David R. Sands

Russia bans baby detergent from Ukraine

The standoff between Russia and neighboring Ukraine reached new heights -- or depths -- Tuesday as health officials in Moscow announced a ban on baby laundry detergent made by Ukraine's leading producer, citing what they said were violations of sanitary and epidemiological regulations. Published June 9, 2015

DAVID R. SANDS: Xiong, Wei fuel youth movement in chess events an ocean apart

There was some strange karma going on in two chess tournaments a world apart last week. Published June 6, 2015

U.S. allies not waiting for Iran’s sanctions to come down

Italian oil executives visit Tehran, scouting out deals. French farmers and fisheries discuss technological exchanges with their Iranian counterparts. Pakistan prepares to lay down a major oil pipeline through Iran, while rival India opens talks with Iranian officials about developing a major port in the Gulf of Oman to ship Indian goods to Afghanistan. Published May 27, 2015

DAVID R. SANDS: For military men, a mixed record on the chessboard

It's the world's greatest war game, but that doesn't mean that generals and admirals are natural stars at chess. Published May 26, 2015

A Doolittle Raider offers some long-distance healing

One last bit of healing from a long-distant war played out this month at Taiwan's diplomatic outpost in Washington in the run-up to this year's Memorial Day celebrations. Published May 22, 2015

Russia closes NATO supply corridor to Afghanistan

The Russian government has closed down a key military transport corridor that allowed the U.S. and its NATO allies to supply forces serving in neighboring Afghanistan. Published May 19, 2015

DAVID R. SANDS: Coming home, Fabiano Caruana adds pop to U.S. chess lineup

It's become a paradox of modern sports: Choosing up sides has become as big a draw as the games themselves. Published May 19, 2015

Iranian ayatollah: U.S. ‘hallucinating’ about access to military nuke sites

Iranian top officials are vowing that the country's military bases will not be opened to international inspectors under any deal to curb Tehran's nuclear programs, throwing a major potential roadblock in President Obama's hopes of concluding a breakthrough deal by next month's deadline. Published May 15, 2015

Fabiano Caruana, top chess grandmaster, applies to play for U.S.

Fabiano Caruana, the U.S.-born Italian chess grandmaster now ranked third in the world, is coming home. Published May 12, 2015

DAVID R. SANDS: Yochanan Afek scores unprecedented fourth chess title

In the hallways of Chess High, the over-the-board stars and the problemists tend to run in sharply separated cliques. Published May 12, 2015

Diplomatic diss to Obama: Russia, China step up ties with new investment bank

In just the latest sign of warming bilateral ties, Russian and Chinese officials announced plans Friday to form a jointly-run investment bank designed in part to funnel Chinese investor money into Russian companies. Published May 8, 2015

Periscope chief: Live-streaming app not about piracy

The co-founder of Periscope Inc. said the new live videostreaming app is "unequivocally" opposed to pirating after the company faced complaints that users were effectively stealing and instantly re-broadcasting video of the recent Mayweather-Pacquiao boxing match on pay-per-view. Published May 6, 2015

DAVID R. SANDS: China rules, young Americans shine in world team chess battle

China extended its impressive, run but there was a bright silver lining for the young American squad at the just-finished FIDE World Team Championships in Armenia. Published May 5, 2015

New Russia-China alliance latest diplomatic, strategic blow to Obama

From the moon to the Mediterranean to the heart of Moscow, China and Russia in recent days have announced a striking number of moves to strengthen military, financial and political ties, raising the specter of a deeper alliance between the U.S. rivals. Published April 30, 2015

Obama denies trying to subvert China’s new bank

The U.S. is not trying to undercut a new China-sponsored infrastructure bank for Asia or pressure allies not to take part, but remains wary that the proposed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank may not have the right lending standards and transparency to be effective, President Obama said Tuesday. Published April 28, 2015

DAVID R. SANDS: Honoring a fallen star with a star-studded chess tournament

Chess has devised a wealth of ways to preserve the memory of the game's greatest and most notable figures. Published April 28, 2015

Larry Hogan: Maryland National Guard ‘on alert’ over Baltimore rioting

Maryland Republican Gov. Larry Hogan has declared a state of emergency and has put the state's National Guard "on alert" after a day of rioting, looting and violence targeting police in Baltimore. Published April 27, 2015

Comcast calling off mega-merger with Time Warner: report

One of the biggest media mergers of all time appears to be dead as cable giant Comcast Corp. has reportedly pulled the plug on a $45 billion takeover of rival Time Warner Cable Inc. in the face of rising resistance from the Obama administration to approve the deal. Published April 23, 2015

McDonald’s, Coca-Cola scrambling to connect with health-conscious millennials

There may be no more American a meal than a Big Mac washed down by a Coke, but the companies behind the menu are facing some big question marks as they try to stay relevant in an increasingly Chipotle-and-bottled-water world. Published April 22, 2015