NEWS

A charity exhibition has solemnly opened at the Museum of Moderd Art.

The project was organized jointly with famous artist Milena Nabiyeva to mark Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis, observed annually on December 31.

The exhibition displays about 50 works by famous Azerbaijani artists, including Altai Sadikhzade, Milena Nabiyeva, Salhab Mammadov, Namig Mammadov, Malik Aghamalov, Zakir Akhmadov, Yavar Sultanov, Eldar Gurbanov, Ali Shamsi, Rashad Mekhdiyev, Arif Huseynov, Sabina Shikhlinskaya, Mir Azer Abdullayev, Vugar Muradov, Elyar Alimirzoyev, Museib Amirov, Elena Hagverdiyeva, Inna Kostina, Azad Aliyev, Subkhan Mammadov, Nigar Narimanbayova, Ayten Rzaguliyeva, Mahmud Rustamov, Metin Sherifov, Tamilla Hasanova, Rafael Aliyev, Rashad Babaev, Anar Huseynzade, Elnur Babayev, Anar Yolchiyev, Emin Asgarov, Intigam Aghayev, Ragim Gashimov, Eyvaz Sultanly, Jalal Aghayev. The large-scale project is being held in Azerbaijan for the first time.

At the opening ceremony, the  project organizer Milena Nabieva said that the charity will become traditional. The exhibition will be open for all artists in near future. She also invited representatives of other art fields to join this initiative.

The artist expressed her gratitude to all the artists who responded to her invitation and encouraged everyone to take part in such a large-scale event to spread love and compassion through art.

All funds from the charity will be used for the treatment of Narmina Kichibayova, who has T-cell lymphoma.

Famous sculptor-muralist, rector of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Arts, People’s Artist Omar Eldarov stressed the importance of the exposition as it provides assistance to children with disease

The guests then viewed the exposition. A number of paintings were sold out.

The exhibition is available from Tuesday to Sunday (11:00-20:00) until December 27. Ticket price  is 5 AZN ($3), 2 AZN ($1) - for students. You can also purchase the works on Facebook page of Minabi Art & Design.

Trend of the Year 2019 Awards has been solemnly held at Telequlle Restaurant.

The Trend of the Year Award, established by Caspian Events Group (Ayaz Mammadov and Tural Alakbarov), is a prize for success throughout the year in the fields of culture and art, theater and cinema, pop and folk art, television and radio, business and tourism, medicine and cosmetology, fashion and beauty industries, etc.

The prize winners were determined by voting in social networks and media monitoring, Trend Life reported.

For the second year in a row, Trend News Agency's correspondent Vugar Imanov has won a prize in "Trend Journalist of the Year" nomination. 

Other winners included rector of the Azerbaijan National Conservatory Siyavush Karimi, Honored Artist, fashion designer Fakhriya Khalafova, People's Artists Hamida Omarova, Malakhanum Eyyubova, Faik Aghayev, honored artists Manana Japaridze, Sanuber Iskandarli, Elza Seyidjahan, kickboxer Eduard Mammadov, TV presenter Saleh Bagirov, singer and TV presenter Rosa Zargarli, singers Natavan Khabibi, Aysel Alizade, Abdul Khalid, Elvin Mirzazade, dancer Fatima Fataliyeva and others.

The evening was hosted by honored artists Elnur Kerimov and Rashad Ilyasov, who were also awarded. Spectacular concert was held as part of the event.

FINCA Azerbaijan, a non-bank credit organization, launched a new branch in the Balakan region. The new branch serves customers in the Balaken, Zaqatala, Qax and Sheki regions with credit products.

As part of its network expansion plans, FINCA Azerbaijan has opened 9 new regional branches in 2019, bringing the overall number of branches to 14. FINCA Azerbaijan plans to open 8 additional branches in 2020.

FINCA Azerbaijan offers a range of loan products targeting the trade, production, service and agriculture sectors. Loan applications can be submitted via landline, mobile phone or by visiting the FINCA Azerbaijan wesbite.

Phone: 055 455 29 29

Mobile App: WhatsApp (055 455 29 29)

Online: www.finca.az

About FINCA Azerbaijan

Launched in 1998, FINCA Azerbaijan is part of FINCA Impact Finance’s global network of 20 banks and microfinance institutions that profitably and responsibly provide impactful financial services to low-income individuals and communities, enabling them to invest in their futures. As a leading microfinance institution in Azerbaijan, FINCA serves small businesses across the country with various loan products intended to promote profitable business activity. The company places an emphasis on agricultural lending. For more information about FINCA Azerbaijan and the products they offer, visit their website at www.finca.az.

Animafilm School has successfully held its first workshop in Baku.  

The event was organized with the support of the Azerbaijan Union of Cinematographers. 

During the workshop, participants produced small animated videos using "stop motion" techniques under the direction of graphic designer of the 2nd Animafilm Festival Nazrin Alizadeh.  

Notably, the 2nd ANIMAFILM Baku International Animation Festival was held in Baku on October 18-20, bringing the best of world animation to the City of Winds.

A three-day event featured animated films shot for adults and the youngest viewers. Workshops and other events were held as part of the festival.  

The international jury was headed by Masud Panachi, famous Azerbaijani director and animator. The jury was composed of professionals from Germany, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, and the Czech Republic.

This year, the festival’s organizing committee decided to invite children to enter Kids Jury, which determined the winner in the category Best Short Animated Film for Children.

Most people know the age-old health aphorism: "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." As it turns out, an apple a day really may keep you healthy and energized.

Crunchy, sweet and satisfying, apple is one of the most cultivated and consumed fruits in the world.

Apple is undisputed favorite fruit among Azerbaijanis. Every year, locals make delicious apple jam that won't left anyone indifferent.

The city of Guba is famous for the fact that the most delicious apples are grown here in Azerbaijan. The autumn season begins with the harvest - the best varieties of apples are carefully collected in boxes and sent not only to the domestic market, but also exported to the nearest countries.

Apple is a symbol of Guba region. Everything there is devoted to this juicy fruit. There are more than 40 different varieties of apples there.  

Moreover, apple Festival is celebrated annually in Guba since 2012. The festival features Azerbaijani fruit-cuisine, mainly the apples from Guba.

At the holiday, exhibitions are held where gardeners demonstrate different varieties of apples and various products from them.

Farmers and gardeners bring to the festival their best apples, to compete in various competitions, such as the biggest apple or the most delicious apple jam.

The annual festival attracts visitors from across the country and foreign travelers.

Scientifically known to be full of minerals and vitamins, apples have powerful health benefits as they can protect against serious diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer and more. 

Their high fiber content has been shown to help improve cholesterol levels. These juicy fruits are high in fiber and Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C and many others. Apples are also low in calories and have no fat.

It is almost impossible to overestimate the beneficial properties of an apple for a person: this is a real treasure trove of vitamins and trace elements, the balance of which in the body contributes to its rejuvenation and is the basis of strong immunity.

Apple protects brain cells against oxidative stress and might help stave off Alzheimer's disease.

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)  has concluded that apple consumption reduces pancreatic cancer risk by 23 percent. Moreover, the peel of apples contains compounds that prevent the growth of cancer cells in the liver, breast and colon.

Apples are also useful for the prevention of high cholesterol. Even if the level is already elevated, the consumption of apples leads to its decrease.

After all, the soluble fiber contained in apples binds fats in the intestines, which protects against cholesterol and contributes to its reduction. If you eat two apples a day, you can quickly reduce cholesterol levels by 16 percent, while the apple diet reduces cholesterol in the blood by 30 percent.

Sour apples are richer in Vitamin C, they have a beneficial effect on the immune system, strengthen the walls of blood vessels, reduce their permeability to toxins, relieve swelling, and promote rapid recovery after a long illness.

Eating at least one apple a day protects against the formation of gallstones. Apples contribute to the prevention of gallbladder disease: with a mild choleretic effect, they help prevent cholelithiasis and cholecystitis.

If you already have problems with the gall bladder, then do not forget to drink fresh apple juice - half a glass or a glass 15-30 minutes before meals.

The benefits of baked apples are no less than freshly picked from a branch. Baked apples are a healthy dessert. First of all, baked apples are recommended for people suffering from digestive problems, constipation and dysbiosis.

During heat treatment, this fruit loses some of the vitamins, but is much better absorbed by the body, which ultimately leads to more efficient restoration of the blood and lymph composition, as well as the rapid absorption of bacteria in the intestines.

This property of baked apples is especially valuable during the rehabilitation period after abdominal operations, as well as in gastritis and gastric ulcer.

In the autumn and winter, the time of multiple acute respiratory infections, baked apples quickly reduce cough and relieve sore throat.

However, eating too many apples can have negative consequences, such as blood sugar spikes, allergic reaction and much more.

An open master class has been held at the National Conservatory as part of the 1st Republican Vocalist Festival.

During the master class, music professionals revealed the secrets of performing art and answered numerous questions of the festival participants.

At the event, rector of the National Conservatory, People's Artist Siyavush Karimi and the festival's artistic director, head of the Medeniyyet TV, Honored Artist Ramil Gasimov stressed the importance of holding a vocal festival, Trend Life reported. 

Next, the audience enjoyed a concert featuring teachers and students of the National Conservatory.

People's artist Gulnaz Ismayilova, Honored Artists Anar Shushaly, Zemfira Ismayilova, Aygun Zeynalova, Aliakhmad Ibrahimov, as well as students of the conservatory performed Azerbaijani and world classical music.

The Republican Festival of Vocalists will last until December 24. The festival aims at the development and promotion of Azerbaijani classical vocal music, the formation of a high musical taste among the young generation.

Within the framework of the festival, famous vocalists and talented young singers from the country's regions perform Azerbaijani and world classical music accompanied by the country's leading musical groups.

Europe Publishing House Commission has awarded fashion designer Gulnara Khalilova with a gold medal.

The award was presented for successful research activities in the preservation and development of the Azerbaijani national costume, the promotion of national and spiritual values, active social activities, etc.

The designer also received a diploma "Best Scientist Researcher, Patriot", Trend Life reported.

In different years, this prize was awarded for many Azerbaijani cultural figures, including the director of the National Art Museum  Chingiz Farzaliev, director of the State Academic National Drama Theater Israfil Israfilov, famous playwright, Agshin Babayev, Secretary of Azerbaijan Composers Union Zemfira Gafarova and others.

Gulnara Khalilova, the head of the Center of National Costumes, is a frequent guest of international fashion weeks. She is the two-times winner at Eurasian International Fashion Festival "Silk Road" held in China.

Her works are also very popular among Turkish public figures, representatives of culture and art such as Ajda Pekkan, Emrah Erdogan, Beyazit Ozturk, Soner Sarikabadayi, and others.

She also designed costume for Azerbaijan's 2013 Eurovision representative Farid Mammadov and created hand panel with the official mascots of the EuroGames.

During the opening of Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, Champion of the European Games Ilham Zakiyev was in national dress, created by the designer which was a novelty in the history of the Olympic movement.

Khalilova is the author of a number of books dedicated to the traditions of clothing, including the history of Azerbaijan national clothing, the textbooks and catalogs for higher education institutions.

In 2014-2015 she worked as a teacher at the State Academy of Fine Arts. Since 2017, she is teaching at  Khazar University. The designer also heads the Women's Entrepreneurship Development Association.

Azerbaijan produced 3,553.2 kg of gold in January-November 2019, up 10.5% from 2018, Report informs citing the State Statistical Committee.

As of December 1, 2019, the stocks of finished products stood at 342.6 kg.

Silver production increased 28.9% to 3,815.3 kg. Finished products made up 225.8 kg.

The winners of the project “Master’s programme on conveying technological knowledge to students studying in the oil, gas and petrochemical fields”, implemented in the framework of the Memorandum of Cooperation signed between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Italian oil and gas companyTechnipFMC, have been announced.

Report informs, citing the press service of the Higher School that the Memorandum of Cooperation provides for holding of events on improving knowledge and skills of the students who study in the field of oil and gas under the master’s programme, as well as implementation of joint projects in the fields of science, technology and education.

The Winners’ Announcement Ceremony was attended by representatives of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, TechnipFMC, Baku Higher Oil School, the Italian Embassy, Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University and other organizations.

At the event, Director of the International Relations Department of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Soltan Mammadov spoke about the purpose of the training programme. He noted that this programme is one of the significant projects aiming to contribute to the education, environment and technology sector of the country, conveying technological and industrial innovations to Azerbaijani students and professionals, improving their knowledge and skills.

At the initial stage of the three-stage project, 50 students from Azerbaijan took part in the courses, 25 of whom were fourth-year students of Baku Higher Oil School majoring in Petroleum & Chemical Engineering. At the first stage, trainings were conducted on five modules for 6 weeks. At the end of the trainings, 15 students were selected for the master's programme.11 of them are students of Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS), and the remaining 4 are students of Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University. The winning students will study at further education courses in France, Italy and Norway for 2 months.

Speaking at the ceremony, Rector of Baku Higher Oil School ElmarGasimov noted that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, headed by First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva, set a goal to develop the education sector to a level that meets the requirements of a globalized world and to form the material, technical and intellectual base for the implementation of the national model of education. The rector expressed gratitude to the leadership of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Technip FMC for the trust placed in the youth and BHOS students. He noted that such projects are of great importance in terms of improving the knowledge and skills of young people. E. Gasimov advised the students who were selected for the master’s programme to honorably represent Azerbaijan abroad.

Then, the representative of Technip FMC and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy to AzerbaijanAugusto Massari spoke at the event. They emphasized the importance of the master's program and noted the high intellectual potential of the selected students.

Within the event, a presentation of the winning projects of the students who had been selected for Baku Higher Oil School’s master programme was held. The project aimed at protecting the environment, provided for the development of bioplastic products.

At the end of the event, the participants who had successfully completed the respective stage of the program were awarded certificates.

Azerbaijani judokas claimed 121 medals in international competitions in 2019.

Report informs citing the Judobase that 31 medals were gold, 33 silver, 57 were bronze. With this indicator, Azerbaijan ranked 17th.

Russia is leading with 510 medals (144-133-233).

Notably, the ranking is based on the results of the official competitions among adults, youth, and teenagers.