After the difficult and agonizing years of arch-conservative majorities in Western Europe, citizens and governments are reconsidering a different possible future. But hundreds of thousands of people on the streets and younger and fresh politicians have made this happen. The standard of living in Western Europe could not be maintained, but it has stabilized and thus reduced the fears of many people. Advances in hydrogen and fusion technology have prevented energy prices from rising exorbitantly. Eastern and Western Europe have come closer together and agreed to jointly exploit Ukrainian resources. Political and economic unrest in Russia has caused a further partial disintegration of the Russian Union. North Africa has calmed down somewhat and is looking to the future with more optimism. Now that the USA no longer supports Israel on a massive scale, Israel has to conclude a ceasefire and, after tough negotiations, finally make peace with its neighbors. The reconstruction of the regions around Israel is co-financed by the oil states, which want to profit from a calmer region.