News Brake - The Explainer

Kerala has reported 71 cases and 19 deaths due to Amoebic Meningoencephalitis in 2025. Ever since its first clinical diagnosis in 1965 in Australia, the disease has caused huge concern across countries. In this episode of News Brake, Onmanorama talks to leading epidemiologist Dr Anish TS on causes behind the spike and way ahead for Kerala.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

From Kathmandu to Cairo, Hong Kong to Santiago — when young people take to the streets, regimes tremble. In this episode of News Brake, Onmanorama traces some of the most powerful youth uprisings of the 21st century, from Nepal’s Gen Z revolt in 2025 to the Arab Spring, the Aragalaya in Sri Lanka, and beyond. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kerala’s coasts have a rich fishing heritage, but today the sector runs largely on migrant labour. Nearly 58% of the workforce now comes from states like Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Odisha, while younger Malayalis are turning away from the seas. In this episode, Dr Shyam S Salim, Principal Scientist at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), explains why locals are quitting...

The death of Peerumade MLA Vazhoor Jose and the sex scandal involving Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil have sparked talk of bypolls in Kerala. The law says none are needed if less than a year remains in the Assembly’s term, but past rulings show it isn’t that simple. Host Aswin J Kumar explores if Kerala will face another bypoll before 2026. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

Eight years after GST, India is preparing its biggest tax reform yet — fewer slabs, cheaper goods for households, but a steep levy on luxury and sin items. What does this mean for Kerala, a state that depends heavily on GST revenues and has long complained of losing out on IGST settlements? Banking and finance expert S Adikesavan joins News Brake to discuss GST 2.0.  See omnystudio.com/...

In this News Brake episode, Onmanorama unpacks Rahul Gandhi’s explosive allegations of voter list manipulation in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura and the Election Commission’s fierce rebuttal. From duplicate entries to fake addresses, and the political heat ahead of Bihar’s elections, we break down the facts, the spin, and what’s at stake for India’s democracy. See omn...

When thieves start targeting coconut oil, you know something’s cooking in Kerala’s kitchens and markets. Prices for this “liquid gold” had soared to record highs, squeezing households, caterers, and traders alike. But just before Onam, the bubble burst. In this episode of News Brake, we crack open the story of how demand and supply side factors reshaped Kerala’s...

A year ago, a massive landslide ripped through Wayanad’s Mundakkai and Chooralmala, killing over 300 people and destroying entire communities. In this episode of News Brake, Haritha Benjamin is joined by Lead Producer George Poikayil to revisit ground zero. What happened to the ₹200 crore rehabilitation plan? Why are survivors still waiting for homes, schools, and hospitals? And is Kerala an...

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. S...

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 th...

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Ary...

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

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 event...

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for...

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.  See omnystudio.com/listen...

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.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 cont...

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 mean...