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The World in Brief from The Economist

A loan for Ukraine; TikTok’s American deal, and more

The World in Brief from The Economist

The Economist

Global News, Daily News, News, News & Politics

4.11.2K Ratings

🗓️ 19 December 2025

⏱️ 5 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

European Union leaders reached a deal to loan Ukraine €90bn ($106bn) for the next two years, after marathon talks in Brussels.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

Hello, you're listening to the free edition of the world in brief from The Economist.

0:11.2

As a reminder, if you subscribe to The Economist, you'll get access to a deeper look at the day ahead, updated three times a day.

0:20.1

If you're already an Economist subscriber,

0:22.6

visit Economist.com slash espresso

0:25.1

or visit our Espresso app to start listening.

0:28.7

Here's today's free edition.

0:35.2

This is the world in brief from The Economist.

0:42.0

Our top stories.

0:45.2

European Union leaders reached a deal to loan Ukraine 90 billion euros or 106 billion dollars for the next two years after marathon talks in Brussels.

0:57.1

The bloc will raise joint debt backed by its budget.

1:00.9

Ukraine will only return the funds once Russia pays reparations.

1:05.5

EU leaders said they would continue to discuss a plan to use frozen Russian assets to support the embattled

1:12.7

country. After years of wrangling, TikTok's Chinese owner, Bight Dance, signed binding agreements

1:20.8

with three American investors led by Oracle to sell just over 80% of its American assets. That will enable the social media app to continue

1:30.7

operating in America. The deal will create a joint venture governed by a, quote, majority

1:37.0

American board, which will enable America to control data protection and algorithm security

1:43.3

in the country.

1:46.1

America's annual inflation rate was lower than expected in November, at 2.7%.

1:52.0

Economists had forecast a rate of around 3%.

1:55.7

Meanwhile, the core rate, which strips out volatile energy and food prices, was 2.6%, the lowest level since

2:03.8

2021. Analysts warned, however, that the figures may have been affected by the government

2:09.7

shutdown between October 1st and November 12th, which disrupted data collection.

...

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