CANBERRA, Australia – Australia is considering joining airstrikes against Islamic State fighters in Syria. Prime Minister Tony Abbott told reporters on Thursday that while the United States has yet to make a formal request for airstrikes in Syria, “the matter has been raised.” Australian F/A-18 Super Hornet jet fighters have …

HONG KONG – China’s unexpected move this week to lower the value of its tightly-leashed currency, the yuan, sent shockwaves through global financial markets. The impact on consumers around the world and China’s neighbors will take longer to play out but possible winners and losers are already emerging. ___ SHOP …

JOHANNESBURG – A private medical emergency service said all five people on board an ambulance aircraft were killed when it crashed while transporting a patient from Namibia to South Africa. The emergency service, E-med Rescue 24, said in a statement that the plane crashed Sunday in the Tygerberg Nature Reserve …

BUDAPEST, Hungary – The Hungarian government says the country is under an “organized human trafficking attack” and will send several thousand police officers to the southern border with Serbia in a new effort to stem the rising flow of migrants. Minister Janos Lazar said Tuesday that police companies of “border …

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine military officials say hundreds of troops have launched an assault on a southern jungle camp belonging to Abu Sayyaf militants in a bid to rescue two kidnapped coast guard personnel and other hostages, sparking a two-hour clash in which up to 15 militants may have died. …

MOMBASA, Kenya – A Kenyan court has released on bail a man suspected to be a high level operative in illegal ivory trafficking in the region, causing an uproar among wildlife conservationists who fear that he may flee or interfere with witnesses. Magistrate Davis Karani released the suspect, Feisal Mohammed …

NEW YORK – New York City police say a man has been arrested on charges of assault and reckless endangerment after an officer assigned to guard the mayor was struck with a pellet gun. The 19-year-old man was arrested Monday in the assault on the officer outside Gracie Mansion, where …

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – New Zealand’s national airline has posted a 24 percent jump in annual profit as it benefits from lower fuel costs and continues to expand in Asia and North America. Air New Zealand announced Wednesday its profit after tax was 327 million New Zealand dollars (US$212 million) …

WARSAW, Poland – A Polish cultural official says he is “convinced” of the existence of a Nazi train that has been missing for 70 years and which two men claim to have found recently. Deputy Culture Minister Piotr Zuchowski also warned treasure hunters in southwestern Poland on Thursday to stop …

GRANTS PASS, Ore. – One of Oregon’s first hemp farmers says a lack of seed is making it tough to get going. Josephine County Commissioner Cheryl Walker says fertile seed is expensive and hard to come by because the federal government prohibits imports. She figures it will take three years …