The most deep-pocketed shopper among the 150 or so boutiques in Khartoum’s gold district is the Sudanese central bank.

Chilean state giant Codelco, the world's largest copper producer, submitted Wednesday an environmental permit request to go ahead with its $12.8 million project to maximize the benefit from ore extracted from El Teniente copper mine, the company’s most profitable division. The initiative is part of the $2.2 billion expansion for El Teniente.

"I know of women (prostitutes) who have bought Winnebagos and caravans – but even getting a booking at a caravan park is hard."

The world's largest primary silver producer and Mexico's second largest gold producer, Fresnillo PLC reached record gold production levels and says it remains confident that it will meet its gold and silver production targets for 2012.

Vancouver's Pan Global Resources Inc (TSX-V:PGZ) added 20% on Wednesday on higher than usual trading volumes, after announcing it has intersected significant borate mineralisation at its Valjevo licence in Serbia.

Vancouver-based First Majestic Silver had a 14% increase in total production at its La Encantada, La Parrilla and San Martin silver mines in Mexico for the second quarter ending June 30 in relation to the same quarter last year.

A UK Labour MP has moved an “early day motion” in the House of Commons seeking a debate on mining in the Indian state of Goa, calling upon the British government to urge local authorities to address the issue as a matter of urgency.

Global securities and investment banking group Jefferies downgraded Caterpillar from a “buy” to a “hold” rating, with a price target of $85.00, adding to a series of previous reports affecting the company's stock.

Russian-Canadian miner Rusoro Mining, is asking an arm of the World Bank to intercede in a legal dispute with Venezuela after the country nationalized its gold industry, and took over the junior’s investments without compensation.