Latest news with #CARATS
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Surat's premier diamond expo ‘CARATS' downsized amid industry slowdown
Surat: In a sign of the ongoing downturn in the diamond industry, the country's flagship B2B diamond exhibition, CARATS, has been scaled down this year — both in terms of participation and venue. Held annually in Surat, the global hub where nine out of ten of the world's diamonds are polished, CARATS 2025 will take place at a club venue instead of the spacious SIECC dome, where last year's edition hosted 116 exhibitors. This year, only 73 participants have registered, and the number of machinery manufacturers has sharply dropped from 45 in 2024 to just 10 in the upcoming edition. The three-day event, organised by the Surat Diamond Association (SDA), is set to begin on July 11. Organisers cited logistical preferences, rather than falling interest, as the reason for the downsizing. "We received inquiries from machinery manufacturers, but diamond manufacturers preferred a venue with hotel facilities," said Jagdish Khunt, president of SDA. "Past exhibitions held at the club were successful, and the decision aligns with the preferences of our core participants." Out of the 73 exhibitors this year, 63 diamond manufacturing units will showcase both natural and lab-grown diamonds. This marks the sixth edition of CARATS, a significant event that draws over 6,000 trade visitors annually. Despite these claims, industry sources point to deeper concerns. With no major expansion plans underway and many units running only five days a week in single shifts, the slowdown is evident. In earlier boom periods, factories ran day and night with no weekly offs. Surat, home to over 5,000 diamond manufacturing units and employing an estimated seven lakh artisans, has been grappling with reduced global demand. The export value of cut and polished diamonds dropped from over $24 billion in 2021-22 to $13 billion in 2024-25, reflecting the challenging global trade environment. The shift in exhibition dynamics also reflects changes in Surat's diamond expo landscape. Initially, only Sparkle, organised by the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI), catered to the jewellery and diamond sector. Later, independent exhibitions such as ROOTZ by the Surat Jewellery Manufacturers Association (SJMA) and CARATS by SDA emerged as focused industry platforms.
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
SEVENTEEN fans cite mistreatment from the company over album delays – send protest trucks to demand better treatment - find out what happened
SEVENTEEN's fans have been calling their management company out for not handling their album release properly. Many have alleged that the company is mistreating the K-pop group and neglecting them, citing delays in album delivery and more. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now SEVENTEEN fans send a protest truck to the management company Recently, a lot of allegations against SEVENTEEN's management firm have arisen, with fans citing that the group have not been treated properly and that they are not being prioritised by the company. On June 24, fans sent protest trucks in front of the company's Yongsan building, calling for better treatment for SEVENTEEN. The protest trucks held banners that called for protecting the group's rights as well as for better utilisation of resources for the singers. Some of the banners read out phrases like 'We're even fighting for the right to rest. We'll challenge this to the very end'. 'SEVENTEEN's 6-month tour revenue ranks 3rd globally at 167 billion won. How much of that was used to protect the artists' rights?' and 'Only 1 point for SEVENTEEN's album? Pledis didn't even distribute the album properly.' Not only that, but community fan pages issued open call notices to the group's company to demand better treatment of the group. Fans sent the protest trucks and demanded better treatment for SEVENTEEN, as many CARATS had been facing a long delay after purchasing the group's physical albums. The long waiting period was accompanied by the company stopping pre-orders earlier than expected, specifically while the group was still promoting, enraging fans across the globe. Other than that, the protest also occurred on the grounds of how the members alleged that the company is not taking enough action against defamers and haters of the group. Fans alleged that SEVENTEEN's agency has not taken any proper action against people who have been spreading hate against the group online.
Pink Villa
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
SEVENTEEN B-DAY PARTY: 'Special' fans rent yachts to watch Han River show, clears up after themselves to avoid stampede situation
SEVENTEEN celebrated their 10th debut anniversary with a special B-DAY PARTY: BURST Stage event at Seoul's iconic Jamsugyo bridge from May 23 to 25. They made history as the first K-pop group to perform at this Seoul landmark atop the Han river. Not just the group, their fandom, CARAT, is equally iconic, which was evident from their smart and heartwarming acts on the final day of the show. SEVENTEEN marked a decade in the industry with a groundbreaking B-DAY PARTY: BURST Stage act. On day 3, May 25, they performed 12 songs for about an hour for 6,000 CARATs. The K-pop group's spirit was mirrored by their fans who demonstrated their love and generosity through their cameraderie and dedication towards SEVENTEEN. The overwhelming demand for tickets left many fans unable to secure a spot to see their cherished idols perform live. However, that did not stop them from enjoying the show. They discovered a clever solution by leveraging the show's waterfront location. They rented few yachts and watched the Bampo bridge spectacle from a unique vantage point of the Han river. Besides this, CARATS also went viral for another memorable act of theirs. The ones who watched the show in the designated venue, were finding it difficult to exit, as there were only two narrow middle aisles in between the lengthy seating arrangement. It resulted in a jammed departure, significantly prolonging the time it took for fans to leave the venue. Nevertheless, a group of considerate fans took the initiative to stack up chairs, effectively widening the passageway. It facilitated a smoother exit for others and this warm gesture was captured and shared online by some attendees. It sparked widespread admiration and the enthusiastic declaration– "CARATS are so kind." They were also called "special", with many labelling them as the best fandom. Their selfless act was praised by the other fans, who expressed pride in being a part of the selfless and tightly-knit fandbase. Their amazing teamwork and presence of mind was not only praised by fellow CARTS but also by people of other K-pop fandoms.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
SEVENTEEN show their professional finesse on stage; video goes viral and fans react in awe
K-pop boy group SEVENTEEN recently made headlines once again as they showcased their talent and professionalism on stage recently. The group handled an audio malfunction during one of their concerts in Japan well, astonishing and amazing fans around the globe. SEVENTEEN manage audio malfunction in Japan concert with ease The group managed the major audio malfunction with ease and professional grace. The issue started happening during their '24H' track. The leader of the group, S. Coups was the first to notice the issue and manage it. Other members of the group started facing issues with their in-ear monitors, which resulted in them having to take the monitors out. The group's leader asked them all to reassemble and regroup. As per reports in Pinkvilla, the group, rather than continuing with their original set, went off on a whim and adjusted their performance on stage. Since the in-ear monitors were unavailable, the group went off to the main stage where the monitor speakers were located. This allowed them to hear themselves singing and rapping more properly. Rather than sticking to the original setup and choreography, SEVENTEEN handled the situation the best possible way they could and ensured that no issues were caused during their set on stage. Fans react to the mishap on stage The group's fans, CARATS, reacted to the change of performance on stage online and started a debate. Many fans shared videos from the Japan concert and explained what happened on stage. The group received a lot of praise online for managing the situation so well. Fans also shared how even without the original performance and choreography and with no in-ear monitors, all members of the group synchronised and performed well on stage. Current projects Currently SEVENTEEN is embarking on their latest FAN MEETING 'HOLIDAY' tour in Japan. They recently finished performing in the Kyocera Dome Osaka. They will also be holding additional shows at the Saitama Super Arena on May 11 and 12. The group features 13 members in total, namely, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, The8, Mingyu, DK, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino. SEVENTEEN (세븐틴) 5th Album '𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐘 𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐓𝐃𝐀𝐘' : DARE OR DEATH
