LONDON: From the shock Brexit referendum result to this week´s flurry of parliamentary votes, here are the milestones on the UK´s rocky road out of the European Union after 46 years.
Britain votes to leave
In a referendum on June 23, 2016, Britons choose to end their membership of the 28-nation EU by a narrow 52 percent to 48 percent.
Conservative prime minister David Cameron, who called the referendum and led the remain campaign, resigns.
May becomes prime minister
Theresa May, the remain-backing interior minister, becomes prime minister on July 13.
On January 17, 2017, May sets out her Brexit strategy, saying Britain will leave Europe´s single market to allow it to control EU immigration.
"No deal for Britain is better than a bad deal," she insists.
Exit process triggered
On March 13, 2017, Britain´s parliament approves a bill empowering May to trigger Article 50 of the EU´s Lisbon Treaty which lays out the process for leaving the union.
With a letter to EU President Donald Tusk formally announcing Britain´s intention to leave, the government starts a two-year timetable for withdrawal on March 29, 2019.
Lost majority
In a bid to strengthen her hand in Brexit negotiations, May calls a snap election for June 8, 2017.
Her gamble backfires, with her Conservatives losing their parliamentary majority. They are forced to strike a deal for support from Northern Ireland´s Democratic Unionist Party.
First terms agreed
London and the EU reach an outline agreement on December 8, 2017 on three key areas: Britain´s financial settlement to the union, citizens´ rights and the Irish border.
EU leaders green-light the next stage of Brexit talks, including on trade relations after the split.
A bill enacting the decision to leave the EU becomes law on June 26, 2018.
Top ministers quit
On July 6, 2018, May wins agreement from her warring cabinet to pursue "a UK-EU free trade area" and strong alignment with the EU after Brexit.
Two days later, eurosceptic Brexit minister David Davis quits, saying May is giving "too much away too easily".
Foreign minister Boris Johnson, another key Brexiteer, follows suit on July 9.
Draft deal agreed
In November, May´s office says negotiators have reached a draft divorce agreement with the EU and, after hours of heated debate, her cabinet backs the agreement.
But four ministers, including new Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, quit in protest.
EU leaders approve the accord within a few weeks. "This is the only deal possible," says European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
Renegotiation attempt
May´s deal faces intense criticism in parliament over the "backstop" provision to prevent checks on the Irish border.
On December 10, May postpones a parliament vote on the deal due the following day, fearing a heavy defeat, but EU leaders reject substantive renegotiation.
Leadership vote
On December 12, enough Conservative MPs are unhappy with May´s party leadership to trigger a confidence vote, but she wins by 200 to 117.
British MPs reject deal
Parliament finally votes on the withdrawal agreement on January 15.
With opposition parties and scores of Conservatives opposing it for various reasons, MPs vote by 432 to 202 against the deal -- the worst defeat for a government in modern British political history.
Government survives vote
Main opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn calls a vote of no confidence in the government on January 16.
The government wins by 325 to 306 votes, as May´s Conservatives rally round. She pledges to work with opposition leaders to find a Brexit breakthrough.
MPs rally behind amended deal
On January 29, British MPs vote to send May back to Brussels to renegotiate the backstop but the EU immediately says the deal is not open to renegotiation.
Opposing no-deal
On March 12, British MPs vote by an overwhelming 391 to 242 against the deal, even after May and Juncker said they agreed "legally binding changes" to some of the most contentious issues.
A day later, MPs vote to reject a no-deal Brexit.
Seeking Brexit delay
MPs on March 14 vote to ask the EU to delay Brexit until at least June and to hold a third vote on May´s plan early next week.
They vote against a proposal to hold a second referendum during the delay period.
Committee and State Department have been wrangling over Blinken's appearance for months
"We have nothing to defend him and we are not involved," says India's ruling party spokesperson
Rescue efforts being hampered by continuous rain; search efforts to continue until Saturday
Baby-faced Yamal came through Barcelona FC’s youth team and is now one of top team’s most exciting talents
Beijing terms US-China trade cooperation mutually beneficial, says there will be no winner in tariff war
Lead prosecutor overseeing both cases moves court to dismiss election case
