The guilty verdict against former Liberian president Charles Taylor, handed down on April ‎‎26 in The Hague, should send a clear message to Africa’s rogue leaders. But the fact that ‎Taylor was the first African leader to face an international tribunal – and the first head of ‎state to receive such a verdict – is bittersweet for the victims of violence and human ‎rights abuses not only in West Africa, but around the world.

At the gala dinner of the eight World Diamond Council meeting, a first industry leader, the chairman of De Beers Nicky Oppenheimer was awarded for significant contribution to the diamond industry. WDC President Eli Izhakoff presenting a silver plate with inscription which recognized the De Beers chairman for his many years of dedicated support for the World Diamond Council and the Kimberley Process. In turn, Nikki Oppenheimer delivered a speech.

Prices of rough diamonds are expected to rise this year after a turbulent 2011, driven by recovering consumer demand in the United States and a robust appetite for the gems in Asia, the head of the World Diamond Council (WDC) told Reuters on Monday.

Members of the World Diamond Council, meeting on Monday in Plenary Session at the WDC's 8th Annual Meeting, reaffirmed the diamond and jewelry industry's commitment to eliminating the trade in conflict diamonds, and agreed that the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme should evolve to reflect changes that have taken place since the KPCS was first launched in 2003.

The move of the De Beers Diamond Trading Company from London to Gaborone in Botswana is one of the biggest ever transfers of economic activity in the history of Africa. The first auction for sightholders will only be held at the end of the year as a test run for the $6bn-a-year business, but in January 2013 the first full-scale auction will be begin.