Blogger’s Note: Having accessed a Chinese-language version of this text, it is clear that it has been published to honour the upcoming “Year of the
UK: Weird Things Happening in England – Bank-Hole Bar Protest! (21.1.2026)
Following the bar’s installation, one local commented on a Facebook post highlighting the bar’s installation: “I’m assuming this has been constructed to allow two people to pass through the hole at the same time, thus cutting down the queuing time down Bath Street.
Another wrote: “So who is going to be the first person to get stuck in the hole and have to be rescued by our brave fire brigade?”
A third added: “Council asked “how can we make money from this” and someone suggested the council should turn it into a bar.”
“I hear it is being turned into a HMO on the top half and a Turkish barbers at the bottom,” wrote another.
The bank are yet to publicly comment on or justify the reasons behind the installation, with many locals left baffled by the high street addition.
The swift pushback from locals and fans of the ‘Bank [trade name omitted] Hole’ alike quickly caught the attention of local MP Adam Thompson.
In a written response, the MP wrote that the hole had become an “iconic symbol” of the town, noting the bar’s installation had raised “concern and speculation among Ilkeston residents”.
“The hole is well known locally and has become something of a landmark,” he continued, insisting the whole is “one of those small quirks that contributes to Ilkeston’s unique character and identity.”
“I believe I speak for many residents in saying there is relief the pole has been removed,” he said.
Adding: “that being said, I’d appreciate some clarification as to why the pole was installed in the first place, and, if possible, the reason for its removal.”
Australia: Prominent [White] Activist -Robert Martin – Reverts to Islam! (20.1.2026)
During the event, Martin provided an extensive account of his childhood, describing a background shaped by neglect, instability, and prolonged periods within state care during the 1970s. He said he was frequently left unattended as an infant, prompting intervention by neighbours and authorities before being placed into institutional care.
He was adopted at the age of four, but said his early experiences had already resulted in deep psychological trauma. According to Martin, behavioural issues during childhood were often treated as personal failings rather than symptoms of neglect, a pattern he said reflected the limitations of welfare and mental health systems at the time.
By his early teens, Martin said he was regularly consuming alcohol and struggling at school. He reported being expelled from multiple institutions and later spending time in juvenile detention, including on his 16th birthday.
UK: Judicial Review Launched Against NHS for Adopting Israel Lobby Antisemitism Definition! (20.1.2026)
RTP argues that the central issue surrounding the IHRA definition is the “defence of free expression”.
A spokesperson for RTP said: “The NHS must be a place grounded in clinical evidence, ethical debate, and human dignity – not political policing.”
Israel and antisemitism
Critics have pointed out that seven of the eleven examples attached to the IHRA definition refer specifically to Israel, which yet again presents the issue of conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism.
A few examples from the IHRA definition include:”Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis,” or “…claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.”
The IHRA definition has also been heavily criticised by Ken Stern, the American Jewish Committee’s antisemitism expert, who led its drafting more than two decades ago.
Stern had previously urged the American Bar Association not to adopt the definition, as he claimed it has been used as “a blunt instrument to label anyone an antisemite”.
In 2017, Stern told the US Congress that there was a double standard present in the application of the IHRA definition because there are pro-Israel groups which freely deny the Palestine the right to exist as a self-determined state and Palestinian people.
If successful, the judicial review may extend well beyond the NHS, potentially affecting a range of other public institutions in the UK that have adopted the IHRA definition.
Over 40 British Muslim Cyclists Ride Historic Hijrah Route to Raise Money for Palestine! (20.1.2026)
The event also marked the start of the Islamic Hijri calendar, a lunar calendar consisting of twelve lunar months, holding deep religious significance for Muslims worldwide.
Cyclists depart
“What began with a shaky start, broken pedals, loose chains and a few punctures became a powerful reminder that no challenge is too big when brothers stand together. With the support team always ready, every setback was fixed, every rider lifted, and unity carried the group forward,” the charity said following their first day of riding.
The reason why M2H are embarking on this journey is to raise funds for Palestine, a cause they have labelled “a crisis beyond imagination”.
PFLP: Between Trump’s Madness & America’s Madness! (19.1.2026)
The Americans believe this is the cure for their madness: cornering China between the Pacific and Indian Oceans, forcing it to submit to its American master. A madman cannot be sane! He has overturned standards and laws, waged wars of annihilation, assassinated heads of state, and imprisoned presidents. He no longer recognizes the existence of international bodies and institutions, to the point that European leaders have spoken of their fear that America might bomb NATO countries. The equation is: control of resources is the key to control, or if you prefer, call it neo-colonialism. It’s a mad party, but it’s not inevitable.
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 