News Broadcasting
Star Chinese Movies to launch in Singapore on StarHub CableTV
MUMBAI: The Star Group is expanding and how! It today announced that Star Chinese Movies will be launched in Singapore on StarHub CableTV Channel 62 on 21 January.
The new channel claims to have the most current movie line-up of any Chinese movie channel in the world. It will feature over 100 movies including at least 20 exclusive premieres a month. The movies aired will be in Mandarin and are commercial-free.
To celebrate the launch, the channel will showcase the exclusive premiere of The Lion Roars, starring Louis Koo and Cecilia Cheung. The channel has also lined up a series of blockbusters for the Chinese New Year, including Andy Lau and Gigi Leung’s Fat Choi Spirit, Anita Mui, Sammi Cheng starrer Wu Yen, Michelle Reis and Francis Ng’s Beauty and the Breast and Ekin Cheng and Cecilia Cheung’s Legend of Zu.
Star’s CEO Michelle Guthrie said, “We are excited to expand and strengthen our distribution in the key market of Singapore with our strongest Chinese language channel. Star Chinese Movies’ unbeatable movie line-up has consistently driven its performance as the No. 1 movie channel in Taiwan and we are confident that Singapore audiences will love it!”
Added StarHub’s senior VP for cable TV services Sandie Lee, “Star Chinese Movies further strengthens our already strong suite of Chinese channels, which offer viewers the best in Chinese news, entertainment and movies. Singapore viewers are known to be ardent movie lovers so the addition of Star Chinese Movies will definitely excite them. Star Chinese Movies offers many exclusive premieres and blockbusters. We are confident that the channel will do well in Singapore.”
According to an official release, all StarHub customers can sample the programmes on Star Chinese Movies during the free preview of the channel from 21 January, 9 pm till 22 February midnight, after which the channel will be available on the Asia Tier at a monthly fee of S$8 (S$8.40 with GST).
Upcoming blockbusters on Star Chinese Movies include Infernal Affairs, Running on Karma, Cat & Mouse, Homerun and Heroic Duo.
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.
