Breaking News, Business, Financial and Economic News, World News from EconoTimes

Become a contributor

Bookmark Econotimes

Wed, Jan 15, 2025 11:54 AM All times are UTC

Follow Series

©Econometrics LLC . All Rights Reserved.

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

Taiwan Gains Confidence as U.S. Excludes It from AI Export Curbs

The U.S. governments decision to exclude Taiwan from its new restrictions on artificial intelligence (AI) chip and technology exports reflects confidence in the islands regulatory controls and legal compliance, Taiwans...

UK Inflation Stabilizes: November CPI at 2.6%, Signaling Economic Recovery

In November 2024, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the UK was reported at 2.6% compared to the same month last year, which matched what experts had predicted. This is an increase from October 2024, when the CPI was at...

China's Tightened Export Controls Disrupt U.S. Tech Firms' Production Plans

China is intensifying scrutiny of exports by U.S. tech giants like Apple, Microsoft, and Dell, delaying their production shifts to Southeast Asia and India, according to Nikkei Asia. Since December, dual-use technology...

Trump's Economic Policies to Face New Challenges in 2025

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is set to inherit a strong economy, but his aggressive policiestariffs, immigration restrictions, and tax cutsmight disrupt growth. With output above trend, near full employment, and...

U.S. Stock Futures Rise Amid Tariff Speculation and Key Data Focus

U.S. stock index futures gained on Monday evening as reports eased fears of disruptive trade tariffs under President-elect Donald Trump. Bloomberg reported that his team may propose a gradual tariff increase of 2%-5%...

Politics

South Korean Ex-President Yoon Arrested After Martial Law Attempt

Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested on Wednesday following a failed attempt to impose military law in late 2024, according to local media reports. Investigators successfully executed an arrest...

Biden Moves to Normalize U.S.-Cuba Relations Amid Major Policy Shifts

The Biden administration announced plans to remove Cuba from the U.S. terrorism blacklist, signaling a major policy shift that could reshape U.S.-Cuba relations. The move reverses sanctions imposed by former President...

Iranian President Denies Plot to Kill Trump, Refutes U.S. Claims

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian dismissed allegations that Iran plotted to assassinate U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. In an NBC News interview, Pezeshkian stated, We have never attempted this to begin with and we...

Pete Hegseth Faces Tight Confirmation Battle for Secretary of Defense

President-elect Donald Trumps nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, endured intense scrutiny during his confirmation hearing, highlighting sharp partisan divides. Hegseth, a decorated veteran and former Fox News...

SEC Accuses Elon Musk of Securities Law Violation Over Twitter Stake Delay

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk, accusing him of delaying the disclosure of his substantial stake in Twitter, now known as X, in 2022. The SEC alleges Musk violated...

Science

Double Moonshot: Japan’s ispace and Firefly Launch Lunar Missions

In a significant stride for lunar exploration, Japanese company ispace and U.S.-based Firefly Aerospace launched moon landers aboard a SpaceX rocket from Florida. This rare double mission highlights the growing competition...

Bill Gates’ Shocking New Malaria Solution Unveiled as Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Turn Into Flying Vaccinators

In a groundbreaking and controversial move, researchers funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation at Leiden University Medical Center have developed a revolutionary approach to combat malaria. The team has created...

Explosive CIA Whistleblower Claims Havana Syndrome Victims Face Cancer, Dementia, and Government Betrayal

A former CIA operative has come forward with alarming allegations, claiming that victims of the mysterious Havana Syndrome are now battling devastating health issues, including cancer, dementia, and Parkinsons disease. The...

FDA Approval of Opdivo Injection Sparks Hope for Cancer Patients with Revolutionary Treatment Update

In a significant advancement for cancer care, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an injectable version of Bristol Myers Squibbs blockbuster cancer drug Opdivo. Branded as Opdivo Qvantig, the new...

Public Health Experts Warn of ‘Quad-Demic’ as Flu, COVID, RSV, and Norovirus Threaten Winter Surge

Public health experts are raising alarms over a potential quad-demic this winter, with flu, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and norovirus all expected to surge simultaneously. This unprecedented convergence of...

Technology

TikTok Braces for Possible US Shutdown This Sunday Amid Security Concerns

TikTok, the popular short-video platform owned by ByteDance, could face a nationwide shutdown in the U.S. as early as this Sunday, according to The Information. The move follows increased scrutiny from lawmakers and...

What si RedNote? The Chinese App Gaining Global Attention Amid TikTok Uncertainty

RedNote, known as Xiaohongshu in China, has gained massive attention as over half a million TikTok users flock to the platform amid concerns over a U.S. ban on TikTok. This lifestyle app allows users to share experiences,...

Trade Groups Push Back on Biden's New Chip Export Rules

A coalition of semiconductor and manufacturing trade groups has expressed concerns to U.S. President Joe Biden over recently announced export controls on advanced computing chips. The Semiconductor Industry Association...

Global Smartphone Market Sees Shifts as Chinese Brands Gain Ground

Smartphone shipments for Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Samsung (KS:005930) declined in Q4 as competition from Chinese companies like Xiaomi (OTC:XIACF) intensified, according to preliminary data from IDC. Despite a rebound in...

Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Launch Delayed to Thursday

Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos rocket company, has rescheduled the inaugural launch of its New Glenn rocket to Thursday, Jan. 16. Originally set for Tuesday, the launch was delayed after a technical issue arose on Monday. The...