FIFA is expected to make a swift decision on Luis Suarez’s future in the World Cup and the Uruguay striker may play no further part in the tournament after appearing to have bitten Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini.

Barack Obama threatened US military strikes in Iraq yesterday against Sunni Islamist militants who have surged out of the north to menace Baghdad and want to establish their own state in Iraq and Syria.

A state banquet for Zimbabwean prime minister Robert Mugabe was less than stately after Garret FitzGerald took too long to handpick the wine and 30 unaccounted-for guests turned up.

Barcelona vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu admits Cesc Fabregas’ decision to stay at Arsenal has come as a major blow to the Catalan giants.

Ireland has secured the Research and Innovation portfolio in the European Commission.

SONIA O’SULLIVAN is poised for a plum position on the Executive Committee of the Olympic Council of Ireland.

AC Milan today confirmed they have appealed against UEFA’s decision to ban goalkeeper Dida for two Champions League games.

THE ‘Waterford Crystal’ doping scandal which cost Cian O’Connor his Olympic gold medal was referred to by the Hon General Secretary of the Olympic Council of Ireland, Dermot Sherlock, who told delegates at last night’s EGM that they should learn from the debacle and be better prepared in the approach to the Beijing Games.

Italy's blunder-prone Rocco Buttiglione was under increasing pressure today to spare himself the sack and step down voluntarily from his new job as European Commissioner in charge of civil liberties.

Ex-President Clinton is in Belfast this evening for the last round of his engagements before leaving Ireland.