Day: June 14, 2024

Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard R. Verma will travel to Yerevan, Armenia from June 17-19, Trend reports via the US State Department.

He will participate in the U.S.-Armenia Local Government Forum on Democracy and meet with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.

“This visit reflects our intention to further strengthen bilateral ties with the Armenian people. Deputy Secretary Verma will lead a delegation of state and local officials representing California, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, and Pennsylvania. He will be accompanied by Special Representative for City and State Diplomacy Nina Hachigian, who leads the new subnational diplomacy team at the State Department, and Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs Sarah Morgenthau,” reads a message from the US State Department.

Reportedly, the delegation will engage across the public and private sector and with civil society organizations.

Source: Trend News Agency

Global oil markets experienced a decline in prices.

The price of Brent crude oil on the London ICE (InterContinental Exchange Futures) dropped by $0.38 to trade at $82.37, while the price of Light crude oil on the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange) decreased by $0.47 to stand at $78.15.

Source: Azerbaijan State News Agency

Germany hopes to boost its tourism revenue as it will host the UEFA European Football Championship this year, according to Anadolu Agency.

The 17th UEFA Euro championship, Europe’s most important football event, will be held in Germany between June 14 and July 14 in 10 different German cities, which is anticipated to bring many economic benefits to the country.

Around 3 million fans will visit the 10 German host cities for Euro 2024, where they will spend on food and drinking, as well as accommodation.

The cities hosting the sports events are Munich, Dortmund, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Leipzig, Stuttgart, Cologne, and Berlin.

Reinhard Meyer, the president of the German Tourism Association, told Anadolu that the Euro 2024 is more than a major sports event; it is also an opportunity for Germany as a hospitable travel destination to revive its tourism.

Jrgenn Amann, managing director of KolnTourismus, stated that they expect the event to have a positive economic impact on the hotel and
retail sectors, as well as Germany’s image.

The German Retail Federation estimates pound 3.8 billion ($4 billion) in additional sales during the event.

The Euro 2024 championship is not expected to contribute to the growth momentum of the German economy, according to an analysis by the Halle Institute for Economic Research.

It stated that the German economy did not grow after the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and this year’s UEFA Euro event is estimated to have a similar effect.

The analysis noted that approximately 650,000 soccer fans from abroad are expected to attend the event, while other tourists will avoid the tournament due to high hotel costs.

UEFA has so far benefited most from the tournament while German host cities will see the outcome of their spending for Euro 2024.

The UEFA expects over $1 billion in revenues from ticket sales, broadcasting rights, and tax exemptions.

Some 2.7 million tickets are on sale for 51 matches for Euro 2024, with prices starting from around $30 for the group stage matches
, and around $1,000 for the final.

Source: Azerbaijan State News Agency

BAKU: Iran imported $92 million worth of car tires in the first two months of the current Iranian calendar year (March to May 2024), marking a 76 percent increase compared to the same period last year, Trend reports.

Total value of car tires imported during the first two months of the previous Iranian calendar year (March to May 2023) was over $52 million.

The import of tires in the first two months of the current Iranian calendar year (beginning March 21, 2024) showed an 89 percent increase in terms of weight compared to the same period last year.

Iran’s tire industry has a 60-year history. Currently, there are 11 tire manufacturing companies in the country producing tires for passenger cars, trucks, buses, vans, construction and agricultural machinery, as well as bicycles and motorcycles, in addition to various types of tubes.

Approximately 15,000 people are directly employed in this industry, with over 250,000 people indirectly involved in its value chain.

Despite ongoing sanctions, the coronavirus pa
ndemic, and certain domestic restrictions, Iran’s tire industry has been thriving and successful in recent years.

In addition to achieving significant production outputs, Iranian tire manufacturers have ventured into new areas, including the production of wide-base tires and SUV tires.

Wide-base tires, a new generation of heavy vehicle tires, have been produced for the first time in West Asia by Iranian manufacturers.

Source: Trend News Agency

BAKU: A solo exhibition ‘Voices of Silence’ by Aidan Salakhova, Azerbaijani and Russian artist, and a group exhibition ‘Unobservable dreams’ were presented at the YARAT Contemporary Art Space, Trend reports.

‘Voices of Silence’ marks Aidan Salakhova’s inaugural large-scale museum exhibition in Baku. Commissioned by YARAT, the exhibition confronts the globally pertinent issue of domestic violence while amplifying the voices of its victims. Through her project, the artist delves into the emotional terrain of domestic violence, illuminating the fears and despair experienced by victims. The exhibition showcases an installation comprising 12 towering jugs crafted from white stone aghlay glass, representing the artist’s maiden venture into incorporating local stone into her works.

At the heart of the exhibition lies the sound emanating from these jugs – each one briefly narrates the tragic stories of domestic violence victims spanning the past 12 years, shedding light on these issues not only in Azerbaijan but al
so in other nations. These voices create a poignant contrast between the aesthetic allure of the installation and the harrowing narratives, underscoring the imperative for society to acknowledge and combat instances of domestic violence.

Evoking a symbol of hope and remembrance, the installation ‘Voices of Silence’ prompts contemplation on denouncing all forms of violence and the imperative of actively combatting it. The exhibition provides an informative and secure space for fostering dialogue, comprehension, and solidarity, advocating for a society where silence surrounding domestic violence is shattered, and where individuals can live free from fear and violence.

‘Unobservable dreams’ focuses on the diverse realities of society and the contrasting desires arising from them. The exhibition explores how social values and economic prosperity are replaced by crises in a rapidly changing and unpredictable world, and how these changes impact different layers of society. This results in a more nuanced and compl
ex societal landscape, reflecting its sensitive and multifaceted nature.

The artists, adapting mythological references to contemporary realities, attempt to ‘voice’ the ‘unobservable’ dreams of their characters through their video works. The exhibition opens with Shalala Salamzade’s ‘Dystopia’, created in 2021 for the group exhibition ‘The City of the Sun’, based on Azerbaijani mythology. It depicts the need for people expelled from a dystopian place to return to an ideal place (utopia). Rasul Guliyev’s three-channel video ‘Endless race’, also part of the same exhibition, is inspired by the myth of ‘Pandora’s Box’, illustrating how hope compels people into an unending race.

Italian artist Ryts Monet, a YARAT resident in 2019, in his two-channel video, shares thoughts on a collective desire that can unite all nations in the Eurozone through currency, drawing parallels with the identical architectural and sculptural monuments built throughout the Soviet Union. German artist Timo Herbst, another YARAT resident
, in his video ‘Baku/Baki – Ana dili’, creates a differentiated and sensitive image of society. Georgian artist Vajiko Chachkhiani’s film ‘Shivering heart’ delves into a famous Georgian fairy tale, exploring unexamined narratives about family, national identity, and concepts of identity.

Completing the exhibition, the video ‘Astar’ (‘Back side’) by Zamir Suleymanov and Emin Azizbeyli from YARAT’s collection unveils the ‘inner life’ of Azerbaijani youth through the story of a young boy, addressing the theme of despair that arrives at a certain moment in life when desires and hopes are exhausted.

Source: Trend News Agency