Here’s your quick update on Friday, February 27 - from urgent alerts to stories in the subreddit. Today we went through 189 sources so you don't have to.

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💵 Germany Approves €540M Attack Drone Order

Germany’s parliamentary budget committee has approved an initial €540 million order for thousands of attack drones, often called “kamikaze drones,” from domestic startups Helsing and Stark Defence. The defense ministry had originally proposed a long-term €4.3 billion framework, but lawmakers limited the contract to €2 billion to keep closer control over spending. (Reuters)

These drones are designed to circle above a target before striking and are expected to equip the Bundeswehr’s 45th Tank Brigade in Lithuania by 2027. The contract also includes an “innovation clause,” which requires continuous software updates. Unit costs are estimated at around €44,000 for Helsing’s drones and €80,000 for Stark Defence’s models. (Euractiv)

The purchase marks a broader shift toward venture-backed defense technology as Germany moves to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank in response to the Russian threat. Some lawmakers raised concerns about Stark investor Peter Thiel, but Defense Minister Boris Pistorius defended the deal, saying the US billionaire holds a non-voting stake of less than 10% and has no operational access. (Resilience Media)

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🗳️ Far-Right AfD Polls Second in Berlin

A new INSA poll indicates the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has climbed to second place in Berlin roughly seven months before state elections. The survey places the Christian Democrats (CDU) in the lead with 22%, followed by the AfD at 17% and the Social Democrats (SPD) at 16%. (Yahoo)

The current polling numbers suggest the governing coalition of CDU and SPD would lose its majority, holding only 38% of the vote combined. In the 2023 repeat election, the CDU won decisively with 28.2% while the AfD garnered just 9.1%, meaning the right-wing party has nearly doubled its support since then. (Tagesspiegel)

The Free Democrats (FDP) and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) are polling at 4%. This is below the threshold to enter parliament so seats would likely be redistributed. This shift makes a three-way left-wing alliance of the SPD, Greens, and The Left mathematically possible, potentially allowing them to form a government without the conservatives. (Berliner Morgenpost)

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📞 Phone Scams Cost Seniors €400,000

Berlin police have recorded approximately 20 cases of fraudulent "shock calls" conducted in Russian since the beginning of the year. Authorities report that scammers have stolen roughly €400,000 from victims within just a few weeks through these targeted telephone attacks. The perpetrators specifically focus their efforts on elderly residents who speak the language. (Berliner Morgenpost)

Criminals utilize a specific script where a weeping caller pretends to be a relative who caused a fatal traffic accident. A second person posing as a police officer then demands an immediate cash bail payment to prevent imprisonment. This method recently entrapped an 84-year-old man in the Spandau district who handed money to a courier. (Ntv)

Law enforcement officials emphasize that genuine officers never request cash or valuables over the phone under any circumstances. Authorities urge residents to remain suspicious of such demands and to contact family members directly using known numbers to verify claims. The frequency of these attempts remains high as investigators warn the public about the varying tactics. (Nordkurier)

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⚡ Quick Hits

🇩🇪 BVG strike in Berlin | Buses, trams, and U-Bahn services stop from Friday at 3 AM until Sunday at 3 AM. The S-Bahn and regional trains are not affected. These buses are still scheduled to run: 106, 114, 118, 124, 133, 161, 175, 184, 204, 234, 275, 316, 318, 326, 363.

🇩🇪 This is the new S-Bahn line for Berlin | The new S15 line begins service on March 30, 2026. It connects Hauptbahnhof and Gesundbrunnen with a six-minute travel time. Trains run every 10 minutes during peak hours and stop at Wedding.

🇩🇪 Salmonella in sausages: Manufacturer launches recall in Berlin and Brandenburg | This applies to breakfast sausages sold at Penny markets. Do not eat them. You can return the product to the store for a full refund without a receipt.

🇩🇪 The U9 will soon be running again – the start date is here | Full service resumes on Monday, March 2. Trains run between Osloer Straße and Rathaus Steglitz. Schloßstraße station is open in both directions.

🇩🇪 Berlin's Bürgeramt now comes with a cargo bike | Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg’s KiezBike delivers mobile Bürgeramt services by e-cargo bike. Residents can apply for IDs and passports without appointments at rotating neighborhood spots using portable office equipment.

🇩🇪 Cheaper than Lap Coffee – this Chinese chain wants to conquer Germany | Cotti Coffee now operates seven locations in Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Hamburg. You must order via a smartphone QR scan. An espresso costs €0.99.

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📅 Events Today

🎟️ Georgian Film Festival | February 26 - March 4, 2026 | €9 | Contemporary and classic works from Georgia, exploring life in the Caucasus after the Soviet collapse and recent regional conflicts.

🎟️ This weekend: Open Day at the Berlin Cathedral | February 28, 2026 | Free | This open day offers access to the cathedral’s interior, including guided glimpses behind the altar screen, the emperor’s gallery and the freshly renovated royal crypt.

🎟️ This weekend: Dark Market | March 01, 2026 | Free | An indoor and outdoor market focused on gothic fashion, records, books, art, jewelry and more.

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💬 What Berliners Are Talking About

🗣️ Seriously whats up with kleinanzeigen | Users discuss how used GPUs on Kleinanzeigen attract heavy scamming and hacked accounts.

🗣️ Has anyone here paid the USC subscription fee of 75 euros or more? Do you get your money's worth? | Users debate whether USC’s pricey subscription pays off given attendance, flexibility, and health limits.

🗣️ Ostkreuz electromagnetic disturbances | Commuters report wireless headphone interference at Ostkreuz, likely caused by dense signals, high-voltage equipment, or antennas.

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📊 Chart of the Day

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🦆 Word of the Day: Quietscheentchen | Literal: Squeaky-duck-let | Meaning: A rubber ducky. | Example: Das Baby spielt in der Badewanne mit seinem Quietscheentchen. (The baby is playing in the bathtub with his squeaky-duck-let.)

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👋 That's a wrap! Thank you for reading.

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