News Broadcasting
BBC World lines up special shows on Golf legends
MUMBAI: Starting 20 August for six weeks, BBC World will telecast a seires of golf tournaments. The series will also cover the careers of some leading players of the game.
Golf By Design, the first programme in the series, is a revealing portrait of Robert Trent Jones II, who is among the pre-eminent golf course architects in the history of the sport, having lent his unique talents to 200 courses in 40 countries across six continents. The programme captures him at work in his office in California, playing his celebrated courses, and even indulging in poetry.
The second programme scheduled for 27 August, gives a stunning on-course action and behind the scenes footage of The Evian Masters, the ladies golf tournament, showcasing world-class sport in a beautiful setting by Lake Geneva. Catch the likes of Annika Sorenstam, Michelle Wie, and Grace Park in action.
A Dominant Force on 4 December provides a unique insight into the mind and career of Annika Sorenstam including a revealing interview about her career – from her start in the game when she often preferred to finish second because she was too shy to give a victory speech, to her status now as the undisputed greatest female player in the world.
Driven on 11 September charts Trevor Immelman’s meteoric rise from childhood in South Africa to his current standing as one of the game’s top young players. The series also presents a candid profile of Grace Park: Model Golfer on 18 September , providing an engaging insight into a woman who has brought a real sense of style to the Golf Course.
On 25th September, the programme ends with a profile of Adam Scott: The Player, one of the game’s most talented and charismatic young golfers, who, for many seasoned observers, epitomises the modern face of Golf. The programme follows Adam’s career from the beaches of Queensland to the fairways of the US PGA Tour.
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.
