News Broadcasting
Business news anchor Neil Cavuto says goodbye to Fox after 28 years
MUMBAI: His is a familiar face if you watch Fox business news, in your hotel or when you are traveling overseas visiting relatives or friends or on business. Viewers will no longer get to see Neil Cavuto, one of the better known business news anchors, as well as the sr vice-president & managing editor of business news for both Fox News channel (FNC) as well as Fox Business News (FBN)
He also hosts FNC’s Your World with Neil Cavuto, FNC’s Cavuto Live and FBN’s Cavuto: Coast to Coast. In addition to anchoring daily programs and breaking news specials on FNC and FBN, Cavuto oversees business news content for both networks and leads special events coverage for FBN.
Neil, 66, announced his resignation on air during his afternoon show Your World, saying he was not leaving journalism, he was just leaving Fox. One of the first anchors to join Fox News when it launched in 1996, he parachuted from CNBC to the Murdoch owned news station. So he had been there for some 28-odd years.
The bespectacled anchor used to host some 12 hours of shows every week, according to CNN. He was known to be a Trump critic and he would fact check almost every financial and economic statement or assumption his administration or his staff would make. He believe his role as a journalist was to sift the wheat from the chaff and bring the truth to his viewers.
But he lost a lot of his viewers – especially those who favoured the Republicans – because of his Trump trashing, though he also gained some praise from others who liked his penchant for facts.
Trump celebrated his departure by stating: on his Truth Social platform “GOOD NEWS FOR AMERICA! Neil Cavuto, the Lowest Rated Anchor on Fox, by far, is leaving – Should have happened a long time ago!”
According to sources, Cavuto was offered a renewal contract with a lower compensation packet, indirectly asking him to leave. Others see in it a way of cost-cutting in a news industry buffeted by lower ad revenues.
“‘Neil Cavuto’s illustrious career has been a master class in journalism and we’re extremely proud of his 28-year run with Fox News Media,’ the company said in a statement confirming the Cavuto’s departure. ‘His programs have defined business news and set the standard in the entire industry.’”
Most journalists are awaiting what his next move will be.
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.
