Germany news: Trial to start in Istanbul over tourist deaths

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AdvertisementSkip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

• A trial over the deaths of an entire family on vacation in Turkey last year has begun in Istanbul
• The Petersberg Climate Dialogue, a major precursor to the COP, kicks off in Berlin
• One of Germany's most popular baby food brands says it was the victim of an extortion attempt

Here are the latest headlines and reports from Germany on Tuesday, April 21: 

Skip next section Government extends period for €1,000 bonus04/21/2026April 21, 2026

Government extends period for €1,000 bonus

The coalition government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced that it is extending the period in which employers are allowed to give their employees a tax-free €1,000 ($1,175) bonus to deal with the rising cost of living.

Originally set to expire at the end of this year, it is now being extended until June 2027.

Critics of the plan say the government is not doing enough to tackle the cost of living crisis and should be the one to pay the bonus, not employers.

The bonus has also come under fire for being too small a sum of money as the price of fuel and other necessities skyrockets.

https://p.dw.com/p/5CZNoSkip next section Petersberg Dialogue kicks off in Berlin04/21/2026April 21, 2026

Petersberg Dialogue kicks off in Berlin

The 17th annual Petersberg Climate Dialogue has begun in Berlin in cooperation with the government of Turkey, which will be hosting this year's UN climate change conference, or COP.

While the Petersberg summit does not produce binding agreements, it is seen as extremely influential in setting the agenda for the upcoming COP, the world's largest gathering on climate policy.

Representatives from 40 different countries are attending, as well as representatives from NGOs, scientific institutions, the finance sector and the economy.

https://p.dw.com/p/5CZ0pSkip next section Baby food maker HiPP says it was targeted by blackmail04/21/2026April 21, 2026

Baby food maker HiPP says it was targeted by blackmail

After five jars of contaminated baby food were found over the weekend in Slovakia, Austria, and Czechia, German manufacturer HiPP has said the sabotage was part of an extortion attempt.

Austrian supermarket chain Spar issued an urgent recall attempt after investigators determined the five jars of carrot and potato puree had been spiked with rat poison.

Authorities advised consumers to be sure their baby food jars make the characteristic "pop" sound when first opened to be sure they had not been tampered with.

Neither HiPP nor the police said what the alleged extortionist was demanding.

You can read DW's full report on the case here.

https://p.dw.com/p/5CZ4tSkip next section Six on trial over German tourist deaths in Turkey04/21/2026April 21, 2026

Six on trial over German tourist deaths in Turkey

The first hearing in the case of a family from Hamburg who died in Turkey last November is set to start in Istanbul today.

The Turkish-German Böcek family consisted of father Servet, mother Cigdem, their 6-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter.

They were on vacation in Istanbul when they fell violently ill, later dying in a local hospital. 

Six people, including the owner of the hotel and a pest control company, are on trial for causing death through negligence after an autopsy revealed the four had been poisoned by pesiticide.

Prosecutors say this is the result of an insect extermination being improperly carried out on the first floor of the hotel.

The defendants are facing sentences of up to 22.5 years in prison.

Turkish hotels under scrutiny after pesticide deaths

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https://p.dw.com/p/5CYuQSkip next section Welcome to our coverage04/21/2026April 21, 2026

Welcome to our coverage

Elizabeth Schumacher | Natalie Muller Editor

Guten Morgen from the DW newsroom in Bonn.

Today we'll bring you updates on the case of a Germany family that died last year while on vacation in Istanbul, ruled to be caused by pesticide exposure.

Meanwhile, the annual Petersberg Dialogue on climate change will be kicking off in Berlin

Check back here for our latest reports and analyses from across Germany.

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