European Union negotiators have failed so far to achieve a breakthrough in trade negotiations with the Trump administration and may now seek to extend the status quo to avoid tariff hikes, six EU diplomats briefed on the talks said yesterday.

At least 20 Palestinians were killed yesterday in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, according to local health officials, as US president Donald Trump said he expected Hamas to respond to his &final proposal& for a ceasefire in Gaza in the next 24 hours.

As the temperature hit 38C in recent days in Rome, teacher Jack O&Connor and his medical student girlfriend, Una Casey (28), are counting down the days to escape the heat for their native Ireland.

A petrol station explosion early yesterday in southeastern Rome injured at least 40 people, including 11 police officers and one firefighter, but immediate rescue intervention avoided a much more tragic outcome, local authorities and rescuers said.