Basically, Brexit is still a mess.
With another extension granted, the United Kingdom's protracted divorce from the EU could continue until October 31.
This means up to six months of British Prime Minister Theresa May spending a dwindling supply of political capital in order to pass a deal that seems to please progressively fewer people.
It would take a novel-length article to unpack the entire Brexit process, so instead Newshub Nation is here to at least help demystify some of the most common jargon.
Article 50
Article 50 is part of the Treaty on European Union (basically the legislation governing the EU) which states that any EU member "may decide to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements." Article 50 allows for a two-year transition period for countries wishing to leave.
May invoked Article 50 on March 29 2017, meaning the UK should have left the EU on March 29 this year.
Single Market
Essentially an agreement between countries trying to make trade across borders as easy as inside them. The EU currently operates as a single market and this means blanket regulation for things like packing, safety standards and labelling of products for every nation involved.
This makes for strong economic ties between member states, made even stronger by the EU's customs union.
Customs Union
A trade agreement in which two or more countries do not tax goods coming from other countries in the union. The EU customs union also forbids states from individually negotiating trade deals, instead forcing the EU to negotiate trade deals collectively.
Remaining part of the Customs Union would be like no Brexit at all for 'Leave means Leave' hardliners, as it would severely limit the economic independence of the UK.
Soft Brexit
An umbrella term for the UK still withdrawing from the EU but maintaining close diplomatic and economic ties, such as remaining part of the single market or customs union. This option is broadly favoured by the English Labour Party and the Liberal Democrat Party, and opposed by May's Conservative Party.
Hard Brexit
Naturally, the opposite of a soft Brexit, resulting in fewer ties to the EU. The most extreme form of a hard Brexit would be a 'no deal' Brexit.
No-deal
The UK crashes from the EU with no formal deal in place, an outcome generally regarded both within the UK and the EU as the worst-case scenario.
A no-deal has the potential to cause chaos at borders, massively disrupt supply chains and shave up to two percent off the UK's gross domestic product by December 2020, according to some economists.
This is because while the UK is part of the customs union and single market, goods can flow freely across borders. However, if that ends overnight, any product entering the UK will be at least temporarily stopped at the border, leading to huge delays in the import of everything from food to medicine.
This could be particularly costly in the case of quickly perishable goods, such as meat and fish, or dangerous, in the case of lifesaving medical supplies.
The UK parliament has officially taken a no-deal Brexit off the table but it's still possible if no other agreement is reached by the new deadline.
Freedom Of Movement
Free movement of workers is a fundamental principle of the EU, meaning citizens are entitled to look for jobs in other EU countries, work there without permits, and stay even after employment has finished.
Ending Freedom of Movement has been a cornerstone of Theresa May's Brexit plan and she has promised to end it 'as soon as possible', even in the result of a no-deal.
Irish Backstop
The stickiest sticking point in Brexit negotiations involves what to do when Northern Ireland leaves the EU while the Republic of Ireland remains.
Since 1922, the Republic of Ireland has been an independent nation, while Northern Ireland remained part of the United Kingdom.
Currently, the border is essentially invisible, with goods and people moving frictionlessly between the two nations. Post-Brexit, this 500km stretch of territory will represent the only land border between the UK and the EU.
If Northern Ireland is no longer part of the single market and customs union, the EU requires some mechanism for enforcing regulations on goods crossing the border, such as customs checkpoints.
However, given the long and bloody history of conflict in Ireland, returning to this form of so-called 'hard border' raises concerns of reignited tensions.
The 'Irish Backstop' is basically an insurance policy for both the EU and UK that whatever happens, a hard border will be avoided. However, how to actually achieve this has proven hugely problematic for Downing St.
May's now thrice defeated draft deal with the EU stated that if the UK is unable to find a way to maintain a frictionless border between the two countries, while still enforcing EU regulations, it would remain within the EU customs union until an alternative could be agreed upon.
This outraged the pro-Brexit faction of British Parliament and many of May's own Ministers resigned. Considering the complexity of solving the backstop problem, her deal meant the UK could remain subject to EU trade laws indefinitely.
As it stands keeping the Irish border open appears extremely difficult under any form of Brexit as it was originally promised.
Regardless of what happens, Theresa May now has just a little more than six months to either solve the backstop issue and ratify a withdrawal agreement, revoke Article 50 and cancel Brexit or crash from the EU without a deal.
In May's own words "the choices we face now are stark and the timetable is clear."
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