Wednesday: Brexit defeat thrusts Britain into further chaos

Huawei, Gay Penguins, U.S. Attorney General View in [Browser]( | Add nytdirect@nytimes.com to your address book. [The New York Times]( [The New York Times]( Wednesday, January 16, 2019 [NYTimes.com »]( ADVERTISEMENT Asia Edition [Your Wednesday Briefing]( By ALISHA HARIDASANI GUPTA Good morning. British Parliament rejects Theresa May’s Brexit plan, President Trump’s attorney general nominee testifies in Congress and gay penguins in Sydney learn to co-parent. Here’s the latest: [Prime Minister Theresa May in Parliament during the Brexit vote.]Prime Minister Theresa May in Parliament during the Brexit vote. Parliament TV, via EPA, via Shutterstock Parliament overwhelmingly rejects Brexit plan British lawmakers [voted 432-to-202 against Prime Minister Theresa May’s plan]( to leave the E.U. It was the biggest defeat in the House of Commons in recent history. The turn of events thrusts Britain into [further political chaos]( just 10 weeks before the country’s scheduled exit from the bloc. What’s next? The opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn put forward a motion of no confidence in Mrs. May, which Parliament will debate and vote on Wednesday. If the motion is successful, a new government will need to be formed in [14 days](. Meanwhile, Mrs. May must now return to Parliament by Monday with a backup withdrawal plan. And if nothing is approved by March 29, Britain will make a “no-deal” exit from the E.U., which lawmakers have warned could be chaotic and pose grave economic risks. Here are [some other ways this could all shake out](. Go deeper: Here’s [a visual journey through Brexit]( from the moment Britain voted to leave the E.U. in 2016 to the final vote today. ______ [William Barr appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee for confirmation hearings.]William Barr appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee for confirmation hearings. Sarah Silbiger/The New York Times U.S. senators question Trump’s attorney general pick President Trump’s nominee to lead the Justice Department made assurances at [his confirmation hearing Tuesday]( that he would allow the special counsel, Robert Mueller, to finish the Russia investigation, and promised to withstand any political pressure from the White House. “It is in the best interest of everyone — the president, Congress and, most importantly, the American people — that this matter be resolved by allowing the special counsel to complete his work,” the nominee, William Barr, said of the inquiry, which is believed to be in its final stages. With Republicans firmly in control of the Senate, his confirmation appears to be on track. Go deeper: Mr. Barr, who also served as attorney general under President George Bush, is [known for his unusually expansive views of executive power](. But during the hearing, he [qualified some of his beliefs]( emphasizing legal limits on the presidency and law enforcement independence. ______ [Ren Zhengfei meeting with the news media this week.]Ren Zhengfei meeting with the news media this week. Vincent Yu/Associated Press Huawei’s founder rejects spying claims Ren Zhengfei, a legend in China akin to Steve Jobs, made a [rare public appearance]( and denied claims that the technology giant was spying for Beijing. “I love my country,” he told a group of reporters. “I support the Communist Party. But I will never do anything to harm any country in the world.” They were his first public remarks since his daughter [Meng Wanzhou]( Huawei’s chief financial officer, was arrested in Canada at the request of the U.S. last month. She is charged with trying to trick financial institutions into violating sanctions against Iran. Background: Huawei, founded in 1987, is the world’s largest telecommunications equipment maker — it had an estimated $100 billion in sales last year and sells more smartphones than Apple. Yet Mr. Ren rarely makes public appearances; he spoke to the news media for the first time in 2013. ______ [The rights activist Huang Qi in his home in 2012.]The rights activist Huang Qi in his home in 2012. Gillian Wong/Associated Press Prominent rights activist goes on trial in China Huang Qi, one of the country’s most prominent online dissidents, went [on trial on charges of leaking state secrets](. Background: Mr. Huang founded the website 64 Tianwang in 1999. He was jailed twice before, first in 2000 for publishing articles by overseas dissidents and ethnic and religious critics. Then in 2010 for work uncovering corrupt building practices that contributed to the death toll of the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan. Why it matters: Mr. Huang’s case has drawn intense international attention, in part because he suffers from a potentially fatal kidney disease. And after his 85-year-old mother sought help from foreign embassies to win his release, she was reportedly beaten and is now detained in a hospital. What’s next? It’s unclear. American diplomats said they were denied access to the trial. One [human rights group]( based in the U.S. said that “no member of the public was allowed to attend” and that “one of Huang’s lawyers was never told about the trial.” ______ Here’s what else is happening El Chapo trial: In an incendiary accusation at the crime lord’s trial, a former cartel leader accused the former Mexican president President Peña Nieto of taking [a $100 million bribe from drug traffickers](. NATO: President Trump privately suggested several times last year that he wanted to [withdraw the U.S. from the military alliance]( with Europe and Canada that has deterred Soviet and Russian aggression for 70 years. North Korea: The country is pursuing biological weapons that could present a more immediate threat to the world than its nuclear weapons program, according to [new military analysis](. Carlos Ghosn: The former Nissan chairman was denied bail in Tokyo and faces [at least two more months in jail](. His wife criticized Japan’s criminal justice system, writing that “no human being should be detained under conditions so harsh that their only plausible purpose is to coerce a confession.” Netflix: The company said it would [raise prices by 13 to 18 percent for U.S. subscribers]( to help pay for original content, its biggest rate increase since it introduced streaming services 12 years ago. Saudi woman: Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun, who fled her home and was granted refugee status in Canada, is starting to adjust to her newfound freedom. “I want to do crazy things I’ve never done before,” [she told us in an interview](. Gender achievement gap: Girls outperform boys in American schools, starting as early as kindergarten. But there’s an exception: [Asian-American boys don’t start lagging behind]( until adolescence, according to a new study that points to the influence of social pressures. Speaking of Canada: The country’s air traffic controllers [sent hundreds of pizzas to their American counterparts]( who have been working without pay during the partial government shutdown. [A gay penguin couple in Sydney with their baby.]A gay penguin couple in Sydney with their baby. Sea Life Sydney Aquarium Gay penguins: Two male penguins in Australia are raising a chick together, [capturing the hearts of a nation]( that made same-sex marriage legal just over a year ago. “Love is love,” said a manager at the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium. Chang’e-4: Here’s a look at what China’s spacecraft has learned about the [far side of the moon](. Australian Open: [Serena Williams]( Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka [advanced]( through the first rounds. Here’s why female players will [miss Andy Murray](. And follow all our [updates from Melbourne](. ______ Smarter Living Tips for a more fulfilling life. Jospeph De Leo for The New York Times Recipe of the day: Pair spicy kimchi with mozzarella in a [grilled cheese](. Many women are reluctant to discuss reproductive health. Here are [five issues we should be talking about](. Puerto Rico is [our No. 1]( recommended spot to visit this year. The island is facing the jeopardy of climate change and [deserves your attention](. Back Story By some estimates, China’s population of 1.4 billion is [nearing its peak](. To feed that many people, while using less land and water, the government is appealing to taste buds. For several years now, official policy has aimed to make the humble potato a culinary staple, alongside rice, wheat and corn. [Potato farmers at a vegetable market outside Beijing in 2009.]Potato farmers at a vegetable market outside Beijing in 2009. David Gray/Reuters Potatoes can tolerate cold, drought and poor soil, and need less water, fertilizer, pesticide and labor. Since the 1990s, China has [outstripped all other countries in production](. Potatoes are hardly new to China. They were introduced about [400]( years ago, and feature in beloved regional dishes, like the shredded Sichuan specialty called [tudousi](. But for starch, Chinese consumers prefer rice and noodles. One workaround is to process the tubers into potato flour, which is then mixed with wheat flour to make steamed bread, noodles and cakes. The government also promotes regional potato dishes, and supports the production of fries and potato chips. Claire Fu (付欣怡), a news researcher in our Beijing Bureau, wrote today’s Back Story. ______ This briefing was prepared for the Asian morning. You can also [sign up]( to get the briefing in the Australian, European or American morning. [Sign up here]( to receive an Evening Briefing on U.S. weeknights. Browse our full range of Times newsletters [here](. What would you like to see here? Contact us at [asiabriefing@nytimes.com](mailto:asiabriefing@nytimes.com?subject=Briefing%20Feedback%20(Asia)). LIKE THIS EMAIL? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up [here](. 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