One person was shot dead in a targeted attack at a Catholic Church in Istanbul on January 29th.

The Incident: During a time of prayer and worship, an unidentified assailant entered the Catholic Church and opened fire, claiming the life of an innocent individual. Islamic State have claimed responsibility, the authorities are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding this tragic event. The shockwaves of the incident have reverberated not only through the Catholic community but across the entire city of Istanbul.

At least six people have been killed and 81 wounded in an explosion in a busy area of central Istanbul, Turkish authorities have said.

The blast happened at about 16:20 local time (13:20 GMT) on a shopping street in the Taksim Square area, the Turkish city's governor Ali Yerlikaya said. Vice-President Fuat Oktay said the blast was thought to be a terrorist attack carried out by a woman. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the perpetrators would be punished.

Severe floods hit the Turkey Black Sea coastal provinces of Bartin, Kastamonu, Sinop and Samsun, destroying homes and bridges.

At least 17 people have been killed in flash floods in Turkey’s Black Sea region that have sent water and debris cascading through streets, damaged bridges, and ripped up roads in the second natural disaster to strike the country this month.

The floodwaters brought chaos to northern provinces just as authorities were declaring that some of the wildfires that had raged through southern coastal regions for two weeks had been brought under control.