News Broadcasting
NBC seeks to take ‘The Apprentice’ to new heights with Martha Stewart
MUMBAI: She is hired! NBC has announced plans to expand its business based reality show The Apprentice..
Martha Stewart will host a new edition that will be titled The Apprentice: Martha Stewart. The main version which is hosted by Donald Trump airs in India on Star World.
The Apprentice: Martha Stewart will retain the general format of the original series including weekly eliminations. However, the style and feel of this new show will be tailored to Stewart’s personality and brand identity.
The tasks will be centered around Stewart’s areas of expertise: media, home renovation, entertaining, design, merchandising, technology and style. Stewart will bring her own sensibilities and creativity to the elimination process.
NBC Universal Television Group president Jeff Zucker said, “NBC is delighted to be working with an iconic, self-made, business woman such as Martha Stewart. She is a true entrepreneur who transformed a small catering business into a world-renowned empire. The series will be infused with Martha’s celebrated grit and savvy as she offers others a chance to aspire to turn their dreams into hard-won reality.”
Trump who also serves as The Apprentice’s executive producer said, “I am thrilled to be able to offer my good friend Martha the opportunity to join me in the success of The Apprentice. As an executive producer, I will be rooting for amazing ratings but most of all, I hope she has as much fun as I do with this venture.”
Reality TV guru Mark Burnett who created the show said, “Martha Stewart is an American icon and was the world’s first self-made female billionaire. Donald Trump gives thousands of Americans the opportunity to apply to learn from and work for the most dynamic real estate tycoon in the country, while Martha Stewart offers her wonderful creative vision and expertise in the worlds of television, publishing and merchandising. This diversity of opportunity for both viewers and applicants will take our franchise to new heights.”
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.
