Russia’s Medals at the 2025 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships

Khoshnaw Rahmani, Jadetimes Staff

K. Rahmani is a Jadetimes news reporter covering sport.

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Image Source: Charly TRIBALLEAU

Summary

Russia’s athletes, competing under authorized neutral status, produced a memorable showing at the 2025 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta, led by Angelina Melnikova’s three‑medal performance: gold in the women’s individual all‑around, gold on vault, and silver on the uneven bars.

Medal highlights

Angelina Melnikova was the standout performer for the Russian contingent, securing the women’s individual all‑around world title and adding apparatus medals with vault gold and uneven bars silver, underscoring her status as one of the sport’s premier all‑rounders in 2025. Russian podium finishes drew attention at home as senior officials publicly congratulated Melnikova on her triumphsPresident of Russia.

Full medal table for Russia (Authorized Neutral Athletes)

Athlete	Event	Medal
Angelina Melnikova	Women’s Individual All‑Around	Gold
Angelina Melnikova	Women’s Vault	Gold
Angelina Melnikova	Women’s Uneven Bars	Silver

Context and significance

The 2025 Worlds in Jakarta were an individual‑only championships held from October 19–25, drawing elite fields across apparatus finals; Russia’s results under the neutral banner demonstrated the depth and resilience of its training system despite ongoing restrictions on national representation. Melnikova’s success added momentum to her career record and became a focal point of national pride and debate, reflected in prominent public recognitionPresident of Russia.

What to watch next

Melnikova and other top performers will shape narratives heading into the 2026 season and the next Olympic cycle, with attention on apparatus specialisms and all‑around contenders as international competitions resume in force

Pakistan-Afghanistan Talks Falter as Tensions Rise Over Taliban Militancy

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Business

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Image: Stringer/Stringer

Efforts to ease escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan appear to be unraveling after marathon negotiations in Doha failed to produce a breakthrough. Pakistani officials accused the Afghan delegation of backtracking on commitments to curb the Pakistan Taliban, or TTP, while Afghan representatives blamed Islamabad for what they described as disorganized and inc onsistent talks.

Talks reportedly lasted nearly 18 hours on Monday but ended with both sides trading accusations. Pakistani officials claimed that Kabul’s delegates were receiving contradictory instructions from their leadership, making progress impossible. Afghan media, meanwhile, reported that Pakistani negotiators repeatedly left the table, further straining communication.

The impasse has deepened fears of renewed cross-border conflict following a fragile ceasefire signed earlier this month. Recent skirmishes along the border have already claimed lives on both sides, heightening the urgency of diplomatic engagement.

Experts say that mutual distrust and diverging priorities continue to define the relationship. Pakistan insists that Afghanistan must dismantle TTP sanctuaries, while Kabul argues that Pakistan’s domestic insecurity is its own responsibility. Analysts note that the Afghan Taliban’s ideological and operational ties with the TTP complicate any effort to sever relations.

The situation is further inflamed by mounting violence inside Pakistan. Attacks attributed to the TTP have surged, with 2024 marking one of the deadliest years in nearly a decade. Islamabad’s patience appears to be thinning, as Defense Minister Khawaja Asif recently warned of potential military action should Kabul fail to act.

Regional powers including China, Qatar, and Turkiye are attempting to mediate, while U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly offered to intervene. Yet, experts remain skeptical that diplomacy alone can defuse the crisis.

Analysts caution that a new conflict would not only destabilize the region but could also strengthen militant groups on both sides of the border, with devastating consequences for civilians caught in the middle.

Twelve Cupcakes Shuts Down, Union Condemns Sudden Closure

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA

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Image Source: BLOOMBERG

Popular bakery chain Twelve Cupcakes has abruptly ceased operations after being placed under provisional liquidation, according to an announcement on its website Wednesday. The closure affects multiple outlets across Singapore, including branches at Changi City, Sentosa, and Star Vista.

The Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU) said in a statement that it was informed of the company’s shutdown only on the day of the announcement, the same time employees were notified. The union expressed strong disapproval of the move, calling it “irresponsible” and a violation of due process.

“The union strongly objects to the business owner’s complete lack of prior consultation and advance notice of their decision,” FDAWU stated. It added that although Twelve Cupcakes is a unionised company, management failed to engage with the union early to explore alternatives or provide support for affected workers.

“While the decision may have been a commercial one, its execution was careless and failed to account for the human consequences,” the union said. “Workers are now struggling to find new employment on short notice and face uncertainty regarding owed payments.”

FDAWU General Secretary Sankaradass described the sudden closure as “completely unacceptable and unfair” to both the workers and the union. He confirmed that the union has reached out to the appointed liquidator to ensure workers’ claims are properly addressed.

Twelve Cupcakes was founded in 2011 by former radio DJ Daniel Ong and his then-wife Jaime Teo. The brand quickly gained popularity for its handcrafted cupcakes and grew into a household name across Singapore. After Ong and Teo’s divorce in 2016, they sold the business to India-based conglomerate Dhunseri Group.

The closure marks the end of a once-thriving local bakery brand that had expanded rapidly across the island before financial troubles forced it into liquidation.