live U.S. launches navy blockade of Iranian ports as Tehran vows retaliation- Tuesday 14 April
The U.S. military began a blockade of Iran's ports on Monday, President Donald Trump said, and Tehran threaten...
Georgia has cancelled international tenders for the construction of major road sections that form part of a regional highway linking the country with the borders of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The Georgian Roads Department said tenders announced in August 2024 for the Rustavi–Tsiteli Bridge and the Algeti–Sadakhlo road section were cancelled due to low competition among bidders.
The procurement process covered both construction works and project supervision services.
The planned infrastructure is part of international transport routes connecting Georgia with neighbouring countries and wider Eurasian trade networks.
The project included building a 61.3-kilometre four-lane concrete expressway equipped with lighting systems, along with 26 bridges and 11 interchanges designed to improve traffic flow and safety.
The road sections form part of the regional East–West Corridor and North–South Corridor, which connect the South Caucasus to trade routes linking Europe and Asia.
Construction had originally been scheduled to start in 2025 and be completed in phases over around 30 months.
The project was jointly financed by the Georgian government and the European Investment Bank, which allocated a €250 million loan.
Officials say the main reason behind the cancellation was low participation in the bidding process.
Limited competition in large infrastructure tenders can indicate several issues, including concerns about project costs, complex technical requirements, or market uncertainty affecting international construction companies.
Governments often cancel and relaunch tenders under revised conditions in order to attract more bidders.
Experts say the situation also reflects wider challenges in Georgia’s transport infrastructure.
Political analyst David Dzidzishvili, speaking to AnewZ, said the country still faces infrastructure gaps that slow cargo movement across the region.
He noted that freight traffic heading towards Armenia often experiences congestion and damaged road sections, which delays deliveries and increases logistics costs.
Dzidzishvili also highlighted the stalled Anaklia Deep Sea Port, a strategic maritime development that has yet to secure a final investor.
Georgia’s location between Europe and Asia gives it the potential to become a key transit hub in the South Caucasus.
However, transport experts say progress on large infrastructure projects — including highways, ports and logistics corridors — will be critical for improving regional connectivity and strengthening trade links with partners such as the European Union.
Israel has reprimanded Spain’s most senior diplomat in Tel Aviv after a giant effigy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was blown up in a Spanish town.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned that any Iranian ships approaching ports in the Strait of Hormuz would be "immediately eliminated" on Monday, as the U.S. started its blockade.
Nine suspects were arrested on Saturday (11 April) in connection with a terror attack targeting a police post in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district.
Millions of Orthodox Christians across the globe celebrated Easter, known as Holy Pascha, on Sunday (12 April) with midnight liturgies, candlelight processions and deeply rooted local traditions reflecting centuries of faith.
Russia and Ukraine accused each other of violating a 32-hour ceasefire introduced to mark Orthodox Easter on Saturday (11 April). Russian officials said Ukrainian drones attacked targets in the Kursk and Belgorod border regions, injuring five people.
An Indian healthcare provider plans to invest $50 million in diagnostic and pharmaceutical projects in Uzbekistan’s Namangan region, aiming to expand access to advanced medical services between 2026 and 2028.
Nine suspects have been formally arrested over last week’s gun attack near Israel’s consulate in Istanbul, judicial officials have said. The assault left one attacker dead and two Turkish police officers lightly wounded.
Azerbaijani and Armenian civil society representatives have convened for a new round of dialogue under the ‘Peace Bridge’ initiative, as both sides seek to sustain engagement ahead of key political developments in the region.
The reopening of Azerbaijan’s embassy in Iran reflects the “special relationship” between the two countries, a regional expert has said.
Cement maker Lafarge was found guilty by a French court on Monday (13 April) of paying millions to jihadist groups, including ISIS, to keep a plant running during the Syrian civil war.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment