A tiger escaped from a private facility near Leipzig in eastern Germany on Sunday, seriously injuring a 73-year-old man. Police shot and killed the animal.

Animal rights group PETA has called for stricter regulations on keeping dangerous wild animals. Peter Höfgen, PETA's specialist adviser on wild animals, told dpa that private ownership or mobile operations are not safe enough.

Höfgen noted that private ownership of tigers and lions remains legal in several German states. PETA had repeatedly warned authorities about deficiencies at the facility from which the tiger escaped.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hosted newly appointed Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev in Berlin on Monday. Radev, known for his euroskeptic and pro-Russian stance, won an absolute majority in April's parliamentary elections.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced a €10 billion ($11.6 billion) program to strengthen civil defense. The funds will be used for additional equipment, buildings, personnel, and technology, including for the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW).

Dobrindt said Germany is enhancing response capabilities against hybrid threats and integrating military and civilian defense structures to improve security and resilience.

Source: www.dw.com