Germany news: Neuschwanstein killer fights extradition to US Published July 11, 2026last updated July 12, 2026What 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 the motorway if a 130kmh(81mph 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 - German business leaders and politicians want climate targets pushed back from 2045 to 2050 in line with the EU - 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 DW brings you the top stories from and about Germany on Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12. Tired of missing our real-time updates? Click here to add us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Then tap the "Star" or "Preferred" to keep DW News at the top of your feed. Neuschwanstein 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 The 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.