Chancellor Angela Merkel promised prompt financial support for rebuilding efforts as she said rebuilding regions hit by flooding will be a long process. Merkel visited devastated regions with Armin Laschet, the state leader poised to succeed her after the September election. The two toured Bad Muenstereifel, a town near Bonn in Germany’s Rhine valley that was ravaged by flooding last week. “Reconstruction will take a long time,” Merkel said on Tuesday, adding that her cabinet will meet Wednesday to approve immediate assistance and kick start the recovery. Her government has also vowed to upgrade the country’s ... (full story)