News Broadcasting
Network18 launches 16 new Amazon Alexa Skills with Live News Experience
Network18, India’s leading news network announces the launch of 16 new Alexa Skills across 12 languages for users of Amazon Echo and Alexa built-in devices. As part of the launch, users will get access to live news from Network18’s top channels- CNN-News18 and News18 India, along with their regional TV channels in Hindi, Gujarati, Bangla, Marathi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Assamese, Punjabi, Odia and Urdu.
These skills will provide a seamless experience to users who want to stay updated with live news by using simple voice commands. Users can just say, “Alexa, Play CNN-News18”, “Alexa, Play News18 Tamil” or “Alexa, Play News18 Kannada” to listen to the latest news in the language of their choice. These new skills will be available in audio and video formats for both screen devices like Echo Show range and FTV as well as all other Echo and Alexa built-in devices.
Commenting on the development, Mitul Sangani, COO – General News, Network18 Digital said, “We, have always believed in creating content based on deep consumer insights that resonate with the audience. This is the time for us to leverage the repertoire of content and expertise we have built over the years. As the leading destination for regional language news, the onus lies on us to reach out to existing and new audiences on devices that are fast becoming the go-to medium of content consumption. Such launches expand our footprint amongst audiences and showcases that the brand is at the forefront of digital innovation. We are happy that the launch of these 16 new Alexa skills will provide a seamless experience to our audience who want to stay in touch with live news by just using their voice.”
Dilip R.S., Country Manager, Alexa Skills and Voice Services, Amazon India said, “We are excited to see Network18 launch 16 new Alexa skills. Asking for information via voice is more intuitive than typing and reading through the articles. With the News18 Skills, users will be able to get 24×7 live news updates in the language of their choice. We are sure users will enjoy the convenience of using simple voice commands to ask Alexa for live news and stay updated about important and relevant news in their favourite languages.”
Network18 is India’s largest TV network with the broadest spectrum of text & video content across 15 languages and 20 TV channels. Online 24×7, News18 is powered by not just journalists but also Network18's team of over 1,000 news professionals.
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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.
