World champion Vettel out of Abu Dhabi GP

The Jakarta Post | Sun, 11/13/2011 9:30 PM

Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel span out of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the first corner on Sunday and was forced to retire for the first time this season.

The 24-year-old Red Bull driver appeared to pick up a puncture in his right rear tire and slid off the track. He managed to limp back to the pits but his team was unable to repair the damage.

With one race remaining in Brazil, Vettel will now be unable to match Michael Schumacher's record of 13 wins in a season.

Vettel's last retirement was at the Korean Grand Prix last year. He was the only driver to have finished all the previous 17 races in 2011.

Inequality a thorny issue in ITU Telecom World

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Geneva, Switzerland | Tue, 10/25/2011 12:23 PM

As the world economy is grapples with nagging discontent over the unequal distribution of wealth to a fortunate 1 percent, some telecom governmental bigwigs and industrial heavyweights gathering at the 2011 Telecom World in Geneva, Switzerland have contended to the monstrosity of the widening gap between of the haves and have-nots, and vowed to take this issue seriously during the three-day conference.

UN Agency International Telecommunication Union (ITU) secretary-general Dr Hamadoun I. Touré said superfast Internet connections and broadband would be among the key vehicles in the technological revolution.

"Broadband will revolutionize the lives of everyone, everywhere. It will help deliver radical improvements in healthcare, education, transportation, utility supplies and government services," Touré said Monday in the opening speech for the Broadband Leadership Summit, one of the programs at the conference.

Touré added that broadband would also help accelerate efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

However, he said, the risk ahead is "a world of broadband rich and broadband poor."

"We must therefore step up our efforts to make access to broadband networks and services equitable and affordable for all world’s people wherever they live and whatever their means," he asserted.

World No. 1 billionaire Carlos Slim Helu, the chairman of Grupo Carso, who also attends the conference, voiced a similar view.

The Mexican magnate said that people, rich and poor or those living in urban and rural areas, as well as businesses, big and small, should benefit from the use of fast Internet.

"We need to look for best practices worldwide [during the summit]," he said.

At least 250 world leaders ranging from heads of state and officials, city mayors, telco industry CEOs and technology gurus attend this year's first forum of the ITU Telecom World.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame whose video speech was run in the opening ceremony also highlighted issues of inequality.

"For a long time, many countries have been unable to effectively participate or contribute in the digital economy simply because of their limited access to broadband. It is our duty to build broadband infrastructure to meet the needs of our citizens," Kagame said.

"We need broadband to improve education and  healthcare and to boost tomorrow's economy," he added.

ITU along with UNESCO has established last year the Broadband Commission for Digital Development.

ITU secretary-general Touré said the commission had met on Monday and had agreed to create measurable broadband targets covering in particular the issues of affordability and uptake.

"The affordability target sets a maximum percentage of monthly income as a target for broadband access; and the uptake targets set minimum desired thresholds for households with Internet access, and Internet penetration as a whole," Touré said.

"We will measure progress annually and publish country rankings to quantify and evaluate broadband progress around the globe," he added.

He asserted that all discussions should serve and focus on the main goal, which is to put broadband at the service of sustainable social and economic development.

"I'd like to see a world where we replicate the mobile miracle of the past decade for broadband, a world where individuals rich and poor can be connected to the global knowledge society, a world where what matters is human ingenuity, not simply where you were born, or how wealthy your parents were," he said.

Beside government institutions, some industry leaders taking part in the conference include Huawei Technologies Co., Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, Ericsson, Fujitsu, Intel, NTT Group, NTT DoCoMo, Qtel, RIM, Satorys, Swisscom, Telkom SA, Turk Telecom, TDIA, and ZTE.

SBY discusses world oil prices with Cabinet

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 07/18/2011 12:12 PM

The President discussed two pressing issues with Cabinet members at a meeting on Monday morning: essential goods for the upcoming fasting month and increasing world oil prices.

The meeting, led by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, was attended by at least 10 ministers and coordinating ministers, and was held at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta.

Yudhoyono said uncertainties in Japan following the Fukushima nuclear plant meltdown were one of the causes of a shift in world oil prices. He added that the government planned to reduce oil subsidies by reducing the volume of subsidized fuel used.

“Efficiency [programs] in electricity and fuel use has had good results,” Yudhoyono said, as reported by tempointeraktif.com.

Later, the President is scheduled to fly to Bali to open the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and ASEAN Regional Forum.

Those present at the morning meeting included Coordinating Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu and Religioius Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali.

Sri Mulyani Indrawati: Pursuing the World Bank job ‘religiously’

Endy M. Bayuni, The Jakarta Post, Washington, DC | Fri, 04/29/2011 9:20 PM | People

JP/NurhayatiOne year since she was virtually hounded out of her Cabinet post in Indonesia by the country’s powerful politicians, Sri Mulyani Indrawati appears to have settled well in her job as the number two person in the World Bank headquarters in Washington.

As managing director, she has her plate full to keep her busy around the clock as she oversees 74 countries in the three regions entrusted to her: the East Asia Pacific, the Middle East and North Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

This is quite a departure from her previous job. Settling in from a job of overseeing the economy of one single country to one that deals with the development of 74 countries, each with its own political, cultural and economic situation, has been, “very interesting but also challenging”, she says in an interview.

Each country has a different problem that needs a specific solution. “There is no one size fits all,” she adds.

And then there is the globe-trotting that comes with her job, visiting trouble spots around the globe and meeting with leaders of donor and recipient countries.

In the 10 months since she joined the Bank, she has visited 19 countries, including Indonesia, Japan, China and India, West Bank and Gaza, Mexico and Peru.

She addressed the ASEAN financial ministers meeting in Bali this month, her first public appearance in her home soil since she left under controversial circumstances last year, and learned that she remains as popular as she was then, at least going by the huge media attention lavished on her rather than to the substance of the ASEAN meeting itself.

Clearly mindful of the political goings-on back home, including the campaign by friends for her to contest the presidential elections in Indonesia in 2012, Sri Mulyani remains very much focused on her present job. She keeps her political views private.

Ever the professional technocrat, she pursues her work with the same dedication and vigor as she had with all her previous jobs, including in serving in the Cabinet of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono since 2004 until last year.

“I always enjoy the job and the work that I do, because that’s the condition that I attach in accepting any job. This way, I can really work and dedicate myself to the institution for achieving the goal which I believe is a noble one.”

She sees her role today as an international civil servant helping people across the world.

“As the Indonesian saying goes, work is ibadah [literally: worship],” says the woman who, when she was finance minister, was known to be burning the midnight oil.

The interview in her cozy and spacious office on the 12th floor of the World Bank headquarters on Pennsylvania Avenue was limited to 30 minutes as she was busy preparing for the annual spring meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Sri Mulyani is no stranger to working in an international setting or to the high-powered Washington environment, having served as executive director for the IMF representing Southeast Asia.

She received her doctorate from the University of Illinois in Urban-Champagne in 1992 and worked as a USAID consultant in Georgia, Atlanta.

She came to the World Bank with very strong credentials, having built her reputation for integrity as finance minister and coordinating minister for the economy in Indonesia.

The accusation by the House of Representatives last year that she had abused her power in bailing out a small bank in 2008 had not the least dented her reputation in Washington.

The Indonesian Anti-Corruption Campaign (KPK) has not found any evidence of crime in her move to bail out Bank Century. Politically she may be faulted but legally she remains in the clear. World Bank President Robert Zoelick has included overseeing the integrity of vice presidency among the many additional tasks for her.

As far as workload is concerned, Sri Mulyani says it is more challenging as she has to deal with staff coming from more than 170 countries, each with different cultural background. The fact that they all share the same development goal helps, she says.

“It’s demanding but manageable,” she said.

The bank’s new paradigm of greater openness and transparency suited Sri Mulyani’s own personal style as she had reformed the Indonesian finance ministry very much in the same way when she was in charge.

She also seems at ease in crossing the political boundary, in the past a technocrat no-no but increasingly becoming inevitable as the Bank now addresses the issue of governance and corruption.

But she insists that when she addresses these issues, she was reflecting the institutional rather than her personal views.

Development as a subject today has become very multidimensional that includes also the issue of governance, transparency and accountability besides the economic aspect, she says.

“We need to build trust of both shareholders and clients. This institution is not telling what needs to be done. But we need to apply ourselves what we think is right. So transparency, accountability, and access to information become the principles that we also apply,” she says.

Don’t expect Sri Mulyani to do special favors for Indonesia, even though the World Bank has a large operation in the country.

“The Bank has a mechanism to prevent conflict of interests among staff and management,” she says. Whenever the executive board convenes to make a decision on Indonesia, she will sit it out and let the other managing director, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, chair it. And conversely, when the board convenes on Nigeria, Sri Mulyani will chair it.

This then begs the question that many of her political nemesis in Indonesia are asking: What exactly is Sri Mulyani doing for the nation?

Possible the best answer is that she represents Indonesia at its best, one of the rare Indonesians who have made it to the top in the international arena.

Although traveling as a World Bank staffer, she would still be recognized as someone hailing from Indonesia, and one who was recruited to the job because of her impeccable reputation.

She is not just someone who is intelligent, hard working, truly dedicated to her job, but also someone with tons of knowledge and experience in managing an economy as large and complex as Indonesia and who is now willing to share them all in helping people across the globe. And she is also recognized for her integrity.

She is still doing her part for her country whenever she can, in spite of her busy schedule. She has agreed to take part in a round of discussion to discuss a new vision with Indonesian students and young professionals based in the United States who are being assembled by Indonesian ambassador to the US Dino Patti Djalal in May.

“I am still an Indonesian citizen,” she says.

Obama hosts Hu as world powers seek common ground

Matthew Pennington, The Associated Press, Washington | Wed, 01/19/2011 8:01 PM | World

President Barack Obama is lavishing the grandest of White House welcomes on Chinese President Hu Jintao as the leaders of the two powers look for common ground on economic and security issues without alienating their domestic audiences.

With many Americans blaming China at least in part for the high U.S. unemployment rate, both presidents will be looking to build trust in a relationship grounded in mutual interest but troubled by intractable disputes.

Hu's visit follows an up and down two years in which an assertive China initially cold-shouldered the U.S. on climate change, did little to reel in its unpredictable ally North Korea and responded limply to U.S. pleas to mitigate trade imbalances. For its part, the U.S. riled China with arms sales to Taiwan and by inviting Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, to the White House.

Both sides are now setting a more positive tone.

Hu was welcomed on arrival Tuesday at Andrews Air Force Base by Vice President Joe Biden and then attended the first of two dinners Obama is hosting for him during his four-day U.S. stay.

Obama was joined at Tuesday night's private dinner, in the Old Family Dining Room in the White House residence, by national security adviser Tom Donilon and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Hu brought along two top Chinese officials. Underscoring the desire for candor, the White House said there were no official note-takers at the dinner and offered no readout of the discussions.

The private dinner preceded a pomp-filled welcoming ceremony on Wednesday and illustrated Obama's careful mix of warmth and firmness for the leader of a nation that is at once the largest U.S. competitor and most important potential partner.

After talks Wednesday morning, the two leaders will hold a joint news conference at the White House - just four questions allowed, two from U.S. journalists and two from Chinese reporters. They are expected to announce an agreement to establish a jointly financed nuclear security center in China.

A full state dinner at the White House in the evening will be the ceremonial highlight.

Clinton told CBS television Wednesday morning that she has high expectations for this week's talks, and said that the meeting between Obama and Hu is a "continuation of two years of the Obama administration's efforts to build a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship" with China.

She told CBS that while Washington "must always stand for our values," the U.S. government shouldn't let differences over human rights issues get in the way of doing constructive business with Beijing on problems such as North Korea, global warming and trade.

Obama plans to host a meeting Wednesday afternoon for Hu and U.S. and Chinese business leaders to promote increased U.S. exports to China and greater Chinese investment in the United States. Among those scheduled to attend are CEOs Steve Ballmer of Microsoft, Lloyd Blankfein of Goldman Sachs, Jeff Immelt of General Electric, Greg Brown of Motorola, Jim McNerney of Boeing and nine other U.S. executives.

U.S. companies have been longtime critics of Chinese policies that kept its currency low relative to the dollar. A low-priced yuan makes Chinese products cheaper in the U.S. and U.S. products more expensive in China.

While the agenda is packed with weighty issues, expectations remain modest.

"Overcoming the sense of mistrust is probably the most important thing," said Charles Freeman, a China expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank.

Hu's visit comes as the political trajectory has shifted for both nations.

China's success in weathering the global economic crisis coincided with an increasing confidence - critics would say brashness - on the world stage and worries among its neighbors in Asia over its growing military clout. Ultimately, that distrust has benefited the U.S., as nations such as Japan, South Korea and even Vietnam have looked to cement stronger ties with the U.S. as a regional power.

The U.S. economy has shown signs of recovery and Obama also has rebounded from his own political problems, notably the loss of one chamber of Congress to the Republican Party in the November elections at the midpoint of his term. A nuclear arms reduction treaty he orchestrated with Russia was approved, and he has been lauded for a touchstone speech in the aftermath of the shooting massacre in Arizona that left six dead and 13 wounded, including a U.S. congresswoman. His previously stellar poll ratings have begun to recover after months in the doldrums.

That shift in fortunes is unlikely to translate into major concessions from Hu, but Obama may encounter a more amenable Chinese leader, who will be looking to burnish China's image in the U.S. and his own standing before he steps down in 2012.

Stiff and media-averse, Hu, 67, has been in power since 2002. While lacking the charisma of predecessors Jiang Zemin and Deng Xiaoping, he has presided over a remarkable rise in China's economy.

China now holds the world's largest foreign currency reserves at $2.85 trillion and a major chunk of U.S. government debt. Economists predict it could become the world's largest economy, eclipsing the U.S., within 20 years if not sooner.

But perceived diplomatic missteps and reports that Hu was unaware when he met this month with Defense Secretary Robert Gates about a test flight of China's new stealth fighter have raised questions over his control of the military.

The grandeur of a White House state dinner - the first for a Chinese leader in 13 years - could go some way toward reasserting Hu's stature in status-conscious China, where ceremony often has greater resonance than in the West.

But Hu, who will later lead a business delegation to Chicago, faces an uphill task in showing Americans that China's rise can benefit the U.S. - beyond plugging the federal deficit with low-interest loans and offering cheaper goods to consumers.

In a starkly partisan U.S. political atmosphere, slamming China for unfair trade practices is one thing that both Republicans and Democrats can agree upon. This week, lawmakers from both parties announced plans for legislation to punish China for what they say is an undervalued currency that boosts its exports at the expense of U.S. manufacturers.

The Obama administration remains leery of steps that would infuriate China, favoring persuasion instead.

Last week, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said that if Beijing wants more investment opportunities in the U.S. and access to high technology products, it also must allow a more level playing field for U.S. companies in China.

Washington will further seek common ground on North Korea amid recent signs that China has increased pressure on Pyongyang to moderate its behavior and return to negotiations after two military strikes against South Korea risked setting off a conflict on the Korean peninsula.

Shared interests, however, are unlikely to stretch to the arena of human rights - often a fly in the ointment of U.S.-China relations.

Obama's state dinner for Hu, only the third of his presidency, comes just a month after Liu Xiaobo, a Chinese lecturer jailed for calling for reform of the one-party system, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize but barred from attending the ceremony in Oslo, Norway.

Secretary of State Clinton last week appealed for China to tolerate dissent and assume the responsibilities of a world power in the 21st century. Her call for Liu's release is likely to fall on deaf ears.

RI economy to grow 6.2% in 2011: World Bank

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 01/13/2011 2:17 PM | Headlines

The World Bank expects Indonesia’s economy to expand 6.2 percent in 2011, less than the official government estimate of 6.4 percent.

World Bank (WB) senior economist for Indonesia Enrique Blanco Armas said Thursday the economic growth target was not considered pessimistic, despite a recent statement by Vice President Boediono that the Indonesian economy could expand by up to 8 percent this year.

“I wouldn’t consider this pessimistic if you see conditions in Europe,” Enrique said at the World Bank office in Jakarta on Thursday.

Last month, the World Bank cut its economic growth estimate for Indonesia to 5.9 percent from 6 percent for full-year 2010, because of domestic-related supply constraint issues caused by weather anomalies that hampered harvests.

Local economists have also said weather anomalies have not only hampered economic growth but caused inflationary pressures mainly from volatile food prices.

The World Bank released its latest global report on Thursday, in which soaring food prices were considered the main focus for domestic consumption-reliant economies such as Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy with more than 230 million people accounting for 60 percent of its economy.

“Inflation is high or on the rise in many developing countries, notably China, Indonesia and Sri Lanka ... Inflation mainly reflects drought-related increases in food prices,” the report says.

The World Bank sees 2011 headline inflation at 6 percent for Indonesia, in line with the central bank’s 4 to 6 percent target.

“What’s more important is to monitor development in the next few months, most importantly on core inflation. Headline [inflation] increased mostly as a result of high food prices, so it’s weather related. The government should address the supply side,” Armas said. (est)

Lionel Messi wins FIFA world player award

The Jakarta Post | Tue, 01/11/2011 7:13 AM | Sports

Lionel Messi's mesmerizing performances for Barcelona outweighed a disappointing World Cup, ensuring the Argentina forward was named the world's best player of 2010.

Messi won the FIFA award for a second straight year, finishing ahead of Barcelona teamates Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez.

"It's a very special day for me," Messi said through a translator on receiving the award at a gala ceremony in FIFA's home city.

The 23-year-old Messi amassed 58 goals last year for an exciting Barcelona team which retained the Spanish league title and leads th standings this season.

However, he failed to score in South Africa as Argentina exited in the quarterfinals. Iniesta and Xavi, by comparison, starred for eventual winner Spain.

"I didn't expect to win it today," Messi said. "Already it's a source of happiness to be here with my friends and even me to win it."

Messi obtained 22.65 percent of the votes cast by coaches and captains of national teams plus invited journalists. The original shortlist featured 23 players.

Andres Iniesta finished second with 17.36 percent and Xavi received 16.48 percent to finish third for the second straight year. All three candidates honed their craft at Barcelona's celebrated La Masia youth academy.

Barcelona has now provided eight winners in the 20-year history of the FIFA honor. Messi follows former Brazil internationals Romario (1994), Ronaldo (1996 and '97), Rivaldo (1999) and Ronaldinho (2004 and '05).

The award was renamed this year after FIFA merged its world player award with the Ballon d'Or trophy, which had been presented to the best player in Europe by France Football magazine since 1956.

Jose Mourinho won the men's coach award for leading Inter Milan to a treble including the Champions League.

Mourinho beat World Cup-winning Spain coach Vicente del Bosque and Pep Guardiola of Barcelona to the inaugural honor. The Portuguese coach guided Inter to the Italian league and cup double before leaving to join Real Madrid.

"The most important things for me are the collective titles, not the individual ones," Mourinho said.

Brazil forward Marta won the women's player award for a fifth straight year, defeating Germany internationals Birgit Prinz and Kosovo-born Lira Bajramaj.

Marta was rewarded for her outstanding season with United States women's professional league champion Gold Pride. She is a free agent after the Santa Clara, California, club folded in November.

"I'm looking at contracts for the league. For the time being I have nothing confirmed," she said through a translator.

Silvia Neid won the inaugural women's coaching award for her work with the Germany national team, which defends its World Cup title at home in July. Also shortlisted were Maren Meinert, whose Germany Under-20 team was world champion in July, and Pia Sundhage, the Swedish coach of the United States' Olympic champions.

Haitian football received the FIFA fair play award for its recovery from an earthquake which devastated the Caribbean island last January.

The FIFA presidential award was made to Archbishop Desmond Tutu in recognition of South Africa's organization of the World Cup.

Tutu praised FIFA President Sepp Blatter for his passion and determination to ensure Africa would host the tournament.

"I want to pay a very warm tribute," the former Nobel Peace Prize winner said. "It is one in the eye for the Afro pessimists."

All three Ballon d'Or nominees featured in a World XI lineup chosen by FIFA and the FIFPro group of players' unions worldwide.

The team consisted entirely of players from Barcelona, Real Madrid and European champion Inter.

Spain captain Iker Casillas from Madrid was chosen as goalkeeper. In defense, Barcelona pair Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique were joined by Inter's Maicon and Lucio.

Wesley Sneijder of Inter completed a midfield trio comprising Iniesta and Xavi. The attack teamed Messi and David Villa, who joined Barca from Valencia in May, with Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.

Hamit Altintop won the Puskas Award for most beautiful goal in 2010 for his volley for Turkey against Kazakhstan in a 2012 European Championship qualifying match. The Bayern Munich midfielder connected with a right-footed shot from 18 meters (yards) after a left-flank corner had looped directly into his path for the ball to fly into the back of the net.

Altintop was chosen from a shortlist of 10 goals in a global online poll of more than one million fans. The award is named after the late Hungary and Real Madrid great Ferenc Puskas.

2010: The year Africa held its first World Cup

The Associated Press | Wed, 12/29/2010 8:28 AM | World

The World Cup finally made it to Africa in 2010 and plans were made to send football's showpiece to even more new destinations.

After South Africa overcame dire predictions of security problems and half-empty stadiums to stage a World Cup that united the country in celebration, FIFA voted to give future tournaments to Russia and Qatar.

South Africa's first-round exit made it the least successful host team in World Cup history, but the rest of the country mostly coped admirably with its biggest global gathering since the end of a decades-long boycott by world sport.

Fans worldwide became intimately acquainted with the incessant buzz of the vuvuzela as South Africans celebrated the World Cup and the arrival of many of the superstars they had only ever seen before on television.

But on the field, the World Cup was far from a classic. Spain's 1-0 win over the Netherlands came in the dirtiest ever final, which was an appropriate end to a tournament that promised much but delivered little.

While Germany again thrilled neutrals to take third place for a second straight tournament, Brazil was dour. Italy and England were even worse, but France took the unofficial title of tournament laughing stock - so consumed by dissent that players refused to train before a 2-1 loss to South Africa that confirmed the team's humiliating first-round exit.

Diego Maradona's presence as coach inspired his beloved Argentina to some fitfully entertaining displays, with Lionel Messi doing everything except score, but Germany dismantled the South Americans 4-0 in the quarterfinals and Maradona was fired soon after.

The fervor of home fans was quelled when five of Africa's six entrants fell in the first round. Although Ghana then beat the United States 2-1 in a game watched by 19.4 million Americans - a U.S. record beaten when 24.3 million watched the final - the remaining enthusiasm turned to anger when a deliberate handball by Uruguay forward Luis Suarez denied their adopted team a winner in the last minute of the quarterfinals.

Suarez was suspended from Uruguay's first semifinal match since 1954, but FIFA refused calls for additional punishment for a cynical act that became one of the most memorable moments of the tournament.

Even Spain disappointed despite following West Germany and France to become only the third side to hold the World Cup and European Championship trophies at the same time.

This was far from the stylish Spain that dominated Euro 2008 and cruised through World Cup qualifying with 10 wins from 10 games.

The Spaniards lost their opening match to Switzerland in the tournament's biggest shock, before 1-0 wins in each of the four knockout rounds made them the lowest scoring world champions ever, with eight goals from seven matches.

A squad dominated by homegrown Barcelona stars waited patiently for its talent to yield a goal before trusting that its technical superiority would allow it to keep the ball and deny the opposition the chance to equalize.

It worked, even against a brutal display from the Netherlands in the final at Soccer City in Johannesburg. With the teams facing a penalty shootout, Andres Iniesta scored with four minutes of extra time left to clinch his country's first World Cup.

The Dutch were handed nine of the final's record 14 yellow cards and defender John Heitinga became only the fifth man to get a red card on football's biggest stage.

It was a huge anticlimax, especially after a clearly frail Nelson Mandela had turned up to wave to fans at the stadium in Soweto where 20 years earlier he had held his first mass rally following his release from jail.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque seemed to have tightened things up after Barcelona's shock defeat to Inter Milan in the semifinals of Europe's Champions League.

With Spain internationals Xavi Hernandez, Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Pedro and Victor Valdes in its lineup, the defending champions dominated Inter with an astonishing 71 percent possession over two matches but left space on the counteratack to lose 3-2 on aggregate.

Inter's 3-1 win in the first leg owed much to the sort of precision and patience Spain would show at the World Cup, where Busquets and Xabi Alonso effectively mirrored Inter's defensive shield of Thiago Motta and Esteban Cambiasso.

Inter and Germany were just about the oly sides able to stop Messi during a year in which he made sure the repeated comparisons between him and Maradona - still Argentina's greatest ever player - ceased to become far-fetched.

Messi helped Barcelona retain the Spanish league and scored an incredible 58 club goals in 2010 to maintain his status a the world's best player, despite Cristiano Ronaldo's sparkling form for Real Madrid.

The dethroning of Barcelona - which by mid December of the following season was unbeaten in 22 matches and had scored 31 goals while conceding only one in the last seven of those - was simply the latest entry in Jose Mouinho's astounding career.

Mourinho led Inter to an unprecedented treble of Serie A title, Italian Cup and Champions League, with Bayern Munich beaten 2-0 in the final in Madrid.

Mourinho swiftly quit Inter - still with a record of not having lost a home league match with any team since February 2002 - nd went to Real Madrid. After a strong start to the 2010-11 season, Madrid was rocked by November's 5-0 mauling at Barcelona but, with his track record, Mourinho could still end the season on a high.

Inter won December's Club World Cup to end 2010 with an Italian record five trophies in a calendar year. Ier beat TP Mazembe in the final after the African champion had shocked Copa Libertadores holder Internacional in the previous round, but that was a rare high point under Mourinho's successor Rafa Benitez.

Benitez's former club Liverpool was embroiled in a lengthy and convoluted dispute over its ownership at was only resolved when Britain's High Court forced American businessmen Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. to sell up.

Liverpool remained in American hands as Boston Red Sox owners New England Sports Ventures bought the club, but the team was way behind England's elite on the field.

Officiating of te game continued to evolve as football's rule-making body agreed to reopen discussions on the use of goal-line technology after mistakes helped eliminate Mexico and England from the World Cup.

In Europe, UEFA expanded its experimental use of additional assistant referees into the Champions League.

Butthere could be more trouble ahead for FIFA after its decision to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia and '22 edition to Qatar.

World football's ruling body said it was trying to spread the game into new territory by giving the tournament to Europe's largest country and then the Middle East, but the move was overshadowed by allegations of corruption and a lack of transparency in FIFA.