News Broadcasting
BBC is best for global breaking news
MUMBAI: Two studies have revealed that BBC World News is the leader in global breaking news, with stories from a wider spread of locations and journalists in more countries than other international news broadcasters. The BBC’s leadership in coverage of fast moving international stories is also reflected in independent data which shows that the BBC is by far the most retweeted news source on Twitter.
These findings form the basis of two new marketing campaigns which are running on the channel and bbc.com to highlight the broadcaster’s breaking news leadership and social media credentials.
The original study, conducted in partnership with LiveStation, examined the four main international news providers and showed that BBC World News is ahead on the breadth of its editorial agenda and the extent of its editorial resource.
Peter Horrocks, Chairman, BBC Global News Ltd, said:
“Audiences rightly value the BBC for its accuracy and impartiality and we are consistently rated the world’s most trusted news broadcaster. This data also shows we are just as fast as our competitors and are number one for breaking news from around the world.
“The BBC’s breaking news is authentic news – rather than the non-existent or minor developments in stories which other broadcasters label ‘breaking news’.
“Our competitors boast about how far they go to cover stories. We don’t need to ‘go there’ because the BBC is there already – in a far wider range of locations than other news broadcasters.”
The study reveals that the BBC covers stories from the widest variety of locations, with journalists in almost 100 countries. This is more than any other broadcaster and offers the unique ability to provide local insight into events of global importance. Over the study period, the BBC had local reporters covering breaking news stories from considerably more countries than any of its competitors.
BBC World News also has the richest variety of content, reporting on a more even spread of topics across the world than the other news channels.
Contrary to widespread perceptions, the BBC is as least as fast as other international broadcasters, and often faster. When compared to its competitors, the BBC was first with the story on marginally more occasions than anyone else.
The LiveStation findings have since been validated by a similar study conducted this month in partnership with Kantar Media. Breaking news matters on radio, TV, online and especially on social media. Recent research from NewsWhip shows that the BBC is the world’s most retweeted news brand, with its stories shared a record 2.7 million times in March – almost 50% more than any other publisher. Bbc.com also achieved record figures with 96 million unique users and an all-time high of 1.3 billion page views* over the same month.
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.
