President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree allowing Russian companies to import uncut diamonds from Liberia, in response to the UN Security Council's lifting of its ban.

The Republic of Congo has rejoined the Kimberly Process, a global watchdog group designed to stop the flow of conflict diamonds. Analysts say the move shows controls on the diamond trade in the country are improving, but warn that there is still much to be done to regulate the diamond industry, both in Congo and around the world.

Gareth Penny, De Beers Group managing director, called on European, Israeli and American diamond traders to support Africa's efforts to cut and polish its own diamonds.

A South African man is claiming to have discovered the world's largest diamond, but industry experts are sceptical about the find. The light green, coconut-sized gemstone is sitting in a Johannesburg bank vault awaiting tests.

A certificate establishing the fact of discovery in 2007 of the primary kimberlite deposit of Verkhne-Munskoye in Yakutia has been issued to Russian diamond giant ALROSA.

On 6th August, 2007 the delegation of ALROSA headed by its President Sergey Vybornov made a working trip to Armenia.

Beginning Monday, Liberians can start applying for licenses to mine, sell, or broker for diamonds. This follows the weekend lifting of a six-year moratorium on the trade in diamonds.

The European Court of Justice has overturned the European Commission's ruling restricting diamond giant De Beers from buying rough diamonds from Russian Alrosa.

The World Diamond Council, the association responsible for regulating the global diamond trade, has singled out Zimbabwe and Venezuela for not meeting global standards aimed at curtailing the trade in so-called conflict diamonds. VOA's Jim Teeple reports from Jerusalem, where the leaders of the world diamond trade wrapped up their annual meeting on Thursday.

The diamond industry must assume more measures to prevent child labor and substandard work conditions and wages, and must keep the gems out of hands of criminals and terrorists, leading diamond official said Thursday.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf opened 10 diamond screening and evaluation offices across Liberia, marking the first step toward restarting the industry in the war-decimated West African country following the removal of a six-year ban by the United Nations.

The U.N. Security Council has lifted its embargo on Liberia's diamond exports. From U.N. headquarters, VOA's Peter Heinlein reports the action clears the way for creation of thousands of new jobs as it means Liberia's lucrative diamond industry can now resume.