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Hartmut Winkler

Professor of Physics, University of Johannesburg
A lifelong academic who served stints as Dean of Science and acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic at the former Vista University in South Africa and was until recently the Head of Physics at the University of Johannesburg.

Research interests range from astrophysics through to atmospheric physics, solar energy and energy supply.

A vocal commentator on South African energy issues, especially the renewables versus nuclear debate.

South Africa’s electricity crisis: what political parties say in their election manifestos about solving it

Mar 28, 2024 12:04 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics

South Africa is in the middle of a deep electricity crisis. In 2023 the public, many of whom are voters, experienced the worst loadshedding to date, losing power for an average of five hours a day. The power shortages...

South Africa's new plan to end power cuts is seriously flawed. Here's why

Jan 09, 2024 23:03 pm UTC| Economy

South Africa experienced unprecedented electricity shortages in 2023 as ageing coal plants became increasingly prone to breakdowns. The country urgently needs to develop new electricity generation facilities and reduce...

South Africa power outages: some improvement but a long way to go before the grid is stable

Nov 01, 2023 07:12 am UTC| Economy

Over the past few months, South Africas power generation sector has performed better than expected. Four factors explain this: an acceleration of solar power installations, less frequent breakdowns at power stations, a...

South Africa's nuclear sector has failed its test: the Koeberg nuclear plant life extension

Aug 21, 2022 17:23 pm UTC| Science Economy

South Africas only nuclear power plant, Koeberg, has frequently been in the news in 2022, all for the wrong reasons. Its operating licence expires in 2024, and its continued operation thereafter depends on critical...

Global Geopolitics Series

Russia's nuclear power exports: will they stand the strain of the war in Ukraine?

Mar 07, 2022 10:13 am UTC| Politics

Russias invasion of the Ukraine has led to massive sanctions and resulted in heavy blows to its economy. It has also led to unprecedented condemnation of Russias leadership, as well as growing international...

Power shortages will remain a big challenge in a post-COVID-19 South Africa

Apr 21, 2020 12:42 pm UTC| Economy

The decline in economic activity precipitated by the spread of COVID-19 and ensuing lockdown in South Africa is also affecting the countrys electricity supply dynamics. The power outages that were disrupting the economy...

Economy

KOSPI Drops Nearly 5% as Samsung, SK Hynix Lead AI Stock Selloff

South Koreas benchmark KOSPI tumbled nearly 5% on Monday, extending losses after recording its worst monthly decline since the 2008 global financial crisis. Renewed selling in major semiconductor stocks erased much of...

Japanese Yen Rallies as Intervention Hopes and BOJ Outlook Weigh on USD/JPY

The Japanese yen extended its rally against the U.S. dollar on Monday, climbing nearly 1% as investors increased bets that Japanese authorities could launch another coordinated currency intervention with the United States...

Gold Prices Rise as Trump Delays Iran Strike, Oil Slumps

Gold prices edged higher on Monday after a sharp decline in oil prices eased inflation concerns, boosting demand for safe-haven assets. The rally came after U.S. President Donald Trump delayed a planned military strike...

Asian Stocks Slide as AI Selloff Hits South Korea, Oil Prices Drop on Iran Talks

Asian stock markets opened the week lower on Monday, with South Korea leading regional losses as renewed selling in artificial intelligence-related technology stocks overshadowed improving investor sentiment from easing...

US Stock Futures Rise as Trump’s Iran Talks Boost Market Sentiment Ahead of Key Earnings

U.S. stock index futures moved higher late Sunday after President Donald Trump announced that negotiations with Iran would begin on Monday, easing geopolitical concerns and lifting investor sentiment. The prospect of...

Politics

DOJ Rescinds Anti-Weaponization Fund Ahead of Todd Blanche Senate Confirmation Vote

The U.S. Justice Department has rescinded an order establishing the controversial Anti-Weaponization Fund just days before the Senate Judiciary Committee is set to consider Todd Blanches nomination for attorney general, a...

Former House Appropriations Chair Kay Granger Dies at 83

Former U.S. Representative Kay Granger, a longtime Texas Republican and the first Republican woman to chair the powerful House Appropriations Committee, has died at the age of 83, according to confirmation from her son,...

Taiwan Says U.S. Military Cooperation Is Stronger Than Many Realize

Taiwans military cooperation with the United States is stronger than many people realize, Defence Minister Wellington Koo said, highlighting expanding exchanges with the U.S. Pacific Command as Taipei works to strengthen...

Russian Border Drone Strike Kills Child in Belgorod, Injures Two Others

A Ukrainian drone strike in Russias Belgorod region killed a 13-year-old girl and injured two other children on Sunday, according to local Russian officials. The incident occurred near a playground in the border village of...

China Defends Industrial Policy Ahead of Key U.S. and EU Trade Talks

China is doubling down on its industrial-focused economic strategy as it prepares for high-stakes trade negotiations with the United States and the European Union, signaling little intention of making major policy changes...

Science

Blue Origin New Glenn Explosion Could Delay Launch Operations Until 2028

Blue Origin is facing a significant setback after a dramatic explosion involving its New Glenn rocket severely damaged a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, repairs to the...

Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Launch Pad Test, Delaying Space Ambitions

Blue Origin suffered a major setback after its uncrewed New Glenn rocket exploded during a launch pad test in Florida on Thursday, raising new challenges for Jeff Bezos space company as it competes with Elon Musks SpaceX...

SpaceX Delays Starship V3 Launch Ahead of Potential Record IPO

SpaceX on Thursday postponed the highly anticipated launch of its 12th Starship rocket test from Texas after technical issues interrupted the final countdown. The company now plans to attempt the Starship V3 launch again...

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

Technology

Meta Cuts Wipro Outsourcing by 25% After AI-Led Restructuring

Meta Platforms has reportedly reduced the amount of IT work it outsources to Wipro Ltd by at least 25% following an artificial intelligence-driven restructuring that resulted in the closure of its digital marketing...

Alibaba Stock Jumps as Qwen 3.8-MAX AI Model Intensifies China's AI Race

Alibaba Group (HK:9988) shares climbed sharply on Monday after the company introduced Qwen 3.8-MAX, the newest version of its flagship artificial intelligence model, highlighting its growing ambitions in the rapidly...

SpaceX Earnings Preview: Bernstein Says 4 Key Factors Will Drive Long-Term Valuation

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: SPCX) is set to release its first quarterly earnings report on August 4, but Bernstein believes investors should focus less on the financial results and more on managements...

AI Data Center Boom Faces New Risks as Public Backlash and Policy Scrutiny Grow

Public opposition to large-scale data center construction is rising sharply, creating new challenges for the artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure boom, according to Wolfe Research. The firm identified growing voter...

T-Mobile Executives Reportedly Oppose $300 Billion Deutsche Telekom Merger

Senior executives at T-Mobile US have reportedly told parent company Deutsche Telekom that they do not support a proposed $300 billion merger between the two companies, citing shareholder resistance and potential...