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Here’s your quick update on what’s happening around the city on Friday, November 21 - from urgent alerts to stories in the subreddit. Today we went through 141 sources so you don't have to.
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🇩🇪 Terror threats against schools on Sunday
Berlin experienced a wave of terror panic on Sunday and Monday after a YouTuber spread an unverified claim about planned attacks on 20 schools. Instead of alerting police and waiting for clarification, he shared the rumor publicly, triggering citywide anxiety and highlighting how emotional reactions and online reach can amplify false information. (Tagesspiegel)
The incident comes amid growing concern about disinformation and social media in Germany. The latest D21-Digital-Index reports that only 49% of Germans have at least basic digital skills, far below the EU target of 80% by 2030, despite more than 80% being able to search for information online. (Initiative D21)
This incident underscores how an open information society depends on citizens to stay calm and check implausible claims before sharing them. That requires both personal judgment and systemic support. In a recent survey, 89.9% of Germans said fake news threatens democracy and freedom, and 65.1% see social platforms as mainly responsible for combating it. (IU Internationale Hochschule)
🇩🇪 Görlitzer Park in Berlin: Acting without labeling
Activists from the initiative Görli 24/7 have accused an anonymous security team with aggressive dogs of patrolling Berlin’s Görlitzer Park since late October. They say at least one visitor was bitten. The Senate says state company Grün Berlin hired the guards to protect the controversial new fence construction after a turnstile theft, and that work continues as planned. (taz)
Görlitzer Park is officially classified by Berlin police as a “crime‑ridden area.” From 2021 to August 2023, officers recorded around 4,100 offences there, roughly as many as in all other city parks combined. In 2022 alone, police logged 1,567 crimes, including about 700 drug trafficking cases and nearly 90 robberies. (Wikipedia)
The Görlitzer Park dispute shows how security outsourcing can blur legal responsibility and public accountability. It also illustrates a wider German trend toward more private guarding of public places. In January 2025, official data showed nearly 290,000 people employed in Germany’s private security industry, with steady annual growth linked to rising safety concerns. (Euro Security)
🇩🇪 Charging as easy as refueling: New plan from the German government
The German federal government has adopted a “Charging Infrastructure Master Plan 2030” that aims to make charging an electric car as simple as refuelling. The plan targets easier payment processes, greater price transparency, and clearer rules for public charging. It also foresees funding for chargers in multi-party buildings and depots, subject to tight budget conditions. (heise online)
Germany’s charging network has grown rapidly but coverage and capacity remain uneven. A VDA industry ranking found that on 1 July 2025 about 2.88 million electric and plug‑in hybrid cars shared 172,150 public chargers, or 16.7 vehicles per point, with 32 % of German municipalities lacking any public charger. The association warns that slow build‑out undermines confidence in everyday e‑mobility. (VDA)
The initiative shows that Germany sees consumer trust as crucial for its climate transport goals. A survey for the federal consumer association found that 84 % of respondents consider transparent, uniform public charging prices decisive for switching to electric mobility. (Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband)
⚡ Quick Hits
🇬🇧 Cappuccino for €2.50? Affordable café chain LAP divides Berlin over coffee prices | LAP’s rock-bottom prices undercut Berlin’s €4–€6 coffees, alarming some independents and inspiring activist attacks. Supporters argue the 24-store chain targets different customers and barely dents a 2,000+ café market.
🇩🇪 Minus 5 degrees and first snow in Berlin & Brandenburg: it can snow and become slippery here | Polar air brings a mix of rain, snow and sleet across the region. Night temperatures drop to minus 5 degrees. Authorities warn of black ice on roads and pavements.
🇩🇪 Berlin office revokes naturalization - man allegedly celebrated Hamas on Instagram | Officials see the Instagram post as deception under new citizenship rules requiring support for democracy and protection of Jewish life. The man can appeal. His case could influence future denaturalisation decisions.
🇩🇪 Berlin & Brandenburg: Christmas market at Gedächtniskirche increases security | Security is tightened after the Magdeburg car attack. Police add mobile patrols, video monitoring and a knife ban. Private guards cost organizers about €180,000 for the season.
📅 Events Today
🎟️ Black International Cinema | November 21 - 23, 2025 | Free | The festival showcases films, talks, performances and an art exhibition. It makes unseen faces visible and amplifies unheard voices. You will discover bold stories and fresh cinematic perspectives.
🎟️ Winter Dream in Niederschöneweide | November 07 to December 28, 2025 | Free | A winter carnival mixes Ferris wheel romance, carousels for kids and adrenaline rides. Food stalls and mulled wine keep cheeks rosy.
🎟️ Christmas at the Tierpark | November 21, 2025 - January 10, 2026 | From €15,90 | A two-kilometre trail glows with 30 light sculptures. Trees and water sparkle with choreographed shows. Families discover a poetic fire garden and a nostalgic steam carousel (plus seasonal treats).
💬 What Berliners Are Talking About
🗣️ What’s a bad stereotype about Berlin/Germany that you’ve never actually seen happen while living here? | Locals dispute Berlin clichés—German stare, rudeness, smell, and care aren't universal.
🗣️ Kurzreise nach Berlin. Ideen für einen "alternativen" und "underground" Besuch? | A French couple asks for offbeat Berlin spots and advice for Berghain.
🗣️ Why doesn't the BER have any good restaurants / food options? | Frequent travelers roast BER's tired, overpriced food options and plead for better choices.
🚴 Word of the Day: Radfahrer | Literal: Cyclist | Meaning: A sycophant; someone who is deferential to superiors but harsh to subordinates. | Example: Im Büro ist er ein typischer Radfahrer: freundlich zum Chef, unhöflich zum Team. (In the office, he is a typical cyclist: friendly to the boss, rude to the team.)
👋 That's a wrap! Thank you for reading.
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