Opponents claimed that he wanted to inflict a defeat on the judiciary ahead of a law reform later this year, and that he also hoped to cow the president as part of a broader strategy aimed at taking over the presidency himself and giving Italy what his admirers say would be a more decisive form of presidential government.

ECONOMIST: Italy and the right to die

Neither the Syrian armed forces nor the rebels seem able to inflict a decisive defeat on the other.

ECONOMIST: Syria

Warne, who at 35 is two years older than Muralitharan, claimed a match haul of six wickets to help inflict a crushing defeat on England in the first Ashes Test at Lord's over the weekend.

BBC: Muttiah Muralitharan