Mon Mar 17 01:25:28 UTC 2025: ## ISRO Greenlights Ambitious Chandrayaan-5 Moon Mission: Top News Headlines
**New Delhi, March 17, 2025** – India’s space program is set for a major leap forward with the approval of the Chandrayaan-5 mission, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan announced on Sunday. This mission will deploy a significantly larger rover – 250 kg compared to Chandrayaan-3’s 25 kg rover – to conduct extensive research on the lunar surface.
Meanwhile, on the global stage, Russia is demanding security guarantees from NATO, including Ukraine’s neutrality and exclusion from NATO membership, as a condition for any peace deal, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko. A high-level meeting of global intelligence and security chiefs, hosted by India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, discussed a wide range of issues including global challenges, intelligence sharing, immigration, and extradition.
Despite ongoing border tensions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated his commitment to dialogue with China in a recent podcast interview, emphasizing the importance of stronger cooperation for regional and global stability. However, the Congress party criticized Mr. Modi’s reliance on podcasts for communication, accusing him of hypocrisy for avoiding press conferences while silencing dissent.
In other news, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari stressed the crucial role of education in uplifting the Muslim community and condemned caste-based politics. The Delhi BJP announced a restructuring of its city unit, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans a vote this week to dismiss the Shin Bet director. The Vatican released the first photo of Pope Francis since his hospitalization, and Newcastle United celebrated a stunning League Cup victory, ending a 56-year trophy drought.
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