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Germany news: Third summer heat wave looms
Germany news: Neuschwanstein killer fights extradition to US
Emmy Sasipornkarn | Jon Shelton | Timothy Jones dpa, AFP, Reuters, AP, epd, KNAPublished 07/11/2026Published July 11, 2026last updated 07/12/2026last updated July 12, 2026A man who murdered a woman at Neuschwanstein Castle says he fears execution in the US. Germany has been hit by another heat wave, though no records are likely to be broken this time, forecasters say.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GuudWhat you need to know
- A US man who carried out a murder at the famous Neuschwanstein Castle says he fears the death penalty if he is extradited
- Some 100 people died from drowning in Germany in June
- A study says 25 to 30% fewer people would die on German motorways if a 130 km (81 miles) per hour speed limit were introduced
- Temperatures in some parts of Germany are forecast to soar to 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 F) in the course of the week
- The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has presented a 100-day plan outlining its intended actions if it wins power in the state of Saxony-Anhalt in September
It was the roundup of the top stories from and about Germany on Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12. This blog is now closed.
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Skip next section Thanks for reading!07/12/2026July 12, 2026Thanks for reading!
That's all for today!
Thank you for reading our updates. We will be back again tomorrow.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GyGvSkip next section Steinmeier praises coalition for agreeing 'substantial' reforms07/12/2026July 12, 2026Steinmeier praises coalition for agreeing 'substantial' reforms
Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has welcomed the major reforms agreed by the governing coalition, as the country struggles with low economic growth and intense rivalry from China.
"I do think the federal government has presented a substantial package," Steinmeier told public broadcaster ZDF on Sunday.
He was referring to a package of measures to boost healthcare, pensions, tax and welfare, passed by Chancellor Friedrich Merz's coalition earlier this month.
Steinmeier also reacted to criticism that the reforms didn't offer enough financial support, telling ZDF: "The primary goal of structural reforms is not to put more money in people's pockets, but rather to stabilize benefit systems."
He said he hoped the agreement would mean an end to the infighting between Merz's conservative alliance and the center-left Social Democrats, who have governed together since May 2025.
"We could be currently witnessing a new phase ... [where] the self-imposed deadlock within the coalition has been lifted and resolved," he said.
What are the German government's pension, labor reforms?
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The reforms include tax relief for those on low and middle incomes, financed by changes to the wealth tax for high earners.
The government also agreed on labor market changes, including allowing employers to offer more fixed-term contracts and to terminate permanent contracts with high earners more easily.
Steinmeier said that patience and perseverance was now needed to implement the reforms, which still need parliamentary approval.
"Without regaining economic growth, we will not win respect or restore trust," he added.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GxjSSkip next section IN DEPTH: Ruhr Valley in danger of economic collapse07/12/2026July 12, 2026IN DEPTH: Ruhr Valley in danger of economic collapse
Once a region that fueled industry in Germany and beyond, in the past decades the Ruhr area has struggled to redefine itself after the virtual demise of coal mining and a dramatic reduction in steel production.
DW takes a look at the financial plight it is now facing in this article:Germany's Ruhr Valley is on brink of financial collapse
https://p.dw.com/p/5GxNISkip next section Motorway speed limit would greatly reduce deaths — study07/12/2026July 12, 2026Motorway speed limit would greatly reduce deaths — study
If a speed limit were introduced on Germany's motorways, it could considerably reduce accident deaths there, a study has shown.
"With a maximum speed of 130 kilometers (81 miles) per hour, there would be 25-30% fewer fatalities on the Autobahn," said researcher Siegfried Brockmann from the Björn Steiger Foundation, which carried out the study.
Brockmann said that corresponded to some 70-90 people, with 292 killed in motorway accidents in 2025 from a figure of more than 2,800 on all roads.
Currently, there is no general speed limit on German motorways, though there are often restrictions for certain sections.
However, studies have shown that a majority of people in Germany are in favor of having one, even though the Transport Ministry has so far rejected the idea.
Advocates of a speed limit of 130 kmh on the Autobahn and 80 kmh on other roads also point to the environmental benefits, with the Environment Ministry saying this would cut 2.7% of greenhouse emissions from road transport.
Speed limits on the German Autobahn? Yes, really!
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https://p.dw.com/p/5GxSpSkip next section Railway improvements will take time — transport minister 07/12/2026July 12, 2026Railway improvements will take time — transport minister
Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder has warned that improving the reliability of train services will be a gradual process, while praising thenew CEO of railway operator Deutsche Bahn (DB), Evelyn Palla, for her approach.
"We will only achieve the big progress needed in reliability and punctuality step by step," he told the German news agency DPA.
"It is completely illusory to think that the railway world will be back in order in two years," he said, speaking of a "decade of modernization."
"For years and decades, too little has been invested in all transport forms, particularly rail," he said, while stressing that DB had to play a role by improving its procedures.
Train punctuality in focus
A new railway strategy paper sets the goal of having at least 70% of long-distance trains arriving at their destinations without notable delays. In June, just 52.6% were on time.
According to the new magazine Spiegel, Palla has called for at least €13 billion ($14.8 billion) up to 2030 — in addition to the billions already earmarked by the government for infrastructure modernization — to improve punctuality.
Schnieder said that Palla, who became CEO in October 2025, was tackling the problems well and "taking the right steps in the right direction."
He said that she was turning the state-owned company into an economically viable one and that a much better financial result was expected this year.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GxQYSkip next section IN DEPTH: How a Jewish heir is taking on Germany's far-right AfD07/12/2026July 12, 2026IN DEPTH: How a Jewish heir is taking on Germany's far-right AfD
Shristi Mangal PalHeavily supported in eastern states, the Alternative for Germany is using a GDR cultural icon, the Schwalbe moped, in its campaigning. Now, the Jewish heir of the manufacturer is fighting to protect his family's legacy.
Learn more about how Dennis Baum, whose grandmother belonged to the Jewish family that founded the Simson company in the town of Suhl in Thuringia, is fighting to stop the far-right AfD from using his family's name and legacy in this report.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GxKGSkip next section Drowning fatalities hit 23-year high in June07/12/2026July 12, 2026Drowning fatalities hit 23-year high in June
At least 99 people drowned in Germany in June, the highest number in 23 years, the German Lifesaving Association (DLRG) said on Sunday.
It said most of those who drowned were 30 years old and under, while more than 90% were male.
"It is mostly men who take too many risks and underestimate dangers. They also go into the water in a state of intoxication from alcohol or other drugs," DLRG President Ute Vogt said.
Altogether, 55 of the drownings occurred in lakes, with 21 taking place in rivers and six in swimming pools, the sea and canals, respectively.
Most of the deaths were in the two states with the highest populations, North Rhine-Westphalia (22) in the west and Bavaria (21) in the south.
Germany, along with much of western Europe, suffered a severe heat wave at the end of June that saw temperatures climb above 40 C (104 F) in several regions.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GxPFSkip next section Neuschwanstein killer contests extradition back to USPublished 07/12/2026Published July 12, 2026last updated 07/12/2026last updated July 12, 2026Neuschwanstein killer contests extradition back to US
A 33-year-old US man who has been convicted of the rape and murder of a fellow US tourist near Neuschwanstein Castle three years ago has objected to his ordered extradition, saying he might face the death penalty in his homeland.
In his lawsuit against the order at the administrative court in Augsburg, he has argued that if he returns to the United States, he could face another trial for the crimes, which could result in a death sentence.
The man is currently serving a life sentence in Germany for the murder and rape of the tourist, as well as the attempted murder of a second woman. The regional office of foreign affairs later issued a deportation order against him.
However, in this case, as a "particular severity of guilt" was found in the judgment against the man, he could possibly remain in prison for 20 to 25 years under German law.
That would mean that a deportation order would not be enforced for around two decades.
A spokesman for the Kempten public prosecutor's office said there was currently no review procedure on whether he could be deported from prison.
The crime was widely reported around the world because of the famous site where it was committed.
Welcome back to our coverage
Timothy Jones | Nik Martin | Karl Sexton EditorThe DW newsroom in Bonn says guten Tag to all DW users as it resumes its coverage of all things German.
As already mentioned, the weather has moved from warm to uncomfortably hot in much of the country, making the prospect of a swim all the more enticing to many.
But we urge everyone to be careful in the water as news comes in that June saw the highest number of drownings in Germany in 23 years.
Germany's ailing railway system — probably the most-complained-about aspect of life in the country — is (once more) in focus in this blog as the transport minister warns passengers that improvements to punctuality will take some time.
And a study on another mode of transport, car travel, shows that a 130 kmh/81 mph speed limit on Germany's famous autobahn would cut the number of fatalities there by at least a quarter.
We wish you a pleasant reading journey in our Germany news blog!
https://p.dw.com/p/5GxKHSkip next section This blog is on pause07/11/2026July 11, 2026This blog is on pause
We are pausing our coverage for now. Join us again on Sunday morning for more coverage of the German news and analysis.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GwK2Skip next section WATCH: How Nazi party membership records are rewriting family histories07/11/2026July 11, 2026WATCH: How Nazi party membership records are rewriting family histories
Suzanne CordsThe Nazi Party membership records are published online by the US National Archives.
The files are now giving answers to the question of millions of Germans: Were my grandparents Nazis?
https://p.dw.com/p/5Gw1dSkip next section Germany's Pretzel festival: 111 people try to move 111-ton train07/11/2026July 11, 2026Germany's Pretzel festival: 111 people try to move 111-ton train
111 people set out to pull a 111-ton train at a distance of 111 meters — did it work?
Organizers said this collective feat of human strength during the Brezelfest — a festival dedicated to pretzels — in Speyer, a city in Rhineland-Palatinate in southwestern Germany, went smoothly.
"The locomotive reached the finish line in just over two minutes. Everyone was surprised at how quickly the whole thing went," Uwe Wöhlert, chairman of the Speyer Tourism Association, told dpa.
Nineteen teams from the region, ranging from weightlifters and wrestlers to municipal utilities and government officials, participated in the event.
The organizers had registered the challenge as a world record attempt. They plan to submit an application to the Record Institute for Germany (RID). A notary public observed the event.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GwDJSkip next section IN DEPTH: Germany's richest man takes on Big Tech07/11/2026July 11, 2026IN DEPTH: Germany's richest man takes on Big Tech
Nicolas MartinDieter Schwarz made his fortune from supermarkets, becoming Germany's wealthiest person. Now he wants to take on Google, Microsoft and Amazon, and an entire region stands to benefit.
Read more to find out if Schwarz Digits, the IT and digital division of Schwarz Group, can hold its own against US tech giants.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Gw1gSkip next section Hamburg-Hanover rail line reopens after renovation07/11/2026July 11, 2026Hamburg-Hanover rail line reopens after renovation
The Hamburg-Hanover line, one of the busiest railway routes in Germany, was back in operation on Saturday after major renovation works.
Since May 1, the entire line between Hanover, the capital of the northern state of Lower Saxony, and Hamburg, Germany's second largest city, had been closed to train traffic.
The route is essential for linking northern and southern Germany, for commuters and for freight transport to and from the Port of Hamburg.
Over the past 10 weeks, 81 kilometers of track, 44 sets of points, four stations and two large railway bridges were renewed along the 163-kilometre route. Deutsche Bahn said that around €300 million ($342 million) was invested in the project.
The company plans to address urgent works needed before the comprehensive refurbishment due in 2029.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GvygSkip next section German Football Federation close to signing Klopp as head coach07/11/2026July 11, 2026German Football Federation close to signing Klopp as head coach
The German Football Federation (DFB) said Saturday that it had reached agreement with Jürgen Klopp over the terms of a contract that would make him head coach of the country's men's national football team through the completion of the 2030 World Cup. The announcement cited DFB leadership's "first in-depth discussion with Jürgen Klopp yesterday in New York."
"During this constructive exchange," the statement continued, "an understanding was reached on the key points of a potential contract. The talks will continue next week. Both sides are confident that the negotiations — subject to an agreement with Klopp’s current employer, Red Bull — can ultimately be successfully concluded."
Klopp will reportedly receive an annual salary exceeding the €7 million ($7.9 million) that former national trainer Julian Nagelsmann received while coaching the German national team to an early exit from this year's tournament.
Klopp, a successful Bundesliga and English Premiere League coach who is currently in the US as a TV commentator for this year's World Cup, is under contract at Red Bull until 2029.
The head of the Austrian energy drink giant's international football program, Klopp would reportedly stay on as a brand spokesman for Red Bull while serving as Germany's Bundestrainer.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GvxHShow more posts