UK PM Theresa May and European Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels

At an emergency summit convened last week following the third defeat in the UK Parliament of PM Theresa May's Brexit plan, the European Commission approved a "flexible extension" to 31 October of Britain's departure from the EU.

Where "flexible" comes in is: if the UK can agree on a departure deal prior to 31 October, it can depart then.

Meanwhile, PM May continues talks with Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbin intended to resolve the parliamentary deadlock. But so far this effort has gone nowhere, as Corbin favors the UK remaining in a customs union with the EU - a result strongly opposed by both Tory Brexiteers and the Northern Ireland DUP, without whose support PM May's government would fall.

What next? Stay tuned.