Michel Barnier has said he's not optimistic about avoiding a no-deal Brexit.
Removing the backstop - designed to prevent a hard border in Ireland - has been one of the British prime minister's key demands.
Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, the bloc's chief negotiator said there can be no more flexibility on the issue.
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At least five people have been killed and 21 are injured after a gunman opened fire in west Texas.
It happened in the cities of Odessa and Midland on Saturday afternoon.
Officers shot dead the gunman after he hijacked two separate vehicles and began shooting at random, hitting multiple people.
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Officials in Cork are surveying the damage following a major blaze at Douglas Shopping Centre overnight.
12 fire appliances attended the scene from across Cork City and County, after a car caught fire in a multi-storey car park.
The centre was quickly evacuated and there were no injuries.
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The Tánaiste is in Warsaw to mark the anniversary of outbreak of the Second World War.
Simon Coveney will represent Ireland at a number of ceremonies, following a series of European engagements earlier in the week.
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A 15% duty on imported Chinese goods to the US comes into force today, despite indications talks between the two countries could resume shortly.
It's the latest round of tariffs to be imposed, hitting consumer goods.
The US President has reiterated that China wants to make a trade deal - claiming his country is in an "incredible negotiating position".
China has imposed retaliatory tariffs, with Beijing calling on the US to stop acting like a "school bully".
