Germany news: Top diplomat denies Berlin is joining Iran war

Deutsche Welle

March 2, 2026

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Germany’s foreign minister has reaffirmed that the country has no plans to join the escalating conflict in the Middle East, despite growing tensions in the region. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of German travelers have been stranded due to airspace closures caused by the war, with many left unable to return home. The German Travel Association reports that approximately 30,000 tourists, primarily from tour agencies, are currently affected. While the government has emphasized that using military aircraft for evacuations would be a last resort, travel companies like Dertour have stepped in to assist stranded travelers on-site and provide updates on their return journeys. In a separate development, working from home remains a prevalent trend in Germany, with around 24% of employees engaging in full or partial remote work. This figure has remained stable since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Ifo Institute. The service industry leads the way in remote work adoption at 76.4%, while sectors like construction lag significantly behind at just 4.5%. Despite these variations, the overall trend reflects a workforce increasingly comfortable with flexible work arrangements. Social media usage in Germany continues to rise, with nearly six out of ten people aged 16-74 actively using platforms for personal purposes. While this represents an increase from previous years, Germany trails many European countries, including Denmark (90%), Cyprus (87%), and Malta (82%). At 59%, Germany is near the bottom of the EU rankings, with only Italy showing a lower proportion of active users at 56%. The highest usage rates are seen among younger adults, particularly those aged 16-24, who make up 85% of active social media users in this group. However, even older demographics have seen a notable rise in engagement, with 25% of those aged 65-74 now active on platforms. These trends highlight broader shifts in Germany’s economic and cultural landscape, reflecting both the impact of global conflicts and evolving work and digital habits. From addressing

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Originally published on Deutsche Welle on 3/2/2026