Your morning briefing, the business news you need in just 15 minutes. On today's podcast:

(1) Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz will submit to a parliamentary vote of confidence today, which he intends to lose, triggering an early election on the 23rd of February. The country's economy is now 5% smaller than it would have been if the pre-pandemic growth trend had been maintained. (2) France’s Prime Minister Francois Bayrou will meet with far-right leader Marine Le Pen on Monday, kicking off an effort to form a government that can push a budget through a divided Parliament. (3) UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves is resisting calls from English mayors to extend their revenue-raising abilities, an awkward clash that comes as her government launches its plan to extend more powers to local leaders. (4) French TV network Canal+ is set to become the largest listing on London's stock market in two years. Analysts expect the company will float with a 5 billion pound valuation when the market opens. (5) China’s retail sales growth unexpectedly weakened in November despite signs of improvement in the housing market, highlighting the urgency for Beijing to further encourage residents to spend..

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