Hajj 2026: Saudi Arabia Introduces Electronic Pilgrim Tracking System for Hajj For the first time this year, new digital systems will monitor pilgrim movement in and out of the Mina camps.

E-hajj tracking

A pro-Iran hacking group that has been relentlessly targeting American companies with DDoS attacks claims it disrupted Bluesky with what the social media site called a “sophisticated” attack that “intensified” on Thursday.

Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI): Terror by text? Counter-terror police are investigating whether "Iranian proxies" are behind a string of arson attacks in London as officers warn "thugs for hire" are carrying out attacks.

from @skynewsrss.bsky.social

AI music sensation sparks racism debate.

The sultry songs of Lolita Cercel, a Romanian AI-generated singer, have racked up millions of views online -- but angered real-life musicians and drawn criticism from the Roma minority

u.afp.com/SEHP

Graph from NetBlocks showing network connectivity in Iran from 24 February 2026 to 21 April 2026. The y-axis represents normalized connectivity, ranging from 0% to 100%, and the x-axis represents the dates. The green line representing Iran's connectivity is high through the initial time period, with a sharp drop on the morning of 28 February. The continued drop in connectivity aligns with a nation-scale internet blackout imposed by authorities after joint military strikes by the US and Israel. A brief restoration was observed on 18 March. The minimum and current connectivity levels are indicated as 1% and 1%, respectively. The chart has a dark background with a red horizontal arrow labeled 'SHUTDOWN' indicating the disruption period, and the NetBlocks logo in the lower left corner with the Mapping Internet Freedom slogan.

📵 The #Iran internet blackout is now in its 53rd day after 1248 hours of disconnection from global networks. As authorities work to develop tiered access for select users and businesses, the human impacts and economic harms of this digital censorship measure continue to spiral.

British universities paid security firm to ‘spy’ on pro-Palestine students Investigation reveals how Horus, a company led by ex-military intelligence officials, was hired during protest movement.

British universities paid security firm to ‘spy’ on pro-Palestine students… Firm, has been paid at least 440,000 pounds ($594,000) by universities since 2022. www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/...

Inside Iran: Daily life during a ceasefire For those inside Iran, an internet blackout has made communication with the outside world extremely difficult.

Inside #Iran - from @skynewsrss.bsky.social

CEO of Palantir Says AI Will Seize Power Away From College-Educated Women Palantir CEO Alex Karp said AI would disrupt "humanities trained" and "Democratic voters" who are largely women.

Some techbros are more open about their politics than others. But the politics are pretty similar all round.

Staunch Trump Supporters Are Now Asking if He’s the Antichrist The Iran war and a series of social media posts, including one depicting Trump as Jesus Christ, have some conservative commentators and fans suspecting the president may be the antichrist.

The Iran war and a series of social media posts, including one depicting Trump as Jesus Christ, have some conservative commentators and fans suspecting the president may be the antichrist.

Video of Muslim women calling for Brighton beach to be dog-free is AI – Full Fact A fake video that appears to show two women wearing niqabs saying “the UK has too many dogs” has been viewed over 1.7 million times, with many people seemingly thinking it is genuine.

A video viewed over 1.7 million times appears to show an interview with two Muslim women saying people shouldn’t bring dogs to the beach.

It’s generated a huge amount of negative engagement and comments, but it’s fake. It’s been created with AI.

A tweet from Pope Leo XIV that reads: “When simulation becomes the norm, it weakens the human capacity for discernment. As a result, our social bonds close in upon themselves, forming self-referential circuits that no longer expose us to reality. We thus come to live within bubbles, impermeable to one another. Feeling threatened by anyone who is different, we grow unaccustomed to encounter and dialogue. In this way, polarization, conflict, fear and violence spread. What is at stake is not merely the risk of error, but a transformation in our very relationship with truth.”

Apparently the Pope has read Baudrillard.

Government Workers Say They’re Getting Inundated With Religion “This has never happened before,” one government employee tells WIRED. “I have never gotten a message like this from anyone.”

“This has never happened before,” one government employee tells WIRED. “I have never gotten a message like this from anyone.”

Many of us lost loved ones to Covid and many of us struggled with the virus when we caught it.

People claiming it was a "staged event" are dangerous conspiracy theorists who don't care at all about the victims of that terrible event. The idea they're standing as representatives is horrific.

Bogus websites, staged protests and pretend atheists: Inside the fake asylum industry In the second part of an undercover investigation, the BBC exposes elaborate deceptions being used to bolster fake asylum claims.

online dimensions here:

Bogus websites, staged protests and pretend atheists: Inside the fake asylum industry www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Effective 🧵 here from @alanlester.bsky.social …

In other news … ☕️

Graph from NetBlocks showing network connectivity in Iran from 24 February 2026 to 15 April 2026. The y-axis represents normalized connectivity, ranging from 0% to 100%, and the x-axis represents the dates. The green line representing Iran's connectivity is high through the initial time period, with a sharp drop on the morning of 28 February. The continued drop in connectivity aligns with a nation-scale internet blackout imposed by authorities after joint military strikes by the US and Israel. A brief restoration was observed on 18 March. The minimum and current connectivity levels are indicated as 1% and 1%, respectively. The chart has a dark background with a red horizontal arrow labeled 'SHUTDOWN' indicating the disruption period, and the NetBlocks logo in the lower left corner with the Mapping Internet Freedom slogan.

📵 #Iran's internet blackout is now entering its 47th day after 1104 hours without international connectivity for the general public.

The measure continues to severely limit Iranians' ability to check on the safety of friends and loved ones across borders.

“Centrist dad club” is a neat term used in this interesting article from @politico.eu

Trump deletes social media post depicting him as Jesus and says he thought image was 'a doctor' amid Pope Leo feud | LBC The President told reporters that he did post the image but that he

Trump deletes social media post depicting him as Jesus and says he thought image was 'a doctor' amid Pope Leo feud www.lbc.co.uk/article/trum...

Occupying South Lebanon: Where Have the Lebanese Villages Gone on Apple Maps? egyptianchronicles.blogspot.com/2026/04/occu... #Lebanon #Israel #Mideast

'Deranged': Critics Pounce After Trump Posts 'Blasphemous' New Image Of Himself The president posted an AI image of himself as a Christ-like figure healing a man.

Donald Trump took a break from his new feud with Pope Leo XIV to apparently offer Christians an alternative: himself.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/derang...

Graph from NetBlocks showing network connectivity in Iran from 24 February 2026 to 13 April 2026. The y-axis represents normalized connectivity, ranging from 0% to 100%, and the x-axis represents the dates. The green line representing Iran's connectivity is high through the initial time period, with a sharp drop on the morning of 28 February. The continued drop in connectivity aligns with a nation-scale internet blackout imposed by authorities after joint military strikes by the US and Israel. A brief restoration was observed on 18 March. The minimum and current connectivity levels are indicated as 1% and 1%, respectively. The chart has a dark background with a red horizontal arrow labeled 'SHUTDOWN' indicating the disruption period, and the NetBlocks logo in the lower left corner with the Mapping Internet Freedom slogan.

⏱️ It's now day 45 of #Iran's internet blackout, with international connectivity severed for over 1056 hours. Regime figures and whitelisted influencers post freely on social media while they silence a population of 90 million whom they claim to serve.

Iran war: We spoke to the man making Lego-style AI videos that experts say are powerful propaganda

More details on the previous post on Lego AI propaganda:

Top Comment - Iran, slopaganda, and the lego-inspired creator behind it all - BBC Sounds Explosive Media are accused of working for the Iranian government

A great discussion on #Iran #Lego ‘slopification‘ - including an interview with ‘Mr Explosive‘. I’m writing about all this as part of my next book. @mariannaspringbbc.bsky.social @mattashea.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

These enormous wind turbine projects would damage Wales – and all to supply the rest of the UK with energy | Simon Jenkins Labour’s deals with private companies will ride roughshod over a wilderness so remote there are no people to defend it, says Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins

These enormous wind turbine projects would damage Wales – and all to supply the rest of the UK with energy | Simon Jenkins

Red flag. Al-Isharah Deaf Umrah

From BBC Heart and Soul:

“Deaf Umrah” - also check this on Instagram (where there are some clips)

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Significant analysis @newrepublic.com

Clever critique…

Quite a moment: Melania becomes the first member of the administration trying to distract the public’s attention back to Epstein in order to get them to stop talking about Iran.