Baikonur is not only Russia’s main space port but, for now, the only launchpad in the world sending manned flights into space. Since NASA retired the space shuttle in 2011, Russia’s Soyuz rockets -- launched from Baikonur -- are the only option for astronauts headed to the International Space Station.

The new operator plans to start supplies to Ukraine in June. The company's quota stands at more than 100,000 tonnes of diesel fuel and 12,000 tonnes of liquefied gas.

The Bank announced the loan backing a $90 million project to streamline and improve Ukraine's health sector response to the pandemic. The project, Ukraine Emergency COVID-19 Response and Vaccination, will provide reimbursement of expenditures to Ukraine’s health service to proceed with about 10 million vaccinations.

Azerbaijan is ready to provide its oil and gas pipelines for the transit of hydrocarbons from Turkmenistan, Rovnag Abdullayev, the state energy firm SOCAR's president, said.

Belarus places a priority on investments in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, nanotechnologies and nanomaterials, metallurgy, mechanical engineering industry, production of machines, electrical equipment, home appliances and electronics, transport and related infrastructure, agriculture and food industry, information and communication technologies as well as creation and development of logistics systems and tourism.

The ex-Soviet country’s gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 4.2 percent on a year-on-year basis in the first quarter of 2021, compared to 1.5 percent growth in the same period last year and 8.3 percent contraction in the first two months of this year.

Uzbekistan plans to reform the country’s service sector by investing $300 million and allowing private businesses to lend offices to public organisations and provide 24-hour services.