Author: Neel Achary

Beneath the Turquoise: Experience the Maldives in Manta Ray Season at BeKind Hotels & Resorts

Maldives, 24 September 2026: The Maldives may be defined by turquoise lagoons, powder-soft beaches and villas suspended above crystalline waters, but between September and November, the destination reveals a more immersive side—one that lies beneath the surface.

For travellers staying at BEKIND Hotels & Resorts’ Fushifaru Maldives and Meyyafushi Maldives, the ocean becomes more than a backdrop. It becomes an invitation to explore, from seasonal manta ray encounters to vibrant reefs, marine excursions and experiences that bring guests closer to the natural rhythm of the Indian Ocean.

The manta ray season offers an extraordinary opportunity to explore the waters around Fushifaru Thila, one of Lhaviyani Atoll’s celebrated marine sites and a natural draw for both divers and snorkellers. Located just a three-minute boat ride from Fushifaru Maldives and approximately 15 minutes from Meyyafushi, the site is home to a natural manta ray cleaning station, where these graceful giants regularly gather as cleaner wrasse and reef fish gently remove parasites from their skin. Divers can descend into the thila’s vibrant underwater world for a closer view of the mantas as they circle the cleaning station, while snorkellers can experience the spectacle from the surface as the rays glide through the crystal-clear waters below. During manta season, the short journey to Fushifaru Thila becomes an unmissable marine encounter—combining accessibility, remarkable biodiversity and the rare opportunity to observe one of the Maldives’ most mesmerising creatures in its natural habitat.  and its surrounding cleaning stations.

The experience extends beyond mantas. The wider Lhaviyani Atoll is home to colourful coral reefs, turtles, rays, dolphins and abundant tropical marine life. Fushifaru’s house reef and underwater playground offer accessible encounters for snorkellers, while nearby dive sites invite experienced divers to explore further.

At Fushifaru, a day can begin beneath the surface and end against a spectacular Maldivian sunset. Guests can unwind at Heylhi Spa, embark on dolphin or sunset cruises, or escape to a private sandbank. For couples, the signature Dig-In sandbank dining experience transforms a secluded stretch of sand into an intimate dining setting surrounded by the Indian Ocean.

At Meyyafushi Maldives, the ocean is woven into the experience in unexpected ways. Guests can explore coral gardens before experiencing Bubble Underwater Restaurant, where marine life becomes part of the dining experience. The Sky Bar & Sunken Lounge, rooftop glass-bottom pool and Raa Overwater Wine Cellar offer sophisticated ways to enjoy the island, while the Veyoge Overwater Spa brings wellness onto the lagoon through yoga, sound healing and floating-platform experiences.

Families can complement marine adventures with Kids Club activities, watersports and recreational experiences, with private-pool villas and selected water villas featuring slides adding to Meyyafushi’s appeal.

“September to November offers our guests a wonderful opportunity to experience the Maldives beyond its iconic beaches and lagoons. The manta season is a highlight, but what makes this period truly special is the variety of experiences around it—from marine encounters and coral exploration to wellness, distinctive dining and secluded sandbank escapes. At BEKIND, we want our guests to experience the Maldives rather than simply visit it,” says Mr. Ahmed Siaar, Cluster General Manager, BEKIND Hotels & Resorts.

From manta rays gliding through the deep blue to sunset cruises, underwater dining and private island escapes, September to November offers travellers a chance to discover a Maldives that is as captivating beneath the surface as it is above it.

Bhubaneswar’s BDA Ekamra Residency Flats Cost More Than Some Govt Homes in Delhi and Mumbai

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 24 (UDN): The Bhubaneswar Development Authority’s (BDA) newly launched Ekamra Residency housing project in Kalinga Nagar has sparked discussion over its pricing, with some premium units nearing Rs 97 lakh and drawing comparisons with government housing projects in Delhi, Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

 Representational Image 

The online application process for the 704-apartment project began on September 18, positioning the development as a premium residential offering with lifestyle-oriented amenities.

Flats Priced Up to Rs 96.82 Lakh

According to BDA’s pricing schedule, 2BHK apartments are priced between Rs 78.36 lakh and Rs 79.94 lakh, while 2BHK-plus-study units range from Rs 94.90 lakh to Rs 96.82 lakh. Registration and statutory charges will be additional.

The pricing has attracted attention because it overlaps with or exceeds the upper range of some middle-income government housing schemes offered by agencies in major metropolitan cities.

Comparison With Metro Housing Projects

According to a comparison reported by The Times of India, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) middle-income group (MIG) flats are priced between Rs 40 lakh and Rs 75 lakh, while MHADA projects in Maharashtra are in the Rs 45 lakh to Rs 75 lakh range. Similar projects by CIDCO in Navi Mumbai are priced between Rs 40 lakh and Rs 80 lakh.

The comparison has led to discussions among prospective buyers about affordability, particularly for the larger BDA units that extend beyond the upper end of those reported price ranges.

Premium Amenities Cited

BDA officials have described Ekamra Residency as a lifestyle-focused residential project featuring 704 flats with amenities such as a rooftop swimming pool, gymnasium, community centre, parking facilities, lifts, CCTV surveillance and power backup.

Real estate experts have pointed to rising land values and construction costs as factors influencing pricing, while some prospective buyers have raised concerns over affordability in comparison with government housing schemes in larger cities.

The project marks one of BDA’s major residential launches in Bhubaneswar, with applications now open for eligible homebuyers seeking apartments in the Kalinga Nagar development.

Puma Project3 Makes Its Way To India For Runners Chasing World Marathon Majors

“There is a clear shift in the ambition of runners in India,” said Ram Sridharan, Managing Director, PUMA India. “More runners are chasing faster times and personal bests, and looking at the world’s major marathons as their next challenge. Project3 is about backing that ambition with the kind of support that can make a real difference to performance. We want to help build a stronger pool of Indian marathoners ready to compete at that level, and these first 50 runners are where that journey begins.”

• 1,673 Indian runners participated across the six World Major Marathons in 2025, up from 459 in 2014, according to Geeks On Feet, an independent running magazine.
• In 2025, 500+ Indian runners ran sub-three hours in the marathon – a benchmark typically associated with high-level marathon performance globally.

• Holding a valid 2027 Mumbai Marathon race bib/race entry
• Existing marathon PB of 3:15- 3:45 for male applicants and/or 3:30- 4:00 for female applicants

Cairns Crocodiles Launches 2027 With Bold New Identity, First Speakers, Regional Ambassadors & Awards Now Open

• Lindsey Belknap, Global Vice President, Marketing, ŌURA
• Joe La Pompe, Creative Plagiarism Hunter, Founder & Author
• Tetyana Denford, Founder of the Nobody Cares Movement, Author & Speaker
• Cheryl Goh, Group Head of Marketing, Sustainability, Loyalty and Support, Grab
• Sherele Moody, Award-Winning Social Justice Journalist, Founder Australian Femicide Watch, She Matters Podcast Host
• Tristan Graham, VP, Executive Creative Director, Vacation
• Serena Kim, Integrated Media & Marketing Communications Manager, IKEA Korea
• Lem Zakharia, Creator, Brand Builder, Podcast Producer & Director, Bedou

RAKEZ recognises companies for excellence in health, safety and sustainability

Ras Al Khaimah, Sept 24: Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) recognised companies within its business community for their achievements and commitment to high standards of health, safety and environmental practices through its HS&E Excellence Awards and Nujoom Al Salama Programme.

The recognition highlighted businesses that have demonstrated strong performance in workplace safety, environmental responsibility, compliance and the continued improvement of HS&E practices across their operations.

As part of the HS&E Excellence Awards, Vesuvius Ras Al Khaimah was recognised for completing one million safe working hours by World Refractories Association, while Ni Met Recycling was honoured for receiving a Gold Medal in the EcoVadis Sustainability Rating based on its environmental, social, and ethical performance across its operations and supply chain.

RAKEZ also recognised four companies under its Nujoom Al Salama Programme, which evaluates and rewards businesses for excellence in HS&E practices. Elegant Industries and Peikko Gulf each received a four-star rating, while Sobha Modular Industries and AG Metal Industries achieved the programme’s highest five-star rating.

Under Nujoom Al Salama, businesses are rated from three to five stars based on their adherence to safety regulations, proactive measures and incident records. The programme is designed to encourage continuous improvements in safety and compliance across industrial, land and warehouse facilities.

Congratulating the awardees, RAKEZ Group CEO Ramy Jallad said: “Strong businesses are built on environments where people can work safely and where responsible practices are embedded into everyday operations. The achievements of these companies demonstrate what can be accomplished when health, safety and environmental responsibility become an integral part of how a business operates. Through initiatives such as these, we want to recognise good practices while encouraging our wider business community to continuously raise standards across their facilities.”

Through its HS&E recognition initiatives, RAKEZ continues to promote a culture of safety, sustainability and responsible business practices across its growing business community

XLRI – Xavier School of Management to Organize Annual CHRO Strategy Conclave at Metamorphose 2026 in Udaipur

Metamorphose 2026, XLRI – Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur will organise its Annual CHRO Strategy Conclave to be held on September 25–26, 2026 at Mementos by ITC Hotels, Udaipur.

Returning for its second edition following its inaugural gathering in 2024, Metamorphose 2026, themed “Emerge, Sustain, Lead” will bring together around 120 CHROs and people leaders from India, the Middle East and Singapore for two days of strategic dialogue and knowledge exchange. The conclave will provide an opportunity for leaders to step back from operational priorities, exchange experiences and reflect on the organisational choices that will shape the future of work.

As part of the Metamorphose initiative, XLRI, Jamshedpur organised a series of mini-conclaves led by CHROs on the Future of Work and Organisational Readiness, bringing together 24 CHROs representing diverse sectors. The insights emerging from these conversations were further triangulated through inputs from more than 160 HR and business leaders, creating a broader perspective on how organisations and the HR function are evolving.

A key insight emerging from these discussions is that the HR function of the future will need to move beyond managing the next generation of the workforce towards designing organisations where people can create greater value. In this evolving landscape, CHROs are increasingly being called upon to play a broader role as architects of the future organisation.

The outcomes of the mini-conclaves and the broader survey have been brought together in a Future of Work White Paper which will be officially launched at Metamorphose 2026 in Udaipur.

The 2026 edition will examine the evolving challenges facing organisations and the choices required to translate them into meaningful action. The key areas of discussion will include Agentic AI and the evolving digital workforce, organisational value and agile design, future-ready talent and succession planning.

The discussions will look beyond individual trends to examine the organisational choices required to build more adaptive, technology-enabled and people-centric organisations while continuing to create sustainable value. A key highlight of the conclave will be a keynote address by Mr. Sandeep Bakhshi, Managing Director & CEO, ICICI Bank, who will offer perspectives on leading through change and building organisations for the future.

For XLRI, Metamorphose is more than a forum for discussing emerging trends. It will bring together academic perspectives, industry insights and lived leadership experience to explore how organisations can evolve while remaining grounded in people and purpose.

The journey leading to the 2026 edition reflects this approach with conversations involving CHROs and business leaders informing the research and insights that will be presented at the conclave. As leaders gather in Udaipur, Metamorphose 2026 will seek to move the dialogue beyond anticipating the future of work towards understanding the choices that will shape it.