Their motto is “dare to dream”, and, despite the disappointing scoreline, the thousands of Northern Ireland supporters literally danced out of the fan zone in Belfast.

Rebels in South Sudan took control of nearly all of a strategic city, even as the government and fighters agreed to hold talks for the first time.

Fresh fighting has erupted in Bor, the contested capital of South Sudan’s Jonglei state, as rebels move to retake control from government troops.

Twenty-five thousand young men who make up a tribal militia known as the “White Army” are marching towards a contested state capital in South Sudan, an official has said, reducing hopes for a ceasefire.

Northern Ireland supporters’ chief Gary McAllister has called for the Green and White Army to throw their support behind new national boss Michael O’Neill.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an order today granting Russian citizenship to the daughter of the general who led the anti-Bolshevik troops against the Red Army during the Russian Civil War.