Here’s your quick update on what’s happening around the city on Monday, January 05 - from urgent alerts to stories in the subreddit. Today we went through 182 sources so you don't have to.

🎟️ Today's brief is supported by Berlin Events Weekly. They curate the city’s best culture and nightlife, so you don't waste time with bad events.

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🔌 Sabotage Cuts Power to Thousands in Berlin

A far-left activist organization known as the "Volcano Group" claimed responsibility for an arson attack on a high-voltage cable bridge in Berlin on Saturday. The sabotage cut electricity to approximately 50,000 households and 2,000 businesses, primarily in the city's southwest districts. The perpetrators stated their goal was to target the fossil fuel industry, specifically the Lichterfelde gas-fired power plant. (The New York Sun)

The blackout left tens of thousands of residents without heating during freezing temperatures and snowfall. While grid operator Stromnetz Berlin restored power to about 10,000 customers by Sunday morning, full restoration for the remaining 30,000 households is not expected until Thursday afternoon. Local officials opened emergency shelters in gymnasiums and deployed warming buses to assist vulnerable elderly and disabled residents. (Berliner Kurier)

Security authorities authenticated a letter from the group titled "Cutting off the Power to the Rulers." The text justified the arson as "self-defense" against climate change and expressed limited sympathy for villa owners in the wealthy affected districts. This attack follows a similar pattern to a March 2024 arson by a related "Volcano" cell that targeted a Tesla Gigafactory, halting production for days and causing significant financial losses. (Yahoo)

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🧊 Germany Faces -20°C Frosts

Germany is facing a severe cold snap affecting all 400 districts, with extreme conditions expected to last through the weekend of January 10. Temperatures will drop significantly nationwide, reaching lows between -15°C and -20°C in snowy regions where ground heat cannot escape. Even during the day, many areas will remain in a deep freeze with highs barely rising above -5°C. (Merkur)

The weather has already caused chaos on the roads, particularly in Berlin and Brandenburg where police reported around 115 weather-related accidents by Sunday. Key incidents included a gas truck crash that blocked the A9 motorway and a multi-vehicle collision on the A10 that left two people seriously injured. The A100 city highway in Berlin was also forced to close for several hours due to dangerous ice buildup. (rbb24)

Meteorological conditions are driven by a low-pressure system over the Baltic Sea pushing polar air into the capital region. Forecasters expect continued snow and graupel showers with fresh accumulations of one to three centimeters. Nighttime temperatures in Berlin will slide to -5°C early in the week before plunging to -10°C or even -12°C by Wednesday. (Berliner Morgenpost)

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⚡ Quick Hits

🇬🇧 Flight Cancellations and Delays Amid Heavy Snow | Heavy snow and low visibility have snarled air travel across Germany, with 69 cancellations and 1,222 delays. Berlin saw 16 cancellations. Frankfurt logged 337 delays, which could ripple through European schedules.

🇩🇪 This is what you can do in the event of a power outage | The outage hit tens of thousands and shut supermarkets, traffic lights, and transit. Germany’s civil protection office urges basic supplies, including 20 liters of water per person and battery or solar-powered lighting.

🇩🇪 State elections 2026 in Germany: How citizens would vote (as of January 4, 2026) | Five state elections in 2026 could redraw power in Germany. Polls show AfD surging, even leading in Sachsen-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Longtime leaders step aside. Several current coalitions would lose majorities.

🇩🇪 Berlin’s mayor under pressure after blackout | An alleged sabotage hit a cable bridge near a Berlin power plant, cutting electricity to 45,000 households in freezing weather. Mayor Kai Wegner faced backlash for visiting late and relying on X updates.

🇬🇧 Ryanair Slashes Flights to Berlin in 2026 | Ryanair plans to drop routes from several airports in 2026, citing higher fees and taxes. Belgium’s departing passenger levy now hits €10. Travelers may face higher fares, and regional tourism could weaken.

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📅 Events Today

🎟️ Martini Hour | January 05 | 16:00 - 01:30 | Free | Three-hour daily happy hour dedicated to mixed classic and inventive martinis. It pairs smooth cocktails with fine music and a relaxed crowd for perfect after-work unwinding.

🎟️ Life Drawing for Beginners | January 05 | 19:00 - 22:00 | 30.00€ | A relaxed, guided life-drawing class led by a professional artist. You will receive personalised feedback and learn the basics of nude drawing.

🎟️ Berlin Stand-Up Show x Wir Arbeiten Dran: New Jokes from Berlin's Best Comedians | January 05 | 20:00 - 22:00 | 10.00 € - 17.00 € | Top local comedians test fresh material.

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💬 What Berliners Are Talking About

🗣️ Linksradikale bekennen dich zum Anschlag auf das Stromnetz | Outrage and disbelief as claimed leftist sabotage exposes fragile Berlin power infrastructure.

🗣️ Why is the sale of narcotics tolerated in places like Görlitzer Park and Kotbusser Tor? | Debate centers on containment, limited resources, prosecution difficulties, and political tradeoffs.

🗣️ Nullinfo bei BVG und im Bahnverkehr | Berlin transit riders frustrated by poor, inconsistent communication and makeshift workarounds.

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🌼 Fun Fact: Berlin has a unique gardening culture – there are 880 allotment colonies with over 71,000 Schrebergärten (little garden plots) where city-dwellers grow veggies and relax on weekends. These green colonies dot many Berlin neighborhoods.

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

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