Aristocrat sues France for £314m over his family’s claim to Monaco throne

An aristocrat is suing the French state for €351 million (£314 million) in damages for allegedly depriving his family of the throne of Monaco in order to stop it falling into the hands of a German. Louis de Causans says that in the early 20th century France threatened to annex the wealthy Mediterranean principality if it did…

Shining Monday: How Japan is trying to make start of working week more palatable

The government in Japan has devised a novel way getting rid of – or delaying, at least – that Monday feeling: letting workers take the morning off work. Under plans dubbed ‘Shining Monday’, the Ministry of Economy is pushing forward its drive to improve the work-life balance by giving workers a lie-in Shining Monday is…

Turkey looks for diplomatic solution to avoid ‘massacre’ in Syria’s Idlib

Turkey and the US said they were racing find a diplomatic solution to avoid “a serious massacre” in Syria’s Idlib province ahead of a critical summit on Friday which is likely to decide the fate of the rebel stronghold.  The world had been bracing for weeks for Assad regime forces to attack Idlib, where around…

Snail saliva sorbet anyone? Italian gelato maestro comes up with novel concoction with a serious purpose

It might not catch on like lemon or blackcurrant, but an Italian ice cream expert has come up with a sorbet made from snail slime. Alessandro Racca, a master of sorbet and gelato making, concocted a strawberry sorbet which relies on snail secretions as one of its primary ingredients, along with sugar and a little…

Britain, France and US ‘plan tougher response to Syrian regime’s use of chemical weapons’

President Donald Trump’s National Security Adviser said on Monday the United States, Britain and France had agreed that any further use of chemical weapons by Syria would prompt a “much stronger response” compared to previous air strikes. In recent days American officials have said they believe government forces are preparing to deploy chemical weapons ahead…