News Broadcasting
Warner, AOL prepare for the return of Superman on In2TV
MUMBAI: In order to create excitement around its upcoming movie, Superman Returns, Warner Bros. and US internet service provider AOL have launched a special Superman Channel on the entertainment site In2TV www.aol.com/in2tv to celebrate the Man of Steel.
In2TV claims to be the largest offering of popular television series available online for free and the destination for watching full TV episodes. The Superman Channel is available now through the end of next month.
In2TV’s Superman Channel will also feature the new A&E documentary Look, Up In the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman directed by Bryan Singer, in its online and on-demand debut. The documentary, narrated by Superman Returns star Kevin Spacey, features behind-the-scenes clips of Superman Returns, Superman fans Jerry Seinfeld, Gene Simmons and Mark Hamill, comic book legend Stan Lee and more.
The Superman Channel will also have the TV series The Adventures of Superman. The series starred George Reeves is back. Fans can reconnect with the original live action version of America’s favourite superhero in his never-ending battle for truth, justice and the American way.
Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman — The sci-fi television series had romantically united the duo while exploring the odd love relationship that develops between a modern career woman who falls head-over-heals for Superman while not realizing that he is also her best friend, Clark Kent. It stars Teri Hatcher who is now back in the limelight thanks to Desperate Housewives and Dean Cain. Fans can see how the couple works out their differences.
The channel will also have Superboy which premiered on American television in 1988. In this, fans join Clark during his college-years at Shuster University. The mild-mannered journalism student battles his arch-nemesis, Lex Luther, while trying to sweep Lana Lang off her feet. The Superboy series introduces “Superman” arch-villains Metallo and Bizzaro.
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.
