Soon after miraculously delivering quadruplets, a woman lost all four of her babies in Jammu and Kashmir today. Kalida Begum, who lives near Jammu and Kashmir’s Line of Control, gave birth to four babies at 2.00 am on Monday. However, all four of the babies died within 12 hours.

The woman gave birth to three boys and one girl through a rare normal delivery in government sub-district hospital in Jammu and Kashmir’ Kupwara. The hospital said that quadruplets were premature and were low birth weight babies. According to experts, such babies require immediate special care in the neonatal intensive care unit which is not available at Kupwara sub-district hospital.

Earlier today, three of the four babies died in Kupwara hospital. Soon after that, the surviving baby, a boy, and the mother were shifted to a hospital in Srinagar for special care. Later, the fourth baby also died after being shifted to Srinagar.

The Kupwara sub-district hospital lacks facilities to deal with maternal and neonatal emergency care. Mostly, the patients are referred to Srinagar. There have been several cases of patients dying while travelling long distances due to delay in timely medical care.

The Kupwara sub-district hospital had issued a statement right after the birth of the quadruplets stating that mother and the babies were doing well. “It fortunately was a normal delivery given the rarity of such cases”, Dr Mohammad Shafi, medical superintendent of sub-district hospital, Kupwara had said.

Kalida Begum was first admitted at a medical facility at Keran, a village right on the Line of Control on Sunday evening, said some officials. According to locals, a health worker there referred her to government hospital in Kupwara where she delivered the babies.

Businessman Darshan Hiranandani broke silence on his explosive affidavit today to insist that he has not filed it under pressure — an allegation made by Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, who is currently battling “cash-for-query” allegations.

In an interview to Times Now, Mr Hiranandani said he spoke up since the cash for query allegations named him “directly and personally”. He also admitted that he has used Mahua Moitra’s parliamentary login ID and password to post questions from Dubai – a situation, if proved, will mean a breach of privilege and lead to her suspension from parliament.

Calling his actions a “crazy error of judgment and deeply regrettable,” he said he has embarrassed himself directly and “my company indirectly” and it was “incumbent on me to come forth”.

“In any allegation we prefer to come forward with the truth and that’s what I have done in this case,” he said, adding that his affidavit has been sent to the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Parliamentary Ethics Committee.  

In response to the affidavit that made headlines last week, Mahua Moitra had alleged that the Prime Minister’s Office “held a proverbial gun” to Mr Hiranandani’s head and made him sign a white paper that was later “leaked to the press”.

“Darshan Hiranandani has not been summoned by the CBI or the Ethics Committee or indeed by any investigative agency yet. Who then has he given this affidavit to,” she had said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter.  

Regarding the use of her login and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s call for an investigation, Ms Moitra had issued a strident demand.

“Request NIC to please release ALL details of MPs publicly to show they were physically present in place from where IDs were accessed by their PAs & researchers/interns/staff.  Don’t use Fake Degree wala for leak, make this public NOW,”she had posted on X.

“All parliamentary work of MPs done by PAs, assistants, interns, large teams.  Respected @ashwinivaishnaw please release details of location & login details of ALL MPs with CDRs. Please release info on training given to staff to login,” she had added in another post.

Following a complaint to the CBI by  advocate Jai Anand Dehadrai, Mr Dubey has demanded immediate suspension of Ms Moitra, alleging that she “took bribes to ask questions” in parliament from Mr Hiranandani to target the Adani group and PM Modi.

He has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, accusing the Trinamool MP of breach of parliamentary privilege, contempt of House and criminal conspiracy. The matter is now with the Ethics Committee.

Ms Moitra has said she welcomes any kind of inquiry. “Multiple breach of privileges pending against fake degreewala & other @BJP4India luminaries. Welcome any motions against me right after Speaker finishes dealing with those,” she posted on X, formerly Twitter.

In his affidavit, Mr Hiranandani had said Ms Moitra thought the only way to attack PM Modi was by attacking Adani Group chief Gautam Adani, and so she “expected support”.

For this, she shared her parliamentary login ID so he could frame the questions. He went along with the idea because he thought through her, he would get support in the Opposition-ruled states, he had said in the affidavit.
 
He had also claimed that Ms Moitra received support from others in this effort, including journalists, Opposition leaders and former Adani Group employees, who fed her unverified information.

In this context, he had named Sucheta Dalal — who has denied the allegations in a post on X — and a few others.

The H-1B visa program has long been a pivotal aspect of immigration in the United States, particularly for skilled professionals and international students.

The Biden administration recently unveiled a set of changes to the H-1B program, aimed at improving its integrity and flexibility while addressing the evolving needs of the American workforce. US-based author Soundarya Balasubramani decodes the proposed changes in the H-1B visa process.

No More Multiple Entries
One of the most significant changes involves the elimination of multiple entries by employers on behalf of the same employee. In 2023, over half of the approximately 800,000 H-1B registrations were multiple entries, artificially inflating the chances of some applicants. To combat this, an employee can only be registered once, and employers will now be required to submit passport information for each employee. This allows the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to ensure a fair and equitable selection process. Attempts to bypass this rule will lead to denials or revocations.

No Need For “Employer-Employee” Relationship
The previous requirement for an “employer-employee” relationship, imposed in 2010, has been a significant hurdle for founders looking to secure H-1B visas through their own companies. The new rule eliminates this requirement, making it easier for entrepreneurs to utilize the H-1B program to build and grow their businesses, even if they own more than 50% of the company.

Job Offer Can Be Remote
In a nod to the post-pandemic world, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) acknowledges that a bona fide job offer can now include telework, remote work, or other off-site work within the United States. This change aligns with the widespread adoption of remote work arrangements.

Automatic “Cap-Gap” Extension
A substantial victory for international students is the extension of the “cap-gap” provision. Under the previous system, F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) could only be extended until October 1st. However, with the proposed rule, students can extend it until April 1st of the following year or until they receive their H-1B visa, whichever comes first.

Increased Site Visits
To combat fraud, particularly in the IT consulting sector, USCIS will conduct more and stricter site visits. Inspectors may visit unannounced, interview officials, review records, and speak with employees. These measures aim to ensure that employers comply with the H-1B program requirements.

Stricter Definition Of “Specialty Occupation”
Another notable change is the stricter definition of a “specialty occupation.” Under the new rule, there must be a direct relationship between the required degree field and the position’s duties. This change could potentially lead to more Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and denials for deserving candidates.

Public Comment Period
The proposed changes to the H-1B program have not been set in stone. The Department of Homeland Security has initiated a “public comment period” that runs until December 22nd, 2023, allowing individuals to provide feedback and input. This presents an opportunity for immigrants, employers, and other stakeholders to shape the final regulations.

The move represents a significant step in modernizing and adapting the system to the needs of today’s workforce. While some changes may face criticism, they also address long-standing issues and provide opportunities for entrepreneurs, students, and skilled professionals. It’s important to note that these proposed changes are not final.

The rule is currently open for public comment until December 22, 2023. After this period, the Department of Homeland Security will review the feedback and aim to publish a final rule, expected in 2024. This is a pivotal moment for anyone interested in the H-1B program to make their voices heard and contribute to the reform efforts.