ALGIERS, Algeria – Algeria’s prime minister says that plans to drill the country’s abundant shale gas reserves have been scrapped. Wednesday’s statement comes in the wake of a string of protests in the southern desert cities over environmental concerns near where drilling had already begun. Despite high profile announcements in …

TUNIS, Tunisia – Tunisia’s powerful Islamist party has said that it won’t back the country’s new coalition government in an upcoming confidence vote. The nationalist Nida Tunis party defeated the Islamist Ennahda Party in parliamentary elections in October and on Friday presented its new coalition government. The coalition, however, includes …

LONDON – The British government says files from three judge-led inquiries — two of them into killings by police — have been lost in the mail. The Justice Ministry said Thursday that two discs containing documents were reported missing Jan. 8 “having been dispatched by post.” It said “intensive searches” …

BRUSSELS – The European Union is insisting on an independent investigation after Macedonia’s opposition leader was accused of plotting a coup and prevented from leaving the country. EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said Monday that the 28-nation bloc demands “an independent and transparent investigation in case of any wrongdoing.” Macedonia, once …

BEIJING – Authorities in the eastern Chinese city of Shanghai say they have seized 2.4 tons of methamphetamine in one of the country’s largest drug busts. Shanghai police said Thursday on their official microblog that they arrested 28 people in the joint operation with police from the southern province of …

MADRID – Spanish police say they have arrested a Briton after he allegedly attacked and killed a German man who was reportedly videoing his young daughter in a restaurant. Police said the German had been arrested days earlier for possessing child pornography. In a statement Monday, Spain’s Civil Guard said …

KUWAIT CITY – Kuwaiti lawmakers are seeking answers about a widespread blackout that hit the small oil-rich Gulf nation the previous evening. The outage affected much of the country, including its international airport. Minister of Public Works, Electricity and Water Abdulaziz al-Ibrahim was quoted by the official Kuwait News Agency …

CAIRO – A new trial for Egypt’s ousted ex-president has begun in Cairo, with prosecutors accusing him of spying and leaking confidential information to Qatar. The hearing was swiftly adjourned and a new date set for Feb. 28 after the court ruled that the defense should consult with Mohammed Morsi …

TEHRAN, Iran – Iran’s constitutional watchdog and election overseer has scheduled the country’s next parliament elections for Feb. 26, 2016. The date was announced on Wednesday on the official website of the Guardian Council, www.shora-gc.ir . The vote will be a key test for moderate President Hassan Rouhani who is …

ROME – The Jesuit religious order says an Indian priest who was abducted in Afghanistan eight months ago has been released. James Stapleton, a Jesuit Refugee Service spokesman in Rome, said the Rev. Alexis Prem Kumar, was released on Sunday and has since returned to his native India. Stapleton says …