Campbell

A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND

The Hague

On August 5, supermodel Naomi Campbell made her much anticipated testimony at the war-crimes trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor. Campbell faced questions about allegations she received a "blood diamond" from Taylor in 1997. She told the court that two men knocked on her door while she was sleeping and presented her with the uncut diamonds as a "gift," without saying who it was from. Her former agent has disputed Campbell's version of events.

AID WORKERS DEPORTED

Somalia

Al Shabaab insurgents in Somalia have ordered a number of aid agencies to shut down operations in the country. The militant group is said to be in control of most of southern and central Somalia and accused the aid agencies of spreading Christian propaganda. "Acting as missionaries under the guise of humanitarian work, the organizations have been spreading their corrupted ideologies in order to taint the pure creed of the Muslims in Somalia," al Shabaab said in a statement.

 FALSE ALARM

Zimbabwe

Panic spread in Harare International Airport when a safety drill was mistaken for an actual plane crash on August 5. At one point, David Chawota, head of the Civil Aviation Authority, had confirmed that an accident involving a plane had occurred. But later, a spokesperson told the BBC that distraught "relatives" were nothing more than actors and the incident was a safety exercise - albeit an unusual one.

FLOOD DAMAGE

Niger

Heavy rain caused the Niger River to burst its banks in early August. It has been estimated that 5,000 people have had their homes destroyed. Crops have also been destroyed, compounding the food shortage caused by persistent drought. The downpour has wreaked havoc in many West African countries, including Ghana, Sierra Leone, Bukina Faso, Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire.