Category: Azer News

Coca-Cola stock soared to a record high on Tuesday, jumping nearly 7%, after the beverage giant delivered stronger-than-expected second-quarter results, AzerNEWS reports.

The Atlanta-based company reported net revenue of $13.4 billion, an annual increase of 7%. Net income attributable to shareholders and diluted earnings per share climbed both 16% to $4.4 billion and $1.03, respectively. Operating income came in at $4.6 billion, up 9% from the same quarter last year.

According to data from Baha Wealth, Coca-Cola shares have been on a remarkable run, climbing 8.64% over the past month, 22.87% over the past six months, and an impressive 31.84% over the last year. The stock had already gained 2.24% in premarket today before extending gains after the opening bell to hit an all-time peak. Coca-Cola’s shares surged by 6.84% to $89.74 apiece at 9:57 am ET.

Previously unseen footage has emerged showing late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham expressing enthusiasm over the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran and discussing the possibility of American military involvement alongside Israel in Lebanon, AzerNEWS reports.

The video surfaced one day before Graham’s funeral is scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C. It was filmed by British documentary filmmaker Alex Holder, who spent the past three years following Graham for a documentary examining his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Holder was granted access to staff meetings on Capitol Hill as well as discussions involving Graham and several international leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

In one clip, recorded five days after the start of the war with Iran, Graham is seen watching Trump address reporters.

“I almost cried. How long have we been pushing this?” Graham asks members of his staff.

He then adds:

“[Trump] loves blowing stuff up.”

In another recording, Graham is shown speaking with Netanyahu over the phone on speaker.

“I’m just so impressed. Glad to be your friend,” Graham tells the Israeli prime minister.

During the conversation, Graham appears to suggest encouraging Washington to become more directly involved in Israel’s military operations in Lebanon.

“I’m going to try to get him to join with y’all in Lebanon to maybe fly some with you. Would you like that?” Graham says.

The footage was recorded while Israel was intensifying its military operations in Lebanon alongside its campaign against Iran. The documentary has drawn attention for offering an unusually close look at Graham’s private conversations and foreign policy discussions with senior political leaders.

Britain and France are reluctant to participate in a proposed international naval mission to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, seeking first to see a sustained ceasefire in the conflict with Iran, AzerNEWS reports, citing Politico.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called on European allies to take the lead in a coalition tasked with clearing mines from the strategically important waterway and escorting commercial vessels.

The United States and the United Kingdom are also discussing the possibility of holding an international conference in London on maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz. However, officials cited by the source do not expect significant progress in the near term.

European governments remain concerned about Washington’s handling of the conflict with Iran. Besides, European countries were dissatisfied that the United States did not inform them in advance about the launch of U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran in February. Against this backdrop, European governments are reluctant to commit to what could become a high-risk military operation without assurances that hostilities will not resume.

British Defense Secretary John Healey said London had not participated, and would not participate, in offensive U.S. military operations against Iran. At the same time, he stressed Britain’s support for maintaining freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, holding significant strategic importance as approximately 20% of global oil supplies and around 25% of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports pass through it. Essentially, it serves as an energy artery for countries in Asia, Europe, and even the United States.

The strait separates Iran from Oman, and in some areas, the width of the shipping channel is only two miles on each side. Given its critical role in global energy supply chains, ensuring the safety and security of this vital waterway is paramount for international trade and economic stability.

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday that the West “believed it would be able to subjugate” his country, but failed to do so, AzerNEWS reports.

Russia is currently “being tested” for strength, especially in the economic sphere, Medvedev went on. At the same time, he stressed that the primary task of Russia’s political forces is to preserve the nation.

“They don’t like our country,” Medvedev declared. “It’s big, strong, proud, self-sufficient, and impossible to control.”

Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry confirmed that its forces, “in coordination with the US Central Command,” attacked “Iran-aligned” militias in Iraq, AzerNEWS reports.

Saudi forces “conducted precise and targeted strikes against objectives belonging to those militias located on the territory of the Republic of Iraq and linked to the attacks on petroleum facilities in the Kingdom,” the statement on X said.

“The Kingdom emphasizes that it does not seek escalation but will respond to any aggression it faces,” it added.

Azerbaijan’s Wing Chun team won multiple gold and silver medals at the International Wing Chun Competition in Foshan, People’s Republic of China, with athletes excelling in the Chi Sao (free fighting) and Taolu events across senior, junior, and masters’ divisions, AzerNEWS reports.

In the senior division, Aydin Sayadli (60 kg), Elvin Hasanov (65 kg), and Farid Mursalov (75 kg) captured gold medals in the Chi Sao category. In the Taolu program, Azer Sahibi won gold, while Emil Aliyev earned silver.

Among the juniors, Maryam Mahal (60 kg), Khadija Habib (65 kg), and Elmar Nazarov (80 kg) secured gold medals in Chi Sao. Elnur Karimov (56 kg) claimed silver. In the Taolu competition, Khalid Aliyev took gold, while Naile Aliyeva won silver.

In the Masters division, Asif Sayadov finished first in the Taolu event, adding another gold medal to Azerbaijan’s successful campaign.

Wing Chun is a traditional Chinese martial art that emphasizes efficiency, speed, and close-range combat. It is based on direct movements, balance, and timing rather than physical strength, making it suitable for practitioners of different ages and body types. The style is known for its rapid hand techniques, precise footwork, and the ability to redirect an opponent’s force instead of meeting it with power.

A key part of Wing Chun training is Chi Sao, or “sticky hands,” a partner exercise that develops sensitivity, reflexes, coordination, and the ability to respond quickly during close-contact exchanges. In competitions, Chi Sao may include controlled free-fighting elements that test an athlete’s technique, timing, and tactical skills.

Another major discipline is Taolu, which consists of choreographed forms performed individually. These routines showcase an athlete’s technical accuracy, balance, coordination, power, and overall understanding of Wing Chun principles. Taolu competitions are judged on precision, control, and execution.

Wing Chun is practiced around the world as both a martial art and a competitive sport. International tournaments bring together athletes from different countries to compete in Chi Sao and Taolu events across various age groups and weight categories, helping to promote the art’s technical traditions and global development.

Azerbaijan Wing Chun Martial Art Federation is responsible for organizing national championships, selecting national teams, and representing Azerbaijan in international Wing Chun organizations. It is a member of the World Wing Chun Union (WWCU) and the International Wing Chun Organization (IWCO).

Wing Chun was introduced to Azerbaijan in 2008 by Asif Sayadov, who currently serves as president of the Azerbaijan Wing Chun Federation.

The federation was officially established and registered in 2018 and has since been responsible for promoting and developing the sport nationwide, organizing national competitions, and preparing athletes for international events.

Azerbaijan’s Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev held a meeting with Kazakhstan’s Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauranbayev, Chairman of the Management Board of Samruk-Kazyna Nurlan Zhakupov, and Chairman of the Management Board of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy Eljas Otynshev, AzerNEWS reports.

According to Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, the meeting focused on expanding cooperation along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor), including investment opportunities in ferry vessels, increasing cargo transportation by road, and the project to lay a subsea fiber-optic cable across the Caspian Sea.

The sides also exchanged views on a draft agreement on the development of the Middle Corridor and ongoing efforts to digitalize the route.

The Middle Corridor is a multimodal trade route connecting China and Southeast Asia to Europe. It spans roughly 8,000 to 10,000 km across Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey, delivering goods in 10 to 18 days as an alternative to Russian and maritime routes.

Iran Armed Forces’ Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters spokesperson, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, warned countries and companies against accepting reimbursements paid with frozen Iranian assets, AzerNEWS reports.

“All companies and countries that welcome [United States President Donald] Trump’s proposal and use Iran’s blocked assets” will be banned from transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the military spokesman stressed.

Earlier, Trump announced that Washington will start using Iran’s assets to pay for all damages done to ships and cargo.

United States President Donald Trump announced that, “from this point forth,” Washington will be using Iranian money it “controls” to pay for all damages done to ships, cargo, or anything related.

The frozen assets will cover the damages “until further notice,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“These damages may be very substantial but, nevertheless, this is the fair and equitable thing to do,” he added.

The internet’s favorite orphaned macaque, Punch, has celebrated his first birthday in Japan, receiving more than 2,500 birthday cards from fans across the globe after winning millions of hearts with his remarkable story of resilience, AzerNEWS reports, citing foreign media.

Born on July 26, 2025, at the Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Garden in Chiba Prefecture, Punch was abandoned by his mother shortly after birth, likely because she was exhausted. Zoo keepers hand-raised the infant and gave him a plush orangutan to help him develop the gripping instinct essential for young macaques. The toy soon became his constant companion and source of comfort.

Earlier this year, photos and videos of the young monkey tightly hugging his stuffed orangutan while struggling to integrate with his troop spread rapidly across social media. The emotional images inspired the hashtag #HangInTherePunch, turning the little macaque into an international symbol of perseverance and hope.

Since then, Punch has made remarkable progress. According to zoo officials, the one-year-old macaque has successfully settled into the troop, regularly playing with and grooming other monkeys. While he still sleeps with his beloved plush companion, he no longer depends on it throughout the day, a positive sign of his growing confidence and social development.

To mark the milestone, the zoo displayed thousands of birthday cards sent by admirers from around the world.

The celebrations also attracted visitors who traveled specifically to see Punch, whose journey from a lonely orphan to a thriving member of his troop continues to inspire people of all ages.

SpaceX shares were down 3.8% on Monday, hitting another low as the tech giant struggled to maintain momentum in the aftermath of its grand debut. At the same time, the company is set to report its first quarterly results on August 4, AzerNEWS reports.

The latest downturn in SpaceX’s stock price could indicate that investors are concerned about the value of its AI business.

At 9:59 am ET, the tech giant’s shares decreased 3.88% to sell for $110.6400 apiece.