News Brake - The Explainer
Onmanorama's award-winning podcast 'News Brake-An Explainer Podcast' hosted by Haritha Benjamin gives you an in-depth analysis of the current news topics in a clutter free manner. Follow us to understand news beyond the headlines.
Episodes
From the coir mills of Alappuzha to the Chief Minister’s office at 82, V S Achuthanandan’s life was a saga of defiance, discipline, and relentless public service. In this special episode of News Brake, Haritha Benjamin traces the journey of Kerala’s most iconic Marxist—his firebrand politics, party feuds, people's battles, and personal code that made him a living legend.
Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya, sentenced to death in Yemen, was hours away from execution. Now, her hanging has been postponed, giving her a narrow but vital lifeline. In this episode of News Brake, Haritha Benjamin breaks down Nimisha’s story and speaks to Advocate Subhash Chandran K R, her counsel.
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A last-minute change in Kerala's engineering entrance ranking formula has thrown students and parents into confusion. Why did the High Court scrap the KEAM 2025 rank list? Who benefits from the new method—and who loses out? Educationalist B S Warrier joins us to break it all down.
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A sudden 12-day war between Israel and Iran sent shockwaves through the Middle East — but this wasn’t just a flare-up. It was the latest chapter in a shadow war that began decades ago. In this episode of News Brake, we unpack the June 2025 conflict: the airstrikes, the cyber attacks, U.S. bombers, Trump’s shaky ceasefire, and the long, bloody history that led here — from the 1953 CIA coup to nuclear deals, p...
Onmanorama did two rounds of survey ahead of the bypoll in Nilambur. Results showed significant changes in the way voters think. This episode features findings of the second round of survey and analyses possible causes.
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The skies over Ahmedabad darkened on June 12, 2025, when an Air India Dreamliner, bound for London, crashed shortly after take-off, killing 275 people. As the country mourns yet another devastating aviation tragedy, it brings back painful memories of previous air disasters that have scarred India’s aviation history.
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Onmanorama’s exclusive survey from the Nilambur byelection ground reveals strong anti-incumbency against the Pinarayi Vijayan government, with poor marks for development and rising anger over unchecked wildlife attacks. The collapse of NH 66 has buried the LDF’s development pitch, while P V Anvar, once a high-profile figure, finds little support among voters. Meanwhile, UDF’s Aryadan Shoukath enjoys a quiet advant...
In this episode of News Brake, retired Major General Indrabalan breaks down how drones redefined the recent India–Pakistan conflict after the Pahalgam attack. From Pakistani drone tactics to India’s layered response, he explains the gaps in India’s drone warfare capabilities—and what must change for India to stay battle-ready.
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Kerala is bracing for an early monsoon — but what does that mean for the rest of the season? In this episode of News Brake, Haritha Benjamin is joined by Dr Sinan Nizar, junior scientist at the Institute for Climate Change Studies, to break down everything you need to know about Monsoon 2025. From the impact of neutral El Niño conditions to the growing threat of extreme rainfall events, we unpack the forecasts, trends,...
What does Sunny Joseph’s surprise elevation as KPCC chief signal for the Congress in Kerala? In this episode of News Brake, Haritha Benjamin is joined by Ayyappan R and G Ragesh to unpack the power play behind the scenes — from last-minute rebellions and group dynamics to the caste and communal calculus driving the Congress high command’s choices.
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In the early hours of May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor — a powerful cross-border offensive targeting nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In this episode of News Brake, Haritha Benjamin speaks with defence expert Anantha Krishnan M to unpack the strategy, targets, weapons used and what this operation means for regional stability.
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On April 22, Pahalgam witnessed one of the deadliest terror attacks in recent Indian history, killing 26 civilians. In this episode of News Brake, host Haritha Benjamin speaks to Dr Suresh Rangarajan, Professor of International Relations, to unpack the strategic, diplomatic, and military dimensions of this crisis for India and Pakistan.
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In today’s special episode, we look at the recent terror strike in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir — and trace some of the deadliest attacks that have scarred the region over the past two decades.
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A look back at the life and legacy of Pope Francis—the Jesuit from Argentina who reshaped the Catholic Church with compassion, courage and conviction.
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In 2002, Shahubanath S broke through one of Kerala’s most male-dominated bastions to earn a place in history -- the driver’s seat of the state-run bus service. Today, she’s not just a pioneer—she’s a mentor, a cancer survivor, and a symbol of resilience.
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Mohanlal-starrer Empuraan, directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran and written by Murali Gopi, has ignited a political storm with bold undertones and not-so-subtle references to certain events. In this episode of Onmanorama’s News Brake, host Haritha Benjamin is joined by film and political experts Aswin J Kumar, Padmakumar K, and Swathi P Ajith to break down the outrage and compare it to past controversies in Indian cinema.
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ASHA workers in Kerala have been protesting against the Left government, demanding fair wages, retirement benefits and recognition as permanent employees. But what led these frontline health workers—who have tirelessly served communities—to take such a drastic step? In this episode of News Brake, Ayyappan R joins Haritha Benjamin to break down the ongoing protest and what it means for Kerala’s healthcare sys...
Once thought to be a Western phenomenon, Anorexia Nervosa is silently spreading in Kerala, and it recently claimed a young life too. In this episode of News Brake, we discuss the rise of this disorder, its causes, warning signs, and why early intervention is crucial.
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When a group of housewives came together in 2010 to clean a garbage-ridden wayside, they had no idea that this neglected marshland would soon become their livelihood. Located along the Manarcad-Ettumanoor Bypass Road, Kottayam’s Naalumanikattu (or evening breeze) is now a model for rural roadside tourism and a bustling hangout for food lovers, tourists and families.
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The Kerala sadya is often hailed as a perfectly balanced meal, deeply rooted in the state's culinary heritage. However, experts are now questioning whether it truly meets modern dietary needs or if it requires a nutritional makeover. Dr TS Anish, professor of community medicine at Kozhikode Medical College, joins News Brake to explain why the sadya has a highly skewed distribution of nutrients and carbohydrates. Dr Mumtaz Khalid Is...
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