On Friday the UK Parliament defeated for the 3rd time - by a vote of 344 to 286 - PM Theresa May's plan for a withdrawal deal with the EU.

As a consequence, an extension of the Article 50 negotiating period to May 22 - which the EU had offered on condition of parliamentary approval of Ms. May's plan last week - is off the table, and Brexit day is now 12 April - less than 2 weeks away.

After the vote, Ms. May, who had offered to resign as PM if her plan were to be approved, said the situation is now "grave."

EU President Donald Tusk has scheduled an emergency meeting of the European Council for 10 April to discuss Brexit issues including the participation (or not) of the UK in European Parliament elections scheduled for May.

Stay tuned for updates.