LONDON – One of Britain’s biggest unions has backed left-wing contender Jeremy Corbyn to lead Britain’s opposition Labour Party, and a major bookmaker has made the former outsider odds-on favorite to win the contest. General secretary Dave Prentis of Unison, which represents more than 1 million public-sector workers, said the …

BUCHAREST, Romania – Romanian authorities have charged Russian oil producer Lukoil with complicity in money laundering worth 1.77 billion euros ($1.95 billion). Prosecutors at the Court of Appeal in Ploiesti, where Lukoil’s refinery is based, on Monday charged Romanian and Russian company managers for allegedly misusing the company’s credit and …

BERLIN – The U.N.’s top human rights official has expressed alarm at the death sentence imposed on an alternative health practitioner in Iran. The U.N. human rights office says Mohammad Ali Taheri was sentenced to death Saturday after being found guilty of “corruption on Earth.” Zeid Raad al-Hussein, the U.N. …

MANAMA, Bahrain – Bahrain’s government has suspended the publication of the independent newspaper Al-Wasat. The official Bahrain News Agency said in a brief statement issued Thursday night that the suspension is “due to its violation of the law and repeated dissemination of information that affects national unity and the Kingdom’s …

SRINAGAR, India – Officials say two suspected rebels and an army soldier have been killed in two gunbattles near the Line of Control separating the Indian and Pakistani-controlled parts of Kashmir. Top police officer Garib Das says two militants were killed in fighting with soldiers after they entered Indian Kashmir …

YAOUNDE, Cameroon – Cameroon’s military has freed about 70 people, including children, held illegally in the north for periods ranging from eight months to four years. Abakar Ahamat, the governor of the Adamawa region, said Tuesday that the owner of the camp, Mallam Danlatti, was detained after the release of …

PONTIAC, Mich. – A suburban Detroit judge who sent three siblings to juvenile detention for failing to meet with their estranged father is sending all four to intensive therapy at a hotel. It’s the latest development in a messy custody dispute in Oakland County. Judge Lisa Gorcyca (GOR’-sa-cuh) says the …

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Cambodia’s prime minister has demanded the arrest of an opposition senator, accusing him of treason for comments posted on Facebook criticizing a border agreement with neighboring Vietnam. Hun Sen called for the arrest of Hong Sok Hour in a speech Thursday in Phnom Penh. The opposition …

RICHMOND, Va. – A federal appeals court is waiting for prosecutors to respond to former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s request to remain free while he appeals his public corruption convictions. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the response by 5 p.m. Friday. The court refused Tuesday to reconsider …

NEW YORK – Federal regulators have approved expedited development and review of early-stage drug program aimed at creating a treatment for drug-resistant infections at ContraFect Corp., the company said Monday. Shares jumped 5 percent at the opening bell. The designation for drug candidate CF-301 will allow the company to work …