Live from Istanbul: the CEO of the city’s 2020 Olympic bid tells us why it deserve the games, we discuss an airline that is taking to the seas to beat traffic, and talk design, fashion and food. Plus, the top stories from today’s front pages across Turkey.

Live from Istanbul: Monocle editor Andrew Tuck kicks off two days of special broadcasts from Turkey. We also hear from Daniella Peled of the Institute of War and Peace Reporting on the implications of Israel’s air strikes in Syria and Emily Ford reports from Kuala Lumpur on the re-election of its ruling party.

As Syria’s conflict rages on we discuss why communities are beginning to set up local councils in a bid for normalcy. Plus, we head to Sydney to find out about controversial plans to redevelop its waterfront, and talk Italian furniture design.

We speak to the author of a new report on how Syria is affecting Turkey, find out how long Israel can go without a foreign minister, and talk design with a business that salvages old buildings and makes them new again.

Reactions from Bamako as the UN approves a peacekeeping force in Mali, why Vladimir Putin held an audience Q&A, and we find out what it takes to build a base in Antarctica.

A closer look at US defence secretary Chuck Hagel’s visit to Saudi Arabia, we find out why Norway may soon allow oil drilling in the Arctic, and at the other end of the world we continue our week-long series on Antarctica.