This week in Christian history: Tragedy at Charles Spurgeon event; ‘Bishop of bling’ suspended

Throughout the extensive history of the Church, numerous events of lasting significance have occurred. Each week marks anniversaries of impressive milestones, unforgettable tragedies, amazing triumphs, memorable births, and notable deaths. Some events, spanning over 2,000 years of history, might be familiar to many, while others remain unknown to most.

The following pages highlight anniversaries of memorable events that occurred this week in Christian history. These include a tragic stampede at a Charles Spurgeon event, the founding of Princeton University, and Pope Francis suspending the so-called “bishop of bling.”

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https://www.christianpost.com/news/this-week-in-christian-history-tragedy-at-charles-spurgeon-event.html

Afghanistan beat Bangladesh in 3rd ODI, complete clean sweep: Stats

**Afghanistan Complete Clean Sweep Against Bangladesh with 200-Run Victory in 3rd ODI**

*By Rajdeep Saha | October 15, 2025*

Afghanistan has sealed a commanding clean sweep in the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, clinching the final game by a massive margin of 200 runs. The match, held in Abu Dhabi, showcased Afghanistan’s dominant performance both with the bat and ball.

Afghanistan posted a formidable total of 293 runs for nine wickets, before spectacularly dismissing Bangladesh for just 93 runs. This series victory mirrors Bangladesh’s recent T20I success over Afghanistan by the same 3-0 margin earlier this month, highlighting the competitive nature between the two sides in limited-overs cricket.

**Strong Start and Middle-Order Resilience**

Afghanistan’s innings began positively, with openers Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz putting together a solid 99-run opening partnership. However, after Gurbaz’s dismissal, Afghanistan experienced a mini-collapse, losing four wickets for just 15 runs in 25 balls. Despite this middle-order wobble, a late surge from Mohammad Nabi ensured Afghanistan reached a challenging total.

Nabi’s explosive hitting in the final overs was the highlight of the innings. He smashed three sixes in four balls off Mehidy Hasan Miraz and followed that with a six and three boundaries against Hasan Mahmud, propelling Afghanistan past the 290-run mark.

**Key Performers with the Bat**

Ibrahim Zadran played a pivotal role with a brilliant 95-run knock, anchoring the innings. Meanwhile, Mohammad Nabi emerged as the chief architect of the late surge, scoring a swift 62 runs off just 37 balls. His timely assault transformed what looked like a par score of 250-260 into a commanding total, setting a tough target for Bangladesh to chase.

**Spin Magic Cripples Bangladesh’s Batting**

Afghanistan’s bowling was equally impressive, spearheaded by star spinner Rashid Khan. Rashid dismantled Bangladesh’s top order by taking three wickets in his first three overs, including the prized scalp of Towhid Hridoy on the very first ball of the innings. This early strike put Bangladesh under immense pressure.

Bilal Sami then dominated the middle and lower order with an outstanding spell, claiming five wickets to run through the Bangladesh batting lineup. His relentless bowling helped bowl out Bangladesh for a mere 93 runs, sealing a comprehensive victory for Afghanistan.

With this emphatic win, Afghanistan not only completed a clean sweep but also demonstrated their growing prowess in international cricket. The series victory will surely boost their confidence heading into future challenges.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/ban-vs-afg-3rd-odi-match-report-and-stats/story

You can now withdraw your entire PF balance anytime

**You can now withdraw your entire PF balance anytime**
*By Dwaipayan Roy | Oct 13, 2025, 07:55 pm*

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has taken a significant step to enhance the ease of living for its members. In a major decision, the EPFO’s Central Board of Trustees (CBT) has approved allowing members to withdraw up to 100% of their eligible Provident Fund (PF) balance. This withdrawal includes both the employee and employer contributions.

### Key Decision Announced at 238th CBT Meeting

The decision was made during the 238th meeting of the CBT held in New Delhi, chaired by Union Minister for Labour and Employment, Mansukh Mandaviya. This move is set to bring greater flexibility and convenience for EPFO members in managing their PF accounts.

### Major Changes in PF Withdrawal Rules

Previously, full withdrawal from the PF account was only permitted in cases of unemployment or retirement. Under the new liberalized rules, members can now access their entire eligible PF balance, subject to certain conditions and specific categories.

In addition to this, the CBT has simplified the existing partial withdrawal provisions. Earlier, there were 13 complex rules governing partial withdrawals, which have now been consolidated into a single, streamlined rule divided into three categories:

– Essential needs (such as illness, education, and marriage)
– Housing needs
– Special circumstances

### Increased Flexibility for Education and Marriage Withdrawals

The new rules also increase the limits on withdrawals for education and marriage expenses. Withdrawals for education purposes can now be made up to 10 times, while those for marriage can be done up to 5 times.

Moreover, the minimum service requirement to be eligible for all partial withdrawals has been uniformly reduced to just 12 months. This is a significant relaxation compared to the previous norms, where members had to justify their withdrawal reasons under “Special Circumstances,” often resulting in claim rejections.

### Member Benefits: Minimum Balance and Auto-Settlement of Claims

To ensure members continue to benefit from the high interest rates offered by EPFO (currently 8.25% per annum), the CBT has introduced a new rule requiring a ‘Minimum Balance’ of 25% of contributions to be maintained in the PF account at all times. This provision helps preserve the compounding benefits and aids in building a substantial retirement corpus.

The board has also announced a move towards greater automation, eliminating the need for any documentation for partial withdrawal claims. This paves the way for 100% auto settlement of claims, making the process faster and hassle-free for members.

This landmark decision by the EPFO is expected to bring greater financial flexibility to millions of PF members across India, enabling them to access their funds effortlessly when needed.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/epfo-members-can-now-withdraw-entire-balance/story

Solo Sikoa to introduce WWE megastar as the missing part of MFT? Exploring the possibility

Solo Sikoa Could Completely Shift the Dynamic of WWE SmackDown Soon

After losing the United States Championship to Sami Zayn on the August 29 episode of SmackDown, Solo Sikoa, known as The Street Champion, has been regrouping with his MFTs (Maximum Family Ties) in a series of cryptic vignettes. Over the past three weeks, Sikoa has reintroduced Tonga Loa, JC Mateo, and Talla Tonga to the WWE Universe. The 32-year-old thanked them for their loyalty and acknowledged their contributions to the faction.

However, last week, Sikoa hinted that something is missing from his family. He claimed that once he has that missing part, everyone will be on notice. This mysterious reference has sparked significant speculation among fans and insiders alike.

### Could The Rock Be the Missing Piece?

One shocking possibility is that the missing piece Solo mentioned could be none other than The Rock. Last year, on October 5, The Rock made a memorable return to WWE following the main event of Bad Blood 2024. In that match, Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns defeated Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu in a tag team bout. After the match, The Brahma Bull walked out and stared down everyone in the ring from the stage.

Although many fans criticized this moment for lacking any immediate payoff, recent developments suggest it could finally lead to something significant. During The Rock’s return, Solo Sikoa was shown in the crowd, hinting that it was all part of some larger plan. Now, over a year later, Solo — known as The Final Boss — could be revealed as the ultimate mastermind behind the MFT.

Sikoa’s faction has struggled to live up to expectations and is in desperate need of revitalization. Introducing The Rock as the leader would instantly raise the group’s profile and “put everyone on notice,” as Solo himself claimed. While many fans expect Tama Tonga to be revealed as the missing piece of the MFT, WWE’s creative team might surprise everyone with a swerve by bringing The Great One into the mix.

That said, this remains purely speculative at this point.

### Former WWE Writer Criticizes Solo Sikoa’s Video Packages on SmackDown

As mentioned earlier, Solo Sikoa has been building momentum for his stable through video packages on SmackDown over the past few weeks. In one segment, The Street Champion urged Talla Tonga to “unleash the monster inside” and destroy anyone who stands in the MFT’s path.

Despite the hype, former WWE writer Vince Russo has expressed criticism of these vignettes. Speaking on last week’s episode of Sportskeeda WrestleBinge’s “BroDown” hosted by Mac Davis, Russo argued that the creative team is booking the faction backward.

He stated,
“It’s comical to me that now we’re doing Solo Sikoa and his whole group — and now we’re doing vignettes on these guys, and now introducing these guys — how many months after the fact? Isn’t that the first thing you’re supposed to do? Shouldn’t we have had Solo introduce these guys one by one before we saw them as a group? That right there just tells you they have no clue what they’re doing. You don’t give these guys introductions after you’ve seen them on television for six months. That doesn’t make any sense.”

### Looking Ahead

Despite the criticisms, it will be intriguing to see what the future holds for Solo Sikoa and his villainous stable on WWE SmackDown. Whether or not The Rock becomes involved, the MFT is clearly heading toward a pivotal moment that could reshape the blue brand’s landscape.

Stay tuned for further updates as this storyline develops.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe/solo-sikoa-introduce-wwe-megastar-missing-part-mft-exploring-possibility

Has Mohammed Shami played his last game for Team India?

**Has Mohammed Shami Played His Last Game for Team India?**
*By Gaurav Tripathi | Oct 05, 2025, 10:14 AM*

Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has shared his thoughts on the future of fast bowler Mohammed Shami following the latter’s exclusion from India’s white-ball squads for the upcoming series against Australia.

### The Injury Struggle and Its Impact

Mohammed Shami, 35, has been battling injuries since the 2023 ODI World Cup. Despite overcoming a year-long fitness struggle, he has been unable to regain his peak form. Gavaskar noted that for a fast bowler like Shami, recovering from such injuries is especially challenging.

“In Mohammed Shami’s case, it’ll be a real uphill climb for him. It’s going to be very, very tough,” Gavaskar told *India Today*. He also acknowledged Shami’s valuable contribution to Indian cricket over the years.

Shami last represented India in the Champions Trophy earlier this year but has since found it hard to secure a spot in the national team.

### Declining Form and Limited Opportunities

The 2025 IPL season was disappointing for Shami as he struggled to make an impact with Sunrisers Hyderabad. Consequently, he was left out of key tours and tournaments, including the England tour, the T20 Asia Cup 2025, and the West Indies Test series.

His domestic performances have also been underwhelming, notably in the Duleep Trophy where he picked up only one wicket in 34 overs while representing East Zone.

### Selectors’ Long-Term Vision

In recent squad announcements, India’s selection committee has made significant changes ahead of the Australia tour. Shami, along with Ravindra Jadeja, has been omitted to make room for younger talents like Prasidh Krishna and Washington Sundar.

This move signals a clear long-term strategy focusing on building a core team for the 2027 World Cup. Shami’s exclusion appears to be part of this broader vision to develop fresh talent and invest in the future.

### A Look Back at Shami’s Career

Mohammed Shami made his international debut in 2013 and quickly established himself as a vital member of the Indian bowling attack across all formats.

– **ODIs:** 64 matches, 116 wickets at an average of 25.71
– **Tests:** 64 matches, 229 wickets at an average of 27.71, including six five-wicket hauls
– **T20Is:** 27 wickets at an average of 28

Shami’s experience and skill have been invaluable to Team India, but with continuing fitness concerns and emerging young talent, his international future remains uncertain.

As India gears up for future challenges, the story of Mohammed Shami’s international career may be approaching its final chapter. Fans and experts alike await further developments as the team evolves towards the 2027 World Cup.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/has-mohammed-shami-s-india-career-ended/story

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