South Africa's former President Jacob Zuma appeared in court on Monday (January 31) to face a long-standing corruption trial regarding a $2 billion government arms deal. Zuma's lawyers had argued that lead state prosecutor, Billy Downer, should be removed from the case, claiming that Downer is biased and his involvement would result in Zuma not getting a fair trial.

For decades, Montenegro has been unable to get organized crime under control. Rampant corruption is hindering development in the country, which is a candidate for EU membership. Now, Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic is attempting a political awakening.

Courts in the military-ruled country have already sentenced the deposed Myanmar leader to six years in prison, but her combined maximum sentences could see her jailed for decades.

The imprisonment and political exclusion of former President Lula da Silva was a violation of his rights, the UN has said. Lula is currently leading in polls for October's presidential election.

The latest installment in a scathing report into the presidency of former South African leader Jacob Zuma says that he played a critical role in the plunder of state entities. About 880 million euros worth of contracts for the Eskom power utility are thought to have been shadily awarded.

President Kais Saied issued the order with a list of judges to be dismissed, accusing them of corruption and stalling terrorism cases. Critics have blasted the dismissals as an "affront" to judicial independence.

Tunisian President Kais Saied sacks 57 judges accused of corruption. He has also passed a new law strengthening his grip on the judiciary. Also, at least 10 African countries have major displacement crises. The Norwegian Refugee Council, an NGO, is sounding the alarm in its annual report. Finally, Vladimir Putin will host Senegalese President Macky Sall at his Black Sea residence in Sochi this Friday. Sall currently chairs the African Union

A new judicial report claims Jacob Zuma is "a critical player" in a massive theft from state enterprises in South Africa. But the ex-president pledged to challenge the findings.

Ursula von der Leyen said Ukraine was making progress toward its goal of EU membership and needed to foster business confidence by appointing top anti-corruption officials.

Former football administrators Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini are due to hear the verdict in their Swiss corruption trial on Friday.

Big questions are again being asked about the future of Germany's public broadcasters after Patricia Schlesinger, director of Berlin's public broadcaster RBB, resigned over mismanagement charges.

Heinz-Christian Strache faced his second corruption case in two years. This time, the court found insufficient evidence for conviction. In 2019, a scandal surrounding him brought down Austria's entire federal government.