Gujarat Allows Liquor In GIFT City Restaurants Offering "Wine And Dine"

In a first, the Gujarat government has allowed the consumption of liquor in hotels, restaurants and clubs offering "Wine and Dine" in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT), a government order from the Narcotics and Excise Department read.

In addition to this, a Liquor Access Permit will be given to all the employees or owners working in GIFT City through which they will be able to consume liquor in hotels/restaurants/clubs offering "Wine and Dine" in GIFT City, the order read.

Moreover, a provision has been made to allow authorized visitors of each company to consume liquor in such hotels, restaurants or clubs having temporary permits in the presence of permanent employees of that company.

Hotels, restaurants and clubs located or coming to GIFT City will also be able to obtain an FL3 license by which they can obtain a "Wine and Dine" facility, the order read.

Officially serving employees of GIFT City and officially visiting visitors can consume liquor in the hotels, clubs or restaurants. However, these hotels, clubs or restaurants will not have permission to sell liquor bottles, the order from the Narcotics and Excise Department read.

Gujarat has been a dry state since its formulation in 1960.

GIFT City is a world-class business district in Gujarat built to cater to global and domestic business enterprises.

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Wayfair CEO Calls For Longer Work Hours: "Winning Requires Hard Work"

Niraj Shah, Indian-American Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of online furniture firm Wayfair, curated a special message for his employees after the company yielded profitable results. According to CNN, in his note to employees, Mr Shah not only encouraged employees to work hard and be ambitious but also asked them to do more work and blend "work with life". He told them to not shy away from working long hours and added that there was no historical evidence which showed laziness led to success. 

"Winning requires hard work. I believe that most of us, being ambitious individuals, find fulfilment in the joy of seeing our efforts materialize into tangible results," the CEO said in a note to employees earlier this month, as per CNN. "Working long hours, being responsive, blending work and life, is not anything to shy away from. There is not a lot of history of laziness being rewarded with success," he added. 

According to Fortune, Mr Shah also added that the idea staff should not work was "laughably false". "Hard work is essential for success, and a key part of getting things done," the CEO said, adding, "Everyone deserves to have a great personal life - everyone manages that in their own way - ambitious people find ways to blend and balance the two". 

In his letter, Mr Shah also encouraged Wayfair employees to think of the company money they spend as their own and negotiate prices. "Would you spend money on that, would you spend that much money for that thing, does that price seem reasonable, and lastly - have you negotiated the price?" he wrote. 

The Indian-American CEO told employees in his email that the company is back to being profitable. "Together we can win much faster than we are winning now if we all row in this direction together. Let's be aggressive, pragmatic, frugal, agile, customer-oriented, and smart," he said. 

Also Read | Ex CEO Of Tech Mahindra Shares Valuable Insights As He Announces Retirement From Corporate Life

Meanwhile, on the internet, users called Mr Shah's note "toxic". "He's basically saying if you don't work late then you're lazy. Long hours don't prove anything about productivity. It just means you worked long hours!" wrote one Reddit user. "I love when these CEOs talk about 'winning' as if the employees get absolutely anything out of the company's profitability," said another. 

"If you're actually being compensated for your time, sure. If you're making an average salary but dealing with corporate BS, move on," expressed a third. "I'll sacrifice the life in work-life balance when the paycheck reflects that it is worth it. I doubt it is for anyone he is giving this lecture to (that he probably thinks is SO inspirational).," added another. 

Notably, Mr Shah is not the first CEO to glamourise overworking. Earlier, Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy said that India's work culture needs to change and youngsters should be prepared to work for 70 hours a week if the country has to compete effectively on the global stage. He stated that India's work productivity is one of the lowest in the world and asked the youth the contribute towards building the culture so that India can compete effectively on the global stage. He also drew parallels with Japan and Germany, two countries that implemented extended working hours after the Second World War. 

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"When We Respected Computer": Desktop Image With Laggy Internet Goes Viral

Today, high-speed internet connections and advanced devices are found everywhere, but there was a time when internet access was confined to internet cafes, requiring users to pay hourly fees. In the initial stages of the internet's popularity, it was exclusively available on desktop computers, adding a unique charm to the experience.

The hourly charges for internet access at cafes varied, and users had to manage their time efficiently to make the most of their session. The experience was quite different from today's scenario, where high-speed internet is widely available and most individuals have constant access through personal devices like smartphones, laptops, and tablets.

The shift from limited, hourly internet access in cafes to widespread, constant connectivity has transformed the way we live, work, and communicate.

The transformation in connectivity has been so significant that encountering images or videos from the era of old desktop computers triggers a sense of nostalgia. It evokes emotions and prompts reflection on the comfort of a time when the internet wasn't omnipresent and one could physically leave behind the online world by stepping out of an internet cafe.

An image of the same desktop era is now going viral on the internet with a caption that reads, "There was a time when we respected the computer."

sorry for being nostalgia baited but it was kind of nice where the internet was a single, solitary, unmoving place instead of a terror that extends to everywhere. you went to this specific spot to go to the internet. when you left the spot, you left the internet. it was a place https://t.co/CykSmj3qlw

— cal50 (@cal50) December 20, 2023

Resharing the image, another user with the name of Cal50 wrote, "Sorry for being nostalgia baited, but it was kind of nice where the internet was a single, solitary, unmoving place instead of a terror that extends everywhere. You went to this specific spot to go to the internet. When you left the spot, you left the internet. It was a place."

The image has gained immense popularity, surpassing 10 million views, and the comment section is brimming with heartfelt sentiments and nostalgia.

"Nothing will ever top the feeling of taking a CD from the rack, popping it in the disc tray, hearing the computer rev up to the RPM of a Ferrari, and reading one of those digital encyclopedia programs that made circa 2002 you feel like god damned Aristotle," commented a user.
 
"Now we live on the internet and have left the real world behind," wrote another user.

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Actor Vin Diesel Accused Of Sex Assault By Former Assistant

Action star Vin Diesel has been accused of sexually assaulting his assistant in an Atlanta hotel room over a decade ago, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday.

The suit is the latest claim to be lodged with courts in California, which has extended the length of time in which legal action can be taken in cases of alleged sexual crimes.

Asta Jonasson said her first assignment after being hired by the "Fast and Furious" star's company was to travel to Atlanta in September 2010 during the filming of "Fast Five."

There, she was tasked with helping Diesel leave a hotel in the early morning hours after entertaining multiple women in a suite, before paparazzi were alerted to his whereabouts.

"Alone in the hotel suite with him, Vin Diesel sexually assaulted Ms Jonasson. Vin Diesel forcibly grabbed Ms Jonasson, groped her breasts, and kissed her. Ms Jonasson struggled continually to break free of his grasp, while repeatedly saying no.

"Vin Diesel then escalated his assault," the suit said, with the actor trying to pull down his assistant's underwear.

The suit stated that Jonasson fled to a bathroom, where Diesel pursued her, and forced her to touch him. He then pinned her against a wall and masturbated.

The following day, Samantha Vincent, the actor's sister and president of One Race, the entertainment company that employed Jonasson, allegedly called and fired her.

"The message was clear. Ms Jonasson was fired for courageously resisting Vin Diesel's sexual assault, Vin Diesel would be protected, and his sexual assault covered up," the suit said.

The civil suit seeks unspecified damages against Diesel, Vincent and their companies.

Representatives for Diesel did not immediately respond to AFP requests for comment.

Jonasson has waived the right to anonymity customarily granted to victims of alleged sex abuse.

The global #MeToo movement has seen powerful men in the world of entertainment punished for their abusive and predatory behavior, starting with bombshell allegations against industry titan Harvey Weinstein in 2017 that led to his imprisonment on multiple sex assault convictions.

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Actor Vin Diesel Accused Of Sex Assault By Former Assistant

Action star Vin Diesel has been accused of sexually assaulting his assistant in an Atlanta hotel room over a decade ago, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday.

The suit is the latest claim to be lodged with courts in California, which has extended the length of time in which legal action can be taken in cases of alleged sexual crimes.

Asta Jonasson said her first assignment after being hired by the "Fast and Furious" star's company was to travel to Atlanta in September 2010 during the filming of "Fast Five."

There, she was tasked with helping Diesel leave a hotel in the early morning hours after entertaining multiple women in a suite, before paparazzi were alerted to his whereabouts.

"Alone in the hotel suite with him, Vin Diesel sexually assaulted Ms Jonasson. Vin Diesel forcibly grabbed Ms Jonasson, groped her breasts, and kissed her. Ms Jonasson struggled continually to break free of his grasp, while repeatedly saying no.

"Vin Diesel then escalated his assault," the suit said, with the actor trying to pull down his assistant's underwear.

The suit stated that Jonasson fled to a bathroom, where Diesel pursued her, and forced her to touch him. He then pinned her against a wall and masturbated.

The following day, Samantha Vincent, the actor's sister and president of One Race, the entertainment company that employed Jonasson, allegedly called and fired her.

"The message was clear. Ms Jonasson was fired for courageously resisting Vin Diesel's sexual assault, Vin Diesel would be protected, and his sexual assault covered up," the suit said.

The civil suit seeks unspecified damages against Diesel, Vincent and their companies.

Representatives for Diesel did not immediately respond to AFP requests for comment.

Jonasson has waived the right to anonymity customarily granted to victims of alleged sex abuse.

The global #MeToo movement has seen powerful men in the world of entertainment punished for their abusive and predatory behavior, starting with bombshell allegations against industry titan Harvey Weinstein in 2017 that led to his imprisonment on multiple sex assault convictions.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Space Given To Separatists, Terrorists Core Issue With Canada": India

India once again asserted on Thursday that its "core issue" with Canada remains that of the space given to separatists, terrorists and anti-India elements in that country.

The comments by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi came a day after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said India's ties with Canada may have undergone "a tonal shift" following the indictment of an Indian national in the US for plotting an assassination attempt on a Sikh separatist.

"Our position has been consistent. We have highlighted how we see the problem and frankly, the core issue remains the space that is given to extremists, terrorists and anti-India elements in that country," Mr Bagchi said.

He, however, chose not to make a direct comment on Mr Trudeau's remarks.

"I would not like to say whether they have noted a shift or not. Certainly, our positions have remained consistent and we would hope that they would take action on such extremist elements that are misusing freedom of speech and expression from their country," Bagchi said.

The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Mr Trudeau's allegation in September of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia on June 18.India designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020.

New Delhi rejected Mr Trudeau's charges as "absurd".

"I think there is a beginning of an understanding that they cannot bluster their way through this and there is an openness to collaborating in a way that perhaps they were less open before," Mr Trudeau said.

He said the US indictment appears to have convinced the Indian government to adopt a more sober tone. "There is an understanding that maybe, maybe just churning out attacks against Canada is not going to make this problem go away. We do not want to be in a situation of having a fight with India right now over this," Mr Trudeau said.

"We want to be working on that trade deal. We want to be advancing the Indo-Pacific strategy. But it is foundational for Canada to stand up for people's rights, for people's safety and for the rule of law. And that is what we are going to do," he told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Last month, US federal prosecutors charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta with working with an Indian government employee in an alleged foiled plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh extremist, on American soil.

Pannun, wanted in India on terror charges, holds dual citizenship of the United States and Canada.

On December 7, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in Parliament that India has instituted an inquiry committee to look into the inputs received from the US in the case as the matter has a bearing on national security.

At the same time, he said there will be "no equitable treatment" to Canada's allegations as no specific evidence or inputs were provided to India by Ottawa.

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Bigg Boss Winner Pallavi Prashanth Arrested For "Disturbing Peace"

Bigg Boss Telugu season-7 winner Pallavi Prashanth has been arrested by the police from Telangana's Hyderabad for allegedly disturbing peace near the Annapurna Studios after the announcement of his victory on Monday night, said the police on Wednesday.

According to the police, after the announcement of Prashanth as the winner, his fans thronged near the studio and vandalised the car of the reality show's runner-up, Amardeep Chowdhary.

"A case has been registered against Prashanth and his followers for unlawful assembly and vandalism," said Chandra Shekhar, Sub-Inspector, Jubihills Police Station.

Meanwhile, the Police have taken the accused to the Jubihills Police Station for further investigation.

More details are awaited.

On December 17, the Bigg Boss Telugu Season 7 concluded and Prashanth was declared the winner of the popular reality show.

However, the post-finale celebrations took an unexpected turn as Prashanth's fans thronged the studio and vandalised runner-up Amardeep Chowdhary's car, said the police.

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