Find today's news in pics from India and around the world for December 21, 2025
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Australia warded off England's lower-order resistance to retain the Ashes with two matches to spare on Sunday (December 21, 2025). Pacer Mitchell Starc took three of the last four wickets to blunt the visitors' defiant comeback in a tense fifth-day finish to the third Test at the Adelaide Oval. The Aussies started Day 5 needing four wickets to win, with England resuming at 207 for six and still 228 runs away from the victory target of 435 that would have required a world record to achieve.
Real Madrid secured a 2-0 victory over Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabéu to close out Matchday 17, strengthening their position near the top of the La Liga table. Jude Bellingham opened the scoring with a well-taken header shortly before half-time, giving the hosts control of the contest. Sevilla were reduced to 10 men after Marcao received a second yellow card, which made life even tougher for the visitors. In the 86th minute, Kylian Mbappe converted a late penalty to seal the win and, in the process, equalled Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record of 59 goals in a calendar year. The result keeps Real Madrid firmly in the title hunt as they head into the winter break.
Arsenal claimed a vital 1-0 win at Hill Dickinson Stadium to reclaim top spot in the Premier League at Christmas, responding to Manchester City’s earlier victory. The decisive moment came in the 27th minute when Viktor Gyokeres coolly converted a penalty awarded after Jake O’Brien’s handball following a VAR review, ending his scoring drought and giving Arsenal the lead. Arsenal controlled much of the match after the goal, with Leandro Trossard and Martín Zubimendi hitting the woodwork in the second half, though Everton pushed for an equaliser without creating many clear chances. The Gunners’ disciplined performance ensured they finished the day two points above City, while Everton remain mid-table.
Liverpool edged nine-man Tottenham 2-1 in a chaotic Premier League clash in North London. Alexander Isak opened the scoring for the Reds shortly after half-time but was forced off injured following a challenge from Micky van de Ven, while Hugo Ekitike added a second to put Liverpool in control. Richarlison pulled one back for Spurs late on, but Cristian Romero’s stoppage-time red ensured Liverpool held on for a third consecutive win, moving up to fifth, while Tottenham remain mired in 13th with just one win in their last eight league games.
Erling Haaland continues to motor along at better than a goal a game for Manchester City in the Premier League. His latest victim was West Ham on Saturday. The Norway striker scored in each half to move to 19 goals in 17 matches in this campaign and also set up Tijjani Reijnders’ goal in a 3-0 win at Etihad Stadium on Saturday. The victory lifted City into first place, a point ahead of Arsenal before the deposed leader’s match at Everton later Saturday.
What a difference a week made for Nick Woltemade. Last weekend, he scored an own-goal to consign Newcastle to a derby loss at fierce rival Sunderland. Six days later, he netted twice in the opening 20 minutes to give his team a fast start against Chelsea. Chelsea recovered, though, to draw 2-2 with Joao Pedro’s equalizer coming off a rare assist from a goalkeeper. Robert Sanchez smashed a long clearance up to Pedro, who headed the ball forward and ended up collecting it himself after Fabian Schar slipped. Pedro slotted a finish underneath Newcastle goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to earn Chelsea a point in the 66th.
Matas Buzelis and Nikola Vucevic each scored 24 points as the Chicago Bulls pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 136-125 victory over the reeling Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA on Saturday (December 20, 2025). Vucevic, who also grabbed 15 rebounds, had 11 points and six boards in the fourth quarter as the Bulls won consecutive games for the first time since November 19. Seven players scored in double figures for Chicago. Josh Giddey had 17 points and Tre Jones added 16 off the bench. Darius Garland scored a season-high 35 for Cleveland, who were missing All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell due to illness.
Victor Wembanyama scored 26 points, Devin Vassell added 18, and the San Antonio Spurs spoiled the first of a five-game home stretch for Atlanta with a 126-98 win over the Hawks in the NBA on Saturday (December 20, 2025). The win was the Spurs' 20th of the season — a feat the team did not reach until January 23 last season. In his fourth game since returning from a calf injury that kept him sidelined for 12 games, Wembanyama added 12 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal. It was the centre's first double-double since San Antonio's November 14 loss to Golden State.
Alycia Baumgardner showcased her class with a commanding unanimous decision win over Canada’s Leila Beaudoin in Miami on Friday, retaining her IBF, WBO and WBA super-featherweight crowns. Fighting under the men’s championship format of 12 three-minute rounds, Baumgardner put in a composed performance. The American dropped her Canadian challenger in the seventh with a sharp counter right hook and controlled the pace throughout, outlanding Beaudoin with jabs and body shots. Judges scored it 117-110, 117-110, and 118-109 in favour of Baumgardner.
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