German news tonight

Here are some of the top news stories from Germany tonight:

Coronavirus:

• Germany has reported a significant increase in new COVID-19 cases, with over 10,000 new infections in the past 24 hours. The country's seven-day incidence rate has risen to 45.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
• The German government has announced plans to introduce stricter measures to combat the spread of the virus, including mandatory mask-wearing in public places and increased testing.

Economy:

• Germany's economy has contracted by 0.2% in the second quarter of the year, according to preliminary data from the Federal Statistical Office. This is the first contraction since the global financial crisis in 2009.
• The German government has announced plans to introduce a new stimulus package to boost the economy, including measures to support small businesses and invest in infrastructure.

Politics:

• Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced that she will not seek re-election as leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party. Merkel has been the party's leader since 2000 and has been Chancellor of Germany since 2005.
• The German government has announced plans to introduce a new law to combat hate speech and online harassment. The law would require social media companies to remove hate speech and harassment from their platforms within 24 hours.

Other news:

• A major fire has broken out at a chemical plant in the city of Ludwigshafen, causing widespread damage and forcing the evacuation of nearby residents.
• The German football team has qualified for the knockout stages of the European Championship, defeating France 1-0 in their final group match.