Germany’s economy slips into recession as consumers hold back

<p>From the BBC World Service: A recession is commonly defined as the economy shrinking in two successive quarters — that&#8217;s just what&#8217;s happened to Germany, mainly because higher energy prices have hit household budgets and that&#8217;s put the brakes on spending. It&#8217;s Europe&#8217;s biggest economy, so what&#8217;s the wider impact? Plus, the International Monetary Fund has approved a multi-billion dollar loan for Ivory Coast. And, we hear from rural Spain where a plan is being considered to help subsidize bars in depopulated areas which have become vital community hubs in a country where 90% of the population lives in urban areas.</p>