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Supporters of slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto celebrate their victory in the general elections in Karachi yesterday.

Photograph: Athar Hussain/Reuters

Bhutto's party wins most seats as Musharraf routed
The political endgame loomed for Pakistan's president Pervez Musharraf last night as his party was evicted from power and his arch rival, Nawaz Sharif, arrived in Islamabad to negotiate a place in the new government with the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of murdered opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.
Stolen laptop had data of over 171,000 Irish blood donors
More than 171,000 Irish blood donors whose personal details were on a computer stolen in New York earlier this month will be contacted by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) this week.
Most parents know little about Bebo, survey finds
Seven out of 10 young Irish teenagers use social networking sites such as Bebo and MySpace. But most parents have little understanding of the phenomenon including the dangers associated with it, Government-commissioned research released today indicates.

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Finance

Brussels warns of 'noticeable deterioration' in fiscal position
The European Commission has warned that the Government faces several economic challenges and a "noticeable deterioration" in its budgetary position in coming years. p
Topaz plans to spend €50m on expansion
Irish-owned fuel group Topaz Energy yesterday announced plans to spend €50 million refurbishing its forecourts and launching a new brand to replace the existing Statoil and Shell marques. p
Google indicates belief Irish tax affairs in order
Internet giant Google has given the clearest indication yet that it believes its Irish tax affairs are in order. p

Ireland

Ahern to address US Congress on April 30th
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will address the Joint Houses of Congress in Washington on April 30th, less than a year after addressing a joint session of the British Parliament in Westminster. p
Dáil remarks not an issue at tribunal in 2004
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who is challenging the Mahon tribunal in the High Court over its right to ask him questions about what he said in the Dáil, answered questions put to him at the tribunal in 2004 concerning comments he had made in the Dáil. p
Separation advice was sought day before death
Siobhán Kearney, whose husband is on trial for her murder, was seeking advice on marital separation the day before her death, the Central Criminal Court has heard. p
Remains may be that of missing woman
Skeletal remains found in undergrowth on Bray Head, Co Wicklow, are believed to be those of pensioner Maura Reynolds who went missing from a nursing home in the town on Christmas Day 2005. p
O'Dea and Deasy clash over transport to Chad
Dail Report: There were heated exchanges in the Dáil as Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea accused Fine Gael backbencher John Deasy of being a liar and of misleading the house in a row over the transport of Irish Defence Forces to their peacekeeping mission in Chad. p
Pro-Life group wants referendum on abortion
The Pro-Life Campaign has stepped up its calls for a new referendum on abortion following the results of an opinion poll which indicate that a majority of people support legal safeguards for unborn children. p
Deaths of two Killarney sea eagles 'a huge blow' to project
The scientist in charge of the reintroduction of white-tailed sea eagles into this country said the loss of two birds, a male and female, over the past days was "a huge blow" to the project. p
Maze hunger strike leader buried
The funeral has taken place of Brendan Hughes, a former IRA commander and leader of the first Maze hunger strike in 1980. p
SDLP motion condemning man's murder is passed
The Assembly has passed an SDLP motion condemning the murder of south Armagh man Paul Quinn and stating he was not a criminal. p

World

Serb gangs attack and burn posts at Kosovo border
SERBIA: Serb mobs razed two border posts between Serbia and newly independent Kosovo yesterday, as tension rose in pro-Belgrade regions that refuse to be ruled by the fledgling country's ethnic-Albanian majority. p
Sarkozy's back-pedalling reaches epic proportions
FRANCE: The French president is perfecting the art of the climbdown and diversion, writes Lara Marlowe p
Democratic rivals vie for upper hand over economic issues
US: The issue of the economy moved centre stage yesterday as the two remaining Democrat candidates for the US presidential nomination vied for the upper hand in an increasingly acrimonious race. p
Castro steps down after half a century in power
CUBA: Fidel Castro, leader of Cuba for almost half a century, stepped down as president yesterday in a move that raised the prospect of the opening up one of the world's last communist states. p

Sport

Liverpool pressure finally pays off
SOCCER/Uefa Champions League Second Round, first Leg/Liverpool 2 Inter Milan 0: The endeavour of Liverpool ultimately smashed the poised fortitude of Internazionale, who had to spend an hour with 10 men following the expulsion of Marco Materazzi. p
O'Sullivan adds Bowe to his string
RUGBY: Further evidence that Eddie O'Sullivan is giving in to pressure, be it from public, pundits or whatever, came yesterday with the relatively surprising selection of Tommy Bowe on the right wing; the surprise being Shane Horgan thus remains on the bench, now the customary scapegoat Geordan Murphy has been jettisoned yet again. p