Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Hibs boss David Gray has backed one of his team’s brightest young prospects to force his way back into the starting XI. And the gaffer insists teen talent Rudi Molotnikov remains very much part of his plans – despite a drastic reduction in playing time after an all-action start to the season. Virtually a guaranteed starter at the beginning of the campaign, the 18-year-old hasn’t started in any of the last eight games for Hibs. But the manager says the Scotland Under-19 star, who missed the weekend trip to Celtic Park with a minor groin injury likely to clear up in time for Saturday’s visit of Ross County, is still in his thinking. Advertisement Advertisement “He’s in the first-team squad, he's in the dressing room now, he's around the first team every single day and that's because of how he adapted right at the start of the season,” said Gray. “He did really well when he came in and continues to do well in training. CHECK OUT THE LATEST FITBAW TALK ON SHOTS TV “But we've got a lot of competition now in his position; players are getting fitter, and when you find yourself in the position we are, sometimes you need a bit of experience as well. Rudi has dealt with that (not playing much) really well. “He will 100 per cent come again; he's still heavily in my thoughts every single week. Even when he's not been playing, he comes into the conversations because of how well he does in training and what he was giving us early in the season and I still believe he's got a really bright future for us.” Gray has been impressed by how Molotnikov, equally comfortable on the wing or in the No. 10 position, has used his time on the training ground to watch and learn from veterans like Canadian international Junior Hoilett. The manager, glad to see the youngster making up lost ground after a frustrating loan spell with Stirling Albion last season, said: “Yes, I see him learning from the senior boys every day. Not just Junior, you've got Dwight Gayle as well, Martin Boyle, all the senior boys in the group. Advertisement Advertisement “We’ve got a lot of good attacking players in those positions. Rudi can play a variety of positions as well, but he also just loves playing football. He's such a young boy, enjoying his training, enjoying the opportunity to play for Hibs. GET THE LATEST HIBS NEWS DIRECTLY TO YOUR EMAIL INBOX DAILY WITH OUR FREE NEWSLETTER SERVICE “If you'd asked him at the start of the season if he thought he'd play as many games as he has, he'd probably say no, but it's a credit to him for how well he's done. He's someone who I identified last season as someone who I really liked. “He was doing well last season, and I always knew he could deal with the physicality of the Scottish Premiership, and he’s come a long way since going on loan and not playing much last season. He can take a lot of confidence from, and belief in what he's doing and as I've already said, he has a really bright future - he just needs to keep working hard and keep improving, which he's desperate to do.”Rethinking our priorities Official figures say Pakistan’s literacy stands at around 60% and is considerably lower The government has once again proved that Pakistan is essentially a state obsessed with security – by placing before the National Assembly a new bill tackling matters of national safety. While such bills would not be opposed by anyone if they truly helped end terrorism and sectarianism, the bill in question was placed before the House under somewhat questionable conditions. In the first place, it was tabled just as the National Assembly session was about to end and there were very few members left in the House. As such, almost no MNA read the bill which has now been passed on to a committee. The bill resembles the one put in place in early 2015 following the APS disaster of December 2014. At the time, we were told the law was necessary given the prevailing situation. Most people accepted that indeed such measures needed to come in place given the massacre that had occurred. One of the more questionable clauses of that law, and it is believed also of the new law now tabled, is that someone can be arrested on mere suspicion that they will become engaged in terrorist activities. This gives a huge margin of action to the authorities to act as they please. This includes political opponents and other persons who are not seen as friends of the state. The bill, like the one in 2016, has a ‘sunset clause’ which means that it will automatically expire after two years and fall into non-existence. We ask what the government hopes to achieve through this measure and if it is the correct way to handle terrorism. We did not see any end to terrorism after the 2015 action and Nacta, the body set up at that time, has been largely ineffective in doing its job. Terror continues across the country and it cannot end until the root causes are addressed and groups engaged in it in some way banished or reformed through measures of various kinds. This has been the course adopted by other nations and it is a course we should learn to follow. The question also is why Pakistan is so centred on security and not on other issues. Taking up these issues could make the state more secure by improving the lives of its people and giving them a better way to live. If they had this opportunity, perhaps fewer young people would be tempted to join extremist organisations or take up guns in their name. This is today happening all over the country and the arrival of newer radicalised groups has only heightened the level of violence the country faces today. On the other hand, we have done very little to improve the rate of educational success in our country. Pakistan ranks amongst the lowest countries in the world in its ability to provide basic literacy to its people. It has today fallen behind even many sub-Saharan African states and is by a considerable margin the least successful country in South Asia in terms of the ability to educate its people. For example, Bangladesh has a literacy rate of over 66 per cent. Pakistan’s literacy, according to official figures, stands at around 60 per cent and is considerably lower according to many organisations which monitor education in the country. Literacy after all is often measured simply by the ability to sign one’s name or to read a single headline from a newspaper. In some cases, even this criterion is dropped. In contrast, Vietnam, a country which also faces poverty and economic distress, has been able to raise its literacy rate to 96 per cent and is nearing the 100 per cent mark. Both Bangladesh and Vietnam, the countries with the clearest examples of success despite economic disarray have also focused on providing women with education and training people in vocational skills. This is important in a number of ways. If there is a skill-based labour force, other countries would bring their investment to Pakistan and provide much-needed employment. At the moment, in our country, people are in some cases unable to feed their families, leading to the stunting of nearly 50 per cent of children and the removal of some from schools or colleges. Some reports suggest that Pakistan’s literacy rate has fallen over the last two years rather than increased. This of course is immensely disturbing as is the poor quality of literacy and education we can offer even when people are successful in accessing it for their children. The same is true of other fields such as health and social welfare. We have transformed ourselves into a national security state and have not really been successful, even in providing the safety net people need to live their lives. This has been the pattern followed in Pakistan since its inception in 1947. Through the periods of repeated martial laws – and Pakistan has seen at least four dictatorial regimes lead the country as well as multiple hybrid regimes – there has been a focus on national security rather than on national welfare. Only if people are empowered and able to choose how they live their lives can there be any real security and any real harmony in the country. We are failing badly on this front. The failure is highlighted by how the latest bill has been tabled. Bills as important as those which deal with security need to be discussed not only in parliament but also at various civil forums. This has also been pointed out by Amnesty International in clear-cut terms. Pakistan needs to rethink the direction in which it is headed and how it is managing its affairs. The rate of success has not been very good and we must consider why we have fallen so far behind other countries on the globe. Pakistan has resources and some brilliant minds, including amongst its young people. There is no reason why these cannot be used to build the country and take it forward. Our obsession with national security, however, takes away from us this ability and leaves us less able to succeed amongst the family of nations as they move forward and try to gain a standard which leaves us able to feed, educate and provide basic health care and welfare for all our people each month in the years to come. The writer is a freelance columnist and former newspaper editor. She can be reached at: kamilahyat@hotmail.com
A very simple little browser game: open the microwave door a... - kottke.orgThe Week 12 NFL schedule includes multiple divisional matchups like Cowboys vs. Commanders (-10.5, 45), Broncos vs. Raiders (+6, 41) and Cardinals vs. Seahawks (+1, 47.5). These rivalry games can end up closer than expected, one of the NFL betting trends to keep in mind when making your Week 12 NFL bets. Packers vs. 49ers (+2.5) will take place on Sunday, and 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has been limited in practice all week with a shoulder injury. There's another type of rivalry that will take place on Monday Night Football, a sibling rivalry. The Harbaughs will be on opposing sidelines, as the Ravens are 3-point favorites over the Chargers in the Week 12 NFL odds , one of the slimmest NFL spreads of the week. The over-under for that game is 51, up four from the opener. John and Jim Harbaugh have faced off twice before, including infamously in Super Bowl XLVII. John's Ravens won and covered in both previous encounters. Should what happened over a decade ago affect your Week 12 NFL predictions? All of the updated Week 12 NFL lines are listed below, and SportsLine's advanced computer model has all the NFL betting advice and NFL predictions you need to make the best Week 12 NFL picks now . The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up well over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The model entered Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season on an incredible 20-8 betting hot streak on top-rated NFL picks this year. Longer term, it is on a 200-136 roll on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season and a 54-29 roll on top-rated NFL picks since Week 7 of 2022. The model also ranked in the top 10 on NFLPickWatch four of the past six years on straight-up NFL picks and beat more than 94% of CBS Sports Football Pick'em players four times during that span. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps has seen strong returns. Now, it has turned its attention to the latest Week 12 NFL odds and NFL betting lines and locked in betting picks for every NFL matchup. Head here to see every pick . We can tell you one of the model's strongest Week 12 NFL picks is that the Bears (+3.5, 39.5) cover the spread at home versus the Vikings . No team has a better spread record versus the Bears at home (4-1), and this isn't a one-year thing. Chicago has the best against-the-spread home record (8-3-2) since the start of last season. Meanwhile, the Vikings have failed to cover in two of their last three road games. Additionally, after starting the year a perfect 5-0 against the spread (ATS), the Vikings are just 2-3 ATS over their last five games overall. The Bears' offense showed new life under a new offensive coordinator in Sunday's loss to Green Bay as Chicago scored 19 points, after averaging just nine points over its previous three games. On defense, the Bears could also take advantage of a sloppy Vikings offense that has committed the fifth-most giveaways this season. Chicago has gone three straight games without turning the ball over and ranks third in the all-important stat of turnover differential (plus-nine). The advanced model from SportsLine has the Bears (+3.5) covering almost 60% of the time. See which other teams to pick here . Another one of its Week 12 NFL predictions: the Eagles (-3, 49) cover on the road versus the Rams on Sunday Night Football. Philadelphia has won seven of the last eight meetings with the Rams, and Philly rolls into this matchup with five straight road victories against the Rams. This season, Philadelphia boasts the best ATS road record in the league (5-1), its on a six-game winning streak straight-up, and the Eagles have covered in four of their last five games. After having the second-worst pass defense last season, the Eagles have made a 180 and now are second-best in defending thru the air. That will make it tough for Los Angeles to move the ball because L.A. already ranks 30th in yards per rushing attempt and doesn't figure to find much success in the passing game versus Philly's stout defense. The Rams are also in the bottom eight in both third-down conversion percentage and redzone scoring. With these factors, the Eagles (-3) are forecasted to cover in well over 50% of simulations, with the model also saying the Under (48) hits over 50% of the time. See which other teams to pick here . The model has also made the call on who wins and covers in every other game on the Week 12 NFL schedule and just revealed three coveted A-rated picks against the spread, potentially giving you a huge payday. You can only get every pick for every game at SportsLine . 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US consumer spending solid, inflation showing progress as year ends WASHINGTON: US consumer spending increased in November amid strong demand for a range of goods and services, underscoring the economy’s resilience, which saw the Federal Reserve this week projecting fewer interest rate cuts in 2025 than it had in September. There was also good news on inflation last month after a series of warmer readings. The report from the Commerce Department on Friday showed moderate monthly rises in prices, with a measure of underlying inflation posting its smallest gain in six months. Nonetheless, the annual increase in core inflation, excluding food and energy, remained stubbornly well above the US central bank’s 2.0 per cent target. There are also worries that plans by President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration to cut taxes, impose or raise tariffs on imports and deport millions of undocumented immigrants would stoke inflation. “The economy continues to grow from strong consumer demand as income growth and the wealth effect from higher portfolio values give consumers capacity to spend,” said Jeffrey Roach, chief economist at LPL Financial. “Inflation was more benign than expected but the stickiness of some categories supports the Fed’s hesitancy to materially lower rates next year.” Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, rose 0.4 per cent last month after a downwardly revised 0.3 per cent gain in October, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis said. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast consumer spending advancing 0.5 per cent after a previously reported 0.4 per cent rise in October. The nearly broad-based increase in spending was led by new motor vehicles, likely in part as households replaced vehicles damaged during Hurricanes Helene and Milton. That accounted for the bulk of the 0.8 per cent rebound in goods outlays. Spending on recreational goods and vehicles also rose as did outlays on financial services and insurance, mostly charges, fees and commissions. There was also increased spending on recreation services, healthcare, clothing and footwear, furniture as well as housing and utilities. Spending at restaurants and bars as well as on hotel and motel stays also increased. Spending on services rose 0.2 per cent. When adjusted for inflation, consumer spending rose 0.3 per cent after edging up 0.1 per cent in October. The so-called real consumer spending is running at an annualized rate of 3.1 per cent in the first two months of the fourth quarter. “That will lay the foundation for another very solid GDP number for the fourth quarter,” said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP. Consumer spending surged at a 3.7 per cent pace in the third quarter, the fastest in 1-1/2 years, helping to propel the economy to a 3.1 per cent growth rate following a 3.0 per cent pace of expansion in the April-June quarter. The Atlanta Fed is forecasting gross domestic product increasing at a 3.1 per cent rate in the fourth quarter. Fed Chair Jerome Powell on Wednesday described the economy as having “just been remarkable”, adding “I feel very good about ... the performance of the economy and we want to keep that going.” The central bank on Wednesday cut its benchmark overnight interest rate by 25 basis points to the 4.25-4.5 per cent range. It forecast only two rate reductions in 2025, in a nod to the economy’s continued resilience and still-high inflation. In September, Fed officials had forecast four quarter-point rate cuts next year. The shallower rate cut path in the latest projections also reflected uncertainty over policies from the incoming Trump administration. Stocks on Wall Street traded higher. The dollar slipped against a basket of currencies. US Treasury yields fell.All-star Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko will make his first start of the season Tuesday. Head coach Rick Tocchet confirmed after morning skate that Demko will be in net when the Canucks host the St. Louis Blues. The 28-year-old netminder from San Diego, Calif., last played on April 24 when the Canucks bested the Nashville Predators in Game 1 of a first-round playoff series. He suffered an injury to the popliteus muscle in his knee during the game and has been working his way back ever since. A number of factors led to Demko starting Tuesday, Tocchet said. “You want him to feel comfortable. You want to, obviously, communicate with him,” he said. “(Kevin Lankinen) was playing well, too. So there wasn’t a pressing issue to get him in. But we want to get him in. We’re excited. Obviously he’s a huge part of our team.” Demko had a 35-14-2 record with a .918 save percentage, a 2.45 goals-against average and five shutouts in regular-season play last year and played in the all-star game for the second time in his career. The veteran goalie is managing his personal expectations as he returns to game action, however. “I think it’d be foolish to say that I’m going to come back and be perfectly sharp and feel like I have my ‘A’ game in game one. Obviously, that takes a little bit of time,” Demko told reporters last week. “Just seeing game reps and things is kind of a last step of fully doing rehab. So I’m not really putting an expectation on that. “Obviously, the way Lanks has played kind of takes a little bit of pressure off of myself to come in and not feel like I have to save the world.” Demko returned to Vancouver’s lineup last week, backing up Lankinen for games against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Tampa Bay Lightning. The Canucks signed Lankinen to a US$875,000 deal during training camp and the Finnish goaltender has split the crease with Arturs Silovs this season, backstopping Vancouver to a 14-8-4 record. Lankinen has been “unbelievable” this season, Demko said. “It’s been really fun to get to know him and be able to watch him play,” he said. “It’s a challenging position he was put in, coming into a new team and being able to manage the workload that he’s been given.” Demko’s return to the crease should act as motivation for the Canucks’ skaters as the team takes on the Blues, Tocchet said. “I think, when you look at the way Demmer has worked hard to get back, a lot of lonely times by himself, it should give guys juice that you want to play well in front of him,” the coach said. You’d be crazy not to. “Maybe there’s extra shot blocking, situations to get the puck in deep when we’re tired to give him a break, things like that. I think we need to do that tonight for him.”