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Here’s your quick update on what’s happening around the city on Wednesday, January 21 - from urgent alerts to stories in the subreddit. Today we went through 194 sources so you don't have to.
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🚦 S-Bahn Disrupted by Cable Vandalism
Thousands of commuters in Berlin must endure significant travel delays and cancellations after vandals damaged critical signaling infrastructure on the S-Bahn network. Services on lines S1, S2, S25, S26, and S85 remain severely restricted between Gesundbrunnen and Nordbahnhof until full operations are scheduled to resume Thursday at 3:30 a.m. A temporary shuttle train is currently running every 20 minutes between Bornholmer Straße and Nordbahnhof. (Berliner Kurier)
Federal police are investigating the incident as a particularly severe case of theft after three signal cables were cut and several meters of material were stolen. While public speculation has linked the destruction to political sabotage groups, authorities stated there is currently no evidence suggesting an ideologically motivated attack. (rbb24.de)
This disruption exposes the security challenges facing Berlin's 340-kilometer rail system, which officials admit cannot be fully monitored around the clock. The vandalism compounds recent infrastructure struggles, occurring just weeks after a separate fire at the Wedding station caused structural damage that will take later this year to fully repair. (Berliner Zeitung)
🕯️ Daycare Tragedy: 5-Year-Old Killed by Falling Door
A five-year-old boy died Monday following a tragic accident at a daycare center in the Niederschöneweide district of Berlin. Police confirmed that a heavy terrace door fell on the child around 10:15 a.m., causing fatal injuries despite immediate resuscitation attempts by emergency responders at the scene in the Treptow-Köpenick borough. (tagesschau.de)
The massive glass door reportedly tore from its hinges and collapsed inward into a room, striking the young boy. Eleven firefighters and emergency doctors rushed to the facility on Adlergestell, while two helicopters landed nearby to assist the rescue operation involving extensive medical teams trying to save him. (BILD)
The daycare will remain shut until Wednesday as investigators analyze the site to ensure such a tragedy cannot happen again. District Mayor Oliver Igel (SPD) stated that authorities must do everything possible to prevent a recurrence, pledging full support for the grieving family and the affected school community. (Berliner Morgenpost)
⚡ Real-Time Map for EV Charging Prices
Berlin's transport administration has launched a new digital map displaying real-time data for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The "E-Informationsplattform" allows drivers to locate approximately 3,000 public charging points while viewing current availability and specific ad-hoc pricing costs without needing a subscription. This initiative supports the owners of approximately 100,000 electric vehicles currently registered in Berlin. (Tagesspiegel)
The current dataset contains about 80% of the capital's on-street infrastructure, aggregating data from the three largest providers: Berliner Stadtwerke, Qwello, and Ubitricity. While the city currently hosts 15 different infrastructure operators to prevent monopolies, the remaining smaller providers will be integrated into the system throughout the year. (electrive.net)
Although Berlin contains over 6,000 publicly accessible charging options, this tool specifically targets the 3,500 units located directly in public street spaces rather than private lots like supermarkets. The platform plans to eventually update the map with crucial details regarding station accessibility features and specific parking spot dimensions. (WELT)
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⚡ Quick Hits
🇩🇪 Free potatoes for Berlin: What happens after the campaign | Volunteers distributed 200 tons of potatos across 170 pickup points in 10 days. The project now aims to include regional farmers and expand the website to nearby suppliers.
🇩🇪 Misuse of living space | Berlin estimates 10,000 illegal holiday rentals, or about half its annual new-build target. Officials say weak platform data limits enforcement until new EU short-term rental rules apply in March 2026.
🇩🇪 Videos show suspected robberies perpetrator | Police say the suspect may have robbed eight Berlin gas stations and shops since November. He allegedly used a cloth bag demand and threatened staff with guns or knives. Surveillance videos and a detailed description are public.
🇩🇪 Flu epidemic sweeps Berlin | Berlin reported 916 flu cases in mid-January, up 31% in a week and 3,754 since October. Seniors over 75 and children under two lead infections. Nearly half of patients with full data were hospitalized.
🇬🇧 Berlin Film Festival Full Lineup | The 76th Berlinale (Feb 12–22) unites stars like Amy Adams and Channing Tatum with global authors. Tricia Tuttle’s diverse lineup explores political trauma and family secrets under jury president Wim Wenders.
🇩🇪 Where and when can you see the northern lights today? | A strong geomagnetic solar storm made auroras visible across Germany, even near the Alps. Odds remain high, but the best viewing may come unexpectedly.
📅 Events Today
🎟️ Maël & Jonas | January 21 | 18:30 - 22:00 | 33.60€ | Experience a fresh indie-pop sound as this duo debuts their mature new album. The show balances high-energy party anthems with quiet, personal moments.
🎟️ This weekend: Jazzfest Neukölln | January 23 - 25, 2026 | Free | Local jazz takes over with a lot of energy. Young hotshots trade solos with pros. You get swing, experiments, and a big band finale.
🎟️ This weekend: Truffle & Truffle Festival | January 24 and 25, 2026 | €5, free for children | Berlin finally throws a party for truffles, both earthy and chocolate. You'll eat your way through pasta, pizza, burgers, pralines, and ice cream (with vegan options) while listening to live music.
Hosting a workshop or meetup? Click here to feature your event.
💬 What Berliners Are Talking About
🗣️ Apartment Scams in Berlin? | Readers caution: verify the landlord, inspect keys, and avoid upfront payments.
🗣️ Avoid S-Bahn and RE going through S3/5/7/9 RE1/2/7 routes. | Commuters warn of widespread S-Bahn and regional train disruptions, advising U-Bahn or bus.
🗣️ Gonna Lose My Job because of LEAs incompetence | International student faces job loss due to slow German bureaucracy; commenters urge action.
🏃 Fun Fact: The Berlin Marathon is the world’s fastest marathon course – an astonishing 11 world records have been set in Berlin. The current men’s record (2:01:09) and women’s record (2:11:53) were both run on Berlin’s flat, speedy streets.
👋 That's a wrap! Thank you for reading.
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