As the US begins to ease restrictions on Syria, is this the start of a softer approach by the West? Plus: the UAE becomes the largest foreign investor in Africa and London sees the biggest annual increase of luxury hotel room openings in more than a decade. Then: are portable cabanas going against Australia’s “spirit of equality”?

<p>As the US begins to ease restrictions on Syria, is this the start of a softer approach by the West? Plus: the UAE becomes the largest foreign investor in Africa and London sees the biggest annual increase of luxury hotel room openings in more than a decade. Then: are portable cabanas going against Australia&rsquo;s &ldquo;spirit of equality&rdquo;?</p>

Monocle’s unrivalled coverage of news and current affairs kicks off on weekdays with ‘The Globalist’ at 07.00 GMT/08.00 CET. Anchored from London and Zürich, join our editors for insight and opinion on the big current affairs and business stories of the day and a review of the European front pages. Nominated for Best Daily Podcast in the 2020 British Podcast Awards. 

<p>Monocle’s unrivalled coverage of news and current affairs kicks off on weekdays with ‘The Globalist’ at 07.00 GMT/08.00 CET. Anchored from London and Zürich, join our editors for insight and opinion on the big current affairs and business stories of the day and a review of the European front pages. Nominated for Best Daily Podcast in the 2020 British Podcast Awards. </p>

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