David R. Sands
Articles by David R. Sands
From U.S. title fight, showing the utility of mobility in chess
From Hannibal on down, the great military strategists have appreciated the utility of mobility. It's no less true of chess, a game of war par excellence where the two commanders start out with a perfect equilibrium of forces. Published April 24, 2018
Vladimir Putin signs law banning internet ‘libel’ of public figures
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a hastily passed new law that would give the government the power to shut down websites accused of libeling or publishing defamatory information on public figures. Published April 24, 2018
Rand Paul to support Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State
Senate panel voted to recommend Mike Pompeo as secretary of state, sending nomination to full Senate. Published April 23, 2018
Russian firm markets ‘Novichok’ cooking oil named after nerve gas used on spy
A Russian business is bringing out a new line of "Novichok" cooking oil, in a cheeky reference to the Soviet-era nerve gas blamed for poisoning an ex-Russian spy living in England last month. Published April 20, 2018
Trump said ready to kill Iran nuclear deal
President Trump is poised to pull the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear deal next month, with only a last-minute flurry of appeals from European leaders offering a chance of a change of course, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker said Wednesday. Published April 18, 2018
Bob Corker won’t campaign against Democrat in Tennessee Senate race
Retiring GOP Sen. Bob Corker had some unusually warm words for the Democrat running for his job in November, saying Wednesday he would not campaign against former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen this fall. Published April 18, 2018
Korean summit may include press conference with Kim Jong-un
He is used to unquestioned authority and only travels outside his country in a hermetically sealed railroad car, but North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may soon face a gauntlet he hasn't run before: a press conference. Published April 17, 2018
John Burke newest American GM
A friend of mine makes it a point to go to as many high school drama productions as he can, in order to brag one day that he once saw Meryl Streep play Emily in "Our Town" or Lin-Manuel Miranda as Curly in "Oklahoma." Catch 'em while they're young and on the rise is his motto. Published April 17, 2018
Turkey’s Erdogan welcomes U.S., allied strike on Syria chemical weapons sites
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has clashed with the Trump administration over its handling of the Syrian civil war, on Saturday praised the allied mission ordered by President Trump to take out key chemical weapons sites in neighboring Syria. Published April 14, 2018
Pungent pushback: South Korea worries China is stealing its kimchi crown
South Korean officials are mobilizing to restore the country's standing as the world leader in kimchi, worried that cheaper knockoffs from China and changing dietary habits are undermining the country's longtime supremacy in the field of fermented cabbage. Published April 12, 2018
Donald Trump no longer an honorary Cossack
Some Russians aren't sitting back as they await President Trump's promised strike via Twitter on their Syrian ally over a suspected chemical weapons attack. Published April 11, 2018
In taxing times, a salute to the greatest accountant in chess history
With April 15 looming, let's consider a few ways the Royal Game has crossed paths with the tax man. Published April 10, 2018
MIke Pompeo confirmation hearing for secretary of state set for Thursday
Mike Pompeo, the outgoing CIA director President Trump has nominated to be his next secretary of state, will go before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Thursday for his confirmation hearing, committee Chairman Bob Corker, Tennessee Republican, announced Tuesday morning. Published April 10, 2018
Chemical weapons watchdog plans visit to suspected Syria attack site
Even as President Trump weighs a potential military response, the Dutch-based international chemical weapons watchdog agency said Tuesday it plans a visit to the Syrian city of Douma to investigate reports that the Syrian government launched a deadly chemical attack that killed dozens over the weekend. Published April 10, 2018
Greece welcomes China’s investment in port
Panagiotis Kouroumblis, Greece's minister of maritime affairs, has a simple message for those who worry that China's massive investment in the Greek economy and in the port of Piraeus may give Beijing too much influence in Athens: Get in the game or get left behind. Published April 3, 2018
A lot to like, a lot to market in Magnus Carlsen-Fabiano Caruana chess world title match
Both on and off the board, the London organizers of November's world championship title match have to be happy with the outcome of last week's FIDE Candidates Tournament, with American GM Fabiano Caruana breaking through to win the right to take on reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway. Published April 3, 2018
Joaquin Castro gives ‘live’ interviews on CNN, MSNBC at same time
Rep. Joaquin Castro on Monday achieved a degree of media saturation that even President Trump can only dream of, appearing "live" in separate, simultaneous interviews with cable networks MSNBC and CNN. Published April 2, 2018
Russia to expel 60 U.S. diplomats, close St. Petersburg consulate in escalating feud
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced Thursday that 60 U.S. diplomats will be expelled and the U.S. consulate in St. Petersburg closed down in a tit-for-tat response to U.S. sanctions in the wake of a nerve-gas attack on an ex-Russian double agent living in England. Published March 29, 2018
Fabiano Caruana qualifies for world chess title match against Magnus Carlsen
Chess grandmaster Fabiano Caruana will be the first American in decades to play for the world championship title after the winning the candidates tournament outright in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday. Published March 27, 2018
U.S. star Fabiano Caruana earns world chess title match with Carlsen
GM Fabiano Caruana will be the first American in decades to play for the world championship title after the winning the candidates tournament outright in Berlin Tuesday. Published March 27, 2018
