Who gets the gold? Venezuela’s rival leaders clash over stash in London vault

CARACAS, Venezuela — The political battle over control of Venezuela has turned to a $1.8-billion stack of gold bars sitting in the Bank of England’s vault in London, where a judge is expected to decide soon on who has the rightful claim to the bullion. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro says he needs the gold to help his cash-starved nation fight the coronavirus pandemic. But the central bank for the United Kingdom, whose government recognizes Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó as his country’s legitimate leader, has refused to hand it over to Maduro’s socialist administration. A ruling by Justice Nigel Teare, possibly within days, could help clarify who is Venezuela’s...