Apple Overtakes Samsung As World Largest Smart Phone Seller

Jan 17 2024

Apple has surpassed Samsung to claim the largest share of the global smartphone market for the first time in 12 years, capturing over 20% of phones shipped in the past year, according to data from the International Data Corporation (IDC).

Samsung secured 19.4% of the market, while Chinese brands Xiaomi, OPPO, and Transsion followed. Smartphone sales globally saw a decline of over 3%, amounting to nearly 1.2 billion units sold in 2023, the lowest figure in a decade.

Economic challenges and high interest rates contributed to this downturn, but market experts anticipate a recovery in the coming year.

Despite the overall decline, Apple emerged as the “biggest winner,” selling more than 234 million phones in 2023, experiencing positive annual growth, and claiming the top spot annually for the first time.

Huawei, facing regulatory challenges and increased competition, has made progress in producing its own chips after being restricted from purchasing chips using US technology. Apple’s success is attributed to trade-in offers, interest-free financing plans, and sustained demand for premium devices.

Samsung, traditionally dominating in memory chips, smartphones, and televisions, faced a setback as global demand for consumer electronics remained weak.

Increased competition from affordable Android models, especially in emerging markets, contributed to Samsung’s challenges. The IDC also noted a shifting landscape in the smartphone market, with a growing array of Android providers diversifying the market and consumers showing increasing interest in foldable phones and AI capabilities.

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Malta Inflation Rate Over Eu Average In December 2023

Jan 17 2024

In December, Malta experienced an inflation rate of 3.7%, a slight decrease from November’s 3.9%. However, it remained higher than the EU and Eurozone averages.

The National Statistics Office revealed that the main contributors to Malta’s inflation were the Food and non-alcoholic beverages sector, with a substantial impact from rising vegetable prices.

Euro area inflation rose to 2.9% in December, up from 2.4% in November, while the EU recorded an annual inflation rate of 3.4%, an increase from 3.1% in November. A year earlier, the EU’s inflation rate was significantly higher at 10.4%.

The Food and non-alcoholic beverages Index had the most substantial impact on Malta’s inflation, followed by the Restaurants and hotels Index and the Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels Index.

The recent focus on food prices arose when the Maltese government urged retailers to lower prices by 15%, drawing criticism from the Chamber of Commerce.

In the EU, Denmark, Italy, and Belgium had the lowest annual inflation rates, while Czechia, Romania, and Slovakia recorded the highest. Eurostat reported that services had the most significant contribution to the euro area’s inflation rate in December, followed by food, alcohol & tobacco, non-energy industrial goods, and energy.

Meanwhile, the UK experienced unexpected inflation growth in December, challenging predictions of a slowdown and impacting hopes for an early interest rate cut.

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Two Hold Ups Within Hours Of Each Other Under Investigation

Jan 17 2024

Two separate robberies are currently under police investigation, occurring within a short timeframe in St Paul’s Bay and Tarxien.

The initial incident unfolded at 10:30 pm on Tuesday in St Paul’s Bay, where an individual wielding a knife successfully stole cash from a gaming outlet on Triq iċ-Ċern.

The second robbery transpired at 7:15 am on Wednesday in a grocery store on Triq Xintill, Tarxien. A hooded man, armed with a gun, demanded cash from the cashier and absconded with both money and other items, as reported by the police.

The exact value of the stolen items was not disclosed, and fortunately, no injuries were reported in either incident. Authorities are actively pursuing leads to apprehend the perpetrators involved in these back-to-back hold-ups.

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€2 Million Investment For New MRI Scanner At St Vincent De Paul Day Hospital

Jan 17 2024

This morning, a noteworthy announcement was made regarding a 2 million euro investment in the St. Vincent de Paul day hospital for the acquisition of new MRI scanner.

Marking the fourth MRI scanner on the island, an additional one is anticipated soon in Gozo.

Primarily dedicated to serving the elderly population, the newly revealed MRI boasts a magnetic strength of 1.5 tesla. This deliberate choice ensures a gentler impact on the older generation, distinguishing it from more powerful MRI alternatives in the market.

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Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela, newly appointed, delivered this announcement while commending the invaluable contributions of healthcare professionals. He underscored their pivotal role in maximizing the potential of this technology, emphasizing that without their expertise, the investment wouldn’t yield the same results.

Minister Abela stressed the imperative of staying abreast of cutting-edge technology in healthcare equipment to provide optimal services to those in need. This proclamation stands as the inaugural significant announcement from the Ministry of Health since the appointment of Minister Abela, succeeding former Health Minister Chris Fearne.

The funding for this significant project is sourced from the National Social Development Fund.

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