Syrians in US: Temporary protection extended by 18 months

Syrians who have been living in the US since 2016 have been granted temporary protective status.

The United States has extended temporary protection against deportation for around 7,000 Syrians.

That means they will be able to stay in the US for at least another 18 months and work legally.

As Al Jazeera’s Kristen Saloomey discovered, the extension offers them some consolation but problems remain.

South Koreans rally against Japan amid bitter trade war

The removal of South Korea from Tokyo’s list of preferential trade partners has worsened the dispute.

A bitter trade row between South Korea and Japan has led to more rallies in Seoul.

The dispute escalated on Friday when South Korea was removed from Tokyo’s favoured trading nations list.

Seoul says it is now considering scrapping an intelligence-sharing pact.

Al Jazeera’s Rob McBride reports.

Idlib ceasefire: Air attacks halt in northwest Syria

For so many traumatised civilians, there is the hope of some respite from the bombing.

A conditional ceasefire is in place in northwest Syria after a week of intensified air attacks on Idlib province.

The truce was brokered during peace talks in Kazakhstan. The opposition says it will stick to the deal as long as the government does not violate it.

Al Jazeera’s Andrew Simmons reports from Nursultan.

Syria ceasefire pressures Turkey to create demilitarised zone

The Syrian opposition believes the government will eventually violate the ceasefire.

A ceasefire that came into effect on Friday night has brought some respite for people living in southern Idlib and northern Hama in northwest Syria.

The ceasefire was brokered by the backers of the opposition and the government, Turkey and Russia.

But the truce is conditional and puts pressure on Turkey to create a demilitarised zone around Idlib province, free of weapons and fighters in line with the so-called Sochi Memorandum.

Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr reports from Gaziantep on the Turkish-Syrian border.

Turkish lira weakens 1% against dollar after overnight surge

ISTANBUL, Aug 26 (Reuters) – The Turkish lira weakened around 1% to more than 5.8 against the dollar on Monday after briefly surging to a level of 6.47 overnight in what market watchers described as a “flash crash” as Japanese investors cut risk assets.

At 0418 GMT, the lira stood at 5.8050 against the U.S. currency, weakening from a close of 5.7540 on Friday.

UK Brexit pressure: Johnson's majority cut to one seat

When the British parliament returns from recess in September, it will have less than two months to decide how it exits the European Union.

The UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has a new challenge after sweeping into Downing Street on July 24.

His ruling Conservative Party has had its majority in parliament cut to just one, after losing a by-election in Wales.

This may make his Brexit promises harder to fulfil.

Al Jazeera’s Rory Challands reports from London.

Mexico government cuts spending, claims to have saved $6bn

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has halved his salary, sold the presidential plane and flies economy.

As Mexico edges closer to a recession, the government has embarked on an ambitious programme of spending cuts.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador says his government has already saved $6bn.

But while many Mexicans support the measures, others are worried that vital services are under threat.

Al Jazeera’s John Holman reports from Mexico City.

DR Congo Ebola crisis: Health workers try to contain virus

There is still confusion around the virus and suspicion of foreign health workers here in the eastern DR Congo.

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are racing to contain the Ebola virus after an infected man with a large family contaminated several people, amid fears the epidemic could last two to three years in the country.

Checks have been stepped up along the border with Rwanda to stop the spread of the virus.

Al Jazeera’s Stefanie Dekker reports from the capital, Kigali.

Libya to close migrant centres after criticism from UN

According to the UN’s refugee agency, many are living in squalid conditions with inadequate food supplies.

Libya is to close three migrant and refugee detention centres after criticism from the UN over squalid conditions and inadequate food supplies.

Two of the centres are in the coastal cities of Misrata and Khoms.

The third is in Tajura, a suburb of the capital, Tripoli.

Forces loyal to the warlord Khalifa Haftar hit that facility in an air strike a month ago, killing at least 52 people.

Al Jazeera’s Raheela Mahomed reports.

Iraq’s Yazidis: UN investigates ISIL war crimes

Five years since the Yazidis were targeted by ISIL, mass graves are still being uncovered.

It is five years since thousands of Yazidis in Iraq were killed, taken hostage or forced into exile by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, or ISIS).

The Yazidi community is demanding accountability for the crimes committed.

A special UN investigative team says it is making slow but steady progress.

Al Jazeera’s Osama Bin Javaid reports from Dohuk.

Russia protests: Government crackdown intensifies

The government is using all of the tools at its disposal to suppress the movement.

Protests in Moscow are due to continue for the third Saturday in a row despite authorities mounting an ever-larger crackdown.

In the run-up to Saturday’s protest, key figures have been arrested and there is a concern that more mass arrests are expected on the day.

Al Jazeera’s Imran Khan takes a look at why people are coming out on the streets.