PTI chairman Divorced

BBC News anchor became his wife why?
 Did she a MI6 agent ? plz answer

How safe are Halloween costumes?

The case of TV presenter Claudia Winkleman's daughter, whose Halloween costume brushed by a candle and burst into flames, has put the issue of fire safety firmly in the headlines.

Matilda Winkleman has undergone several operations for severe burns since it happened last year and is now recovering.

But what should parents consider when they're buying a fancy dress outfit?

Firstly Halloween costumes are classed as toys which means that, by law, they don't have to be as fire retardant as normal children's clothing.

Some stores have voluntarily agreed to make theirs as resistant as children's nightwear.

BBC News NI tested four costumes bought randomly from a variety of stores.

The good news is all four performed well, all self-extinguished and didn't accelerate into a fireball.

One costume said on the label it had been subjected to additional fire safety testing and it performed the best.

Kevin O'Neill from the Fire and Rescue Service said: "These are toys. Toys have a lower fire safety requirement. They have a lower fire safety standard. Just be aware of that and take measures.

"One of those measures is to ensure children are wearing clothes under the costume.

"They should be wearing woollen tights for example or a woollen jumper or jeans. That way it gives some protection that if they were to catch fire you've still got a barrier between the garment and your skin".

If the worst does happen, Mr O'Neill said children should know the 'stop, drop and roll' drill.

"Stop what you're doing, get on the ground and roll. Allow the ground to be the means of suffocating a fire and not a person's hands".

Halloween in United States

Many Americans celebrate Halloween on October 31. Celebrations include costume parties and trick-or-treating.

Trick-or-treating is part of the Halloween fun.

©iStockphoto.com/ sjlocke

What do people do?

Halloween is usually celebrated amongst family, friends and, sometimes, co-workers. However, some areas hold large community events. Parties and other events may be planned on October 31 or in the weekends before and after this date. Adults may celebrate by watching horror films, holding costume parties or creating haunted houses or graveyards.

Many children dress up in fancy costumes and visit other homes in the neighborhood. At each house, they demand sweets, snacks or a small gift. If they do not get this, they threaten to do some harm to the inhabitants of the house. This is known as playing 'trick-or-treat' and is supposed to happen in a friendly spirit, with no nasty or mean tricks being carried out. However, if your children take part, it is important to accompany them and to check their 'treats' to make sure they are safe to eat or play with.

Some families carve lanterns with 'scary' faces out of pumpkins or other vegetables or decorate their homes and gardens in Halloween style. These were traditionally intended to ward off evil spirits. If you are at home on Halloween, it is a good idea to have a bowl of small presents or sweets to offer to anyone who knocks on your door. This will help you to please the little spirits in your neighborhood!

One cause that ties with Halloween is collecting donations for the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF). As children trick-or-treat on Halloween night, some of them might carry small cardboard boxes with the UNICEF logo on them and collect coins instead of the usual candy. The money collected is then given to UNICEF and used to help needy children worldwide.

Public Life

Halloween is not an official holiday. Government offices and businesses are open as usual and public transit services run on regular schedules. If you drive around in late afternoon or evening, it is important to keep a careful lookout for children who are unaccustomed to being out on the street after dark. If they are wearing dark costumes or masks, they may be less easy to see than normal. They may also be excited and dart out unexpectedly from between vehicles or behind bushes.

Background

Halloween originated as a pagan festival in parts of Northern Europe, particularly around what is now the United Kingdom. Many European cultural traditions hold that Halloween is a time when magic is most potent and spirits can make contact with the physical world. In Christian times, it became a celebration of the evening before All Saints’ Day. Immigrants from Scotland and Ireland brought the holiday to the United States.

The commercialization of Halloween started in the 1900s, when postcards and die-cut paper decorations were produced. Halloween costumes started to appear in stores in the 1930s and the custom of 'trick-or-treat' appeared in the 1950s. The types of products available in Halloween style increased with time. Now Halloween is a very profitable holiday for the manufacturers of costumes, yard decorations and candy.

Symbols

There are various symbols associated with Halloween. These include the spooks, ghosts and walking skeletons that represent the contact between the spiritual and physical world and between the living and the dead. Human figures that are often represented on Halloween are witches and wizards, who are seen to have the power to contact the spirit world. Bats, black cats and spiders are often connected with this holiday. These animals are associated with the night and darkness and often accompany witches and wizards.

There are also a range of objects associated with Halloween. These include blood, fire, gravestones, pumpkins, bones and skulls. They all have connections with death, the spirit world or protecting property from evil spirits. Many of these objects are now available in stores as decorations for the Halloween season.

Weekday	Date	Year	Name	Holiday type	Where it is observed
Sun	Oct 31	2010	Halloween	Observance
Mon	Oct 31	2011	Halloween	Observance
Wed	Oct 31	2012	Halloween	Observance
Thu	Oct 31	2013	Halloween	Observance
Fri	Oct 31	2014	Halloween	Observance
Sat	Oct 31	2015	Halloween	Observance
Mon	Oct 31	2016	Halloween	Observance
Tue	Oct 31	2017	Halloween	Observance
Wed	Oct 31	2018	Halloween	Observance
Thu	Oct 31	2019	Halloween	Observance
Sat	Oct 31	2020	Halloween	Observance

Economic growth in the U.S.

By David Payne

Moderate economic growth in the U.S. will continue in the second half of 2015, but won’t match the strong 3.7% boost seen in the second quarter.

We expect GDP to grow about 2.7% over the last six months of the year, resulting in an overall pickup of 2.5% for the full year, slightly ahead of 2014’s pace. The 3.7% spurt was simply a rebound from the bad weather of the first quarter. Overall growth for the first half was 2.2%.

Strong consumer spending is playing a big role in fueling the economic resurgence, helped by strong gains in disposable income and lower gasoline prices. Also helping: A ramp-up of construction activity, including home building. The housing market is having a good year, propelled by a stronger job market and rising wages plus pent-up demand and an increase in household formations.

Third-quarter growth should slow from the strong second quarter as inventories and state and local government construction slow from an unsustainable pace. Growth is likely to pick up again in the fourth quarter.

The biggest drag on U.S. growth going forward? International trade. Exports are discouraged and imports encouraged by the strong U.S. dollar, and by the strength of the U.S. economy relative to other nation’s economies. The slowdown in China will be a drag on U.S. exports, both to China itself and to its suppliers, such as South Korea and Japan. However, international trade is not likely to shave the U.S. growth rate by more than a few tenths of a percent.

Dept. of Commerce: GDP Data

More from Kiplinger: Is Productivity Plunging?

Employment

Poor jobs reports in August and September will likely delay the Federal Reserve’s first rate hike in recent years until December. The 142,000 jobs added in September and 136,000 in August were far below the average of 214,000 monthly jobs logged from January to July of this year, raising questions about the possibility of an economic slowdown. While we think job growth will bounce back this fall to at least 200,000, declining exports and low energy prices are hurting employment in manufacturing and mining.

Hiring in food, metals, machinery and semiconductors was down, most likely related to a decline in exports tied to the economic slowdown in China and other emerging markets.

There is less slack in the labor market, which sets the stage for wage increases later. The unemployment rate stayed at 5.1%, close to the level the Fed defines as being consistent with full employment. A broader measure of slack in the labor market adds discouraged workers who are out of the labor force and part-time workers who want to work full-time. This measure declined to 10% in September, still above its 8% low in 2007 but far below its recession peak of 17%.

Wage pressure is building, but very slowly. Average hourly earnings grew 2.2% over the past 12 months. Wage growth is likely to continue to be slow until the labor market tightens further. Look for a more noticeable pickup in 2016.

Dept. of Labor: Employment Data

More from Kiplinger: Paychecks Are Getting Bigger

Interest Rates

Last updated: September 4, 2015

By David Payne

Long-term interest rates should end the year at about 2.3%, just a bit above where they are now. They will get a slight bump up when the Federal Reserve raises short-term rates in the next month or two — the first increase since the recession. And 30-year fixed rate mortgages will wind up at 4.1% at the end of this year, versus 3.9% now.

Long-term rates will stay relatively low because U.S. Treasuries will continue to be attractive, given that:

● China’s growth is likely to continue slowing, keeping its central bank committed to easier monetary policy.

● The Fed won’t want to further boost the value of the dollar by making it even more attractive with higher rates.

● Uncertainties about Greece staying in the eurozone will persist well into 2016. Every hiccup will push more investors toward the safety of bonds from major economies.

● Consumer prices in the U.S. are unlikely to rev up much anytime soon.

● The European Central Bank will stay on its expansionary path despite improving growth in Europe. The ECB intends to keep buying 60 billion euros’ worth of bonds a month until September 2016, a substantial share of the Eurobond market.

We expect the Federal Reserve to bump up short-term interest rates by a quarter-point at either their October 28 meeting or their December 16 meeting. But we don’t see a second hike until several months later. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen has indicated that increases are not going to happen at every meeting, as they did under former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan between 2004 and 2006. She wants to be able to assess the effect of each hike before OK’ing the next one.

Federal Open Market Committee

More from Kiplinger: 9 Ways to Boost Your Investment Income

Inflation

Last updated: September 23, 2015

By David Payne

Expect overall inflation of 2.3% by the end of 2016, after a mere 1.5% rise this year. Bringing inflation back to more normal levels: the end of declines in gasoline and energy prices next year. Recovery in those prices is likely to be small, perhaps only 3%, but enough to push inflation above 2%.

The core inflation rate, which excludes food and energy prices, will also be up about 2.3% in 2016, versus a 2.1% hike in 2015. The Federal Reserve considers the core rate a more reliable indicator of future inflation than the overall index. The increase next year will be roughly in line with an expected pickup in wage growth to 2.5% next year.

Look for food prices to grow by about 2%, double the pace in 2015. Food prices this year were affected by worldwide declines in commodity prices, despite shortages that led to strong price growth for such items as eggs.

A strong rental housing market will keep rents rising at a brisk pace of better than 4%, and overall shelter costs climbing by 3.6%. The increase in medical care costs will be moderate at 2.5%, helped by a slowing of prescription drug price increases, from 4.5% in 2015 to 3.5% in 2016.

Other areas where price pressures are likely to develop: Day care costs will rise 4% as more folks get jobs. College tuition will rise about 3.5%, outstripping inflation, as usual. Airline fares are likely to bump up a bit as fuel costs stop falling.

But sectors dominated by imports, such as appliances and home furnishings, are likely to see very little price inflation next year, as the relatively high value of the dollar keeps the cost of imports low.

Dept. of Labor: Inflation Data

More from Kiplinger: Print-Ready Consumer Price Index Chart

Business Spending

Last updated: September 25, 2015

By Glenn Somerville

We still anticipate a modest 4% rise in overall business spending this year. Auto manufacturing and the housing industry, in particular, will generate an increase in capital investment in the fourth quarter and into 2016.

No return to prerecession days, however, when double-digit increases in annual spending on new plant and equipment were common. Broader spending increases are largely being held back by the slump in energy exploration and development. Construction and mining giant Caterpillar Inc., for example, says it is laying off 10,000 employees because of slowing sales to customers affected by low oil prices. Meanwhile, the relatively weak global economy and strong dollar are restraining exports.

Capital goods orders excluding military wares and aircraft — a proxy for business spending plans — eased down fractionally in August by 0.2%. The slight pullback came on the heels of two successive months of hefty gains. Most of the drop occurred in orders for transportation goods, including new commercial aircraft and motor vehicles and parts. But there’s reason to expect at least a moderate improvement during the rest of the year and beyond, given that Boeing just picked up a $38-billion order from China for 300 new aircraft.

How To Get a Job in Australia

How To Get a Job in Australia Australia welcomes new migrants with valuable skills and qualifications, however searching for employment will be a challenge. It is important to be realistic and understand that you may not be able to find your 'dream job' straight away.

Dos and Don'ts

It is never easy searching for a job from overseas. Here is a summary of the do's and don'ts for overseas jobseekers in the Australian employment market place.

Do

• Do visit the various Australian job websites BEFORE deciding to emigrate to familiarise yourself with the job opportunities in your field.
• Do check eligibility and, where possible, apply for your permanent residence visas. Very important. Prospective employers will ask about your immigration status and having your residence visas (or at least being knowledgable about the application process) is a "prerequisite" for many Australian job vacancies.
• Do start applying for advertised job vacancies from OVERSEAS, but only 1 to 12 weeks before a possible start date or a visit to Australia.
• Do send a cold letter of application and C.V. to EVERY potential employer and recruitment agent in the region of Australia you intend settling in to let them know that you are available. Use www.yellowpages.com.au to locate details.
• Do prepare your C.V. in the Australian style and write a short but clear covering letter indicating your visa status.
• Do provide an Australian postal address and Australian mobile/email address in your C.V. where possible.
• Tell employers you are available for skype webcam or face-to-face interviews. 
• Do make a positive impression in the interview, be flexible and have copies of your residence visas and references available for employers to sight.

Don't

• Don't apply for job vacancies OR visit Australia for job interviews more than 1 - 12 weeks away from a possible start date. Employers may not be interested.
• Don't expect everything to work like home. Be flexible and willing to fit in with local ways of doing things.
• Don't expect a job at the same level or higher than you had overseas. You may lack Australian local knowledge and may need to take a step back in order to advance later. Wait one year.
• Don't expect the same salary or more than you had overseas. The cost of living and income tax rates are lower in Australia than some other western developed nations, so look at your NET INCOME not the gross amount
• Don't expect a job offer in the first week. On average, it can take local resident Australians 1 – 8 weeks or longer to find a new job.
• Don't "over negotiate" the contract with your first employer. Be flexible and under-stand that employment law and contract terms may be different in Australia 

U.S. adults struggle

WASHINGTON — Four out of 5 U.S. adults struggle with joblessness, near-poverty or reliance on welfare for at least parts of their lives, a sign of deteriorating economic security and an elusive American dream.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Slimmer, Bigger, Better – The Best

Samsung has finally revealed the 2015 #unpacked event and launched the world’s best smartphones the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+. In the launch event, Samsung has confirmed most of the things that you were waiting for. The best thing is, official Galaxy Note 5 is now available in the market as Note 5. Samsung once again has proved that they are the most premium brand in the Android smart devices.

The launch of Note 5 was really interesting and Samsung represented the phone with a bang. To discover more and check the official introductory video from Samsung for Galaxy Note 5. You would definitely observe the new design and new beauty – Samsung Galaxy Note 5.

The Note 4 was a great success for Samsung and there were no competitor for this device in Android phablet range. But when it comes to size, Apple has already joined the war of big gadgets by launching Apple iPhone 6 Plus last year and but Samsung won the flying colours. Without increasing the size of Galaxy Note 5, Samsung engineers managed to integrate little bigger display and yes they have done real compact thing by decreasing the bezel. With no doubts, Samsung Galaxy Note 5 looks beautiful.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 pros and cons:

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 pros:

• Best design and build quality: After the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, it was clear Samsung has started manufacturing best designed phones and now Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge plus are the example of creativity. Moreover, the premium material that is used in the Note 5, making it more Interesting.
• Next level of S-Pen: New tweaks are added to the functionality of S-pen making not only unique but a worth buying smartphone the Samsung Galaxy Note 5.
• Fast Charging and Wireless Charging: 120 minutes of charging time, 3000 mAh battery works flawlessly for a day. The new wireless charging in the Galaxy Note 5 is decent but may be next Galaxy Note 6 will bring something unique.
• Powerful Camera that you will love: Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is powered with the best camera available to any of the smartphones.
• Better and efficient display: The Note 5 offers the next level of display performance and the story would go further with the upcoming launches like Samsung Galaxy S7.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 cons:

• No MicroSD Card: 32GB / 64GB is not enough? Yes, we always wanted to see the microSD card slot in the Samsung Galaxy Note 5.
• No 128GB Storage Option: Just 32GB and 64GB versions are available. However, you still have to pay more for 64GB, which could also be not enough.
• Non-Removable Battery: The new design is one of the best things of Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and on another hand; Note 5 suffered and sacrificed the removable battery.
• No Infra-Red Blaster: Other manufacturers are adding new features including infra-red blaster in the phones to expand the usage of phones and it was little surprising in Note 5 as there is in no infra-red blaster.