☀️ Guten Morgen, Berlin!
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Sunrise: 8:13 AM | Sunset: 3:53 PM
Here’s your quick update on what’s happening around the city on Friday, December 19 - from urgent alerts to stories in the subreddit. Today we went through 194 sources so you don't have to.
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🚨 Berlin Deploys 5,500 Personnel for Tense New Year's Eve
Berlin authorities are preparing for a challenging New Year's Eve, deploying around 4,000 police officers and 1,500 firefighters. Four designated zones, including Alexanderplatz and Sonnenallee, will enforce a ban on fireworks, knives, and weapons. Police have already seized 140,000 illegal pyrotechnics, over two-thirds of which are dangerous F4 category items like sphere bombs. (rbb24.de)
German law classifies fireworks into categories based on hazard level. F1 items are low-risk and available to those over 12. F2 fireworks, such as rockets and firecrackers, are for adults. Categories F3 and F4, however, present a medium to high hazard and are legally restricted to licensed professionals due to their significant explosive power and danger. (Zoll)
Despite the risks, fireworks remain a significant economic activity in Germany. For the New Year's 2024/2025 celebration, the German pyrotechnic industry reported a total revenue of approximately €197 million. This figure represents a 10% increase from the previous year, indicating a sustained and growing consumer demand for celebratory pyrotechnics. (Verband der pyrotechnischen Industrie)
⚡ Quick Hits
🇩🇪 Deutschlandticket no longer valid for long-distance trains in Berlin | The special deal let regional travelers use high‑speed ICE and IC trains in Berlin and Brandenburg with the €49 Deutschlandticket. Ridership surged and trains between Elsterwerda and Berlin became regularly overcrowded. Deutsche Bahn ended its contract with the regional transport group VBB after states refused higher cost sharing. Similar deals still exist on some routes elsewhere.
🇩🇪 End of free medical cannabis? | German imports of medical cannabis rose more than 400% in early 2025, while prescriptions covered by public insurers grew only 9%. The government blames easy private online prescriptions and app-based mail delivery. A new bill would require at least one in-person doctor visit per year, restrict telemedicine use, and ban postal shipping of cannabis medicines.
🇬🇧 Tesla Plans 8 GWh of Battery Production at Giga Berlin by 2027 | Tesla will invest about €100 million to add on-site battery cell production at its Giga Berlin plant, targeting 8 GWh of annual capacity by 2027. The move supports vertical integration and supply chain security but comes despite Tesla warning that cell manufacturing in Europe currently struggles to compete with China and the US on costs.
🇩🇪 First case of Mpox variant Ib detected in Berlin | Berlin has reported 186 Mpox cases this year, twice as many as in the previous two years combined. Almost all patients are men, mostly with sexual contacts with men. Officials confirmed the city’s first case of the Ib variant but see no evidence of more severe illness. Experts urge vaccination of at-risk groups and continued surveillance.
🇩🇪 BVG increases ticket controls | The transit operator reports yearly losses of 20 to 25 million euros from riders without valid tickets, a figure that is slowly rising. Passenger groups largely support more checks but criticize harsh penalties when technical issues block proof of valid tickets. The S-Bahn, which is run by Deutsche Bahn, keeps controls stable at about 11 million checks per year.
🇩🇪 Opposition rages against record debt in Berlin budget | Opposition parties attack the draft budget for record new debt of about 4 billion euros in 2026 and 3.9 billion euros in 2027. The government argues the money funds overdue infrastructure, security, and social spending. Total spending rises to roughly 46.5 billion euros, with investments topping 6 billion euros per year for the first time.
🇩🇪 Why electricity is so expensive in Germany | German households now pay about 40 cents per kilowatt-hour, far above the EU average of 28 cents. The article argues generation costs are not the main driver. Network fees, taxes, and political choices push prices up. Experts call for dynamic grid charges, regional price zones, and more local renewables to cut costs sustainably.
🇩🇪 Neukölln district office has to free tree from dozens of syringes | District staff removed dozens of suspected drug syringes that had been stuck high into tree trunks in Berlin’s Hasenheide park. Officials suspect deliberate action rather than careless disposal. The incident highlights Neukölln’s broader struggle with scattered drug use sites. The district has installed special syringe disposal boxes in parks to reduce infection risks and protect the public.
📅 Events Today
🎟️ Christmas Market on Bölschestraße | December 19 - 21, 2025 | Free | Sweets, mulled wine and a contemplative atmosphere with Christmas carols ensure the physical and mental well-being at winter gift shopping.
🎟️ Christmas Market at KaDeWe | November 24, 2025 - 01 January, 2026 | White pagoda tents create a festive oasis. Shoppers discover artisanal gifts (and seasonal treats). Celebrities collect donations for local charities.
🎟️ This weekend: Merry Markthalle | December 21, 2025 | Free | An indoor market fills a hall with artisanal gifts and quirky finds. Local producers serve high-quality treats.
💬 What Berliners Are Talking About
🗣️ Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg is starting to fight the abuse of "furnished apartments! | Local district cracks down on pricey furnished short-term rentals, prompting legal debate.
🗣️ Avoiding double rent during notice period, possible options? | Tenant trapped paying two rents while landlord refuses sublet or early exit.
🗣️ Wohnunglos registration? | Wondering if registering as homeless needs a Bürgeramt appointment or can be done online.
🙂 The Bright Side of Berlin
Today’s story comes from reader Michael S., who experienced a heartwarming gesture from a neighbor:
"While walking our new young dog, a neighbor from another building saw us and offered us his old carriers, since his dog had outgrown them. He came over later and simply gave us two brand-new carriers for free."
We are collecting stories of positivity, generosity, and unexpected kindness across the city. Tell us what you saw!
🤝 Word of the Day: Freundschaftsbezeigungen | Literal: Friendship-showings | Meaning: Demonstrations of friendship. | Example: Geschenke sind eine Form von Freundschaftsbezeigungen. (Gifts are a form of friendship-showings.)
👋 That's a wrap! Thank you for reading.
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