David Johnson: De Beers charts cautious Angola return amid industry transformation

De Beers is rebuilding its presence in Angola through government partnerships and community engagement, marking a strategic comeback following its difficult exit years ago from the diamond-rich nation. However, De Beers spokesperson David Johnson cautioned...

24 november 2025

Maria Krasnova: Colored gemstones are a serious investment

Maria Krasnova, Executive Director of the renowned company “Samotsvety ot Sokolov” (Gems by Sokolov), spoke to Rough&Polished about the Gemstone project aimed at selling precious stones, as well as about current market trends, new challenges...

17 november 2025

Forging a new legacy: Tshenolo Ntshekang on building a black-owned diamond beneficiation business in South Africa

In an industry historically defined by limited access and foreign dominance, Tshenolo Ntshekang is carving a new path. The founder of Banzi and Karolo Projects, a black-owned diamond beneficiation business, Ntshekang, represents a growing wave of...

03 november 2025

Mahiar Borhanjoo returns to ‘The Heart Of The Diamond Business’

Having started his career in the diamond trade at De Beers in London, Mahiar Borhanjoo returned to the diamond giant last year as Chief Commercial Officer after working for a decade for other diamond companies. Mahiar explains why he returned to De Beers...

27 october 2025

Mubri president Ali Pastorini: You just need to play a transparent game and do everything possible to attract clients

Ali Pastorini, co-owner of the DEL LIMA JEWERLY and president of the Mubri International Association, which unites more than 2,500 wholesalers, retailers, and designers from 18 countries. In this interview with Rough&Polished Ali Pastorini talks about...

20 october 2025

Japan's sanctions against Atomflot may impede the NSR

11 march 2024

The Northern Sea Route (NSR) is economically beneficial and important for combating climate change, but Japan's sanctions against Atomflot may harm its use. This point of view was expressed to TASS by Hide Sakaguchi, President of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation's Oceanic Policy Research Institute.

"I am also seriously concerned that the sanctions against Atomflot are destroying the prospects of using the NSR, including the development of Arctic LNG-2," he said, noting that good relations with Russia are necessary for the safe and economically sound use of this route.

"If we take into account the time of cargo transportation, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, the NSR is ideally suited for shipping between Europe and East Asia, therefore, for the safe and cost-effective operation of the NSR, we need good relations with Russia," Sakaguchi explained.

On March 1, Japan adopted another package of anti-Russian sanctions, which Moscow has repeatedly called illegitimate. Atomflot was included in the sanctions list.

Alex Shishlo for Rough&Polished