Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, the two U.S. astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for over nine months, are finally set to return to Earth. NASA has scheduled their splashdown for Tuesday evening (EDT), off the Florida coast aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.

NASA advances return schedule

Initially planned for Wednesday, NASA moved up the return to 5:57 pm EDT on Tuesday (3:27 am IST, Wednesday). The decision was made to allow for a smooth crew transition while ensuring a safe return before unfavorable weather conditions develop later in the week.

NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will also be aboard the Crew Dragon as it makes its descent. The hatch closure preparations will begin on Monday evening, and the entire journey back will be streamed live.

The nine-month ordeal

Williams and Wilmore have been on the ISS since June, far beyond their expected mission duration. Their extended stay was due to propulsion issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which was deemed unfit for the return journey.

Originally designed as a short round-trip, their mission ended up lasting three months longer than a standard six-month ISS rotation. While this is much shorter than the record 371-day stay by NASA astronaut Frank Rubio or the world record 437-day stay by Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov, the sudden extension forced them to receive additional clothing and supplies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strongly criticized the United Nations and other international organizations, labeling them as “almost irrelevant” in addressing current global conflicts. Speaking on American scientist Lex Fridman’s podcast, PM Modi underscored the lack of reforms in these institutions and their failure to maintain global order amid ongoing wars and geopolitical tensions.

PM Modi’s remarks on UN’s inefficiency

PM Modi pointed out that despite the existence of international organizations, those who disregard laws and regulations continue to act unchecked. “The international organizations that were created have become almost irrelevant, there is no reform in them. Institutions like the UN cannot play their role. People in the world who do not care about laws and rules are doing everything, no one is able to stop them,” he said.

The Prime Minister emphasized that lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic should have led to a shift towards global unity, but instead, the world has moved further into instability and conflict.

“Covid-19 has exposed the limitations of all of us… It seemed that the world would learn something from it and move towards a new world order. But unfortunately, instead of peace, the world entered a phase of uncertainty, and wars only worsened the situation,” he added.

Call for cooperation over conflict

PM Modi asserted that expansionism and unilateralism cannot work in an interconnected and interdependent world. He stressed that nations must collaborate rather than engage in conflicts.

“As I said earlier, the world is interdependent, interconnected… Everyone needs everyone, no one can do anything alone. And I see that in all the different forums I have to go to, everyone is worried about conflict. We hope to get relief from it very soon,” he stated.

Last year, PM Modi, during the UN’s ‘Summit of the Future,’ had also called for urgent reforms, stating that global actions must align with global ambitions.

India’s push for a permanent UNSC seat

India has long argued for its inclusion as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), citing the need for structural reforms. New Delhi believes the UNSC, founded in 1945, does not reflect contemporary geopolitical realities.

Currently, the UNSC consists of five permanent members—Russia, the UK, China, France, and the US—who hold veto power, and ten non-permanent members elected for a two-year term. While the UK, France, and the US have expressed support for India’s bid, structural reforms remain a roadblock.

With global conflicts escalating, PM Modi’s remarks have once again brought attention to the inefficacy of international institutions, reinforcing India’s push for reform and a permanent seat at the high table.

At least 59 people have lost their lives, and over 155 others sustained injuries after a devastating fire broke out at the Pulse nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia. The fire erupted around 02:30 local time (01:30 GMT) while approximately 1,500 people were attending a concert by DNK, a well-known hip-hop duo.

Videos circulating on social media show the roof of the club engulfed in flames as panic ensued among attendees. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski described the incident as a “difficult and very sad day” for the nation, mourning the loss of many young lives.

Cause of the fire

According to Interior Minister Pance Toskovski, preliminary reports suggest that the fire was ignited by sparks from pyrotechnic devices used during the performance. The sparks reportedly reached the ceiling, which was composed of highly flammable material, causing the fire to spread rapidly.

Footage from inside the venue shows two flares being set off, followed by flames catching onto the ceiling. Many concertgoers initially appeared to watch the fire rather than evacuate immediately.

Eyewitnesses described harrowing scenes of people scrambling to escape. Marija Taseva, a 20-year-old survivor, recounted to Channel 5 TV how she was caught in a stampede. She was trampled before managing to make her way out, while her family continued searching for her missing 25-year-old sister, who had not been located in any local hospital.

Mass casualties and overwhelmed hospitals

Kocani’s hospital initially received around 90 patients suffering from severe burns, with 18 remaining in critical condition, according to the health minister. Hospital director Kristina Serafimova stated that identifying victims had been challenging due to many not carrying ID cards. The deceased were reported to be between the ages of 14 and 24.

Authorities have arrested one individual in connection with the incident, though further details have not yet been disclosed.

In a statement, the prime minister assured that the government is “fully mobilised” to address the consequences of the disaster and determine its exact causes.