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
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...
In this episode of News Brake, Dr Mohanan Kunnumal, Vice Chancellor of the Kerala University of Health Sciences and the University of Kerala, speaks of the challenges in tackling ragging on campuses.
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A recent climate statement prepared by the Institute for Climate Change Studies, in collaboration with the India Meteorological Department, stated that 2024 was the warmest year recorded in Kerala since 1901. Dr Sinan Nizar, a junior scientist at the Institute for Climate Studies, joins News Brake to discuss the state's changing climate patterns.
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Kerala Budget 2025 brings major tax revisions, including a 50% hike in land tax, increased court fees and higher road tax for older vehicles. Finance Minister KN Balagopal also said that the state has overcome the trying times of severe fiscal constraints in recent years. Ayyappan R joins Haritha Benjamin to decode the Kerala Budget.
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Join us on News Brake as Haritha Benjamin and Kannan V break down the key takeaways from Union Budget 2025. In this episode, we explore how Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s eighth budget aims to revive consumer sentiment and drive economic growth through major reforms like eliminating income tax for those earning up to Rs 12 lakh.
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A Kerala court’s rare decision to award the death penalty to a 24-year-old woman for poisoning her boyfriend, and a Kolkata court's decision to sentence the rapist and murderer of a young doctor to life imprisonment, have sparked a debate on capital punishment. Dr Anup Surendranath, Director of Project 39A at NLU Delhi, joins News Brake to discuss the death penalty in India and the concept of 'rarest of rare' cases
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From the Honey Rose case to a tragic suicide over complexion in Malappuram, body shaming continues to cast a shadow in an era that celebrates body positivity. Dr Mohan Roy, Head of Psychiatry at Kollam Medical College, joins us on News Brake to discuss the psychological toll of body shaming.
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Why are some goods like popcorn taxed differently? How has GST impacted businesses and consumers over the years? Chartered Accountant and GST expert Stanley James joins Haritha Benjamin on News Brake to decode India’s GST puzzle.
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