Briefly

UNITED STATES

Govt in bid to drop graft case against NYC mayor

The US Justice Department filed court papers on Friday to dismiss a corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams, despite a barrage of resignations from prosecutors who refused to drop the charges. Adams, who pleaded not guilty in September to charges of fraud and bribery, has denied allegations that he asked for the case to be dropped in exchange for enforcing President Donald Trump's immigration agenda. Several prosecutors in the Southern District of New York who brought the charges resigned over the order to drop the case. The most recent was assistant US attorney Hagan Scotten, who said on Friday that only a "fool" or a "coward" would comply.

MALI

At least 48 killed in gold mine collapse

At least 48 people were killed when an "illegally operated" gold mine collapsed in western Mali on Saturday, authorities and local sources told AFP. "The toll at 1800 today is 48 dead following the collapse," said a police source. Taoule Camara, secretary-general of the national union of gold counters and refineries, said the accident took place near the town of Kenieba in the gold-rich Kayes Region. A local official confirmed the cave-in, while the Kenieba gold miners' association also put the death toll at 48.

Agencies via Xinhua