Gallia Lindenstrauss

Officials from Azerbaijan and Armenia have held a new round of border delimitation talks, agreeing on key procedural documents to guide ongoing efforts to define their shared frontier. The 13th meeting of the bilateral commissions took place in Aghveran, Armenia, under the leadership of Deputy Prime Ministers Shahin Mustafayev and Mher Grigoryan. The sides exchanged draft instructions covering expert group operations, map preparation, and the formalisation of delimitation documents, which will now be submitted for government approval. The talks also addressed broader cooperation, including cargo transit through Azerbaijan to Armenia and the supply of petroleum products. Both sides highlighted growing trade and economic engagement, alongside discussions involving business representatives on future cooperation and transport links.

נשיא המדינה הרצוג הגיע לביקור בקזחסטן 🇰🇿 במטוס חכור של אל על בעקבות דרישת גורמי הביטחון בישראל 🇮🇱 שלא לטוס במטוס "כנף ציון" אשר בשגרה נועד לשרת את נשיא המדינה וראש הממשלה.

“Turkey is next Iran” Bennett is likely to become the new PM of Israel

Turkey just announced 0% tax on foreign income for 20 years. Capital gains on overseas portfolios covered. Inheritance tax slashed. Corporate tax for exporters dramatically reduced. That's not a tweak. That's a country trying to vacuum talent and capital out of every other jurisdiction simultaneously. The structural read is what Turkey's competing against. Dubai's golden visa is 10 years and requires AED 2M+ in property. Singapore's GIP requires SGD 10M deployed. Portugal killed the NHR program in 2024. Italy's flat tax for new residents requires €200K/year and is capped at 15 years. Turkey just undercut every one of them. 20 years. Zero income tax on overseas earnings. No property minimum announced. The bear case is execution risk. Turkish lira has lost 95% of its value against the dollar over the past decade. Inflation hit 85% in 2022 and remains in double digits. You can keep your foreign income in dollars or euros, but the moment you spend it locally, you're paying real costs in lira. The bull case is that Turkey only needs to attract enough capital and talent to fund the next 5-10 years of macro stability. Erdogan's government is betting that "almost free" beats "credible but expensive" for a meaningful share of internationally mobile wealth. For ArtiFac readers, the broader signal is that the global tax arbitrage map is being redrawn. Capital doesn't have a passport. It moves where it's welcomed. If you have foreign income and you're paying full freight in your home country, you're paying for someone else's policy debate. Turkey just made that debate cheaper to opt out of.

At Least 250 Arrested Amid Ongoing Communication Blackout and Rising Pressures in Rojhelat Amid continuing widespread communication restrictions in Rojhelat, access to independent and on-the-ground information has been seriously disrupted. According to incoming reports, the internet shutdown, which has lasted for nearly two months, has significantly limited news coverage, reporting, and analysis, increasing uncertainty about the current situation. At the same time, local sources report a noticeable rise in layoffs across various sectors, including industrial units and service centers. These developments come as economic instability and fewer job opportunities are putting growing pressure on people’s livelihoods. On the security side, reports indicate a tightening police presence and an increase in arrests. At least 250 individuals have been detained in Rojhelat in recent days on security-related charges, including allegations such as “espionage” and “separatism.” Ongoing communication disruptions, growing economic pressure, and increased security measures have combined to create a tense and complex situation in Rojhelat.