David R. Sands

DAVID R. SANDS: With Krush crush, Paikidze wins chess crown the hard way

America's new queen of chess is a proud daughter of Maryland. Baltimore WGM Nazi Paikidze, an alumna of the University of Maryland-Baltimore County and its powerhouse chess team, captured her first women's national crown just over a year after switching her allegiance from her Georgia homeland to the U.S.

May 3, 2016

Hillary Clinton’s foreign policy views spark anger, unease abroad

Despite -- and in some cases because of -- her four-year record as secretary of state, Democrat Hillary Clinton is coming in for a share of criticism from allies and adversaries alike, even if the level of vitriol doesn't match some of the comments targeting her potential Republican rival for president.

April 28, 2016

DAVID R. SANDS: New faces at the top: Caruana, Paikidze U.S. chess champs

There were some new names at the top and new faces making noise at the just-concluded U.S. Championship and U.S. Women's Championship, which both wrapped up Monday at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis.

April 26, 2016

DAVID R. SANDS: In heavyweight chess battle, Fabiano Caruana scores early knockout

The luck of the draw proved a bit unlucky for U.S. chess fans this year, as the most anticipated pairing of the U.S. Championship -- top-rated GM Fabiano Caruana vs. defending champ GM Hikaru Nakamura -- came in Sunday's Round 4, with more than half of the event still to go.

April 20, 2016

Vladimir Lenin: Positives top 50 percent for first time in Russian poll

Just in time for his 146th birthday this weekend, a majority of Russians in a new poll now say that Soviet dictator Vladimir Lenin played a largely positive role in the country's history.

April 20, 2016

Russian fighter jets, reconnaissance helicopter buzzed U.S. Navy destroyer

Two Russian military jets engaged in an "aggressive" overflight maneuver of a U.S. Navy vessel sailing in international waters off the Russian coast.

April 13, 2016

DAVID R. SANDS: Define juggernaut: Webster rolls to 4th straight chess title

They've won four national championships in a row, their bench could probably beat most rival schools, they have a controversial coach, and there are some real questions about whether they are good for the sport.

April 12, 2016

IMF sees slower growth, rising risks to global economy

The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday cut its global growth projections for 2016 and 2017, warning that the world economy faces rising risks despite a plunge in oil prices that has boosted both developed and developing nations.

April 12, 2016

David Cameron dubbed ‘Dodgy Dave’ by Labour Party amid Panama Papers scandal

British Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday became the latest world leader struggling to put his links to the Panama Papers scandal behind him, but not before a member of the opposition Labor Party earned a one-day timeout from parliament by memorably labeling the prime minister as "Dodgy Dave."

April 11, 2016

Property-hating Russian Communists seek to copyright red star symbol

They're supposed to be opposed to private property as a matter of principle, but Russia's Communists are getting tired of capitalists ripping off their signature red star without proper payment.

April 7, 2016

Elbe River Memorial celebrates U.S.-Russia cooperation amid rising tensions

At a low point in post-Cold War U.S.-Russian relations, a monument is going up this month in the heart of Moscow to celebrate one of the high points of cooperation between the U.S. and the bad old Soviet Union.

April 5, 2016

DAVID R. SANDS: A running chess rivalry between rising powers

In the 16th century it was Spain vs. Italy. By the mid-19th century it was France vs. England. In the middle of the 20th it was the Soviets vs. the rest of the world.

April 5, 2016

Putin poised to rake in the rubles with arms deals after testing new weapons in Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin's military campaign in support of Syrian ally Bashar Assad has not only earned Moscow new clout and prestige in the region.

March 29, 2016

DAVID R. SANDS: Sergey Karjakin blitzes Fabiano Caruana to earn shot against Magnus Carlsen

President-elect Donald Trump may find that one of his first post-victory chores will be delivering the world chess championship -- back to the Russians.

March 29, 2016

Russian Karjakin wins right to challenge for world chess championship

Defeating American Fabiano Caruana with the help of a brilliant rook sacrifice, Russian Grandmaster Sergey Karjakin has won the FIDE chess candidates tournament in Moscow and will face reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen in a title match this November in New York City.

March 28, 2016

DAVID R. SANDS: In a month made for madness, chess as a force for sanity

March is the month of madness -- a good thing if you're a college basketball fan but a more sensitive topic if your game is chess.

March 22, 2016

DAVID R. SANDS: Hou’s on first (again) — Chinese star reclaims women’s world chess title

Leaving little doubt that she is the dominant female player of our time, Chinese GM Hou Yifan easily reclaimed her women's world crown with a Game 9 victory over Ukrainian GM Mariya Muzychuk in Lvov, Ukraine on Monday.

March 15, 2016

Putin orders surprise start of Russian military withdrawal from Syria

Claiming that his military escalation has achieved its goals, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday he had begun the withdrawal of Russian forces from the country even as the Syrian civil war continues to rage.

March 14, 2016

DAVID R. SANDS: A chess challenger and a champion to be picked in busy March

March will be a productive month on the world chess calendar, with a champion and a challenger to be crowned in the next few weeks.

March 8, 2016

Russian firm vows to fight to keep U.S. rocket monopoly

Even as the U.S. military pushes to end the country's reliance of Russian-built rocket engines to get its satellites into space, the Moscow-based manufacturer says it is still hopeful to hold onto its American clients.

March 3, 2016