NEWSWORTHY
Maduro buys gold to boost savings amid Venezuela's five-digit inflation but few other takers seen
President Nicolas Maduro said he is investing part of his personal savings in a gold-backed certificate as part of a much-questioned plan to crush hyperinflation and reactivate Venezuela's moribund economy. Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores were the first in line at the central bank ...
Russia treasure ship rumors rile investor waters in South Korea
A South Korean company's claim to have found a sunken Russian warship has triggered investor frenzy amid speculation the ship was carrying an enormous amount of gold when it sank 113 years ago. South Korea's financial regulator subsequently issued a warning against possible investment ...
Japanese court finds three Taiwanese women guilty of smuggling gold in their bras
A Japanese court gave three Taiwanese women suspended sentences Wednesday after finding them guilty of attempting to smuggle gold worth ¥50 million ($453,000) into the country by hiding it in their bras. The Hakodate District Court in Hokkaido handed down one-year prison terms to Qiu ...
Chinese gold mining in Cameroon tied to killings, corruption and land grabs
Killings, land grabs, corruption ... tensions and violence are rising in eastern Cameroon as Chinese firms take advantage of a regulatory twilight zone to mine gold. "There are constant conflicts between Cameroonians and the Chinese" over gold mining, said Narma Ndoyama, a farmer in Longa ...
Last defendant in Japan's biggest gold-smuggling case evades prison but gets ¥1.5 million fine
The Saga District Court sentences the last of nine men charged with smuggling 206 kg of gold into Japan in May, wrapping up the nation’s largest gold seizure to date.
Three Taiwanese women have been arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle about ¥50 million ($470,000) worth of gold into Japan through their bras, the police said Monday. Each woman had two bowl-shaped pieces of gold hidden in pockets attached to their bras, the police said. The ...
Japan's customs authorities seized record-high 6,200 kg of smuggled gold in 2017
The 6,236 kg of gold Japanese customs seized from tax dodgers in 2017 set a new one-year high and was worth around ¥28 billion.
Women caught smuggling gold from South Korea concealed in their rectums
Seven South Korean women attempted to smuggle gold into Japan late last month by concealing it in their rectums, officials from Aichi Prefecture's Chubu Airport said Tuesday. In most gold smuggling cases uncovered at the air hub, offenders concealed the gold on their person, such ...
Japan may impose tougher penalties for gold smuggling, as rise in cases seen as 'tip of iceberg'
The government will consider stricter penalties for gold smuggling as attempts soar with offenders seeking to pocket the 8 percent consumption tax from transactions.
Smashing breakthrough: Astronomers hail spectacular kilanova that sheds light on cosmic forces
It was a faint signal, but it told of one of the most violent acts in the universe, and it would soon reveal secrets of the cosmos, including how gold was created. Astronomers around the world reacted to the signal quickly, focusing telescopes located on ...
Asian stocks drop while yen and franc gain after North Korea missile launch
Asian stocks fell, and the yen and Swiss franc gained Tuesday as investors flocked to safe havens after North Korea fired a ballistic missile over Japan, fanning simmering tensions. Gold extended a rally above $1,300 an ounce and oil rebounded as investors weighed the damage ...
Are crime syndicates in Japan sitting on a gold mine?
The Japanese underworld loves gold — it has been the analog bitcoin of crime syndicates in recent years. The origins of gold are difficult to trace, and the material is easy to convert into cash and store. Crime syndicates are increasingly smuggling it, stealing ...
