'Peace and reconciliation' milestone comes after US drops request for formal rejection of al-Qaida as precondition to talksThe US is to open direct talks with Taliban leaders within days, it was revealed on Tuesday, after Washington agreed to drop a series of preconditions that have previously held back negotiations over the future of Afghanistan.In a major milestone in the 12-year-old ...

A Japanese company is expected to announce new jobs in Northern Ireland later.

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland -- Calling for an “Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process,” President Obama expressed cautious optimism about the Taliban’s surprise agreement to negotiate directly with U.S. officials toward ending America’s longest war and decades of bloodshed in Afghanistan.    

In Northern Ireland for the G-8 summit, the U.S. and Russian leaders have little common ground on Syria, other than hopes for peace negotiations.ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland — President Obama differed sharply with Russia's leader over the Syrian civil war in an icy encounter Monday illustrating how difficult it may be to drive Syrian President Bashar Assad from power, even after ...

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland (AP) — Well, that was close. Or was it? Shortly after wrapping up one of the most peaceful Group of Eight summits in recent memory, Prime Minister David Cameron let a cat out of the bag.