News Broadcasting
Ten Sports ready and waiting to unveil Morocco tri-nations cricket tourney
MUMBAI: After the Fifa World Cup what next has been what the naysayers have been harping on when it comes to new kid on the block Ten Sports. Well, big ticket cricket is what the new sports broadcaster that is promoted by Sharjah cricket’s Abdur Rahman Bukhatir has lined up.
All is set and ready for the kick-off of the first international tournament to be held in Morocco’s multi-million dollar Tangier Cricket Stadium. Taking place between 12 and 21 August, the tri-nations cricket tourney will have Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka participating.
The $ 25-million Tangier Cricket Stadium in northern Morocco with five pitches and another seven in the practice area will provide a striking oasis-like setting amidst the dry, desert backdrop of the African environment. What makes this event all the more unique is that it will be the first major tournament to be held there after it was granted international status by the ICC.
The Tangier Cricket Stadium The stadium met the relevant cricketing admission criteria following an inspection of the ground, facilities and infrastructure and has been audited by the ICC Anti Corruption Unit (ACU) against stringent security standards and protocols.
When the matches are in progress it will be Kingston inmedia, the satellite-centric broadband solutions provider of Kingston Communications (KCOM.L) that will be delivering content to Taj TV, the parent company of Ten Sports.
What is planned is that one of Kingston inmedia’s satellite news-gathering (SNG) Trucks will be driven down to Tangier from London to cover the duration of the series. It will deliver the signal to Taj TV’s base in Dubai, from where Ten Sports will broadcast the tournament throughout the Indian subcontinent.
Mike Walsh, head of sales for Kingston inmedia K-Links division, was quoted as saying in an official release: “Kingston inmedia is thrilled to be working with Taj TV in distributing this very special sporting event. It’s the first time that a high-level international cricket tournament has been held in Morocco, and proves once again how incredibly flexible our SNG fleet can be.”
Fred Clow, director of operations for outside broadcasts, Taj TV, said: “We selected Kingston inmedia based on the company’s reputation for providing an ultra fast, ultra reliable service. We know the Kingston team can deliver the goods, and we are delighted that their high standards mirror our own.”
Bukhatir’s Cricketers Benefit Fund Series (CBFS), the Sharjah-based organisation that put Sharjah on the international cricket map, will be handling the organisation of all tournaments hosted at the Tangier Cricket Stadium. With total prize money of $250,000 and $120,000 for the winning team in this tournament, Tangier could soon outshine Sharjah as a venue for offshore cricket.
Morocco is very close to Europe and can be easily accessed from the Gulf. It has a pleasant Mediterranean climate and is cool during the subcontinental summer. During the monsoons, when it is difficult to hold sporting events in India, Morocco has only mild rain.
Morocco has also been proposed as a potential venue for Australia’s series against Pakistan in September, due to the security concerns following the suicide bombing in Karachi recently that killed 14 people.
News Broadcasting
Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
