Course Scholars

Aishal Hab Yousuf

Aishal Hab Yousuf is currently pursuing post-graduation at the Department of International Studies, Stella Maris College, Chennai. 

China’s domestic politics, society, and economy; the Russia-Ukraine conflict; Maritime chokepoints and Great Power Rivalry in the Indian Ocean Region.


GP Commentaries
TWTW Note
Shangri-La Dialogue 2026: Four Major Takeaways
Focus on Rules-based maritime order, AI & Cyber Security, and Preventive Diplomacy, but with no consensus

June 2026 | CWA # 2134

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 NIAS, Bengaluru.

Global Politics Explainer
Sri Lanka and the US-Iran War 
Rising oil imports, Austerity measures and State capacity
Fuel prices have been rising significantly, with reports that have indicated increases of up to 25-30 percent. Rationing systems have also been introduced to manage the limited supplies.

May 2026 | CWA # 2113

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 NIAS, Bengaluru.

TWTW Note
The Trump-Xi Summit:
Managing Strategic Competition through Trade, Technology, and Diplomacy
The summit reflects efforts to stabilize US-China relations without resolving any core strategic differences.

May 2026 | CWA # 2110

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.

TWTW Note
North Korea's Constitutional Amendment 2026:
The End of Korean Reunification, the Declaration of New Borders, and the Control of Nuclear Command

May 2026 | CWA # 2109

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.

The US-Iran War
The Hormuz Strait and the Fertilizer Crisis in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa
The Middle East possesses abundant natural gas reserves, which are pertinent to the production of nitrogen-based fertilizers.

May 2026 | CWA # 2100

Aishal Hab Yousuf | Aishal Hab Yousuf is a postgraduate student at the Department of International Studies, Stella Maris College, Chennai.

TWTW Note
UAE’s Exit from OPEC: 
Implications for the Middle East and the Energy Market
The timing of the exit during an ongoing major conflict reflects growing fragmentation within the Gulf.

May 2026 | CWA # 2086

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.

TWTW Note
Japan’s New Defence Posture:
From Post-War Pacifism to Strategic Recalibration and Autonomy
Increasing tensions with China, North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, and Russia have increased Japan’s threat perceptions. Besides, there is a broad perception shift in Japan of US security guarantees.

April 2026 | CWA # 2079

Aishal Hab Yousuf | Aishal Hab Yousuf, Postgraduate student, 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
Economic modernization without political liberalization, Legal systems as instruments of political control, Shrinking civic space and Sports Washing
Five Takeaways of the HRW Report 2026 on the Middle East (Saudi Arabia and the UAE)

March 2026 | CWA # 2029

Aishal Hab Yousuf 

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...