MINING.COM Staff Writer

The Financial Times reports Greek citizens are emptying savings accounts and buying gold as they brace themselves for the possibility of a sovereign default and a run on the banks. Pledges by socialist prime minister George Papandreou that his government would “save the country” have been widely discounted by the public.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has told The Australian newspaper there will be changes in New Zealand mine safety regulations. Key made the comments in an interview when asked about Pike River, the West Coast mine where a series of explosions left 29 men dead last November. Over the weekend the same paper quoted a mining safety specialist who quit Pike River over concerns it was too dangerous as saying the mine lacked critical equipment required in Australian mines, which could have avoided the enormous methane explosion.

Entrepreneur John Teeling has increased his holding in Botswana Diamonds - the Southern and Central Africa focused diamond and precious metal exploration company. Teeling, who is the Chairman of Botswana Diamonds, acquired 1,000,000 shares (1%) yesterday at a price of 5p. The thinly-traded stock was trading on AIM in London at a fraction over 5p, down from a record high of 8p hit in May.