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Are diamonds really forever? South African and British diamonds corporation, De Beers Group announced its decision to close its lab-grown diamonds (LGD) brand, Lightbox in May 2025. This has led to a shift of focus back to the OG natural diamonds within the industry and consumers. While a girl’s got to know all about her diamonds, but if you are living under a rock, LGDs are chemically produced diamonds that look just like naturally mined diamonds but cost a fraction of the latter.

According to Statista (Statista is a global data and business intelligence platform that specialises in compiling, gathering and visualising statistics and market research data), this move by De Beers is in sharp contrast to the lab-grown diamonds industry steadily growing over the past decade. However, in a statement released in their official website the company highlighted that Lightbox’s LGD’s have seen a fall in prices by 90 per cent at wholesale, since the brand’s inception back in 2018. Given this stark drop in prices and the resultant decline in market, the company has decided to discontinue the brand.

This strategic move by the leading diamonds producer now shifts their attention back to natural diamonds. In an official statement by De Beers, it was made clear that this will lead to streamlining the business and concentrating energies towards high-return operations instead.

Given this turn in the industry, NDTV spoke to De Beers Group, industry experts and other brands in the business to understand their take on the fall of lab-grown diamonds and the resultant resurgence of naturally mined diamonds.

De Beers’s Comment On Rolling Back Its Lab Grown Diamond Line, Lightbox

Amit Pratihari, MD, De Beers India, spoke to NDTV, “The proposed closure of the Lightbox business reflects a key executional milestone in De Beers Group’s Origins Strategy, as set out in May 2024, to focus on high-return activities and streamline the business. The closure will enable De Beers Group to reallocate investment to initiatives focused on reinvigorating desire for natural diamonds through category marketing.”

He further said, “As we move towards becoming a standalone company, we continue to optimise our business, reduce costs and build a focused De Beers that is positioned for profitable growth.”

It was conclusively added by the diamonds giant, “The planned closure of Lightbox reflects our commitment to natural diamonds. We are also excited at the growing commercial potential for synthetic diamonds in the technology and industrial space.”

De Beers Group’s Take On Their Strategic Move Towards Focusing On Natural Diamonds

Amit Pratihari highlighted the De Beers Group India’s view, “The De Beers Group’s strategic move to close its lab-grown diamond (“LGD”) jewellery brand, Lightbox, reinforces De Beers Group’s commitment to natural diamonds in the jewellery sector.”

He further told NDTV, “Natural diamonds, in that context, become more than adornment in India. They become symbols of support, of acknowledgment, of love that adapts and evolves. By linking this deeply personal rite of passage to the timelessness of diamonds, we aimed to elevate the moment – and remind people that diamonds can be everyday expressions of meaning, not just occasion-driven luxuries.”

Mouni Roy and Disha Patani are BFFs and they often share their love for each other on social media. Roy wished Patani on June 13 to celebrate the latter’s birthday with a heartfelt post. 

The Brahmastra actress posted a carousel of pictures and videos on Instagram, highlighting their on-fleek fashion moments and exotic travel escapades. 

The opening frame captures the two best friends posing against the backdrop of a private jet. While Disha wore a full-sleeved white bodysuit and flared pants, Roy went with an oversized white tee and black tights. This image of them hugging each other affectionately is a testimony to their friendship. 

The glamorous shot of Roy and Patani rocking basic tank tops in the next picture is equally sweet. The next couple of clicks have the BFFs twinning in blush pink mini dresses, radiating Barbiecore vibes. 

Speaking of street-style avatars, both the divas know how to do it right. One such snap showed the two striking a pose on the backdrop of a setting sun.

Patani picked out a brown full-sleeved crop top and baggy white trousers. Nature-inspired prints at the hem of the bottomwear were the X-factor. Roy kept it minimally edgy in a white ribbed crop top and beige cargo pants. 

The sisters from different mothers can ace the pretty-girl sartorial flair like a true boss. On a restaurant outing, Patani slipped into a strapless blue mini dress, while Roy served glam in a purple one. The cute pictures of them together are definitely BFF goals.

The rest of the album featured their beach vacations. From sun-kissed selfies to riding a bike and exploring new destinations, the two had the best time of their lives. In one click, Patani was seen cutting two delicious chocolate cakes. 

Roy wrote in the caption, “Happiest birthday to my mystifying, electrifying, most beautiful lil sis. My best mate & princepessa; love all characteristics & atoms that make you.” 

The India Meteorological Department has issued red alerts for Idukki, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts and orange alerts for the remaining districts.

Heavy rain lashed many districts of Kerala on Friday, disrupting normal life and causing waterlogging.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued red alerts for Idukki, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts and orange alerts for the remaining districts today.

Authorities in several districts have declared holidays for educational institutions under their jurisdiction.

As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), strong westerly winds are likely to persist at lower tropospheric levels over Kerala and the Lakshadweep region for the next two to three days, resulting in widespread rainfall.

The IMD stated, “Strong westerlies likely to continue at lower tropospheric levels over Kerala and the Lakshadweep region during the next 2-3 days. Under the influence of these, widespread rainfall activity with scattered Heavy rainfall to Very Heavy rainfall with isolated Extremely Heavy rainfall is very likely to occur over Kerala on 29th & 30th May 2025. Heavy rainfall is very likely to occur at isolated places over Kerala on 31st May, 1st and 2nd June 2025.”

District administrations across Kerala have declared a holiday for all educational institutions in several districts on May 30 (Friday).

The precautionary measure applies to professional colleges, anganwadis, tuition centers, madrassas, and special coaching classes.

Kannur District Collector announced a holiday for all educational institutions, including anganwadis, madrassas, tuition centers, and special classes. The district declared a similar holiday on the previous day due to intense rainfall.

A 34-year-old woman was hacked to death and her teenage daughter seriously injured in an attack in this hill district, police said on Monday.

A younger daughter who was missing after the incident has been found safe with the suspect, who is now in custody, they said.

The attack took place late Sunday evening at the woman’s rented home in Appappara village, under the Thirunelli police station limits.

The victim, Praveena, had been living there with her two daughters after separating from her husband, police said.

According to the police, the attack was allegedly carried out by Praveena’s male friend, identified as Dileesh.

Her 14-year-old daughter suffered deep wounds to her neck and ear and is being treated at a government hospital.

The suspect fled the scene with Praveena’s nine-year-old daughter, prompting a major search operation.

Police used drones and combed nearby forest areas despite rough weather conditions and difficult terrain.

Both the suspect and the missing girl were found on Monday near a forested area close to the house and the girl appeared unharmed, police said.

Police booked a man on Saturday after disturbing visuals of him “brutally assaulting” his eight-year-old daughter went viral on social media recently.

In the footage, the man could be seen beating the child and trying to slam her head against the wall as she cries in fear.

As the issued triggered widespread outrage on social media platforms, Health, Women and Child Development Minister Veena George and General Education Minister V Sivankutty came out strongly condemning the act and assured stringent leagal measures against the accused.

Following circulation of the video, the police launched a probe and identified the man as Jose alias Mamachan, living in a rented house in Cherupuzha of this district.

A senior police official said he was summoned to the local station in the morning.

His estranged wife and two children were also called to the station to record their statements, K Vinod Kumar, Deputy SP, Payyannur said.

“As soon as the video came to our notice yesterday, we contacted the man and the children. But, they claimed that it was a prank video,” he told a TV channel.

They claimed that it was picturised to bring back their mother who was staying separated from them.

“But, prima facie, we don’t think it is a prank video. Even if it is a prank video as claimed by them, a video showing brutality to children cannot be taken like this,” he said.

Responding to the criticism about police inaction, Kumar said the children were shifted to their paternal aunt’s house with their consent on Friday itself.

The officer further said legal action would be taken in connection with the incident and a case would be registered after recording the statements of the man, his wife and the children.

Later in the day, Cherupuzha police said a case has been registered against him and he was being interrogated.

“He still claims that it was a prank video. A detailed statement of the children should also be taken and procedures for it are are going on,” a police officer belonging to the station said.

The man was booked under Section 75 of Juvenile Justice Act (cruelty to children) and various sections of the BNS including Section 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), he said.

As TV channels aired the footages of assault, a panchayat official, quoting locals, told the media that the family moved to Cherupuzha two and a half months ago and the man used to beat his children.

Meanwhile, Minister Veena George gave instructions to the director of the Women and Child Development Department to make necessary interventions in the matter.

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