Lawyers

• Qatar says Putin's Syria plan ignores root cause of crisis

  Qatar's foreign minister said on Monday there was general international agreement with Russia on its call to fight Islamic State, but cautioned that it failed to tackle the root cause of the crisis in Syria, which was President Bashar al-Assad.

• In rich Gulf Arab states, some feel shamed by refugee response

  When Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, fellow Gulf states raced to shelter thousands of displaced Kuwaitis. Fast forward 25 years, and the homeless from Syria's nearby war have found scant refuge in the Arab world's richest states.

• Saudi king to meet with Obama amid Gulf concerns over Iran deal

  Saudi King Salman will meet with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington on Friday to seek more support in countering Iran, as the Obama administration aims to use the visit to shore up relations after a period of tensions.

• Bahrain says foils arms smuggling bid, recalls Iran envoy

  Bahrain said on Saturday it had foiled an arms smuggling plot by two Bahrainis with ties to Iran and announced the recall of the Gulf island kingdom's ambassador to Tehran for consultations after what it said were repeated hostile Iranian statements.

• Israel concerned about U.S. arms to Gulf states to deter Iran

  Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon voiced concern on Tuesday that Washington's supply of advanced arms to Gulf Arab states to deter Iran could eventually challenge Israel's U.S.-backed regional military supremacy.

• Obama seeks to reassure Gulf allies, sees no early end to Syria war

  U.S. President Barack Obama said in remarks broadcast on Friday that Washington would assist Gulf allies facing conventional military threat and also improve their ability to address concerns about destablising Iranian actions in region.

• U.S., France 'on same page' over Iran, want stronger deal

  The United States and France sought on Saturday to play down any disagreements over nuclear talks with Iran, saying they both agreed the accord now under discussion needed to be strengthened.

• Iran says sees more steps ahead in nuclear talks

  Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Wednesday nuclear talks with major powers were being conducted in a good atmosphere, "good steps" had been taken and more would follow.

• Trial of prominent Bahraini activist starts in Manama

  Prominent Bahraini rights activist Nabeel Rajab went on trial on Sunday over remarks published on his Twitter account that were critical of state institutions, his lawyer said, in a case that has drawn criticism from international civil society groups.

• Obama orders U.S. air strikes in Syria against Islamic State

  President Barack Obama told Americans on Wednesday he had authorized U.S. air strikes for the first time in Syria and more attacks in Iraq in a broad escalation of a campaign against the Islamic State militant group.

• U.S. courts skeptical Arab allies in Islamic State fight

  After threatening to destroy and degrade Islamic State militants, the United States will court skeptical Gulf Arab allies this week and consider expanding training and arming of moderate Syrian rebels to lead the fight against the jihadists.