☀️ Guten Morgen, Berlin!
High: -4.2°C | Low: -7.6°C
Chance of Rain: 65%
Sunrise: 8:14 AM | Sunset: 4:12 PM
Here’s your quick update on what’s happening around the city on Friday, January 09 - from urgent alerts to stories in the subreddit. Today we went through 183 sources so you don't have to.
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📢 Unions Announce Two-Day Public Sector Strikes
Major trade unions have called for public sector warning strikes in Berlin and Brandenburg on January 14 and 15. Verdi, GEW, GdP, and IG Bau are mobilizing employees in schools, universities, police stations, and fire departments. While school staff will walk out on Wednesday, university and daycare centers face disruptions on both days. (rbb24)
These actions are timed to coincide with the second round of collective bargaining in Potsdam on January 15 and 16. The unions are demanding a salary increase of seven percent for state employees, with a minimum raise of 300 euros for lower wage groups. They also want the new contract to last twelve months. (Berliner Morgenpost)
Past participation figures suggest significant local impact. During a similar action in December, 18 state-run daycares closed completely while 90 others reduced operations. Roughly 1,000 teachers participated last month, though about 12,000 of Berlin’s 35,000 teachers hold civil servant status and are legally prohibited from striking. (Tagesspiegel)
🌨️ Storm Elli Brings Extreme Winter Weather
Storm "Elli" is approaching Berlin and Brandenburg, bringing severe winter conditions that officials have classified as an "extreme situation" for Friday. The German Weather Service forecasts up to 15 centimeters of fresh snow, strong easterly winds, and freezing rain. Residents are urged to stay indoors, as wind gusts up to 60 kilometers per hour may cause dangerous snowdrifts. (rbb24)
Transport infrastructure is bracing for significant disruptions throughout the region. Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) warned passengers to expect flight delays and cancellations due to the massive winter onset. Meanwhile, Deutsche Bahn has cancelled some regional connections and reduced high-speed train velocities, while the local BVG transit authority activated switch heaters to keep the metro system running despite the freeze. (berlin.de)
Public life is slowing down as institutions prioritize safety. Berlin and Brandenburg authorities suspended compulsory school attendance for Friday, allowing parents to decide whether to keep children home. Additionally, the Berlin Zoo and Tierpark announced they will remain closed to protect both animals and visitors from falling branches, a risk exacerbated by the heavy snow load on old trees. (Tagesspiegel)
🔦 Berlin Power Restored Amid New Grid Threats
Power was fully restored to nearly 50,000 households in Berlin following a suspected arson attack on high-voltage cables that plunged the city’s southwest into darkness for five days. Authorities confirmed the sabotage, which left residents without heat during freezing temperatures, finally ended Wednesday afternoon after extensive repairs were completed by grid technicians. (The Express Tribune)
A far-left extremist network known as the "Volcano Group" claimed responsibility for the arson, citing environmental motives and opposition to fossil fuels. However, investigators face conflicting narratives after a separate faction claiming to be the original founders publicly disavowed the attack, stating they ceased operations years ago to avoid harming civilians. (Berliner Kurier)
As insurers begin processing claims for spoiled food and frozen pipes, security officials are analyzing a new threat targeting East Berlin’s Marzahn district. While the initial blackout has concluded, authorities remain on high alert regarding critical infrastructure, warning that the "Volcano Group" label is likely used loosely by independent anarchist cells. (Berliner Zeitung)
⚡ Quick Hits
🇩🇪 Curious cell-broadcast alert: Power back at 11 a.m. | Berlin sent a citywide cell-broadcast alert ahead of restoring power in the southwest. The preset “extreme danger” wording confused many. Officials urged low electricity use to avoid brief outages and grid overload.
🇩🇪 The last lead pipes for drinking water must now disappear | Lead is toxic and builds up in the body, especially for children and pregnant people. A 2023 rule requires replacing or shutting lead pipes by 12 January 2026. Estimates suggest 2,400 Berlin buildings still contain them.
🇩🇪 Berlin city mission warns: “Many homeless people have already frozen to death” | Aid groups warn that freezing nights can quickly turn deadly for Berlin’s 6,000 homeless residents. Night shelters often fill by midnight, but 80 more emergency beds open next week.
🇬🇧 Why Germany struggles to fight financial crime | Germany has about 1 million uninvestigated cases and 2,000 too few prosecutors, judges say. Experts also blame weak training and fragmented oversight (300-plus regulators). Some high-profile fraud cases (CumEx) cost Germany an estimated €30B.
🇩🇪 Road salt remains taboo in Berlin | Berlin cannot copy Hamburg’s two-week salt exemption because state law bans it on sidewalks. Residents must use sand or grit as temperatures could hit minus 14. Fines for uncleared paths can reach €10,000.
📅 Events Today
🎟️ Days of Dance Berlin | January 08 - 24, 2026 | €15, concessions €10 | A contemporary dance festival spotlights young choreographers. Performances mix dance, visual art and music.
🎟️ This weekend: Christmas Tree Tossing Championship | January 10, 2026 | Free | Competitors fling discarded Christmas trees for distance to win vouchers and prizes.
🎟️ This weekend: Ice Carnival of the Berliner Seehunde | January 10, 2026 | Free | A traditional carnival where costumed swimmers go into the freezing water. Spectators can enjoy snacks and drinks.
💬 What Berliners Are Talking About
🗣️ Winter Weather Tips! | Practical, calming winter survival tips for Berliners, sparking helpful and funny responses.
🗣️ PSA: U- and S-Bahn trains have buttons to close the doors from the inside in cold weather | Practical PSA sparks tips on using door buttons and mixed transit complaints.
🗣️ PSA: Please take extra care around trams at the moment | Cold-weather safety warning about tram hazards.
🧮 Word of the Day: Erbsenzähler | Literal: Pea-counter | Meaning: A nitpicker; someone overly meticulous about tiny details. | Example: Unser Buchhalter ist so ein Erbsenzähler, er bemerkt jeden einzelnen Cent. (Our accountant is such a pea-counter, he notices every single cent.)
👋 That's a wrap! Thank you for reading.
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