Social service employees fired in Tashkent after incident with locked-in pensioner

Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron faced criticism from some South Africans after sharing memories of the violence she experienced in her childhood in the country. On the podcast The Interview Podcast, she recounted that every room in her home was equipped with steel security doors due to safety concerns.

The actress, who was born in South Africa, made these remarks while describing life in the country during the turbulent final years of apartheid. Theron stated that their home had steel doors in all rooms, and if someone entered through the front door, the kitchen was also protected by a steel door that needed to be opened.

She explained that such extensive security reflected the violence her family lived through at the time. Theron described it as 'meaningless violence,' similar to that which cannot be dialogued with, noting that the country was on the brink of civil war, which caused fear.

These statements sparked criticism on social media among parts of the South African population. Critics accused the actress of unfairly negatively portraying the country and argued that her description lacked broader historical context.

Among the critics was Dylan Miles, who stated that Theron's words reflect the perspective of someone shielded from the realities faced by most Black populations during apartheid. Miles noted that 'she was deeply privileged and protected. It looks like a very white supremacist worldview.' He added that while she calls it 'meaningless violence,' it was actually Black people fighting for liberation from people like her.

Peyman Pirán also criticized Theron's comments, stating that they fail to acknowledge the historical context of the struggle against apartheid. Pirán warned that 'from now on, Charlize Theron is on my boycott list for calling the fight against colonialism and apartheid 'meaningless violence.' If you cannot distinguish between the violence of the oppressed and the violence of the oppressors, then you are part of the system.'

Theron was born in Benoni, Gauteng, in 1975, and spent her childhood in South Africa before moving abroad to build a career as a model and actress.

A video from Udaipur, Rajasthan, is circulating widely on social media. The footage shows women in colorful attire walking through a market, carrying large pots on their heads, and then pouring dirty water in front of shop windows. The initial reaction of many observers was based on the assumption that the women were dissatisfied with the shopkeepers or were holding some kind of protest.

However, it turned out that this is not an act of conflict or objection, but rather part of a centuries-old folk tradition of the Mewar region. Local residents believe that performing this ritual pleases the god Indra and helps bring good rains. Therefore, every year during the monsoon season, this unique rite is celebrated with great enthusiasm, creating a festive atmosphere throughout the city.

In many parts of Rajasthan, when rainfall decreases or the monsoon weakens, people perform various folk rituals to appease the god Indra. The tradition involving women in Udaipur and its surroundings pouring dirty or stagnant water from pots onto shops and markets is also based on this belief. Local residents are convinced that this custom of breaking pots is a way of praying for good rain, and there is no anger or dispute involved. Shopkeepers are aware of this tradition and consider it auspicious; in some places, they even greet the women during this event, accompanying them with jokes.

During this ritual, the women dress in traditional Rajasthani attire and come out in groups, carrying large pots on their heads. Drums and nagaras sound, folk songs are performed, and the entire area is immersed in an atmosphere of celebration. Children, the elderly, and bystanders also participate in this event. The video that went viral on social media captures exactly such a scene: women moving through a busy market with pots and pouring water in front of shops. Although this may seem strange to those seeing it for the first time, for the locals, it is a cultural tradition that has existed for many years.

In an arid region like Rajasthan, rain has always played a vital role in life. Therefore, numerous folk rituals are conducted here to appease the god Indra. Sometimes special worships are held, sometimes processions are organized, and sometimes women and children wander through villages or towns singing folk songs. The goal of these traditions is not only religious faith but also the unification of people.

The Mewar region is known throughout the country for its colorful folk festivals and cultural events. Traditional events such as Gangor, Mewar Utsav, and greenery-related events are still celebrated with great enthusiasm here.

This video, which went viral on Instagram and other social media platforms, has been viewed by millions of users. Many users initially misinterpreted what was happening and asked why the women were pouring dirty water into the shops. However, residents of Udaipur and Rajasthan explained in the comments that this is an ancient folk tradition to summon rain and that it is not done with ill intent. Some viewed it as a wonderful example of India's cultural diversity, while many foreign users were also surprised by this unusual practice.

On the morning of this date, the installation of containment barriers began at the Tarajal border crossing quay. Police sources informed Efe that this number may include migrants who arrived in the autonomous city on days prior to the massive flow, as well as individuals who entered and exited more than once on Friday.

Additionally, the Spanish Ministry of the Interior informed Efe that at 7:50 local time, the assembly of containment barriers began at the Tarajal border quay. This action was announced by the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, on Friday, departing from Ceuta.

The central component of this system is a pneumatic barrier spanning 500 meters, featuring a surface height between 30 and 70 centimeters and a submerged section up to one meter deep. This structure is complemented by a first line of anchored buoys provided by the Navy. An intermediate channel was added to allow the Civil Guard vessels to ensure continuous protection of the pneumatic barrier.

Regarding the data on the massive entry of migrants from Morocco, the Ministry of the Interior registered 50,000 entries on the 30th, while the president of the autonomous city, Juan Jesús Vivas, estimated that this number could reach 60,000.

Interior sources reported this morning that the night in Ceuta passed normally, with entries having 'completely stopped,' although departures to Morocco continued. After the large influx on Thursday, thousands of people returned to the border on Friday to head to Morocco, motivated by various factors, including the agreement announced between Spain and Morocco for repatriation, as well as the lack of open shops or bars in Ceuta to meet their basic needs.

On the other hand, calm returned to the Melilla border fence after a night, the second consecutive night, of migratory pressure at different points of the perimeter and irregularly counted entries. This scenario generated intense movement of patrols and the use of anti-riot material to repel migrants.

According to Efe, one of the areas of greatest tension during the night was near the Beni-Enzar border post, the only operational one between Melilla and Morocco, which remains closed while more than a thousand travelers from Operation Strait Passage (OPE) await reopening. Entry attempts in this area were constant from before dusk until close to the first hour of the morning, carried out by groups of young Maghrebi migrants moving along the fence; some of these individuals caused damage to Moroccan surveillance garrisons and even started a fire near the perimeter.

On Thursday night, a total of 130 irregular entries were recorded in Melilla, 84 of them minors. This raised the number of people sheltered in the city's protection centers to 260, exceeding more than three times the maximum limit stipulated in the migration contingency declaration.

This Saturday, the Maritime Police and the Portuguese Navy announced the reinforcement of maritime border control, implementing daily and regular patrols both by sea and on land along the Algarve coast.

According to the Maritime Police, these actions are executed in a coordinated and integrated manner, aiming to ensure an apparatus both at sea and on land, strengthening the surveillance, detection, and interception of vessels that may be associated with illegal migration phenomena or other illicit activities.

The Maritime Police and the Navy emphasized that maritime security constitutes a shared mission and requested public collaboration, asking that any suspicious movement be reported to the Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC Lisbon) or the Local Command of the Maritime Police in the respective region.