Putins drop in

The two daughters of Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, were in Dublin this week on a private visit, accompanied by ambassador Yevgeny Mikhailov. The girls went sightseeing in Dublin and called into Leinster House, where they had what was called "a brief hello" with Bertie Ahern. A security clampdown meant the purpose of their visit was not forthcoming from the Russian embassy or the Department of the Taoiseach, but Quidnunc understands Katya (15) and Maria Putin (14), were seeing penpals.