What Do You Remember of the News in Week 2 of 2024?

Immigrants, Antarctic ice shelf, electric vehicles, the Queen of Denmark, and more news of 2024.

Week 2 (January 8-14, 2024):

Monday, January 8, 2024: French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne resigns amid political turmoil over immigration reform.

That afternoon, I made a long walk through the wetlands on the Dutch island and captured a magnificent sunset reflected in the still waters. The handful of tourists who had visited the island for the Christmas and New Year's festivities had all departed, leaving behind a beautiful silence.

Occasionally, I heard the soft cry of a migrating bird that had broken its ancestor's traditions to migrate to warmer climate zones in the south.

Trees and plants will envy the birds' mobility, which increases their resilience on this warming planet.

Tuesday, January 9, 2024: Scientists report 2023 was the hottest year on record, with global temperatures 1.48°C above pre-industrial levels.

We now know what we expected then: the record has only worsened since. One of the most striking changes I noticed on the island is the intensification of weather extremes. They won't make global headlines, but we have had extremely dry summers and very wet winters. This winter was one of them.

Getting to this spot to capture the water on the fields was a challenge because of the soggy grounds. I missed capturing the image of a hare leaping away at remarkable speed. Still, I was rewarded with this scenery: a landscape of centuries-old agricultural fields now reclaimed by nature.

I saw a hare running away at such speed that I couldn't capture it, but I considered this view of agricultural fields from centuries ago that have been given back to nature as a nice reward. I framed this late afternoon photo using the stark, bare branches at a low angle.

Wednesday, January 10, 2024: A new study reveals accelerated melting of Antarctic ice shelves, raising concerns about sea level rise.

Far away from Antarctica, this study's conclusions will also impact us. The history of this island reads like a collection of stories about the surrounding waters. The sea brought wealth through trade and fishing, but the sea also created countless disasters when parts of the island, including a dozen villages, were washed away.

History doesn't end with the building of proper dikes and other water infrastructure in the second half of the 20th century. Sea levels will rise, and we will need to prepare for that. This photo is of the former city hall of Zierikzee.

Thursday, January 11, 2024: U.S. researchers developed a new battery technology that could significantly extend the range of electric vehicles.

I found an early 20th-century photograph of a street in Zierikzee and decided to revisit the location to capture a modern version. The original photo is at the top, while my recent shot is below. I applied a sepia filter to the new image.

In my version, taken with an iPhone, the buildings in the distance appear farther away than in the original. This effect is due to the difference in focal length between the cameras used. The difference sparked quite a debate on social media, although my primary intention was to show how well-preserved this charming city is. Note the 17th-century city hall you will recognize from the previous photo.

Friday, January 12, 2024: Conservationists report a significant increase in monarch butterfly populations in Mexico.

As you would expect, I didn't see any butterflies in January. I walked to the south shore, where the former top of the lighthouse now serves as a small office next to a fish restaurant at the small harbor.

Saturday, January 13, 2024: A rare 'ring of fire' solar eclipse was visible across North and South America, drawing millions of spectators.

I didn't see the ring of fire but enjoyed this beautiful sun reflection on a thin layer of ice on one of the dune lakes.

Sunday, January 14, 2024: Denmark's Queen Margrethe II abdicates, and her son Frederik X ascends to the throne.

I took this photo that Sunday: the empty main street in Renesse, a beach resort on the island's northwest corner. In the summer, this street is so crowded with pedestrians that biking is prohibited.

What are your memories (or photos) of the second week of this year?

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This was the first newsletter in this series: