Even though the vexed matter of qualification for the Euro finals in France next year is a much more pressing concern, Ireland will today learn their qualifying destiny for the World Cup in Russia in 2018 when the preliminary draw takes place in St Petersburg, kicking off at 4pm Irish time.

Russian president Vladimir Putin resurfaced, smiling and looking his normal self after a 10-day absence from public view that fuelled a wave of rumours about his health.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has resurfaced and is looking healthy after a 10-day absence from public view.

President George W. Bush and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin urged North Korea and Iran today to halt development of nuclear weapons, and Bush stood by his assertion that Iraq had prohibited arms.