Global Week in Review: Boko Haram Suspected of Deadly Explosion in Nigerian Town

The bombing comes ahead of former state governor's visit.

Boko Haram Suspected of Deadly Explosion in Borno State Town - Egypt judge releases two detained Al-Jazeera English journalists on bail, plus more. —Patrice PeckCasualties and injuries appeared to be high following an explosion at a market in northeast Nigeria, Voice of America reports. The bombing in the Borno State town of Biu comes ahead of a political rally and an expected visit of a former state governor. A member of the Civilian Joint Task Force told the Associated Press that Boko Haram was suspected in the attack. "For now we are trying to get volunteers to go donate blood to seriously injured victims who have lost a lot of blood. The hospital has run out of blood in its reserve, we are told,” he said.(NIGERIA - Tags: CRIME LAW CIVIL UNREST) (Photo: REUTERS/STRINGER/LANDOV)

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Boko Haram Suspected of Deadly Explosion in Borno State Town - Egypt judge releases two detained Al-Jazeera English journalists on bail, plus more. —Patrice PeckCasualties and injuries appeared to be high following an explosion at a market in northeast Nigeria, Voice of America reports. The bombing in the Borno State town of Biu comes ahead of a political rally and an expected visit of a former state governor. A member of the Civilian Joint Task Force told the Associated Press that Boko Haram was suspected in the attack. "For now we are trying to get volunteers to go donate blood to seriously injured victims who have lost a lot of blood. The hospital has run out of blood in its reserve, we are told,” he said.(NIGERIA - Tags: CRIME LAW CIVIL UNREST) (Photo: REUTERS/STRINGER/LANDOV)

Egyptian Court Orders Release of Al-Jazeera English Journalists on Bail - The families of a pair of detained Al-Jazeera English journalists celebrated on Thursday as an Egyptian judge granted the men bail. Baher Mohamed and Mohamed Fahmy are being retried on terror-related charges, but the trial leading to their conviction was widely considered a sham. "It is an opening of hope...But we hope for acquittal, not just release," Fahmy’s mother, Wafaa Bassiouni, told the Associated Press. "Nothing he has done deserves those 14 months in prison." The prosecution and subsequent detention of the journalists brought heavy international backlash on Egypt. A third defendant, Australian journalist Peter Greste, was deported two weeks earlier, signaling what many believe to be a "face-saving" resort, the AP reports. (Photo: AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

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Egyptian Court Orders Release of Al-Jazeera English Journalists on Bail - The families of a pair of detained Al-Jazeera English journalists celebrated on Thursday as an Egyptian judge granted the men bail. Baher Mohamed and Mohamed Fahmy are being retried on terror-related charges, but the trial leading to their conviction was widely considered a sham. "It is an opening of hope...But we hope for acquittal, not just release," Fahmy’s mother, Wafaa Bassiouni, told the Associated Press. "Nothing he has done deserves those 14 months in prison." The prosecution and subsequent detention of the journalists brought heavy international backlash on Egypt. A third defendant, Australian journalist Peter Greste, was deported two weeks earlier, signaling what many believe to be a "face-saving" resort, the AP reports. (Photo: AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

International Pressure Grows on Saudi Arabia Over Flogging of Blogger - According to the AP, European lawmakers are demanding that Saudi Arabia release Raif Badawi, a jailed local blogger sentenced to be lashed 50 times a week over several months for insulting Islam. The 32-year-old father of three was reportedly flogged 50 times last month, but a second beating was postponed for medical reasons. Prince Charles also recently raised the issue of Badawi’s case during his first meeting with Saudi Arabia’s new king, the BBC reports.(Photo: PA PHOTOS/LANDOV)

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International Pressure Grows on Saudi Arabia Over Flogging of Blogger - According to the AP, European lawmakers are demanding that Saudi Arabia release Raif Badawi, a jailed local blogger sentenced to be lashed 50 times a week over several months for insulting Islam. The 32-year-old father of three was reportedly flogged 50 times last month, but a second beating was postponed for medical reasons. Prince Charles also recently raised the issue of Badawi’s case during his first meeting with Saudi Arabia’s new king, the BBC reports.(Photo: PA PHOTOS/LANDOV)

South African Opposition Interrupts Zuma’s Speech - South African president Jacob Zuma’s state-of-the-nation speech was disrupted on Thursday by protesting opposition lawmakers, the AP reports. The protesters stood up during Zuma’s address to demand that he answer questions about his spending more than $20 million in state spending on his private home.(Photo: AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam,Pool)

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South African Opposition Interrupts Zuma’s Speech - South African president Jacob Zuma’s state-of-the-nation speech was disrupted on Thursday by protesting opposition lawmakers, the AP reports. The protesters stood up during Zuma’s address to demand that he answer questions about his spending more than $20 million in state spending on his private home.(Photo: AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam,Pool)

Nigeria's Presidential Elections Pushed Back - The Nigerian government recently decided to postpone a tight presidential election for six weeks, inciting backlash from both its opposition and local and U.S. leaders, the Wall Street Journal reports. The country's electoral commission reportedly announced the decision on Sunday amid security concerns, particularly regarding the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram. (Photo: AP Photo/Lekan Oyekanmi)

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Nigeria's Presidential Elections Pushed Back - The Nigerian government recently decided to postpone a tight presidential election for six weeks, inciting backlash from both its opposition and local and U.S. leaders, the Wall Street Journal reports. The country's electoral commission reportedly announced the decision on Sunday amid security concerns, particularly regarding the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram. (Photo: AP Photo/Lekan Oyekanmi)

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Migrants Die of Hypothermia After Boat Rescue - At least 27 migrants have died from hypothermia after attempting to cross the Mediterranean in an inflatable life raft carrying more than 100 others, the AP reports. Traveling from North Africa to Italy, the migrants faced rough seas and freezing temperatures before they called for help via satellite telephone 100 miles off the coast of the southern Italian island of Lampedusa. Two patrol boats ultimately rescued 105 migrants on Sunday, but about two dozen died en route to the island, according to The Guardian.(Photo: ALFONSO DI VINCENZO/AFP/Getty Images)

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Migrants Die of Hypothermia After Boat Rescue - At least 27 migrants have died from hypothermia after attempting to cross the Mediterranean in an inflatable life raft carrying more than 100 others, the AP reports. Traveling from North Africa to Italy, the migrants faced rough seas and freezing temperatures before they called for help via satellite telephone 100 miles off the coast of the southern Italian island of Lampedusa. Two patrol boats ultimately rescued 105 migrants on Sunday, but about two dozen died en route to the island, according to The Guardian.(Photo: ALFONSO DI VINCENZO/AFP/Getty Images)

Boko Haram Takes Revenge With Rampage in Cameroon - At least 91 Cameroonian civilians were slaughtered and wounded in the town of Fotokol on Feb. 5 after Boko Haram reportedly led a revenge attack against Nigeria's neighboring country. According to the AP, the Islamic extremists were taking revenge on the neighboring country after it united with other nations against the group and launched an offensive with Chad this week. Residents also claimed that 500 people remained "trapped" in Fotokol following the rampage.(Locals held a march in Cameroon on Feb. 7 to show support for the Cameroon army fighting against Boko Haram. Photo: AP Photo/Joel Kouam)

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Boko Haram Continues Attacks on Niger, Cameroon - The BBC reports that suspected members of the Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram allegedly hijacked a bus carrying as many as 30 shoppers in northern Cameroon and drove it toward the Nigerian border late Sunday. Extremists reportedly led another attack in a Cameroonian town, where they looted food and livestock, and detonated a car bomb in a Niger town. Last Saturday, a march was held in Cameroon for locals to show support for the Cameroon army fighting against Boko Haram. ( Photo: AP Photo/Joel Kouam)

Brazil Distributes Condoms, Uses Apps to Promote Safe Sex at Carnival - Brazil's Health Ministry has turned to popular hookup apps like Tinder and Hornet to promote safe sex during the country's Carnival celebrations, the AP reports. A television commercial campaign has also been launched, advising revelers to get HIV tests ahead of Carnival. From Feb. 13-17, throughout the celebrations, the ministry will also reportedly pass out 70 million condoms nationwide. (Photo: AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

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Brazil Distributes Condoms, Uses Apps to Promote Safe Sex at Carnival - Brazil's Health Ministry has turned to popular hookup apps like Tinder and Hornet to promote safe sex during the country's Carnival celebrations, the AP reports. A television commercial campaign has also been launched, advising revelers to get HIV tests ahead of Carnival. From Feb. 13-17, throughout the celebrations, the ministry will also reportedly pass out 70 million condoms nationwide. (Photo: AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

Top UN Relief Official: ‘Peace, Stability and Security’ Vital for South Sudan - The United Nation's top official for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief recently toured South Sudan where she spoke about the country's deepening crisis. “People need peace, stability and security,” she said in a plea to those involved in the political in-fighting between President Kiir and his former vice president, Riek Machar. “It is heartrending to see the suffering of the people.” She also disclosed that $600 million is needed by the end of February, the end of the dry season, to avoid further humanitarian deterioration. (Photo: REUTERS /Jok Solomon/STRINGER /LANDOV)

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Top UN Relief Official: ‘Peace, Stability and Security’ Vital for South Sudan - The United Nation's top official for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief recently toured South Sudan where she spoke about the country's deepening crisis. “People need peace, stability and security,” she said in a plea to those involved in the political in-fighting between President Kiir and his former vice president, Riek Machar. “It is heartrending to see the suffering of the people.” She also disclosed that $600 million is needed by the end of February, the end of the dry season, to avoid further humanitarian deterioration. (Photo: REUTERS /Jok Solomon/STRINGER /LANDOV)

Tourism Is Up in Jamaica - According to Jamaica's tourism minister, the Caribbean island attracted 3.5 million visitors last year, a record year for its tourism industry. “This surpassed the two million we did in 2013,” said Wykeham McNeill. The spike in tourism reportedly generated gross foreign exchange earnings of $2.2 billion.(Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

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Tourism Is Up in Jamaica - According to Jamaica's tourism minister, the Caribbean island attracted 3.5 million visitors last year, a record year for its tourism industry. “This surpassed the two million we did in 2013,” said Wykeham McNeill. The spike in tourism reportedly generated gross foreign exchange earnings of $2.2 billion.(Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

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Ivory Coast Beats Ghana to Win African Cup - On Sunday, Ivory Coast won its first African Cup tournament since 1992, after goalkeeper Boubacar Barry blocked a penalty and then later scored the winning shot. Ivory Coast beat Ghana after a 9-8 shootout. "When sometimes you win with your club, it's quite amazing," Ivorian player Yaya Toure, who also scored a penalty shot, told AP. "But with your country, it's unbelievable."(Photo: KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images)

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Ivory Coast Beats Ghana to Win African Cup - On Sunday, Ivory Coast won its first African Cup tournament since 1992, after goalkeeper Boubacar Barry blocked a penalty and then later scored the winning shot. Ivory Coast beat Ghana after a 9-8 shootout. "When sometimes you win with your club, it's quite amazing," Ivorian player Yaya Toure, who also scored a penalty shot, told AP. "But with your country, it's unbelievable."(Photo: KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images)

Somalian Woman Pens Essay on Surgery After FGM - In honor of the International Day for Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, VICE News reported on a little-known reconstructive surgery that essentially reverses the procedure. Ayan A., a 32-year-old Somalian who was mutilated at the age of six and now lives in the U.S., penned an essay in VICE about her decision to get the surgery. "It has now been six weeks since the surgery, and I am healing beautifully," she wrote. "Reconstructive surgery really can reverse physical damage caused by female genital cutting. It just can't remove the emotional damage."(Photo: XiXinXing/Getty Images)

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Somalian Woman Pens Essay on Surgery After FGM - In honor of the International Day for Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, VICE News reported on a little-known reconstructive surgery that essentially reverses the procedure. Ayan A., a 32-year-old Somalian who was mutilated at the age of six and now lives in the U.S., penned an essay in VICE about her decision to get the surgery. "It has now been six weeks since the surgery, and I am healing beautifully," she wrote. "Reconstructive surgery really can reverse physical damage caused by female genital cutting. It just can't remove the emotional damage."(Photo: XiXinXing/Getty Images)