Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia’s second poorest nation, is sitting on a pile of gold, quite literally. For years, the bulk of profits from the colossal Kumtor Mine have been sent abroad. Now, a new government is trying to change that. In May, the former Soviet republic sparked an international legal battle when it rolled in and took control of the Kumtor Mine, operated by Toronto-based Centerra Gold.... 

Archaeologists have struggled in vain to find conclusive proof that King Solomon actually existed — and with no inscriptions or remnants of the magnificent palace and temple he is supposed to have built in Jerusalem 3,000 years ago, the Israelite king has sunk into the realm of myth: Now British marine archaeologist Dr Sean Kingsley has amassed evidence showing that Solomon was not only a flesh-and-blood... 

The gold mine is located in the town of Silin on Jiaodong Peninsula in Shandong province, in the east of China, Chinese news agencies report. According to preliminary estimates, gold deposits are located on the area of two kilometres at the depth of 67 meters. The volume of gold reserves in the area is about 382.58 tons, but exploration works continue. It is believed that the deposit may contain up... 

South African President Jacob Zuma addresses striking miners at a platinum mine in the town of Marikana. South African President Jacob Zuma says problems including strikes and deadly clashes faced by the mining industry have affected the country’s economy. “When our mining sector is in difficulties, this affects the wider economy, leading to industrial slowdown,” Zuma said on Thursday. Reports... 

Police officers clash with anti-mining protesters in Andahuaylas, Peru on November 10, 2011. The Peruvian government has declared a state of emergency in southern Espinar province to curb seven days of violent anti-mining protests in the highland region. The 30-day state of emergency was imposed after two people were killed and scores more, including police officers, were injured in clashes over controversial... 

The federal government has unveiled an historic agreement with mining magnate Gina Rinehart to import overseas workers to fill jobs in her iron ore project in Western Australia. The enterprise migration agreement (EMA) will be first used at the mining magnate’s $6.5 billion Roy Hill project, allowing Hancock Prospecting to bring in 1700 migrant workers on a temporary basis. Union leaders today... 

While most pundits – and some senior politicians – stare in wonder at the size of the mining industry’s windfall profits, they are missing a great tragedy happening under their noses. The mining boom has pushed the Australian dollar to historic highs and this, in turn, has pushed manufacturing to the brink. The damage being done by the high dollar to the rest of the economy is actually...