Headlines in Germany today include higher than planned CO2 emissions, plans to ramp up civil defense measures, and Chancellor Merz meeting euroskeptic Bulgarian Premier Rumen Radev. DW has more.
The cut in oil supply affects many sectors, including the aviation branch.
DW has this video exploring the issues surrounding the refinery and its options for opening up new supplies.
Russia reduces jet fuel flow to Berlin airport To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video https://p.dw.com/p/5Du7A Skip next section Germany likely to miss 2030 climate goals, says independent panel 05/18/2026 May 18, 2026 Germany likely to miss 2030 climate goals, says independent panel An independent climate advisory body has contradicted findings by the government's main climate authority showing Germany largely on track to meet its 2030 climate goals, saying the country will likely emit more CO2 than previously thought.
The Council of Experts on Climate Change believes Germany could overshoot its CO2 emissions projections by up to 100 million metric tons (110 US tons).
That compares with the government's Environment Agency's prediction of a possible overshoot of just 4.5 million tons.
Germany has set itself the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 65% from 1990 levels by 2030 and to be climate neutral by 2045.
So far, the reduction is about 48%.
In March, the government put forward an €8 billion ($9.3 billion) plan to fund a range of climate measures, including expanding wind power and boosting sales of electric vehicles.
But the council's chair, Barbara Schlomann, said it believed "the program's actual reduction effect is likely to be significantly lower than assumed by the German government." The Council of Experts on Climate Change is an independent scientific advisory panel established in September 2020 to monitor German climate policy.
The federal government must finally act," Peter Höfgen, PETA's specialist adviser on wild animals, told the dpa news agency.
He told the agency the incident showed that keeping dangerous wild animals in private ownership or mobile operations was not safe enough.
Höfgen pointed out that private ownership of tigers and lions remained legal in several German states.
He also said that PETA had repeatedly warned authorities about deficiencies at the facility from which the tiger made its escape.
The animal, which belonged to a well-known circus performer, was shot dead by police shortly after it broke out from its enclosure.
Radev will be welcomed with military honors at the chancellery before the two leaders hold talks on issues including bilateral relations and European and international security policy.
A joint press conference is planned for 6 p.m. local time (1600 GMT).
Radev, a former Bulgarian president , won an absolute majority of 44.7% in April parliamentary elections in his country and was inaugurated as prime minister last week.
His victory came on the back of pledges to fight corruption.
Radev is, however, also known for his euroskeptic and pro-Russian stance.
"We are strengthening population protection and civil defense," Dobrindt told the mass-circulation Bild newspaper in comments published on Monday.
The Bavarian conservative politician also said Germany was shoring up its response capabilities in the face of hybrid threats and increasing support for volunteer emergency workers.
He said there would be tighter integration of military and civilian defense structures to enhance security and resilience.
The newspaper reported that the planned program would be worth €10 billion ($11.6 billion), citing a Cabinet draft.
The funds would be used for additional equipment, buildings, personnel and technology, including for the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW).
You join us as the German chancellor is set to hold talks with newly-elected Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev.
The meeting might well hold some diplomatic challenges for the German leader, as Radev is known for his euroskeptic, pro-Russian stance, one very much opposed to that advocated by Germany.
A tiger that escaped from a private facility near Leipzig, badly injuring a handler in the process, made for sensational headlines on Sunday.
But the incident has led a prominent animal rights group to call on the government to tighten rules on holding such wild animals, which it says are much too lax in Germany.
You can find out more about these and other stories in our blog. Happy reading!
