Putin To Jordan Prince: PM Modi's Quiet 'Car Diplomacy' With World Leaders

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Ethiopia on Tuesday for a two-day visit. Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali personally received PM Modi from the Addis Ababa airport and drove him to his hotel. They made an unscheduled detour at the Science Museum and Friendship Park. 

"Celebrating age-old India-Ethiopia ties! Prime Minister @narendramodi arrives in Addis Ababa on his maiden bilateral visit to Ethiopia. In a special gesture, PM @AbiyAhmedAli came to personally receive him at the airport. Prime Minister was accorded a warm and colourful welcome," the Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote on X.

During the visit, PM Modi is expected to hold wide-ranging discussions with his Ethiopian counterpart, covering all aspects of India-Ethiopia bilateral relations.

Celebrating age-old India-Ethiopia ties!

Prime Minister @narendramodi arrives in Addis Ababa on his maiden bilateral visit to Ethiopia. In a special gesture, PM @AbiyAhmedAli came personally to receive him at the airport. Prime Minister was accorded a warm and colourful… pic.twitter.com/m6fJ6gFcY7

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) December 16, 2025

PM Modi arrived in Ethiopia on Tuesday in the second leg of his three-nation visit. This will be his first visit to the African country, and it reflects India's strengthening partnership with the continent.

A Rare Visit To Jordan

Earlier in the day, PM Modi concluded his two-day visit to Jordan to commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Although he was received by his Jordanian counterpart, Jafar Hassan, in a special gesture, Jordan's Crown Prince, Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, drove PM Modi to the country's museum in Amman.

This is the first time in 37 years that an Indian prime minister has made a bilateral visit to the country. 

In pictures posted by PM Modi, he is seen in the passenger seat of the 31-year-old Crown Prince's BMW car. "On the way to the Jordan Museum with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al-Hussein bin Abdullah II," he wrote on X.

On the way to The Jordan Museum with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al-Hussein bin Abdullah II. pic.twitter.com/CtwcQHkHBZ

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 16, 2025

PM Modi will visit Oman in the third leg of his visit.

PM Modi's Evolving 'Car Diplomacy'

The Jordan moment is part of a broader pattern often described as PM Modi's 'car diplomacy'.

The 75-year-old leader has an increasingly popular tradition of sharing informal car rides with world leaders to signal personal trust and strategic closeness.

Putin, Protocol And A Fortuner

Recently, PM Modi broke protocol to receive Russian President Vladimir Putin at Palam Airport. Putin travelled with PM Modi in the back seat of a white Toyota Fortuner to his residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg.

Putin was in India after four years for a two-day visit to attend the India-Russia Annual Summit.

The gesture followed a ride in 2025 where PM Modi joined Putin in his Russian-made Aurus Senat limousine during an SCO summit.

PM Modi's Fortuner represented an Indian-assembled, non-Western SUV over European luxury vehicles and sent a message of "independent foreign policy" and the "Make in India" initiative amid Western sanctions on Russia.

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Video: Ukraine Hits Russian Submarine In First Underwater Drone Attack

Ukrainian underwater drones struck and disabled a Russian Kilo-class attack submarine in the Russian navy's most important remaining Black Sea base, in the first operation of its kind, Ukrainian officials said on Monday.

The strike carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) with its "Sub Sea Baby" drones hit the submarine in the port of Novorossiysk where Russia has rebased many naval vessels to put them out of reach of Ukrainian strikes.

Footage published by the SBU showed a powerful explosion erupting from the water at a pier near where a submarine and other vessels were docked. Reuters confirmed the location of the video using the port's layout and piers.

Alexander Kamyshin, an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, wrote on X that it was the first time in history that an underwater drone had neutralised a submarine.

Ukraine, which has practically no naval fleet left, has used sea drones and missiles to harry Russia's large naval Black Sea Fleet and dislodge it from its perch in the port city of Sevastopol on the occupied peninsula of Crimea.

The diesel-electric submarine was one of many vessels that Russia was forced to move from Crimea to Novorossiysk in southern Russia, the SBU said.

Footage has been released by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) showing a first-of-its-kind underwater drone attack against the Russian port of Novorossiysk on the Black Sea using “Sea Baby” Unmanned Surface Vehicles, with at least one striking and causing significant damage… pic.twitter.com/OMblxDCWUc

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) December 15, 2025

The submarine is capable of carrying at least four Kalibr-type cruise missiles, one of the workhorses of Russia's massive strikes that in recent months have inflicted serious damage to the Ukrainian power grid.

Russia did not immediately comment publicly about the attack.

TURNING POINT

The strike comes amid a tense period of US-brokered peace negotiations that have sparked fears among Ukrainians that they will be bullied to accept settlement terms with Russia that they see as tantamount to capitulation.

Ukraine has been trying to show it can inflict significant damage on Russia, especially after US President Donald Trump said that Zelenskiy did not "have the cards" in the negotiations.

Ukrainian navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said the operation to hit a submarine - the most difficult target to hit - marked "another turning point" in the naval battle between Ukraine and Russia.

"This day once again upends the perception of the possibilities of naval combat in this war," he told Reuters.

It will be hard for Russia to repair the submarine as that would have to be done above water, which would mean the vessel would again be exposed to attack, he added.

Russia has now lost one of its four submarines stationed in Novorossiysk, three of which are Kalibr-carriers, Pletenchuk added.

Ukraine, which has been developing long-range drone and missile capabilities to narrow the gap with Russia's large weapons arsenal, has been stepping up strikes on Russian oil, gas, power and military targets.

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

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"Perverse": Trump Faces Outrage Over "Sick" Post On Rob Reiner, Wife's Death

Donald Trump faced a storm of condemnation Monday after posting what critics described as "perverse" and "sick" remarks suggesting Rob Reiner and his wife were murdered because of the celebrated filmmaker's criticism of the US president.

As tributes for Reiner poured in from celebrities and movie world figures, Trump used his Truth Social platform to launch a crude attack on the director of "When Harry Met Sally" and other huge hits.

Trump claimed the Reiners had died "reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME."

"He was known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession with President Donald J Trump, with his obvious paranoia reaching new heights as the Trump Administration surpassed all goals and expectations of greatness," the Republican leader wrote.

Trump's comments came as police announced that Reiner's son, Nick, had been taken into custody and booked into a Los Angeles jail on suspicion of murder, a development that intensified the backlash.

"This is a family tragedy, not about politics or political enemies," US congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a former Trump ally turned outspoken critic, wrote on X in response to his attack.

"Many families deal with a family member with drug addiction and mental health issues. It's incredibly difficult and should be met with empathy, especially when it ends in murder."

Thomas Massie, another critic of Trump on the Republican side of the House of Representatives, called the president's comments "inappropriate and disrespectful."

"I guess my elected (Republican) colleagues, the VP, and White House staff will just ignore it because they're afraid? I challenge anyone to defend it," Massie said.

Trump has a long record of incendiary social media posts that have outraged Democrats, but open condemnation from within Republican ranks was once almost unthinkable.

Miles Taylor, a former Trump administration homeland security official who became a prominent internal critic after anonymously publishing a 2019 tell-all book, accused Trump of "mocking the dead" and branded him a "sick creep."

"His attacks on (Republican senator) John McCain after the veteran's death pushed me to speak out from within his administration. (The) taunting of Rob Reiner's murder makes me even more determined to defy Trump."

Democrats also responded with fury. David Axelrod, the former chief strategist to President Barack Obama, described Trump's post as "perverse."

"The absence of empathy & grace for the Reiner family in their moment of profound loss and grief is sad and revealing. For @POTUS, his grievances trump their grief."

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said Trump had "lost it."

"Now saying Rob and Michele Reiner caused their own murder because they didn't support him. So sick," he wrote.

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

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Blinkit Agent Earns Rs 762 After 28 Orders In A Day, Internet Reacts

Several apps and services promise the convenience of quick doorstep deliveries. Accordingly, the riders/agents work to ensure that the orders reach customers as soon as possible. But have you ever wondered how much they actually earn in doing so? A Blinkit delivery agent took to Instagram to provide a breakdown of his earnings on one specific day. Although the video was shared by @thapliyaljivlogs some weeks ago, it has continued to make the rounds online and has attracted a lot of attention on social media.

Also Read: "I Was Blown Away": US Founder Impressed With Swiggy, Blinkit Delivery Speed In India

After delivering his 28th order of the day, the rider reveals that he earned Rs 15.83. He shares a screengrab of the app on his phone, which confirms the same, along with showing his trip distance and trip time. Other screenshots that follow show that he earned Rs 762 for delivering 28 orders over more than 14 hours. [The total includes the order earnings and the incentive]. Watch the full viral video here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Thapliyal Ji Vlogs (@thapliyaljivlogs)

In the comments, many Instagram users were concerned about his low earnings despite working for many hours. Several people advised fellow Blinkit users to ensure they tip delivery riders, as a solution of sorts. Others blamed the company or the gig economy model. Read some of the reactions below:

"Always tip the delivery guy !!! 30 rupees means nothing to us, but collectively they earn double."

"What? I don't believe this. This is sooo insane. Shame on these companies and people who flaunt that we have 10-minute delivery apps in India!"

"Please don't blame Blinkit. This business model itself is flawed."

"He's extremely hardworking. Blinkit should really consider supporting delivery partners better, especially when customers are already paying platform fees, and items are sold at MRP. More than giving discounts, please think about their welfare. I'll make sure to tip them whenever I can."

"@letsblinkit, who's going to take care of your employees who deliver the goods in a blink of an eye. Treat your workers with fairness."

NDTV has reached out to Blinkit for a comment, but they have yet to respond.

Also Read: From Delivery Boy To Zomato Designer: Deepinder Goyal Shares Inspiring Journey Of Student

In the video above, based on his earnings that day, the agent said, "Blinkit bahut kam paisa de raha hai." ["Blinkit is giving too little money]. In another video shared later, he highlighted how this amount can vary greatly depending on the frequency of orders and other random factors. For instance, on another day, he managed to earn Rs 1202 for delivering 32 orders during a shift of around 11 hours.

Disclaimer: NDTV does not vouch for the claims by the Instagram user.

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Hardik Scripts Historic First After Joining Arshdeep, Bumrah In Elite List

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya on Sunday achieved a historic first in international cricket during the ongoing third T20I against South Africa at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. The 31-year-old is now the first pace-bowling all-rounder to complete the double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in T20I Internationals. Hardik dismissed Tristan Stubbs in the seventh over of South Africa's innings to achieve the feat. By doing so, he also became the third Indian to take 100 or more wickets in the format, joining Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah in the elite list.

Arshdeep Singh has taken 107 wickets in 70 T20I matches at an economy of 8.35, with best figures of 4 for 9, while Jasprit Bumrah has picked up 101 wickets from 82 matches, maintaining an impressive economy rate of 6.35, with best figures of 3 for 7.

Before Hardik, only four cricketers worldwide - Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan, Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi, Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza, and Malaysia's Virandeep Singh - had accomplished the 1000-run, 100-wicket double in T20Is. They are all spinners.

Hardik made his long-awaited return to competitive cricket for India on Tuesday in Cuttack in the first T20I against South Africa. He had been out of action after September 26, 2025. He announced his comeback in style, smashing an unbeaten 59 off just 28 balls, laced with six fours and four sixes. With the ball, he chipped in as well, taking one wicket for 16 runs in his two overs, helping India secure a commanding 101-run victory over South Africa.

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Adivi Sesh Calls Akshaye Khanna His Favourite After Watching Dhurandhar

Actor Adivi Sesh has joined the growing list of film personalities applauding Dhurandhar. After voices of appreciation from stars like Akshay Kumar and Hrithik Roshan, he took to social media to share a detailed and deeply personal review of the film.

Adivi Sesh Lauds Dhurandhar And Its Impact

Taking to X, the Goodachari actor wrote, "Loved #Dhurandhar ! Late to the party in watching the country's biggest film but it's so well done. It's an amazing achievement from you @AdityaDharFilms sir to show so many grays with subtlety. Absolutely international presentation on such a relevant topic."

What made Adivi Sesh's praise stand out was the personal lens through which he viewed Dhurandhar. Having portrayed Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan in the 2022 biographical film Major, the actor had previously immersed himself in extensive research surrounding the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Watching Dhurandhar, however, offered him a perspective he had not encountered before.

Reflecting on this, he added, "As someone who researched 26/11 so much for Major, it was an entirely new experience for me to see how the ISI's handlers were empowered by the Lyari underworld. My heart broke and my blood boiled when I saw that."

Adivi Sesh also reserved special praise for the cast and the overall craftsmanship of the film. Highlighting individual performances, he wrote, "Superb performances from the entire cast, everyone from@RanveerOfficial garu to @ActorMadhavan garu. My favorite was undoubtedly the magnificent #AkshayeKhanna ji as Rehman Dakait and Rakesh Bedi ji as Jameel."

Commending the technical aspects, he concluded, "The extraordinary music, International cinematography, and overall craft made for a memorable experience. I'll be watching it again soon."

Loved #Dhurandhar ! Late to the party in watching the country's biggest film but it's so well done. It's an amazing achievement from you @AdityaDharFilms sir to show so many grays with subtlety. Absolutely international presentation on such a relevant topic ❤️‍🔥 As someone who…

— Adivi Sesh (@AdiviSesh) December 14, 2025

Director Aditya Dhar responded warmly to the actor's note, writing, "Shesh my Brother, this truly touched me. Coming from someone who's lived and breathed this history with such sincerity, your words mean a great deal. So glad the film gave you a fresh lens - that was the hardest thing to get right. Thank you for watching with such empathy and sharpness. See you at the rewatch. Love and Luck!"

Dhurandhar 2 Vs Dacoit

Dhurandhar Part 2, led by Ranveer Singh, is set to clash with Adivi Sesh's action thriller Dacoit on March 19, 2026.

ALSO READ: After 'Disagreeing With Dhurandhar's Politics', Hrithik Roshan Says "I Can't Wait For Part 2"

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Amaal Hits Back At Sachet-Parampara Over Bekhayali Plagiarism Allegations

The public feud between Amaal Mallik and Sachet–Parampara has taken yet another turn. After the music duo called out the former Bigg Boss 19 contestant for repeatedly claiming credit for Bekhayali from Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Kabir Singh, Amaal has now reacted to the allegations.

Speaking to Zoom, Amaal Mallik said he has never taken credit for work that is not his. “I'll take the bullet but speak the truth. If someone wants to malign my name within the industry, which they do, if someone wants to say through interviews, ‘ki usne bhi remix kiya toh kiya'. Kaise kiya voh bhi aap dekho,” he said.

The composer also stressed that he has always been careful about giving due credit.

“Kisika credit khaya? Nahi. Kabhi bola ki yeh gaana mera hai ya bola ki recreate nahi kiya? People put their names on other's songs and say ‘maine banaya'. Never done that. Has any composer whose song I have recreated woken up and said he has destroyed my song? Never. You go and see what has happened before,” Amaal added.

Questioning why the issue was played out online, Amaal said it should have been handled formally.

“They never say this on my face because half of them are afraid of me, and that is the truth. They will never come and talk to me. They will say it on Instagram and not do a court case. If anyone has a problem, go to the court straight up. Do a case of defamation if you feel I have copied your music,” he stated.

For those unaware, the controversy dates back to July, when Amaal, during a chat with podcaster and TV host Siddharth Kannan, accused Sachet–Parampara of lifting Bekhayali from his musical references. He also took a swipe at music label T-Series, calling out what he described as industry politics that favour certain artists. Amaal claimed he had shared reference compositions of Bekhayali on WhatsApp, which were later broken down into elements and used to create the final song.

In December, Sachet–Parampara addressed the issue on Instagram. The duo said Amaal believes such situations arise because “favourites join the label.” They also responded to his WhatsApp claim, calling themselves outsiders and questioning why they would be favoured at all. The duo went on to demand a public apology from Amaal.

ALSO READ | Sachet-Parampara Slam Amaal Mallik Over Bekhayali Plagiarism Allegations: "Shame On You"

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