News Summary: Cameron rallies leaders to N Ireland

BIG AGENDA: Leaders of eight of the world's wealthiest nations sought progress on lowering trans-Atlantic trade barriers and pushing the warring factions in Syria to negotiate as the G-8 summit opened Monday in Northern Ireland.

INSPIRATION: Ahead of the official welcome, British Prime Minister David Cameron and U.S. President Barack Obama sought to draw inspiration from Northern Ireland's efforts to reconcile British Protestants and Irish Catholics following decades of bloodshed.

SYRIA STUMBLING POINT: Cameron, Obama and European leaders were expected to unveil a formal agreement to open negotiations on an EU-U.S. free trade pact. Later, the focus will shift to President Vladimir Putin and Russia's support for the Syrian government. Putin opposes plans by the West to start shipping weapons to rebels.