ALARM bells have been ringing so loudly and for so very long about the escalating obesity epidemic that it is difficult to make the kind of impression that might help avert the crisis.

Ireland’s London 2012 bronze medallists Michael Conlan and Paddy Barnes secured quota places for the Rio 2016 Olympics after recording dramatic wins in the World Series of Boxing (WSB) in Venezuela on Saturday.

Stan Wawrinka shrugged off his potential Wimbledon logjam with a straight-sets victory over Denis Istomin.

The Republic of Ireland have hit an all-time low of 59th place in the latest Fifa World Ranking, published yesterday.

Jonathan Wilson examines what lies in store for Trap and his team in Astana tomorrow night

Belgian Steve Darcis claimed the scalp of Andy Roddick as he beat the American in the last 16 of the Winston-Salem Open in North Carolina.

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray won their opening matches at the Western & Southern Open in straight sets.

John Joe Nevin is hoping to emulate compatriot Katie Taylor with Olympic gold after seeing off world champion Estrada Alvarez to reach the final of the men’s bantamweight division.

Manchester United winger Nani will be under the spotlight as he looks to fill the void left by injured captain Cristiano Ronaldo as Portugal host Chile in an international friendly on Saturday night.

South Korea midfielder Park Ji-sung has retired from international football, boss Cho Kwang-rae has confirmed.

Wild card Sally Peers caused an upset in the first match of the 2011 season as the Australian defeated seventh seeded Russian Alisa Kleybanova 3-6 6-4 6-3 in the first round of the Brisbane International at the Queensland Tennis Centre.

Gunmen torched more than two dozen tankers carrying fuel to Nato troops and killed a driver today – the sixth attack on convoys taking supplies to Afghanistan since Pakistan closed a key border crossing almost a week ago.

Gunmen in south western Pakistan torched eight Nato oil tankers and shot dead a driver today, police said, in the latest strike against supply convoys heading for Afghanistan since Pakistan shut a key border crossing to international forces last week.

Former world number one Ana Ivanovic fought from a set down to dump ninth seed Victoria Azarenka out of the Cincinnati Open on Monday night.

Bobby Zamora will be hoping his name is included in the new-look England squad Fabio Capello unveils tonight.

IN the event of political interference, the French Football Federation can rely on Federation International de Football Association (FIFA) to defend it, according to Sepp Blatter, the FIFA president.

Uzbek refugees displaced by ethnic violence in Kyrgyzstan started trickling back to their wrecked homes today in the southern city of Osh, desperate for food and water that aid agencies have had trouble delivering to the thousands camped out on the border.

Top seed Andy Roddick fought back from a set down to win his SAP Open semi-final and set up a meeting with second seed Fernando Verdasco in San Jose.

Beijing issued a stinging response to Hillary Clinton’s criticism that it is jamming the free flow of words and ideas on the internet.

OUR football correspondent LIAM MACKEY is back in top form and full of energy.

DURING the recession of the 1980s sport helped to lift the public gloom, but unfortunately what happened in Paris on Wednesday night has only added to it now.

FIFA today dashed the Republic of Ireland’s hopes of replaying their World Cup qualifying play-off with France.

IRISH hopes of a re-staging of the controversial second leg of their World Cup play-off game against France were dashed last night when it became clear that the French Football Federation (FFF) see no basis for such a game to take place.

FURY over Thierry Henry’s handball has escalated into an international incident as the Government backed FAI demands for a replay of the match.

DIPLOMATIC tension between Ireland and France has become intense as the fallout from the World Cup handball affair gathers political momentum.

SPORT is more important to most of us than is probably healthy or wise.

The deepening row over Ireland’s bitter World Cup defeat to France after the “Henry handball” scandal risked turning into a diplomatic dispute tonight.

The Republic of Ireland’s pleas to have their World Cup clash with France replayed are likely to fall on deaf ears.

FIFA are set to reject the Republic of Ireland’s call for a replay of last night’s World Cup qualifying play-off with France.

Football Association of Ireland chief executive John Delaney has urged FIFA to uphold their own principles and “step up to the plate” by agreeing to replay last night’s controversial World Cup play-off defeat by France.

The FAI have confirmed that it will lodge a complaint with FIFA following last night’s World Cup play-off match between France and the Republic of Ireland in Paris.

ROGER FEDERER moved closer to a sixth successive US Open crown after stifling Spanish 14th seed Tommy Robredo 7-5 6-2 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals last night.

Katie Taylor, Paddy Barnes and Carl Frampton all won their semi-final bouts at the men's and women's Ahmet Comert Cup in Istanbul, Turkey today.

Everton manager David Moyes is keen to avenge one of his side’s most disappointing defeats of the season when Wigan visit Goodison Park tomorrow.

Everton manager David Moyes will make a late decision on the fitness of Tim Cahill for Sunday’s visit of Wigan as the midfielder has not yet returned from international duty.

Everton duo Tony Hibbert and Joseph Yobo are winning their battles to be fit for the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United next month.

Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin today accused the US of starting the fighting in Georgia.

China and other members of an Asian security group were today being asked to sign a declaration of support today for Russia’s role in the Georgia conflict.

Uzbekistan League side Kuruvchi claim to have reached a deal to sign Barcelona forward Samuel Eto'o - though the Catalan giants have laughed off the news.

Three-time Australian Open champion Roger Federer headed the list of seeded players to safely make it through to the third round on day four at Melbourne Park.

Uzbeks went to the polls today in a tightly controlled presidential vote that is widely expected to extend the rule of one of the most autocratic and anti-Western leaders in strategic Central Asia.

EUROPEAN Foreign Ministers were accused of capitulating to the repressive regime in Uzbekistan after they agreed to lift sanctions imposed following the massacre of hundreds of human rights protesters over two years ago.

DAVID Healy made sure that Nigel Worthington got off to a winning start as Northern Ireland manager last night.