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James Horncastle

Assistant Professor and Edward and Emily McWhinney Professor in International Relations, Simon Fraser University
James Horncastle is an assistant professor in the Department of Humanities and holder of the Edward and Emily McWhinney Professorship in International Relations at Simon Fraser University. He is also a member of the steering committee for the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Centre for Hellenic Studies. His recent manuscript, The Macedonian Slavs in the Greek Civil War, 1944–1949, examines how the Macedonian Slavs participation in the conflict, and the attempts by other groups to manipulate them, gave rise to modern issues that continue to affect politics in the region today. His research interests include: refugee and migration studies; international relations; conflict studies; history of modern Greece; and Yugoslav studies.

Why the fall of Bashar al-Assad is unlikely to lead to peace in Syria

Dec 10, 2024 05:05 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

The Syrian oppositions recent capture of the countrys largest city of Aleppo caught much of the international community by surprise. After the involvement of Russia, Iran and Hezbollah in the prolonged Syrian civil war,...

Delays in western aid have put Ukraine in a perilous position

May 18, 2024 11:59 am UTC| Insights & Views

Russia recently began another offensive against Ukrainian forces, this time in the Kharkiv region. This attack was not a surprise development Russian forces had been preparing themselves over several months for the...

Global Geopolitics Series

Western leaders threaten to undermine Navalny’s legacy in Russia

Feb 22, 2024 06:27 am UTC| Insights & Views

The recent death of Alexei Navalny brought immediate condemnations from world leaders, with the American president immediately pointing the finger of blame at Vladimir Putin. One cannot say with certainty the Russian...

Global Geopolitics Series

The West's strikes against Houthis risk igniting a powderkeg in the Middle East

Jan 23, 2024 05:24 am UTC| Insights & Views

The United States and the United Kingdom are launching missile and drone strikes against the Yemeni armed group Ansarallah, commonly known as the Houthis. Houthis, a faction in the ongoing Yemen civil war, had been...

Global Geopolitics Series

Ukraine can still defeat Russia, but it needs the right tools to do it

Dec 26, 2023 23:17 pm UTC| Insights & Views

Ukraines strategic position has declined over the last six months. The summer offensive, which sparked hope among Ukraine and its supporters, failed to deliver significant territorial gains. Furthermore, support for...

Global Geopolitics Series

Israel's ground offensive in Gaza City is ignoring the past lessons of urban warfare

Nov 29, 2023 06:06 am UTC| Insights & Views

Mediators are seeking to extend the truce between Israel and Hamas beyond Wednesday amid the exchange of hostages for prisoners. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to resume the war with full force...

Global Geopolitics Series

How Serbia-Kosovo tensions hang like a spectre over the European Union

Oct 17, 2023 06:53 am UTC| Insights & Views

An armed band of Serb militants recently ambushed police in Kosovo. In the resulting firefight and retreat, four people including a police officer died from their wounds. The incident sparked official recriminations...

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Economy

Chinese EV Stocks Surge as EU Signals Path to Avoid Import Tariffs

Shares of major Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers climbed sharply on Tuesday after the European Commission outlined conditions that could allow China-based automakers to avoid import tariffs in the European...

Asian Currencies Weaken as Yen Slides to One-Year Low Amid Oil Price Surge and U.S. Political Risks

Most Asian currencies declined on Tuesday, led by a sharp fall in the Japanese yen, as rising oil prices linked to unrest in Iran and renewed U.S. political and trade uncertainty dampened investor sentiment across the...

Trump Administration Faces Backlash Over Criminal Probe Into Fed Chair Jerome Powell

The Trump administrations decision to launch a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has triggered strong criticism from former central bank leaders, Republican lawmakers, and global financial...

Asian Stocks Rise as Tech Rally and Japan Election Speculation Lift Markets

Asian stock markets advanced on Tuesday, led by strong gains in technology shares as optimism around artificial intelligence continued to drive investor sentiment. Japans Nikkei 225 index was the standout performer,...

Oil Prices Climb for Fourth Session as Iran Unrest and Supply Risks Fuel Market Fears

Oil prices continued to rise during Asian trading on Tuesday, extending gains for a fourth consecutive session as mounting geopolitical tensions and global supply disruption risks lifted market sentiment. Brent crude and...

Politics

Trump Administration Weighs Diplomacy and Military Options as Iran Nuclear Tensions Rise

Senior officials in President Donald Trumps administration are reportedly debating how best to respond to escalating tensions with Iran, as questions grow over Tehrans nuclear program and the possibility of U.S. military...

NYC Nurses Strike Shuts Down 10 Private Hospitals as 15,000 Demand Safer Staffing and Benefits

Thousands of New York City nurses walked off the job on Monday, launching a major nurses strike across 10 private hospitals to demand better staffing levels, stronger healthcare benefits, and protection from workplace...

AbbVie Commits $100 Billion to U.S. Investment in Drug Pricing Deal With Trump Administration

AbbVie has announced a major agreement with the U.S. government that could reshape drug pricing and pharmaceutical investment in the country. The company said it has entered into a three-year deal with President Donald...

Trump Warns of New Tariffs as Iran Protests Escalate and U.S.-Iran Tensions Rise

Tehran said it is keeping communication channels open with Washington as U.S. President Donald Trump weighs how to respond to Irans violent crackdown on nationwide protests, one of the most serious challenges to clerical...

Trump Pushes Tech Giants to Absorb AI Data Center Power Costs, Citing Microsoft Changes

U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday evening that his administration is working closely with major American technology companies to prevent the rising electricity costs of AI data centers from increasing household...

Science

NASA and SpaceX Target Crew-11 Undocking From ISS Amid Medical Concern

NASA has confirmed that the agency, in coordination with SpaceX, is targeting no earlier than 5 p.m. Eastern Time (2200 GMT) on Wednesday, January 14, for the undocking of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission from the International...

Neuralink Plans High-Volume Brain Implant Production and Fully Automated Surgery by 2026

Elon Musks brain-computer interface company Neuralink is preparing for a major expansion, announcing plans to begin high-volume production of its brain implant devices and transition to a fully automated surgical procedure...

Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator, Becomes 15th Leader of U.S. Space Agency

The U.S. Senate has officially confirmed billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman as the new NASA administrator, making him the 15th leader in the agencys history. The confirmation, which took place on Wednesday, marks...

Senate Sets December 8 Vote on Trump’s NASA Nominee Jared Isaacman

The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee announced it will vote on December 8 on President Donald Trumps renewed nomination of private astronaut and tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman to lead NASA. Isaacman, known for his...

NASA Cuts Boeing Starliner Missions as SpaceX Pulls Ahead

NASA has significantly scaled back Boeings Starliner program after years of technical issues and delays, announcing that the next Starliner mission to the International Space Station (ISS) will fly without astronauts. The...

Technology

Nvidia Denies Upfront Payment Requirement for H200 AI Chips Amid China Export Scrutiny

Nvidia has denied claims that it requires full upfront payments for its H200 artificial intelligence chips, pushing back against reports suggesting unusually strict sales terms for Chinese customers. In a statement issued...

SK Hynix to Invest $13 Billion in Advanced Chip Packaging Plant as AI Memory Demand Surges

SK Hynix Inc, a key supplier to Nvidia and one of the worlds largest memory chipmakers, announced plans to invest 19 trillion won (approximately $13 billion) to build a cutting-edge chip packaging plant in South Korea,...

Starlink Internet Remains Active in Iran Despite Nationwide Blackout

Some Iranians continue to access the internet through Elon Musks Starlink satellite service despite a sweeping nationwide communications blackout, highlighting how satellite internet is increasingly used to bypass...

BESI Reports Strong Q4-25 Orders Surge Driven by Data Center and Hybrid Bonding Demand

BE Semiconductor Industries N.V. (Euronext: BESI), a leading Dutch semiconductor assembly equipment manufacturer, reported robust preliminary orders for the fourth quarter of 2025, underscoring strengthening demand across...

Trump Considers Starlink to Restore Internet Access in Iran Amid Protests

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he is considering discussions with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk about restoring internet access in Iran, where authorities have imposed widespread blackouts amid...