An international effort to free the trapped men brought attention to the country’s informal mines, where panning for gold can pay more than minimum wage.

© Association Of Volunteers For Lao People, via Associated Press

The only charge lodged against David Rush is that he inflated his academic credentials and obtained military leave pay worth tens of thousands of dollars.

© Tom Brenner for The New York Times

As risk has escalated, central banks have bought more gold to stash in reserve. A widening Middle East war could add to the urgency.