News Broadcasting
Jackson verdict: US news channel ratings rocket 5-fold
MUMBAI: Monday’s total legal victory for Michael Jackson on charges of child molestation, conspiracy and other counts was a verdict that brought a huge cheer for not just the erstwhile “king of Pop” and his millions of diehard fans worldwide. Viewers across the globe were glued to their TV sets catching the latest on the story, skyrocketing the ratings for news channels worldwide.
In the US fo
r example, on the night of 13 June, Fox News, CNN and MSNBC collectively had about 10 million viewers at a time when they would have normally had fewer than two million. On the other side of the Atlantic in the UK, nearly 8 million TV viewers hooked on to the BBC’s main evening news bulletin to watch the verdict of not guilty on all counts being read out.
The verdict came just in time for the evening news in the US. Helicopters beamed live video to the world as they tailed Jackson’s caravan of SUVs between his Neverland Ranch and the courthouse.
However, viewership of the overall trial in the US was affected because Judge Rodney S Melville denied media organisations the oportunity to televise all or parts of Jackson’s trial. Television stations had argued to no avail that their viewers should have been able to see the controlled seriousness of the courtroom in contrast to the unrestrained
hoopla outside.
An AP report quoted Court TV CEO Henry Schleiff saying that televising the proceedings would have provided a public service and drawn more viewers. However, attorney Howard Weitzman, who had earlier represented Jackson in a child molestation claim that was settled, felt the televising of any trial could have had a negative effect on the proceedings.
In another report John Watson, a journalism professor at American University in Washington who is an expert on media coverage of the US court system laments the fact that the American media failed to take advantage of the Jackson situation to educate the public about the justice system. The Jackson case, according to him, should have been used as a litmus test to see how well one of the major institutions of the US government is functioning, or not functioning.
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.
