live Iran-U.S.-Israel tensions rise after strikes and threats of retaliation- 31 March
The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict is intensifying, with fresh strikes near Tehran, European calls for restraint, and Iran threatening to target U.S. fi...
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.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the U.S is in talks with the new Iranian regime. He said this in a post on his Truth Social account but warned that the U.S. will "Obliterate" Iran's electric and oil facilities if no deal is reached, especially regarding the Strait of Hormuz closure.
NASA is aiming to launch its Artemis 2 mission on Wednesday (1 April), sending astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon, officials confirmed. According to the Space Administration, the launch window is due to open at 23:24 GMT, with additional opportunities to 6 April if delays occur.
The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict is intensifying, with fresh strikes near Tehran, European calls for restraint, and Iran threatening to target U.S. firms in the region, raising fears of a broader escalation across the Middle East.
The war in Iran has rapidly upended regional security, triggering spillover across the Middle East and raising fears of wider economic disruption that could threaten globalisation.
The Israeli military said on Monday that Iran launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel, and an attack had also been launched from Yemen for the second time since the U.S.-Israeli war began on Tehran. It said two drones from Yemen were intercepted early 30 March but gave no further details.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum says around 25 kilometres of the TAPI gas pipeline have been laid in Herat province, as work continues on one of the region’s largest energy projects.
Three Armenian citizens have been charged following an alleged attempt to attack Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at St Anna Cathedral in Yerevan on 29 March. Analysts say the incident reflects rising tensions between the government and the Church ahead of upcoming elections.
A man previously convicted of spying on Türkiye has been arrested by Turkish and Syrian authorities after more than a decade on the run, Turkish security sources said on Monday.
Uzbekistan is hosting the fifth-anniversary Space Technology Conference - Central Eurasia (STC 2026), bringing together more than 400 delegates, 24 sponsors and representatives from 32 countries to discuss the region’s space industry and expand international cooperation.
Kazakhstan remains among the least dependent countries in Central Asia on Chinese capital, maintaining a diversified external debt structure and greater financial flexibility than its regional peers.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment