News

Turkey in the Black Sea Region: Risks for Russia?

Published

5 years ago

February 17, 2022

On February 3, 2022, President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan made an official visit to Ukraine, during which he managed to put his signature to a Turkey–Ukraine free trade agreement following more than ten years of negotiations on the provisions of the document. But this was not the only achievement of the President’s visit: Ankara and Kiev also signed a framework document on the construction of a facility that will produce Turkish unmanned aerial vehicles in Ukraine.

The dynamically developing relations between Ankara and Kiev bring into focus such issues as Turkey’s vigorous penetration into the post-Soviet space, its willingness to act as a military and political patron of a number of former Soviet countries and aid them in strengthening their relations with NATO despite their non-NATO member status. Do these developments make conflict in the Black Sea more likely? What risks would this create for Russia and its interests?

The Caucasus and Ukraine: Two Links in the Same Chain

After the Second Karabakh War, the Armenian–Azerbaijani conflict was no longer a predominantly regional ethnopolitical confrontation rooted in the consequences of the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The strategic link between Ankara and Baku formed in the early 1990s has gone from strength to strength. Opportunities for Turkey and Azerbaijan to collectively exert pressure on Armenia (military, political and diplomatic) and Georgia (in terms of economic cooperation) have expanded. Russia’s hegemony in the South Caucasus has been challenged. At the same time, the Turkish strategy of strengthening its positions in Eurasia has created additional tensions in Ankara’s relations with its NATO allies and with Iran.

However, the events of 2020 did not lead to changes in just one region of the post-Soviet space. Turkey’s growing presence in the South Caucasus has opened up opportunities for it to build up political and economic influence in the Black Sea. And the expansion of multifaceted cooperation with Ukraine is one of the most obvious consequences of Turkey’s encroachment into the former Soviet Union.

Today, President Erdogan consistently promotes the idea of Turkey being a mediator between Russia and Ukraine. Yet, he is just as consistent in promoting ideas and practices that are unacceptable to Moscow. Erdogan has made no secret of the fact that he does not recognize Russian jurisdiction over Crimea, while the Russian authorities have declared that the issue of the status of the peninsula is “closed.”

Military-technical cooperation between Ankara and Kiev has long ceased to be merely a part of the foreign policy activity of the two states. On September 29, 2021, the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and the Bayraktar Savunma signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on the construction of a joint training and testing centre for the maintenance, repair and modernization of UAVs and training of personnel. In late October 2021, Ukraine used a Bayraktar strike drone for the first time in the armed conflict in the southeast of the country, in violation of the peace agreement between the parties. Following the strike, a group of reconnaissance officers from the Armed Forces of Ukraine infiltrated and captured the village of Staromaryevka located in the so-called “grey zone” between the DPR (the unrecognized Donetsk People’s Republic) and Ukraine. Such operations are very much to the liking of Ukraine’s partner countries in Eastern Europe. In the autumn of 2021, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Latvia Artis Pabriks suggested that EU and NATO countries follow Ankara’s example and learn from its experience in developing relations with Kiev without taking the position of Moscow into consideration.

In this context, it is worth noting a certain incongruence between the approaches of the United States and Turkey’s other NATO allies to its actions in the Caucasus and Ukraine. France could not (and cannot) tolerate Ankara’s unequivocal support for Baku, while the United States has adopted a position of cautious restraint. Washington and Paris are co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, and they are concerned about Turkey’s “revisionism” in the Caucasus. This explains why both the French and the American sides are prepared to put up with Russia being the only major player in Nagorno-Karabakh as an inevitability or a lesser evil.

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There is an Armenian lobby in the United States and France. Without exaggerating the role that it plays in the politics of both countries, we can say that the issues of Karabakh independence and the Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire are present in the American and French narratives. Yet there is no scenario in which one could possibly imagine a discussion of the self-determination of the Donbass republics taking place in Congress or the National Assembly of France. It is unlikely that influential groups (not individual members of parliaments) calling for the recognition of Crimea as part of Russia will appear in either country any time soon.

Thus, the collective West sees Turkey’s advances in Ukraine as being far less nuanced than the strengthening of the strategic alliance between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Some countries of the “New Europe” even believe that Ankara is acting as any NATO member can (and should) act in its relations with Ukraine—without any kind of political correctness or reservations, something that representatives of Germany, France, Italy, Hungary and other EU countries resort to from time to time. All this cannot but embolden Turkey to take new steps to build allied relations with Kiev. In turn, Ukraine, tired of sitting on its hands waiting for NATO to make up its mind about the country’s membership in the organization, is ready to welcome Turkey with open arms.

But does Turkey’s growing activity in the Black Sea necessarily mean that its relations with Russia will suffer greatly? Well, the answer to this question is not as clear-cut as it may seem at first. To understand why this is the case, it is vital to examine the foundations on which the bilateral partnership between Ukraine and Turkey was built.

Ukraine and Turkey: It is more than just about Crimea

For Ukraine, President Erdogan and the Turkish establishment are a sympathetic audience, especially when it comes to the loss of Kiev’s sovereignty over Crimea. Turkish officials miss no opportunity to stress that they do not recognize Russian authority over the peninsula.

But the Crimean Tatar community is an important domestic factor for Turkey. According to various estimates, approximately 4–5 million descendants of Crimean Tatars live in the country. Russian expert in Turkic languages and civilization Pavel Shlykov has noted that, “there are forces in Turkey that are ready to exploit the romantic moods of a part of the Turkish elite who dream of expanding more actively into the Caucasus, Crimea, the Volga Region and Central Asia, and who view Russia not as a partner, but as a geopolitical rival.” In this regard, it is no coincidence that Erdogan, justifying his initiative to act as a mediator between Moscow and Kiev, has pointed out just how important it is for the Black Sea region as a whole to see a positive resolution to the Crimean Tatar issue. During his visit to Ukraine in February, Erdogan met with a delegation from the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People (an organization banned in the Russian Federation).

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But Turkey does not focus on Crimea only. The Turkish elite, realizing the complexity of relations between Moscow and Kiev, uses Ukrainian channels to express its dissatisfaction with Russian stance on other foreign policy issues. This was the case during Erdogan’s visit to Kiev on February 3, 2020, which was timed to coincide with the 28^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Turkey and post-Soviet Ukraine. It also took place against the backdrop of a sharp military escalation in Syria. The Turkish President lambasted the Russian leadership for deliberately turning a blind eye to the actions of the “Syrian regime.”

We should keep in mind that contacts with Bartholomew I of Constantinople are extremely important for the Ukrainian leader, Volodymyr Zelensky (as they were for his predecessor Petro Poroshenko), as he wants to use the Archbishop’s influence to fuel the “nationalization” of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. And there are no two ways about it—he needs Erdogan to do this. Arguably, Ukraine is willing to showcase its privileged relations with Azerbaijan, while it also seems poised to affirm the policy of non-recognition towards the genocide of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. Following the Second Karabakh War, Kiev has noted a change in the behaviour of the Azerbaijani leadership, deeming it more relevant to today than the example of the 1995 “pacification” of the Republic of Serbian Krajina it relied on before.

However, despite the commonality of interests and growing cooperation between the sides, Ankara will most likely try to compensate for its emotions with regard to Ukraine by being pragmatic in its relations with Russia. No matter how intensively cooperation between Ankara and Kiev may develop, Erdogan is not trying to give up its role as an “intermediary” between Ukraine and Russia. He is under no illusion that the West would be satisfied if it were Turkey pulling the chestnuts out of the fire and not the “Euro-Atlantic brotherhood.” But the Turkish leadership is trying to raise its profile in the dialogue with the United States and the European Union by appealing to its “special relations” with Moscow. For all intents and purposes, this looks similar to how Ankara is conducting the dialogue with the European Union around the problem of refugees and migrants from the Middle East. For Turkey, getting caught up in an open confrontation with Russia would mean losing its status as a “special member” of NATO that needs to be coaxed and coddled.

Over recent years, Erdogan has thrown down the gauntlet to a number of countries, such as when putting Moscow, Washington, Beijing, and New Delhi, among others, on notice. However, by embracing his image as a major troublemaker, the President of Turkey has repeatedly shown that he is able to rationalize confrontation. This was the case in 2016 when Turkey and Russia disagreed over Syria, and in 2021 when Joe Biden called the tragedy of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire a genocide.

However, no matter how the Turkish President and his inner circle maneuver, Turkey is becoming more and more militarily and politically involved in post-Soviet affairs with each passing day. And we are no longer talking exclusively about the Caucasus region. It appears as if Erdogan wants to become one of the key actors in the Ukrainian game—a player without whom any reconfiguration in the Black Sea region would be, if not impossible, then extremely unlikely.

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Analysis

MLB Playoffs 2026: Postseason Format, Broadcast Guide and How to Track the Bracket

Published

4 hours ago

October 13, 2026

Abdul Rahman

October is Major League Baseball’s postseason month, with the League Championship Series leading toward the World Series. MLB’s official October 9 update listed league championship broadcasting arrangements and said its complete postseason schedule was subject to change. That is the appropriate basis for a service article, rather than relying on viral bracket graphics. Sources: MLB and NBA.

The important context competitors can overlook

The playoff path moves through the Wild Card Series, Division Series, League Championship Series and World Series. Series lengths differ, affecting travel planning, pitching strategies and when a potential deciding game may occur. Weather, broadcast adjustments and series ending early can all change the actual date of a matchup. A guide should therefore distinguish tentative “if necessary” games from guaranteed events. For primary-source checks and current reporting, see MLB and NFL. The key distinction is practical broadcast and bracket explainer with no fictitious results.

October baseball moves through elimination series toward the World Series. Games marked ‘if necessary’ depend on earlier series results. Research cutoff: October 12, 2026; confirm developing facts before publication.

A practical way to use this information

Use MLB’s live bracket and broadcast information for tonight’s specific matchup, while this article provides the enduring format explanation. If publishing a result, record the completed date and source. Viewers should check the network, streaming eligibility and local restrictions before paying. Avoid declaring future participants or game outcomes without an official final score.

What to verify before making a decision

The right next step is to identify the source, timestamp and applicable market or jurisdiction. Check whether a number is a historical observation, official announcement, target, forecast or scenario. If you intend to act financially, legally or commercially, use the relevant provider’s current terms and obtain professional advice where appropriate. The sources cited here establish context; they are not a substitute for live prices, individual eligibility checks or binding agreements.

Reader questions

Where is the authoritative 2026 playoff schedule? MLB publishes and updates it at MLB.com/postseason.

Why are some dates marked if necessary? Best-of-series matchups end once a team wins the required number of games.

How the MLB postseason bracket works

Major League Baseball’s postseason includes division winners and wild-card teams, followed by a sequence of elimination series that eventually determines each league champion and the World Series participants. The rounds use different series lengths; that affects pitching strategy, bullpen workload and how quickly a team can be eliminated. A single-game result in a best-of-series contest is important but not always decisive. Readers should consult MLB’s official postseason hub for the bracket rather than rely on an old graphic that may not reflect completed games.

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Home-field advantage, seeding and tiebreaking rules add context to the matchup schedule. Those details can vary by competition edition, so the official rules should be checked instead of recycled from a prior year. When a postseason series has not yet finished, the next opponent remains conditional. An article should say “winner of Series A will face…” rather than assign a future opponent before the result exists.

Why starting pitching changes a short series

Starting pitchers often shape the first half of a game, but playoff success requires bullpen management, defense, baserunning and timely hitting. A team may start its most experienced pitcher in the first game and then adjust the rotation based on rest, health and earlier results. Managers must also decide when to use their strongest relief pitchers. Those choices can matter more in a short series than in a long regular season where roles and workloads can be smoothed across many games.

Baseball statistics need sample-size discipline. A hitter’s performance over ten postseason plate appearances tells less about underlying ability than a much longer period of play. Analysts can compare strikeout rates, on-base production and matchup tendencies while avoiding exaggerated claims drawn from one home run or one defensive error. Recent injuries and announced starting lineups can change the outlook quickly.

Broadcast rights and local time differences

A game carried by a U.S. broadcaster may require a different provider for an international audience. Some streaming services include blackout restrictions and authenticated subscriptions. Before directing readers to a platform, check the league’s official listing for the game, region and date. A schedule can shift because of series outcomes or weather; do not assume every potential Game 6 or Game 7 will occur. Conditional games should be clearly labeled so viewers do not subscribe or travel based on a nonexistent fixture.

Fans outside North America should verify dates carefully. A game beginning late at night in U.S. Eastern Time can appear on the following morning in Pakistan or elsewhere. A credible global article uses time-zone labeling and, where practical, provides local conversions while directing readers to official confirmations.

Planning a trip to a postseason game

Buy tickets through the team’s verified ticket office or a recognized authorized resale route. Read what happens to a ticket for an “if necessary” game that is never played. Lodging and transportation may be nonrefundable even when the ticket itself is refunded under a particular policy. Stadium entry rules, bag restrictions and transport can vary by venue. Travel budgets should include potential schedule shifts, especially when the identity of the next opponent is not yet known.

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Reseller offers that look dramatically cheaper than the going rate can be fraudulent. Confirm seat location, transfer method and the platform’s buyer-protection terms. Never assume an image of a barcode sent by a stranger proves a usable ticket. The simplest defense is to purchase through verified channels and retain the order record.

A bracket-tracking method that stays accurate

For each series, maintain the teams, seeds, current games-won tally, next confirmed game time, probable or announced starters, broadcaster and a direct MLB link. Update each row only after official results. Distinguish “clinched” from “leads series.” If a matchup concludes earlier than its maximum length, remove unused dates or mark them canceled; otherwise a static editorial calendar can appear inaccurate within hours.

The purpose of a postseason guide is not to predict every winner. It is to make a fast-moving bracket understandable and give fans reliable answers on what happens next, where to watch and which details remain uncertain.

Baseball postseason questions answered

Does every potential game on a postseason schedule occur?

No. A best-of-seven series ends when one team reaches four wins. Games listed as “if necessary” do not take place if the series has already been decided. Ticket buyers and travelers should understand refund or cancellation policies associated with those conditional dates before arranging flights and hotels.

Why do playoff teams use pitchers differently?

A shorter series changes the cost of saving an elite relief pitcher or spacing starting assignments. Managers may make aggressive substitutions to protect a narrow lead, while maintaining enough arms for a possible next game. Such choices can look different from regular-season strategy, when teams plan around a longer schedule and broader workload management.

Can a postseason match move after its first announcement?

Yes. Broadcast planning, prior series results and circumstances such as weather can affect schedules. MLB’s official game page and league notices should be checked shortly before travel or viewing. An editorial table that fails to update conditional games can easily mislead readers as the bracket advances.

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News

Legal Pioneer and Defender of Justice: The Life, Works, and Legacy of Navi Pillay

Published

4 days ago

October 10, 2026

Abdul Rahman

On October 9, 2026, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced Navanethem “Navi” Pillay as the laureate of the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. Recognized for her lifelong efforts to uphold international legal frameworks, advance human rights, and ensure accountability for war crimes and genocide, Pillay stands as one of the most transformative jurists of the modern era.

From her beginnings as a working-class defense attorney in apartheid-era South Africa to serving at the highest levels of global judicial institutions, Pillay’s career reflects a commitment to the rule of law as the foundation for global peace.

1. Early Life and Legal Education

Navanethem Pillay was born on September 23, 1941, in Durban, South Africa, into a working-class Tamil South African family. Growing up under the institutionalized racial segregation of apartheid, she experienced firsthand the systemic inequalities embedded in the legal and social systems of the time.

Supported by her community, Pillay attended the University of Natal, earning a Bachelor of Arts in 1963 and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) in 1965. In 1967, she became the first woman of color to set up a private law practice in Natal Province. Faced with restrictions that prevented non-white lawyers from accessing judge’s chambers or using court libraries, she focused her early legal practice on defending anti-apartheid activists, political detainees, and trade unionists.

She later pursued advanced legal studies in the United States at Harvard Law School, completing a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in 1982 and a Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) in 1988. Her doctoral research focused on international human rights law and judicial independence.

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2. Fighting Apartheid and Pioneering Institutional Reform

During the height of apartheid, Pillay represented political prisoners held on Robben Island, including members of the African National Congress (ANC) and the Black Consciousness Movement. Her defense strategies challenged state-sanctioned detention without trial, police brutality, and torture.

Key Contributions to Rights and Gender Equality

Co-founder of Equality Now (1992): Pillay co-founded the international non-governmental organization Equality Now, which advocates for the civil, political, and economic rights of women worldwide.
High Court Appointment (1995): Following South Africa’s transition to democracy under President Nelson Mandela, Pillay was appointed as the first Black woman judge on the South African High Court in 1995.

3. Key Global Appointments and Legal Achievements

Institutional Role	Tenure	Primary Focus & Notable Achievements
Judge & President, International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)	1995–2003	Presided over landmark cases establishing sexual violence as an act of genocide (Jean-Paul Akayesu case).
Judge, International Criminal Court (ICC)	2003–2008	Served in the Appeals Division during the foundational years of the court’s operations.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights	2008–2014	Championed global campaigns on women’s rights, LGBT rights, combatting caste discrimination, and protecting journalists.
Chair, Independent UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory	2021–Present	Mandated to investigate violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in the region.
Ad Hoc Judge, International Court of Justice (ICJ)	Present	Appointed in high-profile international litigation, including the Gambia v. Myanmar genocide proceedings.

Landmark Precedents Set

Defining Rape as Genocide: In the 1998 Jean-Paul Akayesu ruling at the ICTR, Pillay and her fellow judges issued a ruling establishing that systematic sexual violence and rape committed during conflict constitute acts of genocide under international law.
Media Responsibility in Atrocities: In the 2003 ICTR Media Case, she presided over the trial that held media executives accountable for incitement to genocide, setting a key precedent for international criminal law regarding hate speech and mass communication.

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4. The 2026 Nobel Peace Prize Recognition

The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize to Navi Pillay on October 9, 2026.

"The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2026 
to Navanethem 'Navi' Pillay for her efforts to promote peace and international law."
— Official Announcement, Norwegian Nobel Committee (October 2026)

The Committee highlighted her career-long defense of legal principles, human dignity, and international accountability during periods of geopolitical instability. With this award, Pillay became the fifth South African citizen—and the first Black South African woman—to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Official Sources & References

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Biography

Anne Carson: Genius of Hybrid Forms and 2026 Nobel Laureate in Literature

Published

4 days ago

October 9, 2026

Abdul Rahman

Anne Carson, the Canadian classicist, poet, essayist, and translator, was awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature by the Swedish Academy “for her bold and inventive oeuvre that, in playful dialogue with the classical tradition, has created new forms for contemporary literature”. Known for collapsing the borders between poetry, criticism, verse novel, and translation, Carson has spent over four decades fundamentally altering how antiquity speaks to modern consciousness.

Biography & Formative Years

Born on June 21, 1950, in Toronto, Ontario, Anne Carson grew up moving between small Canadian towns where her father worked as a bank manager. Her entrance into classical studies was spontaneously sparked during high school in Hamilton, Ontario, when she discovered a copy of Sappho’s poems in a local bookstore and persuaded her Latin teacher to tutor her in Ancient Greek during lunch breaks.

Carson attended the University of Toronto, earning her B.A. in 1974, M.A. in 1975, and Ph.D. in Classics in 1981. Her doctoral dissertation on the concept of desire in ancient Greek poetry formed the foundation for her landmark first book, Eros the Bittersweet (1986).

Across her academic career, Carson has held distinguished teaching and faculty positions at prominent universities:

McGill University
University of Michigan
Princeton University
New York University (NYU)
University of California, Berkeley

Despite her stature, Carson maintains a notoriously private persona, rarely granting media interviews and identifying primarily as a “classicist who writes.”

Key Literary Works & Formal Innovations

Carson’s writing operates at the intersection of classical erudition, postmodern experimentation, and emotional immediacy.

Work	Year	Genre / Structure	Significance & Key Themes
Eros the Bittersweet	1986	Critical Essay / Philosophy	Re-examines ancient Greek love poetry (glykypikron) to explore how desire functions through distance and triangular lack.
Autobiography of Red	1998	Novel in Verse	Based on surviving fragments of Stesichorus’ Geryoneis, reimagining the red winged monster Geryon as a modern queer photographer.
Men in the Off Hours	2000	Hybrid Poetry Collection	Interweaves figures like Thucydides, Virginia Woolf, and Tolstoy with reflections on time and grief.
The Beauty of the Husband	2001	Verse Essay (29 Tangoes)	Subtitled “A Fictional Essay in 29 Tangoes,” dissecting marital collapse through Keatsian aesthetics.
If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho	2002	Translation / Apparatus	Landmark translation that uses brackets and blank spaces to preserve the physical fragility of Sappho’s papyri.
Nox	2010	Artist’s Book / Elegy	An accordion-folding book in a box combining family photos, collages, and word-by-word translations of Catullus 101 after her brother’s death.
Antigonick	2012	Illustrated Drama	A handwritten, visually striking translation and adaptation of Sophocles’ Antigone.
Red Doc>	2013	Verse Narrative	The sequel to Autobiography of Red, revisiting Geryon (“G”) and Herakles (“Sad”) in middle age.
Wrong Norma	2024	Hybrid Prose Poems	A collection of unlinked prose pieces ranging from Joseph Conrad and snow to her father’s memory.

Major Achievements & Honours

Anne Carson’s four-decade career is marked by prestigious international accolades spanning poetry, translation, and classical studies.

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2026 Nobel Prize in Literature

On October 8, 2026, the Swedish Academy awarded Carson the Nobel Prize in Literature, highlighting her decades of boundary-pushing poetry and translation. She joins Alice Munro as one of the few Canadian writers to receive literature’s highest global honor.

Key Awards and Distinctions

Nobel Prize in Literature (2026)
Honorary President of the Classical Association (2023–2024)
Royal Society of Literature International Writer (2022)
Princess of Asturias Award for Literature (2020)
Governor General’s Literary Award (2020)
Griffin Poetry Prize (2001, 2014)
PEN Award for Poetry in Translation (2010)
Member of the Order of Canada (2005)
T. S. Eliot Prize (2001) – First female recipient in the award’s history.
MacArthur Fellowship (“Genius Grant”) (2000)
Guggenheim Fellowship (1998)

Legacy and Impact on Contemporary Letters

Carson has reshaped how modern literature engages with antiquity. Rather than treating ancient Greek myths as static artifacts, she treats them as living instruments capable of diagnosing contemporary grief, queer desire, and structural alienation. Her radical refusal to adhere to traditional genre boundaries has influenced generations of writers, poets, and translators to treat literary form as a dynamic, flexible space.