Food delivery platforms Zomato and Swiggy offered an increase in the incentives to their “delivery partners” to ensure minimal disruptions in services on New Year’s Eve, following a call for a strike by the gig workers’ unions. Such incentives are standard practice during festive periods, the platforms said.

While Zomato offered delivery workers payouts between Rs 120 and Rs 150 per order during peak hours from 6 pm to 12 am on New Year’s Eve, Swiggy announced earnings of up to Rs 10,000 during the year-end period.

Several unions, including the Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers and the Gig and Platform Service Workers Union, had called on workers employed by quick e-commerce platforms in the country to log off from these applications on Wednesday to demand reforms in the gig economy. Read on.

The Congress described China’s claim that it mediated the May conflict between India and Pakistan as “concerning” and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to issue a clarification on the matter. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh linked the matter to India’s broader relationship with China highlighting that the talks between the two countries “are taking place on China’s terms”.

“China’s claims of mediating between India and Pakistan are concerning – not just because they contradict what has been told to the country’s people so far, but also because they appear to mock our national security,” he added.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the India-Pakistan conflict was among issues mediated by China in 2025 and claimed bilateral ties between the two countries had gained momentum. India’s External Affairs Ministry has not responded to the statement but has maintained that the ceasefire with Pakistan was not the result of any third-party mediation. Read on.

At least seven persons have died and more than 100 others were hospitalised in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore in the past week after consuming contaminated drinking water. Several residents in the affected Bhagirathpura area had reported symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration.

Officials said that the cases were first reported on December 24. Local councillor Kamal Baghela said that residents had complained that water supplied on December 25 had an unusual smell.

Water samples from the affected area were collected and sent for laboratory testing.

A zonal officer of the municipal corporation and an assistant engineer have been suspended, while the services of a sub-engineer have been terminated. Read on.

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