Saudi Arabia and Egypt have renewed an agreement on constructing a causeway between Tabuk and Egypt through Aqaba Bay at an initial cost of US$ 3 billion, Arab News reported, quoting an official source at the Saudi Ministry of Transport. Both sides agreed to name the new project, which will extend 50 kilometer over the Red Sea waters, "King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Causeway". Meanwhile, officials of the transport ministries of both countries plan to conduct talks during the next few weeks to work out guidelines and technical details of the project, scheduled to begin in the middle of 2013. The project will facilitate flow of trade, tourists, and Egyptian manpower to and from the Gulf region, particularly during Haj and Umrah seasons. The causeway will also save time and effort, as it will take about 20 minutes to cross the causeway, linking North African countries with the Gulf countries, Syria, Iraq, and Jordan, the source pointed out. The project will flourish trade movement between Saudi Arabia and Egypt, as it will act as an international passage between the Gulf and North African countries. It will also contribute to an overall economic and business development in the northern parts of the Kingdom, especially in Tabuk, and boost the tourist resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, a major tourist destination for the Gulf citizens. As reported our website earlier, the project was under discussion since 1988 and has finally been approved on July, 2011. It would provide the first direct road link between Arab North Africa and the Middle East - but the project could upset Israel and Jordan. This area of the Red Sea is highly important to Israel and Jordan as it provides them with access to the Indian Ocean.

The world's tallest communications tower has been completed in central Tokyo following nearly four years of construction, reported The Telegraph. Tokyo Sky Tree, which measures 634 meters in height, was finished two months behind schedule following delays caused by last year's earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis. However, operators of Tokyo Sky Tree, which will operate as a communications tower for the nation's broadcasting networks, hope the timely completion of the tower just before the first anniversary of the disaster will help boost the nation's tourism industry, which was been hit hard over the past year. The tower, located in Sumida block in the Asakusa district, is not only the loftiest communications tower ever built, it is also the world's second tallest building, eclipsed only by the 828 meters Burj Khalifa in Dubai. More than 580 thousand workers were involved in the construction of the US$ 800 million structure, which was inspired by traditional Japanese architect and painted a shade of blue-tinged white called "aojiro". Tokyo Sky Tree is set to become an iconic addition to the city's urban skyline, overshadowing other landmarks such as the 1958 red and white Tokyo Tower, which was previously used as the main broadcasting tower and long regarded a symbol of country's rapid post-war development. Now the tower has been completed, and the operator plans to finish the interior for stores and other facilities with an eye to opening them to the public on May 22.

In 2005 Armenian Government made a decision to build a little Old Yerevan corner in the center of capital, but the project is still only on paper. According to the plan, in capital's heart, not far from the Republic Square, should be reconstructed a little historical and cultural center of old Yerevan. The total site for the historical development is about 2.0 hectares, which is delineated in rectangular area (300m x68m) by Arami, Abovyan, Buzand and Koghbatsi streets. Over the past years, many historical buildings in Yerevan were dismantled with future purpose to restore them in "Old Yerevan" project. The chief designer of the project architect Levon Vardanyan (LV Architect) during his interview to news agency Regnum said that the construction work will start at an early date. The project will include historical and cultural buildings built in XIX and early XX centuries and dismantled recently. The 20 relocated historical buildings will accommodate cafes and restaurants, shops, showrooms, specialized art galleries and museums, as well as small hotel becoming an active part of modern urban life. According to news-portal Panorama, the head of department of Monuments Protection of the Ministry of Culture RA Karo Ayvazyan, said, that the numbered stones from dismantled historical buildings are in storages of 5 private companies. As he said, 15 percent of the stones are in very poor condition, and 10 percent can be used after some restoration work.

As reported Ukrainian Komsomolskaya Pravda, the Armenian community in Ukraine plans to build an Armenian church. The church design is already done. According to newspaper, the construction will start this spring, most probably in March and will end in 2015. The total area of 40 meters tall church will be 1 thousand square meters. At first, the Armenian Community planned to build the church in historical Podol area, but later, due to problems with the land allocation, building site moved to the Kharkov district of Kiev. Besides, the cathedral site will include an Armenian school and a cultural center. 16 cross-stones will be moved here from Armenia. We also note, that the construction funded only by local Armenian community.

According to Constructionweeklyonline, as reported Dynamic Architecture Group, London has pipped Dubai as location of the world's first rotating tower, with construction expected to begin this year. The company also reported, that they would announce the start of construction on the first building in motion in London in due time, most probably within this year. As reported Reuters in 2008, Dynamic Architecture Group planned to build so-called dynamic towers -- prefabricated sun - and wind-powered skyscrapers that will keep changing shape as each floor rotates around a central axis -- in Moscow and Dubai by the end of 2010, but this two projects are still on papers only. A 70-floor building has received planning approval for Moscow, and an 80-floor building in Dubai is awaiting approval. Instead of just one revolving floor, like other buildings around the world, every floor in Fisher's towers will rotate. Russian real estate developer Mirax Group is behind the Moscow tower, while the planned Dubai building is backed by Fisher's Rotating Tower Technology Company. The towers are expected to generate enough electricity for themselves and other nearby buildings from solar panels and wind turbines fitted horizontally between each floor. People who own an entire floor will be able to simply speak to control the rotation, with speeds varying from an hour to three hours for each full rotation. The building, designed by architect David Fisher, was due to produce 80 pre-fabricated floors that would spin independently of each other and take between one and three hours to make a complete rotation. The tower was due to include 20 floors of retail, 15 for a hotel and 45 floors of residential apartments.