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Xabi Alonso backs Morgan Rogers to boost Chelsea attack

ByJustpaste.in

Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso believes new signing Morgan Rogers has the quality to make the team more competitive and expects the England international to build a strong partnership with Cole Palmer.

Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s pre-season friendly against Western Sydney Wanderers, Alonso praised the club’s latest acquisition, describing Rogers as an important addition who strengthens the squad ahead of the new campaign.

The 23-year-old midfielder completed a blockbuster move from Aston Villa last week in a deal worth £117 million, making him the most expensive British player in football history. Chelsea secured his signature after a long pursuit, with the club reportedly tracking the talented playmaker for the past two years.

Alonso expressed his delight over the transfer, saying Rogers was exactly the type of player Chelsea needed.

“It’s a great signing. We needed an important player in that position, and there were very few better options than Morgan. We are delighted to have him with us,” Alonso said.

Chelsea are looking to bounce back after a disappointing Premier League season in which they finished 10th and failed to qualify for European competition. The arrival of Alonso as manager signals the start of a new era at Stamford Bridge, with the former midfielder aiming to rebuild the club into title contenders.

Rogers joins an attacking group that already includes Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Estevao, Willian and fellow summer signing Geovany Quenda. Despite having several creative players available, Alonso is confident he has a clear tactical plan to get the best out of his squad.

The Spanish coach believes Rogers and Palmer can form a highly effective partnership because of their technical ability and understanding of the game.

“I have an idea of how they can play together. They can link really well. It’s about creating the right balance between players who provide stability and those who have the freedom to express themselves,” Alonso explained.

He added that if Chelsea manage to position their attacking players effectively, the team will become stronger both in possession and when defending.

Alonso also highlighted Rogers’ versatility as one of his greatest strengths. Throughout his career, the England international has demonstrated the ability to operate in several attacking roles, giving Chelsea greater flexibility in different tactical setups.

According to Alonso, Rogers is capable of playing behind the striker, on either wing, or in advanced midfield positions. However, he believes the player is most effective when attacking from the left side while drifting into central areas.

“We want him to play where he enjoys his football the most and where he feels comfortable. If we build good relationships between our attacking players and they understand each other’s movements, it will improve the overall quality of our game,” Alonso said.

Rogers is not part of Chelsea’s pre-season tour of Australia after representing England at the FIFA Club World Cup, where the national side finished third. The coaching staff are expected to integrate him into the squad once he returns from international duty.

Chelsea begin their pre-season preparations with matches against Western Sydney Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur before travelling to Hong Kong, where they will face Juventus as they continue building fitness and tactical cohesion ahead of the new season.

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    Hayden Panettiere’s final words on motherhood and struggles

    ByJustpaste.in

    Hayden Panettiere, the actress best known for portraying cheerleader Claire Bennet in the hit NBC science-fiction series Heroes, spoke openly about motherhood, postpartum depression and her personal struggles in one of her final interviews. Panettiere died on Sunday, August 16, at the age of 36, according to her father, Skip Panettiere. She was just days away from celebrating her 37th birthday. Her family has not disclosed an official cause of death and has requested privacy as they cope with the loss. Shortly before her death, Panettiere discussed her experiences as a mother in an interview with parenting outlet Momé magazine. During the conversation, she reflected on raising her daughter, Kaya Evdokia Klitschko, and the difficult circumstances surrounding the early years of her motherhood. Panettiere shares Kaya, who is now 11, with her former fiancé, Ukrainian boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko. The actress previously spoke about experiencing a traumatic birth and struggling with postpartum depression after welcoming her daughter. Those challenges had a lasting impact on her life and contributed to a period when she was unable to be with Kaya as much as she wanted. Despite those difficulties, Panettiere said her daughter had always remained a priority. She explained that she hoped Kaya would eventually understand her circumstances and the reasons she could not always be present during her childhood. “I’ve been able to put her first no matter how I’ve felt or what I’ve experienced,” Panettiere said during the interview. She added that one day her daughter would understand her story and why she had not been able to be with her all the time. The Nashville star also described herself as a work in progress and acknowledged that personal healing is an ongoing journey. She said she was taking life one day at a time while continuing to work on herself and do her best. Panettiere also used the interview to encourage other mothers facing emotional difficulties after childbirth. Offering reassurance to women who may be struggling during the early stages of parenthood, she reminded them that they were stronger than they might realise and encouraged them to believe that things would eventually improve. Panettiere leaves behind her daughter, Kaya, as well as her parents, Skip Panettiere and Lesley Vogel. Her final reflections on motherhood have added a deeply personal dimension to the tributes following her unexpected death.

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    Power sector circular debt rises by Rs364 billion in FY2025-26

    ByJustpaste.in

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s power sector circular debt increased by Rs364 billion during fiscal year 2025-26, highlighting persistent weaknesses in the electricity supply chain despite substantial government subsidies and efforts to contain the buildup of unpaid liabilities. According to the circular debt report for June 2026, the increase was significantly higher than the previous year, when the debt had risen by around Rs45 billion. The latest increase represents a surge of roughly 709% year-on-year in the annual flow of circular debt. The Power Division has not yet formally uploaded the one-page circular debt report for June 2026 on its official website. The latest figures indicate that structural problems, including distribution company inefficiencies, weak bill recovery, payment disputes and delays in tariff adjustments, continue to generate fresh liabilities in the power sector. The development comes despite the government’s efforts to contain the debt through budgetary support and subsidies. IMF target and government commitments The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had permitted Pakistan to record up to Rs400 billion in circular debt flow during the year, while simultaneously requiring the government to take measures to prevent the accumulation of new liabilities and eventually bring the flow down to zero. Under the IMF programme, the government has been relying on tariff adjustments, subsidy rationalisation and other reforms to improve the financial health of the electricity sector. However, the latest increase suggests that governance and operational problems remain a major obstacle to achieving a sustainable reduction in circular debt. The government provided approximately Rs302 billion in subsidies aimed at supporting the power sector and reducing the debt burden. However, the amount was insufficient to maintain the circular debt stock at the level of Rs1.614 trillion recorded at the end of June 2025. As a result, the debt stock recorded a net increase of around Rs61 billion during the year. The Power Division had earlier stated that the federal government allocated Rs893 billion for the power sector in the FY2025-26 budget. However, around Rs98 billion of the allocated amount was not released, affecting the government’s ability to reduce the outstanding liabilities. A Power Division spokesperson said that if the entire budgeted allocation had been released, the circular debt stock could have fallen further to around Rs1.577 trillion. The funding shortfall, according to the official, contributed to the Rs61 billion increase recorded during the year. Distribution companies remain a major source of losses Inefficiencies within power distribution companies continued to be one of the biggest contributors to the accumulation of circular debt. The government incurred approximately Rs262 billion in losses during FY2025-26 because of inefficiencies in distribution companies. The amount was only around Rs3 billion lower than the previous year, indicating that little progress has been made in addressing operational weaknesses. Another Rs64 billion was added to the circular debt because of lower electricity bill recoveries. Although significant, this amount was around 51% lower than the corresponding figure recorded in the preceding year. The figures underline the financial pressure created by electricity theft, transmission and distribution losses, weak collection systems and inadequate enforcement against non-paying consumers. Privatisation of distribution companies The government has initiated the process of privatising three relatively profitable distribution companies — Faisalabad Electric Supply Company, Gujranwala Electric Power Company and Islamabad Electric Supply Company. However, the proposed privatisation is not expected to immediately resolve the broader circular debt problem because a substantial portion of sector losses originates from other distribution entities. Earlier, the government had considered a model under which profitable distribution companies would be combined with loss-making entities before privatisation. The plan, however, was subsequently abandoned in favour of offering comparatively stronger companies separately. Experts have repeatedly argued that privatisation alone cannot eliminate circular debt unless the underlying issues of electricity theft, poor recoveries, governance and operational losses are addressed across the entire distribution network. K-Electric dispute adds to debt Payment disputes with K-Electric also contributed substantially to the increase. According to the report, approximately Rs194 billion was added to the circular debt because of non-payments by K-Electric. The company’s outstanding payments are linked to a dispute concerning the delayed finalisation of its multi-year tariff by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority. The prolonged disagreement has created financial pressure throughout the power supply chain, adding to the accumulation of unpaid liabilities. In addition, around Rs75 billion was added to the circular debt because of delays in tariff adjustments. The government, meanwhile, made payments of approximately Rs129 billion against principal loans of the power sector. Without these payments, the annual circular debt flow could have exceeded Rs600 billion, according to the figures. The Power Division also benefited from a reduction of around Rs98 billion in the circular debt flow because of subsidy payments. Interest payments add further pressure Interest charges also contributed to the accumulation of liabilities, adding around Rs14 billion to the circular debt during the fiscal year. 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    Anayah Shahid fought hard for Zanjeerain role

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    Muzaffargarh canal accident: Last missing victim?…

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    Two suspects, who killed cops in Lahore. killed in…

    ByJustpaste.in

      Two suspected criminals, identified as Fayyaz Butt and Rehan Butt, were killed during an exchange of fire with police in Sheikhupura. A case has been registered at Muridke Police Station in connection with the incident, according to police officials. According to the First Information Report (FIR), the two deceased suspects were allegedly involved in a previous attack in Lahore in which three police personnel were killed and three others were injured. The FIR includes charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act, possession of explosives, murder and attempted murder. The incident occurred after three armed suspects allegedly entered the house of a citizen identified as Abdul Hafeez. According to the FIR, the suspects took the family hostage at gunpoint after forcibly entering the residence. The FIR stated that Abdul Hafeez’s wife and their three children were among those held hostage by the armed men. The situation prompted police to launch an operation to secure the house and rescue the hostages. Police surrounded the house and announced that the suspects should lay down their weapons and surrender. However, according to the FIR, the suspects did not surrender and an exchange of gunfire subsequently took place between the police and the armed men. During the exchange of fire, the police vehicle was also damaged. Police personnel remained positioned around the house while attempting to control the situation and prevent the suspects from escaping. According to the details contained in the FIR, the firing eventually stopped. When police officers entered the premises and inspected the area, they found two bodies lying in the courtyard of the house. Weapons were also found near the bodies. The deceased suspects were subsequently identified as Fayyaz Butt and Rehan Butt. Police officials said the two suspects had allegedly fled from Lahore after the deadly attack on police personnel. The FIR registered in Muridke includes several serious charges, reflecting the nature of the allegations against the suspects. The charges include provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act, along with sections relating to murder, attempted murder and possession of explosive material. The case will now form part of the investigation into the suspects’ alleged activities and their involvement in the earlier Lahore incident. The hostage situation also raised concerns regarding the safety of the family inside the residence. According to the FIR, the police operation was carried out after the armed suspects allegedly took the family members hostage and refused to surrender. The authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the encounter, including the sequence of events leading to the exchange of fire and the deaths of the two suspects. The incident highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies when dealing with armed suspects accused of serious crimes. Police personnel are required to respond quickly in such situations, particularly when civilians are being held hostage. Further details regarding the identities and alleged criminal backgrounds of the suspects, as well as the investigation into the Lahore attack, may emerge as authorities continue their inquiry. The case registered at Muridke Police Station will provide the legal basis for investigating the incident and the allegations against the deceased suspects. Police officials will also examine the weapons recovered from the scene and other available evidence to establish the exact circumstances of the encounter. Authorities have yet to provide further details regarding the condition of the hostages following the operation. The investigation is expected to determine the full sequence of events and establish the suspects’ alleged links to the earlier attack on police personnel in Lahore.

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