News Brake - The Explainer

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.  See omnystudio.com/...

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...

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 o...

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Arrested in 2017 and sentenced to death in 2020 for the alleged murder of her abuser, Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya’s case has garnered global attention. Advocate Subhas Chandra, the family lawyer, joins News Brake to shed light on the legal and diplomatic complexities involved. In this episode, we explore the challenges of negotiating blood money, the impact of Yemen’s lack of an Indian...

For over five years, the Hema Committee report on the Malayalam film industry remained a closely guarded secret. When it was finally released, the findings sparked intense debate and exposed troubling truths about the industry. In this special yearender series, News Brake explores the revelations beyond the headlines—unsafe working conditions, gender disparity, and systemic exploitation that...

2024 was a year of upheaval—marked by tragedies, political surprises, and elections that reshaped Kerala’s social and political landscape. In this special year-end series on News Brake, Onmanorama revisits the defining moments that captured the state's attention. In this episode, we delve into the storm stirred by Nilambur MLA P V Anvar, whose unexpected rebellion sent shockwaves...

2024 was a year of upheaval—marked by tragedies, political surprises, and elections that reshaped Kerala’s social and political landscape. In this special year-ender series on News Brake, Onmanorama revisits the defining moments that captivated the state. In this episode, hosts Haritha Benjamin and Aswin J Kumar delve into the Wayanad landslides, examining how they exposed Kerala&rsquo...

2024 was a year of upheaval — a time of tragedies, political surprises, and elections that reshaped how we live and think. In this special year-ender series on News Brake, Onmanorama reflects on the defining moments that captured Kerala’s attention. In this episode, host Haritha Benjamin is joined by Aswin J Kumar to explore two tragic deaths that shook the state. The death of young chartered acco...

From AR Rahman and Saira Banu’s recent split to the growing trend of grey divorces, this episode of Onmanorama’s News Brake explores the reasons behind this societal shift. Join host Haritha Benjamin and guest Swathi P Ajith as they delve into the changing dynamics of long-term relationships, the role of independence and fulfilment, and how societal attitudes are evolving. See omnystudio.com/liste...

If the bypoll campaign in Kerala was all about twists, the results day of the bypolls was not as eventful as one expected. Congress ran over the BJP in Palakkad, Priyanka Gandhi's majority crossed 4 lakh in Wayanad, and Chelakkara provided the much-needed boost for the CPM. Onmanorama reporters Ayyappan, George and Ragesh join Aswin J Kumar in a discussion on Kerala byelection results. See omnystu...

The electoral debut of Priyanka Gandhi, a surprise shift in allegiances, midnight raids for black money, shocking revelations on Kodakara, and tales of internal rifts in parties—the month-long bypoll campaign dished out quite an eventful package for Kerala voters. Aswin J Kumar decodes three factors that may influence the final verdict in this Kerala bypolls. See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

In this episode, we unpack the 2024 U.S. election results, where former President Donald Trump made a historic comeback, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris. What went wrong for Harris, and how did Trump secure key battleground states like Georgia? Join host Kannan as we dive deep into the economic factors, voter sentiments, and campaign strategies that tipped the scales.  See omnystudio.com/li...

In this episode, we listen to former bureaucrat-turned-politician Mani Shankar Aiyar discuss his book, The Rajiv I Knew: And Why He was India’s Most Misunderstood Prime Minister at Manorama Hortus. Joining him is Mandira Nayar, former Deputy Bureau Chief at The Week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of News Brake, we shed light on the heartbreaking story of Sruthi BS, a young woman whose tragic death has sparked renewed conversations on dowry harassment.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we investigate how cybercriminals use virtual arrests to trap victims in fake legal situations, targeting everyone from celebrities to everyday people. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Kerala Assembly session was the best chance the LDF government had to rebut all grave allegations it was facing, especially after the PV Anvar rebellion. Was the CPM able to clear the air and restore its political credibility? Ayyappan R joins the discussion on News Brake. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On September 25, a missing truck was recovered from the depths of the Gangavali River, with the driver's remains inside. It marked the end of a 72-day-long search for a Kozhikode native who disappeared during a massive landslide in Ankola, Karnataka. Retired Major General Indrabalan, who led the challenging mission, speaks to News Brake about the obstacles faced, the technology used, and the final...

The Tirupati laddoos, once a symbol of devotion, are now at the centre of a swirling political and spiritual debate. This week's News Brake podcast dives into the controversy and the shocking allegations of animal fat in the ghee used to make them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.