Headlines in Germany today include Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announcing plans to ramp up civil defense measures, and Chancellor Merz meeting euroskeptic Bulgarian Premier Rumen Radev. DW has more.
"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!
