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India claims a new military advantage, Britain’s Parliament tries to pave a way forward on Brexit, and China wages a war on fun. Here’s the latest:
In a rare televised speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the country had successfully shot down a satellite in space in a ballistic missile test. If confirmed, the technological leap would put the country in an elite group of nations with such capacity, along with the U. S., Russia and China.
“India stands tall as a space power!” Mr. Modi wrote on Twitter shortly after the announcement.
The feat — which means India could blind another country by taking out its communication and surveillance satellites — would give India a significant military advantage in a region where China is the dominating force.
Political calculations: Mr. Modi’s announcement came a little more than two weeks before a general election, prompting critics to question whether it was a stunt to bolster his chances of re-election.
Hours before Parliament began voting on alternative Brexit options, Mrs. May promised to step down if lawmakers approved her plan. She told lawmakers from her party that she wouldn’t “stay for the next round of negotiations” but didn’t give a date for her resignation.
The offer overshadowed an already momentous day, as lawmakers began voting on eight alternative plans. Some keep close ties to the European Union, some call for a second referendum and some for a no-deal Brexit.
Timing: The European Union has given Britain until April 12, which is just over two weeks away, to agree on a strategy. If Mrs. May’s plan is approved — and momentum for reconsidering it had begun to build before her announcement — the European Union would push Brexit to May 22.
Lawmakers pressed federal regulators about oversight of the aviation industry, including how the new Boeing 737 Max 8 jet, which has been involved in two deadly crashes, was certified. We’re bringing you live updates here.
Wednesday kicked off with the transportation secretary, Elaine Chao, being questioned about the relationship between the Federal Aviation Administration and the companies it regulates, including Boeing.
Over two hours, she was pressed about the existence of optional safety features for the Max jet and why the F. A. hadn’t moved quickly to ground the jets after the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 on March 10.
Later in the day, the F. A. A.’s acting administrator and the chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board will also be questioned.
