Course Scholars

GP Commentaries
The World This Week
The G7 Summit 2026
President Xi Jinping’s North Korea visit I Myanmar President’s China visit

June 2026 | CWA # 2157

Global Politics Team

TWTW Note
President Xi Jinping’s North Korea visit:
Resetting bilateral ties, Sidelining denuclearisation, and Restoring China’s centrality

June 2026 | CWA # 2156

Avaneesh S | Avaneesh S is a postgraduate student from the department of History, School of Social Sciences, Pondicherry University. He is currently an intern at NIAS.

TWTW Note
Myanmar President’s China visit:
Diplomatic legitimacy, Economic cooperation and Beijing’s interests

June 2026 | CWA # 2155

Aparna A Nair | Aparna A Nair is a postgraduate student at the Department of Political Science, Madras Christian College, Chennai. She is currently a research intern at NIAS.

TWTW Takeaways
The G7 Summit 2026
Four Takeaways on Economic security, Critical minerals, and Consensus on Ukraine and Iran

June 2026 | CWA # 2154

Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella | Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella is an undergraduate student from the Department of Political Science, School of Liberal Arts, Alliance University, Bengaluru. She is currently an intern at NIAS.

Conflict Weekly
The US-Iran MoU
The War in Ukraine I Anti-immigrant violence in South Africa I Ultra Orthodox Jews' protests in Israel

June 2026 | CWA # 2153

Global Politics Team

CW Note
Anti-immigrant violence in South Africa:
Xenophobic attacks, Economic distress, and an Aggressive crackdown

June 2026 | CWA # 2152

Akshath Kaimal | Akshath Kaimal is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru, and is part of the NIAS Pakistan Reader and Africa Studies teams.

CW Note
Israel's Ultra-Orthodox Jews:
Why are they protesting?

June 2026 | CWA # 2151

Rohini Reenum | Rohini Reenum is a doctoral student at NIAS. She is working on Governance in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction using the case study of the BBNJ Agreement.

CW Note
The War in Ukraine:
Massive drone attacks, Europe's support for Ukraine, and a Distant ceasefire

June 2026 | CWA # 2150

Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella | Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella is an undergraduate student from the Department of Political Science, School of Liberal Arts, Alliance University, Bengaluru. She is currently an intern at NIAS. 

CW Note
The US-Iran MoU:
Asymmetric Gains and Implementation Challenges

June 2026 | CWA # 2149

Brighty Ann Sarah | Brighty Ann Sarah is a Research Assistant with the Global Politics team at the Science, Technology and International Relations (STIR) Programme at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

Remembering Amb PS Raghavan and his legacy
The Making of India’s Foreign Policy:
Major pillars and their critiques

June 2026 | CWA # 2148

Akshath Kaimal | Akshath Kaimal is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru, and is part of the NIAS Pakistan Reader and Africa Studies team.

Remembering Amb PS Raghavan and his legacy
India as a Net Security Provider in the Indian Ocean Region:
A Critique of Raghavan’s Maritime Security and Emerging Constraints
Amb Raghavan’s framework remains relevant for emphasising cooperative security, regional stability, and strategic autonomy. However, India’s role as a net security provider should be understood as an evolving and contested strategic aspiration. 

June 2026 | CWA # 2147

Lekshmi MK | Lekshmi MK is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru.

Global Politics Review: WPF Report 2026
Press Freedom in the Indian Neighbourhood
From Afghanistan to Myanmar

June 2026 | CWA # 2146

Global Politics Team

Global Politics Review: WPF Report 2026
Myanmar and Press Freedom: 
Four Takeaways on Legal repression, Institutional collapse, Violence, and Digital control 
Before the coup, Myanmar had witnessed a growing independent media sector with outlets such as Mizzima, Democratic Voice of Burma, and Myanmar Now. These organizations played a major role in political reporting, but the coup has led to their shutdown

June 2026 | CWA # 2145

Glynnis Winona B | Glynnis Winona B is an undergraduate student at the Department of International Relations, Peace Studies and Public Policy, St. Joseph's University, Bengaluru. She is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru

Global Politics Review: WPF Report 2026
Bangladesh and Press Freedom: 
Four Takeaways on Digital security laws, Political polarisation, Journalist safety, and Media vulnerability 
Among the newspapers, Bengali-language newspapers are the most popular among the population. A majority of the urban youth and politically active audiences are active on social media.

June 2026 | CWA # 2144

Nithin V | Nithin V is a postgraduate student in International Relations, with an interest in geopolitics, international political economy, and climate governance. He is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru. 

Global Politics Review: WPF Report 2026
Sri Lanka and Press Freedom: 
Five Takeaways on Political influence, Legal mechanisms to control, Ethnic sensitivities and History of State intimidation
Despite the end of civil war, freedom of the press is still encumbered by challenges, including political pressure on state and private media, ethnic and religious sensitivities, and the long history of state intimidation.

June 2026 | CWA # 2143

Aishal Hab Yousuf  | Aishal Hab Yousuf is a postgraduate student at the Department of International Studies, Stella Maris College, Chennai. She is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

Global Politics Review: WPF Report 2026
Bhutan and Press Freedom:
Four takeaways on Regulatory control, Economic fragility, and Social constraints
Both state-owned and private outlets dominate the flow of information to the public, with the Bhutan Broadcasting Service and Kuensel leading the way. Private houses such as The Bhutanese and Bhutan Times operate within limits

June 2026 | CWA # 2142

Glynnis Winona B | Glynnis Winona B is an undergraduate student at the Department of International Relations, Peace Studies and Public Policy, St. Joseph's University, Bengaluru. She is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru

Global Politics Review: WPF Report 2026
Maldives and Press Freedom:
Four takeaways on the influence of democracy, legislation, and state funding
In Maldives, press freedom remains fragile and heavily shaped by political power and restrictive laws. While constitutional provisions protect journalists, they still face intimidation and censorship. 

June 2026 | CWA # 2141

Aishal Hab Yousuf | Aishal Hab Yousuf is a postgraduate student at the Department of International Studies, Stella Maris College, Chennai. She is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

Global Politics Review: WPF Report 2026
Pakistan and Press Freedom:
Four takeaways Military influence, cyber laws, political instability, and youth-driven digital journalism
Though Pakistan has improved its 2025 position from 158, it does not indicate positive conditions for press freedom in the country.Digital journalism through social media platforms and independent online news portals is widely popular among the young

June 2026 | CWA # 2140

Nithin V | Nithin V is a postgraduate student in International Relations, with an interest in geopolitics, international political economy, and climate governance. He is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru. 

Global Politics Review: WPF Report 2026
Afghanistan and Press Freedom:
Four takeaways on political control, religious restrictions and economic vulnerabilities 

June 2026 | CWA # 2139

Siddhi Halyur | Siddhi Halyur is an undergraduate from St. Joseph's University currently interning at NIAS. 

Global Politics Review: WPF Report 2026
Nepal and Press Freedom:
Three takeaways on Political constraints, Missing legal protection and Funding issues
Nepal’s constitution states that the country ensures “full freedom of the press” in its preamble. However, in practice, the country does not offer the same. Political influence is one of the primary reasons for restricted media independence.

June 2026 | CWA # 2138

Siddhi Halyur | Siddhi Halyur is an undergraduate from St. Joseph's University currently interning at NIAS.

GP Insights
The US Supreme Court calls Trumps tariffs illegal

March 2026 | GP Insights # 949

Chinaand Africa relations are going strong: Predictable ties in unpredictable times

January 2026 | GP Insights # 948

Chinas draft legislation on Antarctica: Legal and institutional clarification and environmental pro

December 2025 | GP Insights # 946

Germany-China Tensions over Chinese EVs: From Procurement to Protectionism

December 2025 | GP Insights # 947

Hong Kong court convicts Jimmy Lai

December 2025 | GP Insights # 945

Chinas rare-earth export control exemption for one year

December 2025 | GP Insights # 936

SIPRI Top 100 arms-producing and military service report: Chinas revenue declines by 10 per cent

December 2025 | GP Insights # 945

Ten Takeaways on White Paper

November 2025 | GP Insights # 944

China-India squabble over Arunachal Pradesh: What is it about? What are the claims?

November 2025 | GP Insights # 943

Taiwan: Flailing defence conscriptions

November 2025 | GP Insights # 942

Other Scholars

Abhimanyu Solanki is a Research Intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru, and is part of the NIAS Pakistan Reader team, contributing to the PR Daily Brief. He is also a Junior Research Fellow (JRF) and PhD scholar in the Department of Political Science at the University...

Acsah H is currently and intern at NIAS. She is pursuing postgraduate studies at the Department of Geopolitics and International Relations at Manipal Institute of Social Studies, Humanities and Arts, MAHE, Manipal, Udupi. Her research interests include Outer-space governance and regulation.

Akriti Sharma is a doctoral scholar at the Science, Technology and International Relations Programme, National Institute of Advanced Studies. She has completed her Bachelors in Political Science and Masters in Political Science from the Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. She is also the recipient of...

Akshath Kaimal is a Research Associate with NIAS Area Studies-Pakistan, and is a postgraduate in International Studies and International Humanitarian Action

Ankit is a Ph.D. scholar at NIAS, his research interests lie South Asia, peace studies and oral history. His research topic is on political economy of external debt in Pakistan (1971-2021).   Research activities In the STIR program, he is currently assisting in preparations of PR evening...

Avaneesh S is an intern at NIAS. Currently, he is pursuing post gradaute studies at Pondicherry University. His research interests include South Asian geopolitics & Security studies, Conflict & Counterterrorism studies and Energy Transition in Asia.

Brighty Ann Sarah is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) under the Science, Technology and International Relations (STIR) Programme. She serves as an Assistant Editor for The Conflict Weekly and The World Today, and part of the NIAS Pakistan Reader team.   She...

Deb Dutta is a Political Science graduate from the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education. Currently he is an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru. His research interests include US-China and India-China relations, offensive realism in modern geopolitics,...

Harini Madhusudan is a doctoral scholar with the School of Conflict and Security Studies, NIAS. Her thesis looks at Militarisation in Outer Space, which draws from a combination of disciplines of International Law, Security Studies, International Relations, and Outer Space as a domain. She is looking...

Lekshmi MK is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), working with the Area Studies-Pakistan Programme and the NIAS Polar and Ocean Studies initiative. She also serves as an Assistant Editor for The World Today and The World This Week. Her research interests include...

Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella is an an intern at NIAS. She is also an undergraduate student at the School of Liberal Arts, Alliance University, pursuing a bachelor's in Political Science and Economics. Her interests lie in conflict studies, foreign policy, and international relations. 

Nithin V is a postgraduate student in international relations at Loyola College, Chennai. He is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

Padmashree Anandhan is currently a project associate at the School of Conflict and Security Studies at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore. Her research for the NIAS Europe Studies under the Area Studies initiative focuses on protest movements, conflicts, energy, economic, migration...

R. Preetha is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) - Science, Technology and International Relations (STIR) Programme. She serves as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week and The World Today, and is also part of the NIAS Pakistan Reader team. She is currently...

Radhika M Agarwal is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies and is a postgraduate student in the department of Politics and International Relations at Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gandhinagar.  

Ms Rohini Reenum is a Doctoral Student at the Science, Technology and International Relations Programme, School of Conflict and Security Studies, National Institute of Advanced Studies. Her areas of interest in terms of research are Maritime Security, Ocean Governance, International Relations Theory,...

Vani Vyshnavi Jupudi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bannerghatta Road Campus, Bengaluru. She is a Research Intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), where she is part of the Pakistan Reader team and contributes analytical...