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Former Giro winner Di Luca tests positive for EPO
(Reuters) - Former Giro d'Italia winner Danilo Di Luca has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for the banned blood booster erythropoietin (EPO), the International Cycling Union (UCI) said on Friday.

World rowing body's chief Oswald runs for IOC top job
LONDON (Reuters) - World rowing federation (FISA) boss Denis Oswald became the fifth candidate for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidency on Friday, with the Swiss sports administrator citing his long experience as an asset.

Etisalat makes top bid for Vivendi's Maroc Tel: sources
PARIS/LONDON (Reuters) - Gulf telecom operator Etisalat has offered a higher price for Vivendi's Maroc Telecom stake than rival Qatari bidder Ooredoo, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Pakistan should consider IMF deal after reforms in place: adviser
LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistan's new leadership expects first results of its planned steps to shore up its finances and ease a power crisis in two or three months and only then should decide whether and on what terms to seek an IMF bailout, a senior policy adviser said on Friday.

One Direction sweeps awards for most popular social media stars
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - British boy band One Direction has swept the inaugural awards recognizing the most popular people in social media globally, coming top in four out of 10 categories at a star-studded ceremony in Singapore.

Television wins new respect from movie elite at Cannes festival
CANNES (Reuters) - Actors and directors gathered for the world's leading movie showcase in Cannes this week said television was increasingly luring top talent and should no longer be seen as artistically inferior to the big screen.

Taliban attack U.N. compound in Afghan capital: police
KABUL (Reuters) - Taliban militants launched a coordinated attack on a U.N. compound in the center of the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Friday setting off explosions and battling the security forces.

Spain's Princess Cristina faces new tax probe
MADRID (Reuters) - A Spanish judge has opened an investigation into Princess Cristina's tax returns after an earlier charge of being an accomplice in an embezzlement case against her husband was dropped.

Insight: Luxury brands position for U.S. boom
PARIS/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Most men might balk at spending $600 on a pair of Dior sneakers but for U.S. shoppers like Ephraim, an upbeat 30-year-old, such indulgences are becoming increasingly commonplace.

China solar companies shun home market in pursuit of margins
(Reuters) - Chinese solar panel makers are shunning their overcrowded home market in favor of lucrative exports, a switch that has helped to arrest a two-year slump in margins and push shares to 12-month peaks.

Wall Street slips on angst over longevity of Fed stimulus
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell for a third day on Friday amid lingering concern the central bank may scale back its support to the economy.

UK fighters escort Pakistan plane to airport, two arrests
LONDON (Reuters) - British fighter jets escorted a Pakistan International Airlines passenger plane to Stansted Airport near London on Friday, where police went on board and arrested two men on suspicion of endangering an aircraft.

Spain's Princess Cristina faces new tax probe charge
MADRID (Reuters) - A Spanish judge has opened an investigation into Princess Cristina's tax returns after an earlier charge of being an accomplice in an embezzlement case against her husband was dropped.

News Corp's publishing business to initiate stock buyback
(Reuters) - News Corp set the distribution ratios for the spinoff of its publishing business and said the spinoff may start buying back stock right away.

Britain scrambles fighters as Pakistani airliner diverted
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain launched fighter jets on Friday to escort a Pakistan International Airlines passenger plane arriving from Lahore in Pakistan to an airport near London after it was diverted from Manchester, the Defence Ministry said.

Turkey bans alcohol advertising and curbs sales
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey banned alcohol advertising and tightened restrictions on its sale on Friday, drawing criticism from secular Turks as well as the country's brewing industry.

Wall Street falls at open as Fed plans gauged
NEW YORK (Reuters) -Stocks fell at the open on Friday, putting Wall Street on track for its first weekly decline since mid April, amid concern the central bank may scale back its support to the economy.

HSBC Chairman urges acceleration of bank reform
LONDON (Reuters) - HSBC's Chairman Douglas Flint called for an acceleration in the speed of reform within the industry as the bank was criticized by shareholders for compliance failings and accusations it aided tax avoidance.

Britain scrambles fighter jets to escort Pakistani passenger plane
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain launched fighter jets on Friday to escort a Pakistan International Airlines plane carrying 297 passengers from Lahore after it was diverted from Manchester, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry said.

Russia's oldest rights group fights 'foreign agent' tag
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's oldest rights group began a legal battle on Friday to avoid being branded a "foreign agent" under a new law it sees as a tool of repression by President Vladimir Putin.