New round of strikes in Berlin disrupts public transport

Berlin experienced a new round of transport strikes on Monday, bringing the German capital's public transit system to a standstill and forcing commuters to seek alternative transportation.

The strike, sparked by disputes over higher wages for about 16,000 employees of Berlin's public transport operator BVG (Berlin Transport Company), began at 03:00 on Monday and will last 24 hours.

Organized by Germany's largest trade union Verdi, the warning strike is set to halt services for trams, underground trains and most buses across the city, putting additional pressure on BVG. This is the second warning strike in less than three weeks.

Tram, underground train, and most bus services will be suspended during the strike, with the exception of the S-Bahn light rail network, causing disruption to public transport.

A visitor from Sweden said he had to delay multiple plans due to the strike.

"In the middle of the night, I was searching for a train, for everything. There was nothing. And then I had to take a taxi. And that's all. I had not suspected that something could happen in Berlin like this, but right now it's only the S-Bahn," he said.

Since Feb 6, several German cities have seen repeated transport strikes at the call of German service industry unions over wage disputes.

On Monday, strikes also affected cities in the states of Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia, heavily restricting public transportation and suspending some train services. Strikes are set to spread to more than 30 other cities and regions across the country from Tuesday to Wednesday.

New round of strikes in Berlin disrupts public transport

New round of strikes in Berlin disrupts public transport

New round of strikes in Berlin disrupts public transport

New round of strikes in Berlin disrupts public transport

New round of strikes in Berlin disrupts public transport

China Media Group (CMG) on Wednesday aired a grand New Year gala to welcome the arrival of 2026 with celebrations focused on the richness of Chinese culture, and blending traditional arts with contemporary creativity in a nationwide showcase of unity and joy.

Titled "Sail into 2026," the gala was staged in Lyuliang City, north China's Shanxi Province, and featured over 60 meticulously crafted performances. From vibrant song and dance routines to performances of traditional Chinese instrumental music, opera and martial arts, the gala embraced a wide variety of artistic styles, reflecting the depth of cultural heritage and the spirit of contemporary innovation.

The show vividly captured regional transformations across China, from the innovative dynamism of the Yangtze River Delta in east China to the cultural vitality of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in the northern part of the country. It also presented the energetic harmony of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area city cluster in the south, as well as heartfelt New Year wishes from China's Taiwan region.

The gala also shone a spotlight on ordinary individuals who made a difference in 2025. It also featured fresh works from a new wave of public cultural creators. Through these stories and performances, the gala offered a panoramic celebration of people nationwide joyfully embracing the New Year, together painting a hopeful picture of peace, prosperity and unity.

The gala was broadcast live at 20:00 on December 31 across CMG platforms including CCTV-1, CCTV-3, major radio frequencies, and new media outlets such as CCTV News.

CMG presents culture-rich New Year Gala to ring in 2026