January 30, 2026
Police in Hamburg have opened a murder inquiry after two people were killed by an oncoming subway train at the Wandsbek-Markt station on Thursday night. Authorities say preliminary findings indicate the incident was not accidental: a 25-year-old man grabbed an 18-year-old woman and both were thrown in front of the arriving train. The two victims, who are not believed to have known each other, have not yet been publicly identified. Investigators have formed a special murder commission and are probing motive and background. Witnesses are receiving post-traumatic counseling. Officials reminded readers in an editor’s note to seek support if they are in emotional distress and provided crisis helpline guidance.
Other headlines from Germany on January 30, 2026:
– Nationwide transport strikes called by Verdi: The Verdi union has called for walkouts across most of Germany’s public transport network on Monday as part of ongoing collective bargaining talks. The action targets municipal transport companies in 15 of 16 states and could disrupt local services; Deutsche Bahn and some suburban commuter trains are not affected. Union demands include better working conditions, reduced hours, longer rest periods and higher night/weekend bonuses.
– High number of winter injuries in Berlin: Charité Hospital reported a surge in winter-related injuries, including distal radius fractures, shoulder and ankle injuries, femoral neck fractures and head injuries among older people. Authorities temporarily lifted local bans on using salt to de-ice pavements in Berlin and Hamburg to reduce slipping risks amid ongoing freezing conditions.
– North Sea gas project approved by court: The Higher Administrative Court in Lüneburg cleared the immediate start of a controversial gas production plan off the North Sea island of Borkum. The project, partly in Dutch waters, involves drilling from a Dutch platform into German territory. The court dismissed urgent applications from island communities opposed to the plan, concluding groundwater resources were not expected to be affected. Further operating permissions are still required for production on the German side.
– Inflation edges up to 2.1%: Official figures showed Germany’s annual inflation rate rose to 2.1% in January. Food prices increased notably (2.1% year-on-year), while energy costs were down 1.7% compared with a year earlier.
– Unemployment above three million: Federal Employment Agency data reported 177,000 more unemployed in January, pushing the total above three million and raising the unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points to 6.6%. Agency head Andrea Nahles noted the typical start-of-year rise in joblessness.
– Champions League draw spares an all-German tie — for now: Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen were drawn against different opponents in the upcoming Champions League playoff round, avoiding a domestic matchup at this stage. If both progress, an all-German tie could still occur in the later knockout rounds.
– Berlin launches Olympics bid: Berlin officially launched a campaign to host the Summer Olympics in 2036, 2040 or 2044, pitching long-term benefits for youth and sports infrastructure. The bid is being promoted without a city referendum, unlike pending and recent votes in other German cities.
– Many Germans choose part-time work voluntarily: New Destatis figures indicate most part-time employees prefer their hours; only 5% said they would rather work full-time. Women frequently cite family care as a reason; others cited education, health or varied personal reasons. The findings follow political debate about so-called “lifestyle part-time” employment.
– Thomas Müller on Germany’s World Cup prospects: Former Germany striker Thomas Müller praised young players such as Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz and Nick Woltemade for their talent but said he did not yet regard them as “title-ready” ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Müller urged consistency and stability among key national-team figures.
This round-up reflects developments in Germany on January 30, 2026.