News Broadcasting
CNN named cable & satellite channel of the year
MUMBAI: CNN International has once again been recognized for its outstanding global journalism winning the coveted ‘Cable & Satellite Channel of the Year’, ‘Best News Story’ and ‘Best Social Awareness Program’ categories at the 2013 Asian Television Awards held last night in Singapore.
CNN’s Hong Kong-based international correspondent Anna Coren won the prestigious ‘Best News Story 10 minutes or less’ for her powerful exclusive report ‘Afghanistan Taliban Firefight’ where she came under enemy fire for more than 90 minutes in Nejrab alongside U.S. Special forces. This is the third Asian Television Award for Coren – she won ‘Best News Presenter or Anchor’ in both 2011 and 2012. You can see her ‘Afghanistan Taliban Firefight’ report here: http://cnn.it/188w7iI
CNN’s senior international correspondent Sara Sidner collected her second Asian Television Award, this time for the remarkable CNN Freedom Project documentary ‘Operation Hope’ in the ‘Best Social Awareness Program’ category. The award follows Sidner’s original recognition in 2011 as she chronicled the extraordinary against-the-odds journey of a seven-year-old Bangladeshi boy who was viciously attacked, castrated and left for dead because he refused to be forced into begging. In ‘Operation Hope’ she followed up his story to relate how people around the world had seen her report and subsequently helped fly the boy to the US for life-changing surgery, meaning that ultimately his terrifying ordeal ended happily: http://cnn.it/Usz8lK
The award for ‘Operation Hope’ represents the latest recognition for the CNN Freedom Project, an initiative that has been honored extensively for its tireless efforts to shine a light on the horrors of modern-day slavery.
Executive Vice President and Managing Director for CNN International Tony Maddox commented: “I am thrilled that CNN ends 2013 as it started it, namely with recognition and awards from prestigious peers for the outstanding quality of our journalism. These awards stand as a testament to the excellence and dedication of our people in Asia and around the world, with both Anna and Sara’s remarkable reports demonstrating their tenacity and fearlessness in bringing vital stories to our global audience. It is also especially pleasing to see the CNN Freedom Project once again honored as the initiative has repeatedly delivered crucial, hard-hitting but compassionate reporting to increase awareness of this appalling trade.”
The Asian Television Awards took place in Singapore on Thursday December 5, 2013. Senior International Correspondent Sara Sidner attended the gala ceremony and c
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.
