Dusseldorf After Putin’s attack, which violated international law, the focus in 2022 was on the war in Ukraine. This led to an energy crisis in Europe and the absurd situation that a Federal Economics Minister of the Greens in Qatar had to ask for gas. But there were also a number of other outstanding events that determined this year.
Two changes of Prime Minister and the death of the Queen brought Britain back to the headlines. Italy got a new head of government, France stuck to its president. The corona pandemic also continued to shape the year, at the end of which the abandonment of the zero Covid course shifted the focus to China.
war in Ukraine
On February 24, 2022, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine began. Russia fired the first rockets, people left their homes, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared a state of war across the country.
(Photo: IMAGO/NurPhoto)
At the very beginning of the war, Russian troops advanced on the capital, Kyiv. The worst war crimes are committed in the suburb of Bucha.
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call of energy
Economics Minister Robert Habeck (left) and Qatar’s Energy Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Kasim al-Abdullah Al Thani met in Doha to discuss possible gas supplies. Germany’s goal: independence from Russian gas.
Just seven months from planning to completion: in mid-December, Chancellor Scholz and Ministers Robert Habeck (left) and Christian Lindner (right) were able to inaugurate the first terminal for liquefied natural gas (LNG). Shortly thereafter, the first gas arrived in Wilhelmshaven.
(Photo: Bloomberg)
Turbulence due to a turbine
They do exist: For weeks there has been a dispute over the return of a Siemens turbine for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline that had been serviced in Canada. It was justified with Western sanctions that prevent imports to Russia. In August, Chancellor Olaf Scholz inspected the machine, which was now awaiting transport in Mülheim an der Ruhr.
The leak in the pipeline
In September, the Baltic Sea suddenly bubbled. Gas leaked from the two Nord Stream pipelines. Western experts assumed sabotage.
(Photo: IMAGO/UPI Photo)
Telsa and Twitter
In March, Elon Musk opened the Tesla plant in Grünheide together with Chancellor Scholz. According to the company, 8,500 people now work there. But media reports that the mood among the workforce is bad because the rapid ramp-up of the factory brings with it a lot of chaos.
(Photo: IMAGO/Political Moments)
But Musk made many more headlines: In October, the US billionaire bought the short message service Twitter for $44 billion. As one of the first official acts, he dismissed numerous employees and had the account of ex-US President Donald Trump unlocked again. Most recently, he asked his followers: “Should I resign as Twitter boss?” More than half of the answers were “yes”. Musk now actually wants to step down – if he can find a replacement for himself.
Macron continues
Emmanuel Macron remains President of France. In April, he defeated right-wing populist Marine Le Pen in the runoff. However, his camp fell short of an absolute majority in the parliamentary elections in June.
(Photo: IMAGO/Le Pictorium)
The death of the monarch
Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8th at the age of 96. Eleven days later the coffin was carried into St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Full platforms, full trains
With the nine-euro ticket, citizens could use buses and trains in local transport at a bargain price in summer. The unprecedented discount campaign was intended to compensate for the high energy prices.
(Photo: IMAGO/Manfred Segerer)
Appearance of the “Last Generation”
The “climate stickers” have been making headlines since the summer. The environmental activists block roads, bridges, highways. There is increasing criticism of the actions.
(Photo: IMAGO/Christian Grube)
Extract from Downing Street
In the summer, Boris Johnson was forced to bow to pressure from his party and resign as British Prime Minister.
(Photo: IMAGO/i Images)
Finally, Liz Truss became the new Prime Minister in Great Britain. The previous foreign minister was able to assert herself against ex-finance minister Rishi Sunak after an internal party selection process – albeit only for a short time. After six weeks in office, she resigned after sustained criticism of her economic policies. Her successor was: Rishi Sunak.
(Photo: AP)
Change of power in Rome
In September, Italy moved to the right: an alliance around Giorgia Meloni’s Fratelli d’Italia, Matteo Salvini’s Lega and Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia won the parliamentary elections. Meloni was finally the first woman in Italy to be sworn in as head of government.
A restaurant becomes a fortress made of ice
“Elliott” was the name of the arctic winter storm that hit Lake Erie in the US region of Buffalo particularly hard a few days ago. Dozens of people have died from the cold, and entire buildings have disappeared under the ice sheet.
Mullah regime in crisis
In September, Iranian Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini died in police custody. Her death plunged the Islamic Republic into the greatest political crisis in decades. Since then, people have been demonstrating against the repressive policies in Iran.
(Photo: IMAGO/ZUMA Wire)
Moving away from the zero Covid policy
In November, protests against the Chinese government’s corona measures broke out for the first time in China. Several people died in a high-rise building fire in the city of Urumqi. The anti-government protests were stifled – but the Corona policy was then relaxed.
Since this turnaround, the virus has been spreading rapidly in China. Almost 250 million people are said to have been infected by the end of the year. In many places, the clinics are already at the limit.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Qatar buys in
A corruption scandal shakes Brussels: The Belgian police arrest Eva Kaili, the Vice President of Parliament, and five other people. Several hundred thousand euros in cash are seized. According to investigators, Qatar is said to have tried to buy influence in Brussels. The Gulf state and Kaili’s lawyer deny the allegations.
(Photo: via REUTERS)
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