January 21: Top news at 1 pm

Mulayam aide Ambika Chaudhary joins BSP, slams Akhilesh

In a setback to Samajwadi Party, Mulayam Singh Yadav's aide Ambika Chaudhary today joined the BSP, saying he was saddened by the way the SP patriarch was treated by his son and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. Chaudhary, who joined the BSP in the presence of party chief Mayawati, has been promised a party ticket from his traditional Phephna seat in Ballia, which he had lost in the 2012 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. He later became a member of the Legislative Council. "I have taken him in the party and he will be given full respect in the BSP at all levels, much more than he was getting in the SP. The party will field him from his old seat in Ballia in the Assembly polls," Mayawati said. Chaudhary said he has resigned from all posts in the Samajwadi Party.

Jallikattu ban: DMK working chief MK Stalin sits on fast

In the escalating protests against the jallikattu ban, DMK MLAs, MPs and party workers, led by Working President MK Stalin began a fast in Chennai on Saturday, demanding permanent removal of the ban. Stalin had on Friday welcomed Chief Minister O Panneerselvam's announcement that the state government would issue an ordinance to amend the Prevention of Cruelty Act to allow jallikattu, but insisted that bulls should be permanently removed from 'performing animals' category by the Centre so that the sport is held in the state annually. He also welcomed the protesters' assertion that their agitation would continue till jallikattu is organised. Meanwhile, a day after the Centre cleared the jallikattu ordinance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said all efforts are being made to fulfill the cultural aspirations of the people of Tamil Nadu.

On Day One, President Donald Trump signs executive order against Obamacare

Within hours of taking oath, new US President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at "minimising the economic burden" of Obamacare "pending repeal", to make good on one of his most impassioned campaign promises of dismantling his predecessor's healthcare law. The one-page executive order was Trump's first since becoming the 45th president of the US. The order says, "It is the policy of my administration to seek the prompt repeal of the law.” Moving into the Oval Office soon after his inaugural parade concluded, President Trump signed the order on Affordable Care Act directing “the departments and agencies to ease the burden of Obamacare as we transition to repeal and replace,” White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters in Washington. The White House did not provide details about which aspects of the law Trump wanted to target through this order.

Several people trapped as landslide hits hotel in central China

At least 12 people were feared trapped under the debris after a hotel in central China town was buried in a landslide, local authorities said. The landslide hit the hotel at the town proper of Nanzhang County, Hubei Province at around 7:30 pm on Friday. Up to 14 people were initially trapped, including guests and employees of the hotel. Two of them were rescued, state run Xinhua news agency reported, adding their condition was stated to be stable. Rescue operations are still underway.

Rose Valley scam: Arrested Trinamool MP Sudip Bandopadhyaya hospitalised

Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandopadhaya, who was arrested in connection with Rose Valley chit fund scam, has been admitted to SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack as he complained of chest pain during his stay at the Special Jail at Jharpada in Bhubaneswar. Bandopadhaya, who has been lodged at the Special jail, continued to stay at the jail hospital since January 12 along with another AITC MP Tapas Pal. He was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days from January 12 as his bail petition was rejected by the CBI designated court. CBI had arrested the four-time Lok Sabha member from Kolkata on January 3.