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 accountant Anna Sebastian highlights the dangers of a relentless work culture, while the demise of ADM Naveen Babu underscores the perils of political interference.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

In this episode, we investigate how cybercriminals use virtual arrests to trap victims in fake legal situations, targeting everyone from celebrities to everyday people.

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.

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 breakthrough.

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.

Writer and columnist Lekshmy Rajeev joins the News Brake podcast for a conversation on Onam. She has authored the books Attukal Amma, Dusk Diary, Sabarimala and Women, and Shri Venkateshwara of Tirupati and co-authored Thiruvananthapuram: An Artist's Impression with Raghu Rai. Lekshmy is also the founder of the brand Ila herbal oil.

Congress MP from Inner Manipur constituency Angomcha Bimol Akoijam speaks on the 'Elusive Solution in Manipur' at Manorama News Conclave 2024.

In light of the rape and murder of a female post-graduate trainee at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, Dr KM Abul Hasan, Chairman of the Indian Medical Association's Junior Doctors Network (JDN) joins News Brake to discuss the safety of doctors and other front line workers.

Senior Editor at happiesthealth.com and sports journalist Leslie Xavier joins News Brake today to discuss Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat's disqualification from the 50 kg category at Paris Olympics

Jayakumar C, the executive director of Kerala-based NGO Thanal, joins News Brake to discuss the factors that led to the landslides that killed hundreds in Kerala's Wayanad and the way forward.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the first budget of the third Modi government on July 23. Ayyappan R and Kannan V join Haritha Benjamin to discuss how the budget affects the common man and corporates.

While GDP figures paint a positive picture of the Indian economy, a closer look at its components—private consumption, investment, government spending, and net exports—reveals a more concerning trend.

In light of the recent Supreme Court observation that granting menstrual leave would be counter-productive for the female workforce, Onmanorama's News Brake discusses the need for breaking taboos and fostering an active conversation on the matter. Deepa Soman and Aswin J Kumar join Haritha Benjamin to delve into the topic.

Statistical Anomalies in Scores, Paper Leak, Undisclosed Grace Marks Provision, Discrepancies in Scorecards, Unprecedented Number of Perfect Scores- the NEET-UG exam in mired in controversies this time. Dr KM Abul Hasan, the Chairman of Indian Medical Association's Junior Doctors Network (JDN), joins News Brake this week to decode the issue.  

In a surprise victory, the BJP managed to secure a seat in Kerala's Thrissur during this Lok Sabha polls. Senior Onmanorama correspondents Ayyappan R, George Poikayil and G Ragesh join a discussion with Aswin J Kumar to analyse voting trends in Kerala.

Dr P Sarin, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee's Digital Media Cell convener joins News Brake to share how the Kerala unit upped its game to lure netizens in their direction this Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

Cyber fraudsters are using money mule accounts to make their transactions untraceable, leaving unwitting individuals to face legal consequences. Dr Dhanya Menon, India’s first woman cybercrime investigator, joins the podcast to discuss ways to prevent such scams. And George Poikayil, a senior correspondent at Onmanorama, shares the story of two college students from Kerala who ended up in Punjab Central Jail after lending their bank accounts to strangers. 

Air India Express passengers across India were taken by surprise on May 8 when the service provider abruptly cancelled scores of scheduled flights without due notice. The strike by a section of AIX cabin crew resulted in the cancellation of more than 170 flights. In this podcast, Girish Chandra Arya, All India Secretary of Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), highlights the reasons that drove the employees to take extreme measures.

Dr M G Manoj, a scientist at the Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research in Cochin University of Science and Technology joins News Brake to discuss the intensity of the heatwave in Kerala and the reasons behind it.

The Union Commerce and Industry Ministry recently asked all e-commerce companies to remove these drinks from their platforms, saying there was no such thing as health drinks. Then what are they? In conversation with Dr Joseph A Pattani, paediatrics and neo-natology specialist in Mitera Hospital, Kottayam, for Onmanorama's News Brake.

From Covid cure claims to allopathy slurs: Why the Supreme Court is furious with Patanjali?India's leading FMCG firm Patanjali Ayurved Ltd has been taken to task by the supreme court for its tall claims including a cure for Covid-19. The court issued a contempt notice to company for disseminating misleading ads. This week's News brake looks at the case in detail.

Kalamandalam Sathyabhama, a classical dance teacher based in Kerala stirred up a storm last week with her remarks on 'ideal' beauty. In a separate incident, many singers from the Carnatic circle decided to boycott the Madras music academy for awarding a prize to TM Krishna. Celebrated dancer Dr Neena Prasad joins News Brake podcast to discuss the latest controversies in the world of classical dance and music.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest by the Directorate of Enforcement in the alleged liquor scam case has rocked the nation's capital. So is the ED's power being wielded fairly, or is it veering into political territory?

The Supreme Court has declared electoral bonds unconstitutional and ordered the State Bank of India to disclose all contributions to political parties from 2019 onwards, rejecting pleas for deadline extensions. Senior journalist and trustee of The Reporters Collective Trust Nitin Sethi joins News Brake this week to decode the mystery surrounding electoral bonds.

Just a few days before the International Women's Day 2024, a 28-year-old Spanish woman biker was gang raped in India. When a US writer pointed out on social media that India is unsafe for women, the chief of the National Commission for Women, Rekha Sharma, accused him of defaming the country. How can we address the problem of women's safety in India, if we silence the few who speak openly about it? Anju S Kunjumon joins Deepa Soman on News Brake to discuss the matter.

In this episode, News Brake explores the fascinating journey of electronic voting machines in India as the Lok Sabha Elections approach.

In recent months, Kerala has witnessed a concerning surge in human-animal conflicts, prompting discussions on wildlife conservation and habitat management. Prakriti Srivastava IFS, former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests in Kerala shares her views on matter in this week's News Brake.

The RBI has advised customers as well as merchants of Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) to shift their accounts to other banks by March 15. Here's what the RBI deadline means for Paytm users.

Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal presented the state's budget for the financial year 2024-25 in the assembly amid a deepening fiscal crisis. Onmanorama's senior correspondent Ayyappan R joins News brake to decode the Kerala budget for News Brake's audience.

Deepa Soman, Vishnu Muraleedharan and Swathi Ajith join News Brake to discuss the recent controversy surrounding review bombing of movies.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is all set to present her sixth budget on February 1. Besides accommodating inflation worries and challenges of deficit financing, the finance minister will need to factor in all the key elements of GDP while drafting the budget- private consumption, gross private investment, government spending, net exports . 

With the Union Budget and Kerala Budget around the corner, former Finance Minister Dr Thomas Isaac and expert commentator on banking and finance S Adikesavan join News Brake to discuss the future prospects Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), infrastructure development and multiplier effect. 

Nayanthara's latest film 'Annapoorani: The Goddess of Food' was removed from Netflix almost 2 weeks after it began streaming on the OTT platform. Deepa Soman, senior journalist from Onmanorama's features team joins News Brake to discuss censorship, cuts and cinema.

A year after hundreds of wrestlers took to the streets to protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Singh, the issues within the WFI still remain unresolved. Senior Sports journalist Leslie Xavier joins News brake to discuss the issue.

From an Oscar win, a lunar exploration mission to unresolved violent ethnic clashes, India witnessed quite a few exhilarating highs and some debilitating lows in 2023. This week's News Brake provides a time capsule of the events that changed India in 2023. 

From the wild tusker Arikomban who took the state government for a toss to a series of tragedies and controversies, 2023 remained an eventful year for Kerala. This week's News Brake provides a time capsule of the events that changed Kerala in 2023. 

The Indian space programme, which began on November 21, 1963 with the launch of a Nike Apache rocket from Thumba, recently celebrated 60 years. Dr V R Lalithambika, distinguished scientist and former Director of the Directorate of the Human Spaceflight Programme at ISRO speaks about the journey of India's space programme in the past 60 years. 

In light of the recent floods in Chennai, Former Kerala Chief Secretary and chief architect of Thiruvananthapuram city's Operation Anantha Jiji Thomson IAS joins News Brake to discuss the problem of urban flooding and the need for better drainage systems and holistic town plans. 

After a tumultous week, the Open AI has finally reinstated Sam Altman as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Here's a look at the boardroom drama that led to Altman's ouster and return.

Expert virologist Dr Rajendra Pilankatta, Dean of School of Medicine and Public Health in Central University joins News Brake to give us some insight into the nature and severity of the new Covid-19 strains- JN.1 and HV.1

Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy has stirred up a little storm with his remarks that young people should work 70 hours a week to level up the country's productivity. News Brake catches up with Canada-based Employee Relations Specialist and former HR Lead in an Indian IT firm Athira Antony to know her thoughts on the work-life balance debate. Vishnu Muraleedharan, Anju Kunjumon and Deepa Soman joins in to share their views on the matter.

In a setback to gay rights activists, the Supreme Court has refused to accord legal recognition to same-sex marriage.   Kerala's first transgender lawyer Adv Padma Lakshmi; queer affirmative therapist Shibili Suhanah; and  Kerala-based non-binary couple Ponnu and Navya join News Brake podcast to share their disappointment and aspirations.

On the occassion of International Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dr Arunima Poulose, Consultant Surgeon at the Breast And Endocrine Surgery Unit at Believer's Church Medical College Hospital, Tiruvalla talks about the taboos surrounding breast cancer, its symptoms and treatment.

Onmanorama's Kannan V joins Haritha Benjamin to discuss why government employees are hitting the streets demanding a reintroduction of the Old Pension Scheme.