’s work ethic pays off
It's supposed to be a game, but on this Labor Day week, let's celebrate the hardest-working man in chess -- who just happens to be the world champion. Published September 4, 2018
Ample chess skill, low drama sometimes when the best play the best
The plague of draws that infected the 6th Sinquefield Cup that wraps up this week illustrates that paradox that pairing off the world's greatest players doesn't always produce the world's most scintillating chess. The St. Louis field, with an average rating of 2788, boasted world champion Magnus Carlsen, top-rated American challenger GM Fabiano Caruana and eight more of the planet's very best players. Published August 28, 2018
Trump cancels Pompeo’s North Korea visit: ‘We are not making sufficient progress’
President Trump announced Friday that he instructed Secretary of State Mike Pomepo not to go to North Korea, citing a lack of progress towards denuclearization. Published August 24, 2018
Russia gun legend Kalashnikov takes aim at Tesla with electric car
The most famous name in Russian armaments is taking direct aim at Elon Musk and his Tesla electric car. Published August 24, 2018
A chess queen sacrifice with a double degree of difficulty
Sacrificing the queen is the showiest tactic there is -- except, of course, for when you can sacrifice two queens in the same game. Published August 21, 2018
Timur Gareyev turns back hometown chess hero Awonder Liang to win U.S. Open
It was all set up for the local hero to shine until GM Timur Gareyev spoiled the party. The Uzbek-born California GM on Sunday captured the 119th U.S. Open in Madison, Wisconsin, with a tough last-round victory over Madison-born GM Awonder Liang. Published August 8, 2018
More demolition work at key North Korean missile site: Report
North Korea has reportedly taken more steps to dismantle a key launch facility that is being cited as evidence Pyongyang is moving to fulfill commitments made to President Trump at the June 12 summit in Singapore. Published August 7, 2018
Hassan Rouhani, Iranian president, refuses U.S. talks, calls Trump sanctions move political
Iran's president in a nationally televised address Monday slammed President Trump's decision to restore U.S. economic sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal and accused Mr. Trump of playing politics at home while trying to sow "chaos" in Iran. Published August 6, 2018
Turkish party: Seize Trump’s hotel to protest sanctions
A leading Turkish opposition party wants to make it personal in the increasingly nasty clash between Ankara and Washington, saying Turkey should retaliate for economic sanctions imposed by the Trump administration by seizing the Trump Towers complex that are one of the most prominent features of the Istanbul skyline. Published August 2, 2018
Poll finds warmer feelings for America in Russia after Putin-Trump summit
It inspired another national round of hand-wringing over malign Russia influence and intentions in the U.S., but the recent Helsinki summit between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has actually boosted America's image in Mr. Putin's Russia. Published August 2, 2018
Memorial chess tournaments are used to honor some of the game’s greats
It's one of the more civilized traditions of the game -- the memorial chess tournament that allows us to recall some of the greats we have lost and gives us an excuse to replay some of their greatest hits. Annual events are held to honor such past stars as Tal, Keres, Menchik and Capablanca. Published July 31, 2018
U.S. juniors, seniors shine in chess battles
The generation-spanning appeal of chess was on full display this month, as rising U.S. stars took their noses out of their iPhones long enough to battle for the national junior championships in St. Louis, while a U.S. men's over-50 squad stopped yelling at people to get off their lawns long enough to snag the gold medal at the sixth World Senior Team Championships in Dresden, Germany. Published July 24, 2018
