The war in Ukraine, the death of Elizabeth, the protests for Mahsa, the Qatargate: the facts in the world of 2022

2022 is coming to an end. A year of successes and momentous events, but also conflicts and tragedies.

A year to retrace, also in images, through the news of UnioneSarda.it.

Second stage: the main foreign affairs.

Un carro armato co la Z, simbolo dell'offensiva russa (Ansa-Epa)

On February 24, the specter of war threatens Europe again. Vladimir Putin's Russia , after months of threats, takes action: Moscow's troops invade Ukraine , provoking a reaction from Kiev. And the Eastern European state of 43 million inhabitants becomes the scene of a bloody conflict , still ongoing.

The EU takes a stand by siding with the Ukrainian people, to whom arms are being sent to defend themselves against aggression. At the same time, the leaders of the Kremlin, as well as the main tycoons and the main Russian companies are hit by heavy sanctions . And there are thousands and thousands of refugees welcomed in the EU states , including Italy.

Over the months the bombings multiplied and the troops of Moscow also ended up under accusation for the massacres perpetrated against the civilian population , such as that of Bucha, north of Kiev, which arouses horror and horror.

In the autumn Putin pushes his hand further, with a series of farce-referendums in the occupied Donbass , with which Moscow intends to annex the invaded territories.

But the Ukrainian resistance, backed by the EU and the US, does not give up. And Kiev's army manages to counterattack, freeing many cities and even hitting Russia in its own territory.

Also in the fall, the world comes to the brink of World War III . On November 15 "pieces of missiles" fall in Poland , across the Ukrainian border. The first reports speak of "rockets launched by Russia". Has Moscow really attacked a NATO state, risking triggering the activation of article 5 of the Alliance which provides for mutual protection and, therefore, the entry into the war of the EU and the USA? It will turn out not. But for one night the world is held in suspense.

The end of the conflict is not yet in sight. And the hope for 2023 is that they can resume negotiations, started and immediately interrupted, to achieve peace.

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ELON MUSK BUYS TWITTER

The first rumors about a possible, sensational change of ownership of Twitter arrive in April. The rumors speak of Elon Musk , the American tycoon and former owner of Tesla. And, after the rumors, comes the official.

The figures filtering through are mind-boggling: over 40 million dollars. However, a back and forth with the shareholders begins, but in the end Musk takes over the social network in the autumn, announcing great news for users. Then surprisingly, in December, Musk himself launched the survey among users: "Should I resign as CEO?". And 57.5% of voters answered yes.

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FRANCE RE-ELECTS MACRON

Macron con la moglie Brigitte (Ansa-Epa)

Also in April, Emmanuel Macron wins the presidential elections and is confirmed as president of the French Republic for another five years.

As in the previous round, Macron defeated Conservative leader Marine Le Pen in the runoff.

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THE MURDER OF SHINZO ABE

Japan mourns Shinzo Abe on July 8, 2022. The former Japanese premier, leader of the Conservative Party, in office from 2006 to 2007 and then from 2012 to 2020, was killed during a rally in the city of Nara.

Tetsuya Yamagami , a 41-year-old former soldier, shot Abe with a do-it-yourself pistol, according to whom Abe was to blame for having cleared customs in Japan, the unification church, a religious movement born in Korea in the 1950s.

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LONDON, BORIS JOHNSON RESIGNS

In the summer, the political crisis in Great Britain comes to a head. Boris Johnson , for months at the center of controversy and scandals, such as that of the parties during the lockdowns for Covid, is resigning and also leaving the leadership of the Conservative party.

Liz Truss is appointed in her place, but her stay in Downing Street lasts a few weeks: the changes to the tax laws are fatal. And so on 25 October Rishi Sunak , a 42-year-old of Indian origin and a rising star of the Tories, is sworn in as prime minister.

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GORBACHEV GOODBYE

At the end of August, at the age of 91, Mikhail Gorbachev , the last leader of the Soviet Union, the Russian president who initiated Perestroika, effectively ending the Cold War and paving the way for the Fall of the Berlin Wall, died. At the funeral home for the last farewell, also Vladimir Putin.

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THE LAST GREETING TO QUEEN ELIZABETH

On September 8, dies at Balmoral, Scotland, at the age of 96, of which 70 years spent on the throne, Elizabeth II , Queen of England.

The news plunges the United Kingdom into mourning and triggers the plan called "London Bridge is down", a long and articulated ceremonial to give a final farewell to the sovereign and guarantee the succession.

Elizabeth's coffin thus makes a long journey through the Kingdom, live on world television and with millions of subjects pouring into the streets to pay homage to her, until her final burial in Windsor. The scepter passes to the eldest son Charles, who assumes the name of Charles III .

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IRAN, PROTESTS IN THE NAME OF MAHSA

Also in September, the shocking story of Masha Amini explodes, the 22-year-old girl killed during a police detention in Iran .

To take over the agents of the "moral police" of Tehran , to rebuke her after having caught her not wearing the veil correctly. But during the arrest the young woman is brutally beaten until she dies.

After the incident, protests and clashes against the authorities of the Islamic Republic are triggered throughout the country, with thousands of people taking to the streets to demand greater freedom and rights.

The repression of protesters lasts, with hundreds of arrests and sentences , including capital punishment.

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BRAZIL, LULA RETURNS PRESIDENT

At the end of October Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva returns to lead Brazil. The leader of the left was re-elected president in the ballot, winning around 51% of the preferences, against 49% obtained by the outgoing president, leader of the right, Jair Bolsonaro . A narrow victory that allows Lula to celebrate winning his third term at the Palácio do Planalto in Brasilia.

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TRUMP'S ANNOUNCEMENT: «I'M RE-AND-AND-IN»

On November 15, despite the pending investigations into him (for the assault on the Capitol) and his companies (for tax crimes), Donald Trump announced his intention to run again in the Republican primaries. The goal is to run for the 2024 presidential elections to return to the House and – ipse dixit – «go back to making America great».

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QATARGATE, THE SHADOW OF CORRUPTION ON THE EU

The year ends with a scandal that overwhelms the EU institutions. The Brussels prosecutor's office opens an investigation into an alleged round of bribes paid by Qatar to influence the decisions of the European Parliament on visas and to block motions to condemn the failure to respect human rights. Prominent names also end up in prison, such as Eva Kaili , Greek vice president of the European Parliament, and Antonio Panzeri , former MEP of Pd and Article 1.

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