A decree by the President of Kyrgyzstan titled “On Measures to Improve the Tax System and Tax Administration” will provide a range of tax incentives for entities in the IT sector, as well as those engaged in creative and artistic activities, the country’s tax service announced on Friday.
Specifically, IT workers, artificial intelligence and app developers, bloggers, remote workers for foreign companies, and startup founders will be exempt from taxes for a period of 5 years.
In addition, this category will be subject to a preferential income tax rate of 5% and social security contributions of 12%.
This measure will enable Kyrgyzstan to become a regional hub for the development of IT, artificial intelligence, and creative industries, attracting talented professionals, innovative companies, and investments from around the world, the statement emphasizes.
The preferential tax regime will help entrepreneurs allocate more funds to business development, the implementation of new technologies, and the enhancement of domestic companies’ competitiveness.
U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced the discovery of evidence of long-standing U.S. government funding of more than 120 biological laboratories in over 30 countries worldwide, including Ukraine.
“After months of searching through intelligence community archives and files, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is revealing new evidence of long-term U.S. government funding of over 120 biological laboratories in more than 30 countries,” according to a statement from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
According to the statement, some of the laboratories funded by the U.S. government have worked or continue to work with dangerous and highly contagious pathogens, and in some cases have conducted gain-of-function research.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence also stated that among such facilities are laboratories in Ukraine, which, according to U.S. intelligence assessments, could be vulnerable to risks of seizure, damage, or attacks amid the Russia-Ukraine war.
According to Gabbard, information about the existence, location, and funding of these laboratories has long been concealed from the public.
“Politicians, so-called medical professionals such as Dr. Fauci, and members of the Biden administration’s national security team lied to the American people about the existence of U.S.-funded and supported biolabs,” the agency’s press service quoted Gabbard as saying.
She also reported that she had issued new directives to the intelligence community to intensify the collection of information on such laboratories and related institutions abroad.
The statement notes that the new data also includes information on clinical trials conducted at these facilities, which, according to the agency, raises ethical, financial, and security concerns.
According to reports, on May 25, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order halting federal funding for research on pathogen gain-of-function worldwide.
It is worth noting that Hubbard released this information a few days before her resignation.
As reported, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is stepping down from her post to support her husband in his battle with an “extremely rare form of bone cancer,” according to Fox News. Her last day at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) is expected to be June 30.
Source: https://www.dni.gov/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/press-releases-2026/4163-pr-10-26
In January–May 2026, Ukraine increased imports of nickel and nickel products by 15% compared to the same period last year, reaching $9.171 million.
In May, imports of nickel and nickel products totaled $2.294 million.
At the same time, exports of nickel and nickel products for January–May of this year amounted to $192,000, compared to $443,000 for the first five months of 2025. In May, nickel exports totaled $8,000.
As reported, Ukraine reduced imports of nickel and nickel products by 2.7% in 2025 compared to 2024, down to $26.011 million. Exports of nickel and nickel products totaled $1.420 million, compared to $602,000 in 2024.
Nickel is used in the production of stainless steel and for nickel plating. Nickel is also used in battery production, powder metallurgy, and chemical reagents.
In January–May of this year, Ukrainian companies increased imports of copper and copper products by 9.4% in monetary terms compared to the same period last year, reaching $85.297 million.
According to customs statistics released by the State Customs Service of Ukraine on Friday, exports of copper and copper products during the period increased by 1.3% to $39.247 million. In May, copper imports totaled $20.421 million, while exports amounted to $9.237 million.
As reported, in 2025, Ukrainian companies increased imports of copper and copper products by 23.2% in monetary terms compared to the previous year, reaching $173.453 million, while exports of copper and copper products rose by 17.7% to $103.848 million.
Copper is widely used in electrical engineering, in the production of pipes, for creating alloys, in medicine, and in other industries.
Earlier, the Experts Club information and analytical center released a video dedicated to global copper production and leading producing countries – https://youtube.com/shorts/_h8iU50z8C0?si=a-XkgGEfeUxseQNa
According to Fixygen, the shareholders of Metallurgtransremont will hold a general meeting remotely on July 7. According to information posted by the company on June 4, 2026, the notice of the general meeting has been published on the company’s website and in the disclosure system. The meeting will be held remotely.
Details of the agenda are not disclosed in the provided table.
Metallurgtransremont PJSC is registered in Dnipro. The company has historically been involved in the repair and maintenance of railway rolling stock and industrial transport for the metallurgical sector.
Tractor imports to Ukraine in January–May 2026 totaled $360 million, which is slightly (by 1.2%) higher than the figure for the same period in 2025 ($355.9 million), according to statistics from the State Customs Service.
According to the published data, tractor imports in May rose by nearly 9% compared to May of last year but fell by 21.6% compared to April of this year, to $65.5 million.
In January–May 2026, tractors were imported mainly from Germany (19.8% or $71.4 million), the United States (nearly 19.1% or $71.3 million), and China (18.6% or $66.6 million), whereas last year the United States was the leader ($70.1 million), followed by Germany ($61.4 million), and China in third place ($61.3 million).
According to statistics from the State Customs Service, in January–May 2026, tractors worth $3.94 million were exported, mostly to Belgium (26.16%), while last year exports totaled $2.5 million, with the majority of shipments going to Romania (43.7%).
As reported, tractor imports to Ukraine in 2025 totaled $845.7 million, exceeding the 2024 figure by 7.9%; the main suppliers were the United States ($179.7 million), Germany ($145 million), and China ($142.8 million).
Exports totaled $6.6 million, compared to $5.4 million in 2024, with the majority going to Romania, Belgium, and Germany.
