British supermodel Naomi Campbell has been barred from being a charity trustee in England and Wales for five years.

The Charity Commission unveiled the news on Thursday as Campbell was in Paris.

The regulator found that only 8.5% of the charity’s overall expenditure went on charitable grants in a six-year period from 2016.

For example, it said that thousands of pounds worth of charity funds were used to pay for a luxury hotel stay in Cannes, France, for Campbell as well as spa treatments, room service and even cigarettes. The regulator sought explanations from the trustees but said no evidence was provided to back up their explanation that hotel costs were typically covered by a donor to the charity, therefore not costing the charity.

The decision follows a three-year investigation into the financial activities of “Fashion for Relief”.

“I was not in control of my charity, I put the control in the hands of a legal lawyer,” she said right after receiving the prestigious Ordre des Arts et des Lettres award at the French Culture Ministry in Paris. “We are investigating to find out what and how, and everything I do and every penny I ever raised goes to charity.”

The ceremony took place on the sidelines of the Paris Fashion Week.

The Charity commission said that around 344,000 pounds ($460,000) has been recovered and that a further 98,000 pounds of charitable funds have been protected. These funds were used to make donations to two other charities and settle outstanding liabilities.

The regulator also found that fellow trustee Bianka Hellmich received around 290,000 pounds ($385,000) of unauthorized funds for consultancy services, which was in breach of the charity’s constitution. She has been disqualified as a trustee for nine years. The other trustee, Veronica Chou, was barred for four years.

Fashion For Relief which was founded in 2005 was dissolved and removed from the register of charities earlier this year.

The charity said on its webstite that it presented fashion initiatives and projects in New York, London, Cannes, Moscow, Mumbai and Dar es Salaam and raised over 15 million dollars around the world.

The Algerian Foreign ministry announced on Thursday (Sep. 26) the reintroduction with immediate effrct of a visa for holders of a Moroccan passport.

The ministry notably cites “destabilization actions” and the organization of “human and drug-trafficking, espionage and the deployment of Zionist agents.”

The end of the visa exemption regime for Moroccans is the latest proof of degrading relations between the neighbour countries.

The nations broke off diplomatic ties in 2021. Algiers said it didn’t impose a visa back then because it sought to uphold “its values of solidarity given the family ties that unite two brother peoples.”

The main bone of contention is Morocco’s stance on Western Sahara, and its policy to make its autonomy plan gain support.

The United Nations has continued to regard Madrid as the colonial administrative power for Western Sahara, even after its annexation by Morocco immediately after Spain abandoned its African province in 1975. Over the years, the Spanish government’s official position, along with the European Union’s, has been to support a U.N.-sponsored referendum to settle the territory’s decolonization.

However, Morocco’s has successfully traded and ultimately swayed the diplomatic stances of countries like Spain or the US.

Algeria coninues to back the Polisario Front, the political party which seeks to obtain the recognition of th Sahraoui people’s right to self-determination.

Banknotes stuffed in suitcases totalling one billion five hundred million CFAS to finance a coup in Bénin.

That’s according to the special prosecutor. The arrest of prominent personalities close to the regime was announced Wednesday.

Among those allegedly involved is former Sports minister Oswald Homéky and the commander of Benin’s presidential guard.

The alleged coup was to take place on September 27.

“Starting from August 06, those concerned opened a bank account at NSIA Banque Côte d’Ivoire with the Commander of the Republican Guard, being the beneficiary,” special prosecutor Mario Metonou said.

“A proof of opening was sent to him with an initial balance of one hundred five million CFA francs.

The mastermind is allegedly Olivier Boko. A wealthy businessman and ally of president Patrice Talon.

Talon’s mandate is set to expire in 2026.

Many wonder what could possibly have happened between the two men who have always been very close.

“For the time being, Patrice Talon has yet to name a successor. More information about the attempted coup will surely be unveiled after the CRIET Special Prosecutor hears the defendants this Friday (Sep. 27), Africanews correspondant Romuald Vissoh reports.

The five sons of music legend Bob Marley are on a tour across the US and Canada.

They are honoring his work, performing about 30 of their father’s songs including massive hits like “No Woman, No Cry,” “Could You Be Loved,” “Is This Love” and “Three Little Birds.” The 22-date tour will conclude in early October in Miami.

Stephen who curated the tour’s setlist says it’s all about honoring Bob and coming together.

“As I say, in the aspect of honoring and getting together for honoring him as well. Just getting together as brothers and that side of it to that connection that we have as brothers.”

“We have different individual careers and families and lives and things, but when the opportunities arise where we can get together, where I cherish it and, you know, appreciate it and you know what I mean..

Ziggy, Stephen, Julian, Ky-Mani and Damian Marley have their own reggae sounds but found a way to blend it all together.

They’ve performed together since childhood including a Red Rocks performance in Colorado last year.

“His message goes beyond barriers. It breaks down barriers,” Julian said. “No matter which country you go to, the people need the same message. That’s why this is so everlasting. Never ending. That is the reason we are here and doing this mission,” Julian says.

But Marley’s legacy has lived on through several projects including an immersive exhibit in New York and his biopic “Bob Marley: One Love,” which debuted No. 1 at the box office in February.

Along with the tour, the Marley Brother’s are looking to work on a new album together and push their father’s message of positivity forward. Stephen said it’ll take some time but they aspire to get it “done in the near future.”

“For me, that message is so necessary now. Our father is one of those powerful ones that got this message across. That’s why we’re here.”

Ex-France and Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane has announced that he is retiring from football at the age of 31.

In July, Varane signed a two-year contract with freshly-promoted Como. But he wounded his knee during a match against Sampdoria the following month, in what would be his only appearance with the club.

In a post on social media, Varane stated that it was with ‘immense pride’ that he was announcing his retirement from the sport. ‘In my career I have taken on many challenges, rose to occasion after occasion, almost all of it was supposed to be impossible,’ he added.

He says he will remain at the club in a non-playing role.

Varane joined Real Madrid in 2011 after a stint with French side Lens. What followed was an illustrious career in the Spanish capital, that saw him bag 18 trophies.

The defender made his France debut in 2013, securing victory in the world cup five years later and in the Nations League in 2021.

He also spent time at Old Trafford from 2021 for an initial sum of more than 40 million euros, making more than 90 appearances in all competitions.

U.S. President Joe Biden will visit Africa next month, the White House announced Tuesday (Sep. 24), in his first trip to the continent while in office.

He will first travel to Berlin. In the German capital, he will bolster alliances and voice his gratitude to Germany for supporting Ukraine’s defense against Russia, as well as other issues, the White House stated.

He will then travel to Angola Oct. 13-15, where he will discuss firming up economic ties and boosting security, among other issues, with President Joao Lourenco. Biden is also to discuss a vision for a rail project that would start in Angola and link the Atlantic and Indian oceans.

In a statement, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, ‘The President’s visit to Luanda celebrates the evolution of the U.S.-Angola relationship, underscores the United States’ continued commitment to African partners, and demonstrates how collaborating to solve shared challenges delivers for the people of the United States and across the African continent.’

Biden had set his sights on visiting the country last year, but his plans were put on hold after the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted in October. He has vowed closer U.S. ties with democracies on the African continent, as China increases its influence in the region.

Biden had promised during a summit of African leaders he hosted in Washington in late 2022 to visit Africa the following year. His visit was to be the capstone of an administration effort to shore up ties with the continent, partly to counter growing influence there from China, which the US perceives as a rival.

However, 2023 passed without a visit from Biden.

Several top US officials including Vice President Kamala Harris visited African nations, though, on behalf of the now outgoing president.

Earlier Tuesday, the president declared that the U.S. is giving at least $500 million, along with 1 million mpox vaccines, to help African countries as they seek to quell the mpox outbreak.

Tuesday also saw Biden make his final address to the UN General Assembly as president.

A Turkish plane carrying 30 tons of medical aid arrived at Beirut’s airport on Wednesday.

Israel’s massive bombardment on Monday and Tuesday across several areas of southern Lebanon killed at least 560 people and forced thousands to flee. Lebanon’s Health Minister, Firas Abiad, was present at the airport to receive the Turkish aid.

“Today, we are at the airport receiving a military plane coming to Lebanon with assistance from Turkey and the Turkish people to deliver a very important message to the Lebanese people. The first message is one of solidarity. It tells the Lebanese people, ‘You are not alone. We stand with you, offering full support for the resilience of this nation in the face of the brutal aggression it is enduring, which has resulted in a large number of martyrs and injured “, Firas Abiad, Lebanese Health Minister said

Lebanon’s Health Minister will hold a press conference to address solutions for displaced people. Several NGOs have launched campaigns to collect essential supplies, including food and water, for those in Lebanon who have been forced to flee their homes.