Unemployment rate falls to 4.1% in July

New Central Statistics Office show that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July eased to 4.1%, down from a revised rate of 4.2% recorded in June.

The CSO said it had revised upwards the jobless rate for each month of 2023, meaning the rate did not hit a record low as previously estimated.

2023’s Perseid meteor shower: the best in years

The Perseid meteor shower is one of the best shooting star displays of the year and it's currently active from mid-July to late August. This year the shower will peak around Aug. 13, 2023 and will be a good year as the moon will only be 10% illuminated. The Perseids are caused by Earth passing through debris, bits of ice and rock left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle which last passed close to Earth in 1992. The Perseids peak when Earth passes through the densest and dustiest area on August 11-12.

Although the Perseids are slowly getting weaker over time, this year's show should be the best in several years for two reasons. First, it happens to occur on a weekend, staying up late on Saturday night or getting up early on Sunday morning before daylight breaks, will have a spectacular chance at a natural show under clear, dark skies. This year’s peak of the Perseids corresponds only to a waning crescent moon, meaning that the moon won’t rise until the early hours on the morning of the 13th. Until then, pristinely dark skies hopefully will be on the menu.