Al-Azhar University, under the direction of Grand Imam Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, has sent its 11th humanitarian convoy to Gaza. The aid includes thousands of tons of food, medicine, baby formula, blankets, and 1,000 fully equipped tents. Dr. Al-Tayeb, also Director of Baitul Zakat and Sadaqah, issued a global call: “Strive with your wealth to support Palestine.” Those wishing to contribute can do so through Al-Azhar’s official charity, which ensures aid reaches Gaza directly.

Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has reiterated his call for Malaysia to support Bangladesh’s efforts to gain membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The appeal came during a meeting on Sunday with Nurul Izzah Anwar, Vice President of Malaysia’s People’s Justice Party. Both leaders expressed condolences over the recent tragic aviation accident.

Professor Yunus emphasized that Bangladesh is undergoing a reform process, stating, “Our students have risked their lives to overthrow the autocratic Hasina regime.” He added, “While much of Asia faces rapid aging, Bangladesh has a vibrant and youthful population. We invite investment in our industries and encourage exports from Bangladesh. Such cooperation will benefit both our economies.”

Iraq’s most prominent Shia religious leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, has voiced grave concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In a statement, he said, “In nearly two years of relentless killing and destruction, hundreds of thousands have been killed or wounded. Cities and residential areas have been devastated.”

Al-Sistani warned that famine in Gaza has reached critical levels, stating, “No age group or social class is being spared from the effects of hunger and deprivation.” He emphasized that the brutality of Israeli occupation forces in displacing Palestinians is not new, but part of a continued pattern of aggression.

He also underscored the importance of international involvement in ending the crisis. “It is the moral and religious duty of the global community, particularly Arab and Muslim nations, to ensure that this humanitarian disaster does not continue,” the cleric said.

Armenia has rejected a U.S.-backed proposal for a land corridor through its southern Syunik Province that would allow Azerbaijan to connect its mainland with the Nakhchivan exclave.

The proposal included leasing the corridor for 100 years, with a U.S. company managing it. Armenia has strongly opposed the plan, viewing it as a threat to its sovereignty. Opposition parties argue that the initiative is part of a broader effort by Azerbaijan and Turkey to isolate Armenia by severing its land link with Iran.

Critics say the so-called “peace corridor” is a strategic project that aligns with long-standing geopolitical ambitions of Azerbaijan and Turkey.

U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Thailand and Cambodia to implement an immediate ceasefire amid rising border tensions. Trump confirmed he had spoken to the leaders of both nations and that they agreed to engage in peace talks.

Thailand’s Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed the ceasefire agreement but stressed, “Thailand wants to see genuine sincerity from the Cambodian side.”

Trump further stated, “Once peace is established, I look forward to completing trade deals with both nations.” Malaysia’s Prime Minister had earlier expressed interest in mediating between the two countries.

Despite progress in political reform under the Yunus administration, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has expressed ongoing concerns about religious freedom in Bangladesh.

In its report, USCIRF noted that although the Constitution guarantees religious freedom, laws such as Section 295A of the Penal Code—relating to blasphemy—are still in effect. Moreover, certain provisions of the 2023 Cyber Security Act criminalize content that may hurt religious sentiments.

The report also labeled BNP as a conservative party due to its past affiliations with Jamaat-e-Islami and its constitutional push to include “absolute trust and faith in Almighty Allah.” Some women have reported increased visibility of conservative Islamist ideologies on university campuses. Barriers faced by the Women's Commission were also mentioned.

At least five people were killed in a grenade attack on a judicial building in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province, including a one-year-old child and their mother. Security forces later engaged the assailants in a shootout, killing three of them.

Deputy police commander Alireza Daliri stated that the attackers entered the building disguised as visitors and launched the assault shortly afterward. A Pakistan-based group, Jaish al-Adl, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The region has long been home to Iran’s Sunni Baluch minority, who frequently allege political marginalization and systemic discrimination.

Following the intelligence failure on October 7, 2023, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have decided to mandate Arabic language and Islamic studies training for all members of their military intelligence branch, Aman. According to The Jerusalem Post, the move aims to enhance analytical capabilities within the force. By 2025, 100% of personnel will be trained in Islamic studies, and at least 50% will be proficient in Arabic, including dialects used in Yemen and Iraq. A senior IDF official admitted their current knowledge of local languages, cultures, and religions is insufficient. To address this, a new training division will be established, and the previously defunct “Telem” learning center will be revived.

More than 220 Members of the UK Parliament—including members of the ruling Labour Party—have urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to formally recognize Palestine as a sovereign state. In a joint letter signed by MPs from nine different parties, they called for the UK to support Palestinian statehood during the upcoming UN summit in New York on July 28–29. The letter referenced Britain’s historical role in the Balfour Declaration and the creation of Israel, stating the time has come to recognize Palestine. While Starmer has yet to respond, experts believe this mounting parliamentary pressure could influence future foreign policy.

Israel has permitted foreign nations to send humanitarian aid into Gaza’s blockaded areas, according to a report from the Israeli Army Radio citing military officials. However, restrictions remain to prevent the aid from reaching Hamas. Aid flow into Gaza had been halted since March, resulting in widespread hunger and the deaths of over 100 people. UNICEF reported that 5,000 children received treatment for severe malnutrition in the first two weeks of July, while 48 more people died from starvation that month. The World Health Organization has labeled the situation a "man-made famine."

During a meeting in Washington with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Pakistan’s "unmatched sacrifice" in the fight against terrorism. The two leaders discussed bilateral relations, trade, investment, and regional peace. Dar emphasized Pakistan’s desire for a strong and sustainable partnership with the U.S. Previously, Trump hosted Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir at the White House, acknowledging his role in de-escalating tensions with India. While Pakistan welcomed these efforts, India rejected them.

A youth from Malda, West Bengal—Amir Sheikh—was reportedly deported to Bangladesh for "speaking Bengali." Despite holding valid Indian voter and Aadhaar cards, Amir was detained while working in Rajasthan and accused of being Bangladeshi. He was imprisoned for two months before being sent across the border with the help of the BSF, without a court order. In a viral video, Amir tearfully declared his Indian nationality. The incident has sparked outrage in West Bengal, with allegations of human rights violations and a call for investigation.

Egypt’s Al-Azhar University was compelled to withdraw a strong statement condemning Israel for starving Palestinians in Gaza, reportedly under pressure from the Egyptian presidential office. The university said the statement might negatively affect ceasefire negotiations and thus rescinded it to help address urgent humanitarian needs. Ali Al-Qaradaghi, head of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, criticized the withdrawal as unjust. Meanwhile, human rights activists in the Netherlands and Egypt continue to protest the blockade and closure of Gaza's borders.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed deep concern over the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, describing the suffering there as "indescribable and indefensible." He announced plans to consult with leaders of Germany and France to address the crisis. Starmer urged Israel to lift aid restrictions and called for an immediate ceasefire. He emphasized that recognizing a Palestinian state is a fundamental right and a necessary first step toward a two-state solution. The UK, along with 28 other countries, has already condemned Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

SpaceX's satellite-based internet service, Starlink, suffered a massive global outage lasting nearly two and a half hours, impacting more than six million users across over 140 countries. The disruption was caused by a software malfunction, confirmed by Starlink’s Head of Engineering, Michael Nicolls. Elon Musk also addressed the issue on X, expressing regret and assuring a permanent fix. Analysts are calling it the most significant outage in Starlink’s history. Since its launch in 2020, Starlink has deployed over 8,000 satellites, providing internet access to remote areas worldwide.