NEWS

Lunar eclipse has always captured the imagination of people and cultures. In ancient times, people believed that it was a sign of great change. It was believed that a Lunar Eclipse would bring a rise of evil power.

Azerbaijan witnessed the first lunar eclipse of the year 2020 during the night between January 10 and 11. 

During the eclipse, 90 per cent of the moon’s surface was partially covered by the Earth with only the outer part of the shadow appearing. It started at 09:08 p.m and ended at 01:12 a.m.

The lunar eclipse was also visible in countries across Europe, Africa and Asia as well as Australia.

Notably, four lunar eclipses are expected in 2020. The other lunar eclipses this year will occur on June 5, July 5 and November 30. Since all eclipses are penumbral, it will be difficult to see them with naked eyes.

Lunar eclipse happens when the moon passes through the shadow of the Earth which can only occur during a full moon.

It is not dangerous to look directly at the Moon during a lunar eclipse as the Moon is not giving off its own light. Some lunar eclipses can last up to 3 hour and 45 minutes.

Like solar eclipses, there are different types of lunar eclipses. There are total eclipses, where the moon passes completely through Earth's shadow and all of the moon appears reddish-brown.

The official website of Formula 1 voted among fans to identify the top 10 Grand Prix over the past ten years. Report informs, according to the results of the voting, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix of 2017 took 6th place, in which the conflict between the Mercedes pilot Lewis Hamilton and the Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel was in the spotlight.

At the last corner, Hamilton braked sharply, after which Vettel crashed into his car in the back. The four-time world champion did not stop at that; he caught his rival and grazed his vehicle in a wing, for which he received a 10-second fine. The Australian Red Bull pilot Daniel Riccardo won Grand Prix of Azerbaijan, Mercedes pilot Valtteri Bottas took second place, and Williams pilot Lance Stroll became the third.

The German Grand Prix 2019 ranked first in the voting. The race took place in rainy weather. Pilots Valtteri Bottas, Charles Leclair, Daniel Riccardo, and Nico Hulkenberg had to get out of the race. Red Bull pilot Max Verstappen won the race. Sebastian Vettel from Mercedes became the second, Daniel Quat from Toro Rosso - the third. Grand Prix of Canada 2011 and Brazil 2019 shared second and third places in the ranking of the best for the last decade.

Leading British boccia coach Matthew Kendrick is on a two-day visit to Baku.

Report informs, on January 10-11, in the framework of cooperation with the Azerbaijani Paralympic Committee, Matthew Kendrick gives master classes in boccia. He conducts training in this sport at the Vocational Rehabilitation Center for Youth with Physical Disabilities in Ramana.

Boccia is a precision ball sport, similar to bocce, and related to bowls and pétanque. It is included in the Paralympic Games.

"This is a popular sport in the UK. And its popularity is growing. Hundreds of schools compete in this sport. But of course, we would like to develop this area further, "- Matthew Kendrick told Report.

According to him, the secret of the popularity of boccia is that this sport is accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.

"UK and Azerbaijan could cooperate in promoting this sport. So far this is only the beginning of the project, and, I hope, it can continue. I had a very good training experience. You have an outstanding group of coaches and athletes", - British coach said.

The weather forecast for January 12 has been announced.

Report says, citing the National Hydrometeorology Department of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, that the weather will be changeable cloudy, occasionally gloomy and mostly rainless in Baku and on the Absheron peninsula. However, rain is predicted in some places at night. South-west wind will intensify occasionally in the daytime. The temperature will be 2-5 C at night, 7-11 C in the daytime, 3-5 C at night and 8-10 C in the daytime.

The atmospheric pressure will drop from 769 mm mercury column to 763 mm mercury column.

Relative humidity will make 70-80% at night, 0-55% in the daytime.

Meanwhile, the weather in Azerbaijani regions will be mostly dry on January 12. However, rain is in the forecast in some places at night. Snow may fall in the mountainous regions. It may be foggy in some areas, with a west wind blowing.

The temperature will be from -2 C to +3 C at night, 7 to 12 C in the daytime, in the mountains -2 to -8 C at night, -3 to + 2C in the day.

Baku hosted a concert dedicated to the Azerbaijani-Korean friendship at the Azerbaijan State Academic Philharmonic Hall.

The famous Korean cellist Ryo Meehae performed at the concert together with the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra.

The concert program included works of famous and outstanding composers of Azerbaijan and abroad: Uzeyir Hajibeyov, Fikret Amirov, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Alexander Borodin, Manuel de Falla.

YARAT Contemporary Art Space invites you to enjoy documentary about professional Azerbaijani pianist and healer Zuleyha Abdullayeva on January 15, at 19:00.

After the film, audience will be able to experience very special music therapy session led by Zuleyha Abdullayeva herself.

If for some reason you cannot come to the premiere, you are very welcome to attend the screening in Azerbaijan Union of Cinematographers on January 17. The film screening will be also held in Salaam Cinema Baku on January 18. These screenings will be very special too.

The film "Dialogues with Zuleyha" was shot in co-production of three countries: Azerbaijan (Peri Film), the Czech Republic (Oliel Company) and Georgia (Chai Khana), with the support of the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague.

In August 2019, the film became a member of the CineDOC Summer School, organized by the CineDOC Tbilisi International Documentary Film Festival (Georgia).

The film director and producer is Rashid Aghamaliyev, the cameramen are Nina Scamborova (Slovakia) and Raashi Metkari (India), the film editor is Jorge Sanchez (Spain), and the sound engineers are Berk Tugcu (Turkey) and Juras Karaka (Belarus).

The film cast includes Zuleyha Abdullayeva, Vidhi Mehrotra (India), Elkhan Ilyasov (Czech Republic) and Rashid Aghamaliyev (Azerbaijan).

Abdullayeva studied at the Azerbaijan National Conservatory in the class of musicology (1981-1986). During her studies, she developed an interest in music therapy, which contributed to her spiritual growth.

After moving to Turkey, she continued to study the influence of music on the human body. During this period, Abdullayeva received the Reiki Master title and graduated from the Complex Holistic Healing School.

Zuleyha Abdullayeva also was trained in art therapy and a number of breathing techniques.

New knowledge raised her piano skills. Now Abdullayeva gives concerts for wide audience, as well as holds individual music therapy sessions. Some people say that listening to Zuleyha’s music is a life-changing experience.

For more information, please visit: 

https://www.facebook.com/events/605442296949504/

It may rain in Baku and Absheron peninsula tomorrow.

Report says, citing the National Hydrometeorology Department of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, that the weather will be partly cloudy and occasionally gloomy. Rain may fall in some places in the morning and the evening. It may also be foggy in the morning, with a north-west wind, intense at times.

The air temperature will be +2+5 C at night, +7+9 C in the daytime on the Absheron peninsula, +3+5 C at night, and +7+9 C in the day in Baku.

The atmospheric pressure will rise from 763 (above normal) to 767 mm, and relative humidity will be 70-80%.

Occasional rain is expected in some regions of Azerbaijan tomorrow. Meanwhile, snow is forecast to fall in some mountainous and foothill areas. It may be foggy in some parts, with west wind intensifying at times.

The air temperature will vary from -2 C to +3 C at night, +7+10 C in the daytime, in the mountains from 0 to -5 C of frost at night, 0+5 C in the day. Roads may become icy in mountainous areas at night and in the morning.

According to the medical-meteorological forecast, the advantage of humid weather and the occasionally intensifying north wind is largely unfavorable for meteorologically sensitive people.

Junior sailors representing Azerbaijan won two medals in an international tournament, marking the first triumph of country's athletes in this sport.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Youth and Sport of Azerbaijan Samaya Mammadova told that Ayla Babayeva grabbed gold in the women's Laser 4.7 class, and Murad Ismail won silver in the junior age group.

The event took place in Turkey in preparation for the Optimist World Championships in Garda, Italy, Laser 4.7 Youth European Championships in Portugal, and 2021 Optimist World Championships in Bodrum.

Queen Elizabeth II is upset following Prince Harry and Meghan's announcement they're stepping down as senior members of the royal family.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, have announced they plan to step back as "senior members" of Britain's royal family. In a statement shared on their official Instagram page Wednesday, the Sussexes announced they will be transitioning away from their roles as "senior" royals and will begin splitting their time between the UK and North America in 2020.

Heydar Aliyev Palace invites you to enjoy countless hours of wonderful music on January 14.

The concert "Just Jazz" will bring together Honored Artist Shahriyar Imanov (tar), Shur Trio, Coffee Band and talented musicians Suada Hajizade, Nijat Aslanov, Laman Abbaszade, Tural Rafael, Narmin Mammadli and Ayten Orujaliyeva.

Tickets can be purchased at all ticket offices in the city, ASAN Service enters, Ganjlik Mall, 28 Mall and at: www.iticket.az.

The history of Azerbaijani jazz dates back to the 1930s. There are certain musicians that played a major role in the development of jazz music in Azerbaijan. 

The revival of jazz in the Land of Fire started thanks to the active efforts of great national composers Gara Garayev and Tofig Guliyev.

The first jazz orchestra in Baku was created by them. This orchestra, called the State Pop Symphony Orchestra, became the basis of Azerbaijani jazz.

The foundation of Azerbaijani jazz is associated with the name of the legendary musician Vagif Mustafazadeh. He was one of the founders of the new music trend called "jazz mugham".

The style reached its full fame in the 1950s and 1960s under the influence of composer Rafig Babayev and his Gaya Quartet. Dizzy Gillespie, the legendary American jazz trumpeter, reportedly lauded Mustafazadeh for creating "the music of the future".

Nowadays, Azerbaijan sees growth in the number of talented jazz artists, including Aziza Mustafazade, Isfar Sarabski, Salman Gambarov, Nurlan Novrasli, Rain Sultanov and others. National jazzmen successfully perform at international music events.

In addition, numerous jazz festivals are held across the country bringing together internationally acclaimed jazz musicians from all parts of the Earth.