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Reuters employees in the US steps up protest action against management
MUMBAI: Reuters US’ employees who are represented by the Newspaper Guild of New York have launched a strict work-to-rule campaign and a five-day national byline strike on Friday. This action comes as a round of negotiations begin today to reach a contract after nearly three years of talks. The effort to get an acceptable pact has mobilised Guild members in the editorial, technical and administration departments into a show of support for the Guild’s bargaining committee, which is scheduled to resume stalled contract talks today with the management of Reuters America.
Guild members are holding lunch time demonstrations at Reuters offices in
several cities, including the company’s North American headquarters in Times Square New York. They sport their traditional red t-shirts and perform only required work tasks. The Guild already has tentatively agreed to some reductions in health care coverage. It is also battling what it calls Reuters management’s attacks on retiree medical care and on active employees’ employment security. This took place after company managers sent US based reporting and picture-editing work offshore to low-wage countries.
New York Guild president Barry Lipton said, “It is particularly meaningful that in this time of big news stories our editorial members are withholding their bylines and credits in a show of support. These actions should send management the message that this is not a time of business as usual. Our members are demanding a fair contract.”
The Guild and its parent union, the Communications Workers of America
(CWA) have placed an advertisement in Monday’s edition of The New York Times. This calls attention to Reuters sending U.S.-based work to lower wage countries and the pitfalls of trying to cover American news from thousands of miles away. The Times’ advertisement includes an e-mail address telltom@nyguild.org, for those who want to tell Reuters CEO Tom Glocer what they think of his reckless experiment in “remote control journalism” Lipton said.
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.
