EU agrees on $105 billion loan to support Ukraine’s defense against Russia. European Union leaders have agreed to provide an interest-free loan to Ukraine to meet its military and economic needs for the next two years, EU Council President Antonio Costa has said. (Al Jazeera) 

TikTok signs deal for US unit after yearslong saga. A deal would end a yearslong saga to force TikTok’s Chinese parent ByteDance to sell the company’s U.S. operation to domestic owners to alleviate national security concerns. (Axios) 

Bolivia’s largest cities brought to standstill by transportation strike over fuel price hike. The streets of La Paz and Santa Cruz were brought to a standstill on Friday as public transportation workers went on strike against a 100% fuel price increase ordered by the new government in the South American country. (AP) 

Farmers block roads in Brussels to protest South American free-trade deal. Farmers in tractors blocked roads, threw potatoes and eggs, and set off fireworks in Brussels on Wednesday outside a European Union leaders’ summit, prompting police to respond with tear gas and water cannons as protesters rallied against a major free-trade deal with South American nations. (ABC News) 

Bank of Japan raises rates to 30-year high, signals more hikes. The central bank also signaled its readiness to continue raising rates by offering a slightly more upbeat view on the growth and inflation outlook, underscoring its conviction Japan was on course to stably hit its 2% inflation target backed by wage gains. (Reuters) 

Can India catch up with the US, Taiwan and China in the global chip race? The semiconductor projects under the Tata Group and the Murugappa Group have drawn public scrutiny after Indian online news outlet Scroll.in reported that both companies made massive political donations after they were picked for the projects. (Al Jazeera) 

Nigeria projects 2026 deficit of 4.28% of GDP as Tinubu proposes spending plan. Nigeria expects a budget deficit worth 4.28% of gross domestic product in 2026, President Bola Tinubu said as he announced the government’s 58.18 trillion naira ($40 billion) spending plan aimed at consolidating economic reforms and boosting growth. (CNBC) 

Spanish consumer credit hits near 18-year high on economic boom. Consumer lending in Spain has hit levels not seen since the eve of the global financial crisis, reflecting both the Spanish economy’s strength and a shift in focus from mortgages to more profitable but riskier credit among the country’s banks. (Reuters) 

Semiconductor industry most concerned by tariffs, trade policy. Leaders in the semiconductor manufacturing industry have a new chief concern: Tariffs and trade policy now rank as their top issue, surpassing talent and labor, according to the 21st annual Global Semiconductor Outlook by advisory firm KPMG. (Supply Chain Dive) 

Four things the US wants from Canada on trade. With U.S.-Canada trade talks still on hold, American officials have laid out their clearest demands yet for keeping free trade in place between the two countries. (BBC) 

Bank of Mexico makes 12th consecutive interest-rate cut. The Bank of Mexico lowered its benchmark interest rate as expected Thursday in a 12th consecutive cut, while signaling a possible pause before lowering the rate further in 2026. (Wall Street Journal) 

UK government borrowing fell, but challenges ahead. The U.K. government borrowed less in November than a year earlier, a sign that it may be making progress in its effort to contain a rise in debt that has worried bond investors and prompted a fresh round of tax rises. (Wall Street Journal)