Hunter Biden facing federal investigation over tax affairs

A Taiwanese publisher detained in China is suspected of committing national security crimes, Chinese officials say. Beijing has been stepping up pressure on the self-ruled island, which it considers its own.

In Syria, the Islamic State group stands accused of executing a series of attacks targeting truffle hunters. Truffles, or 'sand truffles' as they're commonly known, grow in the desert and have become a sought-after commodity. FRANCE24's Observers team delved into this issue. Journalist Mahmoud Naffakh provides further insights.

An investigation began into the deadly crash in the Indian state of Odisha, which took nearly 300 lives and left thousands injured. The accident is believed to have been caused by signal system failure.

The Bedouin communities living in the unforgiving Badia, or the Syrian desert, are facing a surge in armed attacks. The violence reaches a peak each year between February and April: the truffle season. As tribes go out to hunt truffles, they risk being ambushed by sleeper cells of the Islamic State group, which has taken refuge in the Badia since 2019. This exclusive investigation from FRANCE 24's Observers team exposes the horrific abuses being carried out deep in the desert.

Kenyan police fired tear gas at hundreds of people protesting near parliament on Tuesday against a proposed finance bill that would hike taxes on fuel and housing.

Investigators from Canada's transport safety regulator have been sent to St. John's to gather information. The ship that carried the submersible was based in the harbor on Canada's Atlantic coast.

Police used teargas to disperse protests in the Nairobi and Mombasa. Kenyan opposition have called for the protests to condemn new taxes amid a severe cost-of-living crisis.

A man is shot dead as opposition-led protests turn violent in Kenya, all in response to President William Ruto's new nationwide tax hikes. We also head to the Tunisian town of Sfax, where conditions are worsening and help is absent as migrants and locals clash amidst accusations of racism. Finally, there's a new crime plaguing the streets of South Africa, where kidnapping numbers have soared in a country already gripped by a security crisis.

The protests are backed by opposition leader Raila Odinga, with more demos expected next week. Hundreds have been arrested and several were killed, as the UN expresses concern about the use of force by authorities.

Kenya is bracing for three days of protests this week. The demonstrations are being organised by opposition leader Raila Odinga, who accuses the government of failing to control a cost of living crisis. Also, as the conflict rages in Sudan, we look at the economic impact of the war on neighbouring Central African Republic, where many are dependant on supplies from across the border. Finally, we are heading to Kigali, Rwanda, where the 6th 'Women Deliver' conference is being held.

In France, pan-African influencers are gaining more and more followers on social media. Advocating a radical anti-Western ideology, some of them claim responsibility for the recent coups in Mali and Burkina Faso. Their narrative is similar to that of the Kremlin, which is trying to place its pawns on the African continent. FRANCE 24 profiles two French influencers who seem to have taken sides with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Attorney General Merrick Garland has announced he is appointing a special counsel in the Hunter Biden probe. The development elevates the investigation of the president's son ahead of the 2024 election.