GermanyOwnership & classification
Founded: 1946
Ownership
Die Zeit, founded on 21 February 1946 in Hamburg (originally with Gerd Bucerius among its publishers), is produced by the Zeitverlag (Zeit Verlagsgruppe). The publisher is owned 50% by Dieter von Holtzbrinck Medien GmbH (DvH Medien, Dieter von Holtzbrinck) and 50% by Georg von Holtzbrinck GmbH (Stefan von Holtzbrinck), the two halves of the family-controlled Holtzbrinck publishing empire. The Holtzbrinck group acquired its stake from the 1990s onward; the paper remains privately, family-owned.
Funding
Financed commercially via paid print circulation, digital subscriptions and advertising; it is one of Germany's best-selling weeklies. No state or party funding.
Affiliation & stance
A liberal, broadly centre-left weekly with a tradition of editorial pluralism and no party or state ties. As it is owned by the private Holtzbrinck family media companies with editorial independence, it is INDEPENDENT.
Editorial lean
- Our estimate
- Lean Left
- Measured from coverage
- Centerbased on 403
84/100
Factual
81/100
Objective
951
Articles
951
reports
Top stories
Most covered right now
Putin recognizes the oil map for the first time
U.S. and Iran agree to cease attacks and return to talks
World Cup round-up: Messi breaks scoring record, Algeria survive, but Jordan are eliminated
Europe hits 40 degrees Celsius as heatwave threatens tourism industry, wildlife
Debate on the firewall: the AfD asks no one these questions
Monaco: Three injured in apartment explosion
Early World Cup exit for Germany: What went wrong?
Earthquake in Venezuela: Android devices have warned more than 11 million people
Germany-Liveblog: Fratzscher lacks 'courage and consistency' in his pension proposals
Recent coverage
Sick note: What kind of sick note is this?
The article discusses two main topics. First, it covers the German federal government’s plan to abolish telephonic sick leave reporting and introduce mandatory medical certificates from day one of illness. The current system requires employees to report sickness after three days, but the new proposal would require immediate documentation. Doctors criticize this change, warning of increased workload and bureaucracy. Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil have proposed a pragmatic solution, though details remain unclear. Second, the article mentions the resignation of Germany’s national football team coach Julian Nagelsmann following their early exit from the World Cup. Nagelsmann has requested to terminate his contract and plans to meet former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, who is considered a potential successor.
Accident on the motorway: accident on the A6 near Sankt Leon-Rot - rescuers in action
On July 3, 2026, a multi-vehicle accident occurred on the A6 highway between the Walldorf interchange and the Wiesloch-Rauenberg exit, heading towards Mannheim. Emergency services were deployed to the scene, according to police reports. Initially, there was no information available about the cause of the accident. However, recent updates indicate that there are no fatalities, but several people have sustained minor injuries. The left and middle lanes of the highway are closed, and traffic is being rerouted through a single lane around the accident site.
In 15 regions of Russia, restrictions on the sale of fuel were introduced for 24 hours
At least 15 regions in Russia implemented fuel sales restrictions on June 23 due to a fuel shortage caused by attacks on oil refining facilities by Ukrainian drones. The restrictions include limiting fuel purchases to specific volumes per person and banning refueling into cans. These measures were introduced in major regions such as Khanty-Mansiysk, Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Tyumen, Novosibirsk, Saratov, Penza, Omsk, Voronezh, Murmansk, and Krasnoyarsk. Authorities cited the need to prevent artificial shortages and excessive demand. In Irkutsk Oblast, some gas stations imposed limits while others stopped operating entirely. Governor Igor Kobzev initially linked the fuel shortage to drone strikes but later removed this statement. In Vladimir Oblast, residents were urged to reduce car travel, and in North Ossetia, authorities ordered the creation of an emergency fuel reserve. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak described the situation as 'not simple but controlled,' attributing regional restrictions to temporary logistical issues. Fuel sales have effectively halted in Crimea after an attack on a logistics hub in the Kerch Strait, with the Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service also禁止
An American gets the maximum amount of recovery time at Wimbledon.
The article discusses the scheduling of the first-round doubles match at Wimbledon involving American tennis player Serena Williams and her sister Venus Williams against the Argentine-Colombian pair Solana Sierra and Camila Osorio. The match was initially scheduled for Thursday and Friday but has been postponed due to Serena's injury during her singles match. Tournament organizer Andy Murray (likely a misstatement, as Andy Murray is a British player, and the correct name might be someone like Ashley Barker or another official) stated they are giving Serena as much time as possible to recover. They ruled out postponing the match to later dates unless necessary for safety or tournament flow. The match is expected to take place on a larger court to accommodate the large crowd attracted by Serena and Venus, who are major stars. Serena returned to professional tennis after four years, but she lost her first singles match and injured her knee. She did not attend a press conference afterward due to health reasons and expressed her commitment to participating in the doubles event. Serena and Venus have won six doubles titles together, including a title in 2016.
Bundesliga: Eintracht Braunschweig take two offensive players
Eintracht Braunschweig, ein Team der zweiten Bundesliga, hat zwei neue Offensivspieler verpflichtet. Der österreichische Mittelstürmer Maximilian Entrup, 29 Jahre alt, wechselt vom Linzer Athletik-Sport-Klub und bleibt bis Sommer 2028. Der junge Schweizer Flügelstürmer Junior Zé, 20 Jahre alt, kam von FC Basel und unterschrieb bis Sommer 2029. Sport-Geschäftsführer Benjamin Kessel lobte Entrups Erfahrung und sein Torvermögen sowie Zés Tempo und Stärke als Flügelspieler.
West Bank: Israel's settlement policy is 'totally unacceptable'
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has condemned Israel's ongoing settlement expansion in the West Bank as 'completely unacceptable,' stating it undermines the two-state solution, which she views as the only viable path to lasting peace. She warned that the EU is preparing possible responses to what it calls an ongoing violation of international law but cautioned against high expectations, noting that a proposal to revoke trade benefits for Israel has been on the table for ten months without approval due to opposition, including from Germany. France and Sweden are reportedly pushing for restrictions on imports from illegal Israeli settlements, such as tariffs and import controls, while Norway has announced plans to take similar steps. A recent UN report highlighted a 130% increase in attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian villages and agricultural areas since 2023, citing a climate of impunity and accusing Israel of state involvement in settler violence.
Rebuilding after the flood: After the deadline: How many affected people applied for flood relief?
The article reports on the deadline for flood aid applications under the national reconstruction fund following the 2022 Ahr Valley floods. The deadline set by the Investment and Structural Bank (ISB) in Rhineland-Pfalz ended on June 30, 2026. As of then, approximately 18,140 complete applications had been received, with around 1,5 billion euros approved in total. The largest share went to businesses, followed by private building damage claims and household goods. About 713 applications were rejected, primarily due to non-compliance with specific criteria such as the nature of the damage, eligibility based on ownership, and adherence to legal frameworks like European aid law. The article outlines who could apply, what the funds could be used for, and the conditions for approval.
Elderly people targeted: fraudsters pose as carers Police warns
In Berlin warnt die Polizei vor einem Betrugsring, der sich als Pflegedienstmitarbeiter ausgibt, um Seniorinnen und Senioren zu betrügen. Die Täter, meist zwei Frauen, betreten die Wohnungen der Opfer unter dem Vorwand, Pflegebedarf oder Reinigungsarbeiten zu prüfen. Sie nutzen Gespräche, um den Verdacht zu zerstreuen, und durchsuchen anschließend die Räume nach Geld und Werten. Die Polizei bittet darum, Fremde nicht in die Wohnung zu lassen und nur Personen einzulassen, die eigens bestellt wurden.
What if one day a Christian Ulmen Ultra shoots me in the head?
The article poses a rhetorical question regarding the potential threat posed by members of the Christian Ulmen Ultra group, suggesting a scenario where such individuals might target someone with violence. The piece appears to explore concerns around far-right extremism or radical groups, though it does not provide specific information about the group's activities, ideology, or any concrete incidents. It raises questions about personal safety in relation to such groups but does not offer detailed analysis or context about their actions or motivations.
Medical emergency: motorist attacks firefighter on emergency call
On July 3, 2026, in Kaltenkirchen, a driver attacked a firefighter during a medical emergency response. The incident occurred after a road closure was implemented due to a life-threatening situation at a doctor's office. Despite warnings from emergency personnel, the driver attempted to pass through the blocked area, leading to verbal abuse and physical assault against a firefighter. The driver then tried to leave the scene, endangering more responders before being stopped by emergency workers and later detained by police. The state's interior minister, Magdalena Finke, expressed shock and condemned the attack, calling it 'despicable' and 'unforgivable'. No hospitalization was required for the injured firefighters.
Due to radio interference, train service resumes after a complete shutdown.
On Tuesday evening, June 24, 2026, a nationwide disruption caused by a malfunction in Germany's digital railway communication system (GSM-R) brought all train traffic across the country to a complete halt. The outage lasted approximately two hours, stranding numerous passengers and creating long queues at train stations. By around 0:30 AM, the first trains resumed operation, but delays and service disruptions were expected to continue into Wednesday morning. Deutsche Bahn (DB) attributed the stoppage to a technical failure in the GSM-R network, which is critical for modern rail operations. While some passengers received taxi vouchers and hotel coupons, others reported difficulties finding accommodations, particularly in cities like Frankfurt. Despite efforts by IT specialists to resolve the issue quickly, DB did not provide detailed information about the cause of the malfunction. The incident affected not only passenger trains but also regional services, private railways, and freight traffic.
Faster by rail: 'milestone' for newly built Frankfurt-Mannheim railway line
The German Federal Ministry of Transport announced that planning for the new high-speed rail line between Frankfurt and Mannheim has reached a significant milestone. The ministry submitted the planning documents to the Bundestag, urging lawmakers to secure the project’s financial future over the long term. Verkehrs-Staatssekretär Ulrich Lange emphasized the importance of continuing both the renewal and expansion of the railway network to meet mobility needs. The new track aims to reduce travel time between the two cities, close a gap in Deutsche Bahn’s high-speed network, and relieve local communities from the burden of freight traffic by shifting nighttime operations to the new tracks alongside the autobahn.
Parteitag der AfD: Ausnahmezustand in Erfurt erwartet
The article reports on the upcoming AfD party congress in Erfurt, Germany, which is expected to be marked by significant protests due to the party's controversial stance and recent racist remarks by some of its members. The AfD has faced criticism for its anti-immigration policies and alleged racism, with several politicians making derogatory comments about the German national football team, using terms historically associated with Nazi ideology. As a result, various civil society groups, including churches, unions, and human rights organizations, have organized peaceful demonstrations against the event. There are also calls for blockades, though authorities expect both peaceful protests and potential clashes. Thüringer Interior Minister Georg Maier has pledged to uphold the right to assembly for both the AfD and protesters. Meanwhile, internal party dynamics are highlighted, with the current leadership facing re-election and potential influence from more extreme factions within the party.
Overlooked
Under-reported & one-sided
Attacks on Russian territory: when will they finally realize it?
Middle East: 1,000 days after Hamas attack: Israel remembers the massacre
More time, less protection: how the Coalition wants to 'unleash the shackles' on the labour market
Plan against Shein and Temu: Paris passes law against disposable fashion
Joe Biden calls Donald Trump a "loser" in his farewell speech
Can a man take off his shirt now?
SPD wants to increase statutory holiday entitlement by one day
Crime: Attacks on two women in Magdeburg 20-year-old in prison
