Monday's top story: Man held on suspicion of planning terror attack in Berlin
Berlin authorities are continuing investigations following the arrest of a 22-year-old Syrian man suspected of plotting a jihadist-motivated bombing.
The man was detained on Saturday after special units raided three properties in the districts of Neukölln and Köpenick, seizing electronic storage devices and components believed suitable for building an explosive or incendiary device.
He is now in pre-trial detention on charges of preparing a serious act of violence endangering the state.
Prosecutors said the suspect had shared propaganda from the Islamic State (IS) on social media, including songs and hymns encouraging jihad. However, the exact target and level of planning remain unclear. Speculation about a potential attack on a Berlin Christmas market has not been confirmed.
The next step will be to evaluate the electronic storage media and other evidence seized during searches at three addresses in the capital, said Michael Petzold, spokesman for the Berlin public prosecutor's office.
READ ALSO: Germany arrests man suspected of plotting attack
One in three companies plans to cut jobs in 2026
One in three German companies plans to cut jobs in 2026, according to a new economic survey published by the German Economic Institute (IW) on Sunday.
After a brief recovery in spring 2025, the economic mood has worsened again with 36 percent of the companies surveyed planning to cut jobs next year, the survey found. Only 18 percent are creating new jobs.
The outlook is particularly bleak in industrial firms, where 41 percent of the companies surveyed want to cut jobs, while only about one in seven expect to create new ones.
Investments are also likely to decline: only 23 percent of companies plan to invest more in the coming year than in 2025, while 33 percent intend to invest less.
"Job cuts instead of an economic turnaround: Companies are suffering from the high level of geopolitical stress," IW economic expert Michael Grömling said about the survey results.
"Without government reforms, it is becoming increasingly unlikely that the government's multi-billion-euro special programmes will have the hoped-for and necessary effect," he added.
READ ALSO: The best websites to find English-speaking jobs in Germany
Public transport fares set to rise in multiple German regions in 2026
Many local transport associations in Germany are preparing to raise fares for single and multi-trip tickets, with increases typically between 4 to 6 percent.
For example, Berlin-Brandenburg’s (VBB) prices will see an average rise of 6 percent, meaning that a single trip in Berlin’s Tarifzone AB will cost €4.00, up 20 cents.
The Rhine-Ruhr and Bremen/Lower Saxony regions will see around 5 percent increases, and Munich about 4 percent.
The main reasons for these prices hikes are rising personnel, energy, and infrastructure costs – VBB noted a 38 percent rise in electricity, fuel and lubricant expenses, for example.
According to the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV), additional long-term funding is necessary to maintain and improve public transport services across Germany.
READ ALSO: Germany confirms 'regrettable' Deutschlandticket price increase in 2026
German hospitals need billion-euro investment to withstand war and crises: study
A recent German Hospital Federation study found that the country's hospitals had considerable shortcomings when examining their resilience in the face of potential crises, such as war or sabotage.
The study showed that billions of euros would have to be invested to prepare hospitals for an emergency given the changed security situation in Europe. To protect against sabotage and cyberattacks alone, 2.7 billion euros would be needed, while up to 15 billion euros would be required to ensure the country's hospitals were adequately prepared for armed conflict in Germany.
READ ALSO: Why consumers in Germany will soon have more ways to buy medicine
In the wake of the study, Bavarian health minister Judith Gerlach said she considered "a nationwide health security summit with all involved stakeholders necessary".
"A secure and stable healthcare system is the backbone of successful overall defence," Gerlach told the Augsburger Allgemeine. This must not be forgotten in the current debates about security and compulsory military service. "We need nationwide, standardised measures," she said.
Health insurance contributions to rise in Germany
Starting in January 2026, Germany will see significant increases in health insurance contributions, despite ongoing efforts to limit costs through government measures.
The German health insurance system faces pressure from rising healthcare costs, demographic shifts, and increased pension expenses, which threaten long-term financial stability.
According to recent reports, the contribution assessment ceiling for statutory health insurance will rise to €69,750 annually (from €66,150), and the income threshold for mandatory insurance will increase to €77,400 (from €73,800).
This means higher earners will face larger contributions, with some paying approximately an additional €33 to €75 per month depending on income level.
Experts warn that without structural reforms, the increasing contributions could lead to a "contribution tsunami" with total social security contributions reaching over 43 percent of income.
Swifties flock to Wiesbaden
Taylor Swift fans flocked to a special event at the Museum Wiesbaden in Germany on Sunday to see a Jugendstil painting of Ophelia by Friedrich Heyser, which closely resembles the opening scene of Swift’s music video for "The Fate of Ophelia."
READ ALSO: 'Where can I find Ophelia'? How Taylor Swift put a German museum in the spotlight
At the event, fans gathered dressed as Ophelia or in Taylor Swift-themed outfits, enjoyed a guided tour explaining the connection between the painting, Shakespeare’s character, and Swift’s song, and danced to the new single.
The museum, celebrating its 200th anniversary, views this sudden popularity as a gift and an opportunity to engage a younger audience.
Plans are underway to make the artwork more accessible, including better displays and media stations.
With reporting by AFP and DPA.
Comments