Global warming is a major issue, that is undeniable. As the Arctic ice caps melt at an alarming rate, we see overwhelmingly negative consequences, such rising sea levels, disrupted ecosystems, and loss of animal habitats. However, amid this environmental crisis, a new economic opportunity has appeared from the melting ice, particularly for Russia, which could reshape global power dynamics.

In recent years, we have seen the rise to what some are calling a modern version of the Eurasian Silk Road. The Northern Sea Route (NSR), a shipping lane that follows the Russian Arctic coastline, and has become a viable, and less dangerous, alternative to the Suez Canal. This route drastically shortens the travel time between Europe and Asia; according to the Arctic Institute, the passage from Japan to Europe takes only 10 days, compared to the traditional southern route, which takes 22 days.

Before, this passage was inaccessible in winter months due to thick ice layers. Yet in 2017, a Russian oil tanker travelled across the arctic without needing an icebreaker. According to the Northern Sea Route Administration, cargo traffic along the NSR has multiplied by 10 since 2013, further demonstrating the growing importance of this passage.
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However, this development is not just about trade. In the context of a world post the invasion of Ukraine, the Northern Sea Route represents a strategic advantage for Russia. The country can leverage its control over this vital route to assert its influence on the global stage by strictly monitoring the passageway.

On the other hand, the melting arctic may make Russia vulnerable to attacks on its once impenetrable northern barrier; this paranoid reasoning justifies the major increase in military in northern Russia.

With high tensions between Russia and NATO, the increasing importance of the passage and the exposed northern Russian coastline could further strain relations. Even though the relations between arctic countries have been relatively peaceful, since the invasion of Ukraine, a colder war seems to be emerging. NATO's response to an increasingly powerful Russia will be crucial in determining the future stability of the Arctic region and global geopolitics.

For us here in Brazil, the Arctic might seem distant and disconnected from our lives, yet the geopolitical shifts occurring there influence international trade to global security everywhere. Whether you agree with Russian policies or not, it is essential to acknowledge the country’s growing geopolitical influence. Brazil, as part of the BRICS alliance, shares some economic and political interests with Russia. BRICS aims to create a more balanced global order, countering Western dominance, so it is important for Brazil to carefully navigate these tense times, considering all aspects, even environmental ones. While our direct involvement in the Arctic is limited, the broader implications for international relations are something we must not ignore.

If you unlock your phone and enter any of the many famous social media applications, it’s almost certain that at some point, you’ll find a video related to AI. Sometimes, they’re ads – marketing and demonstrating an AI tool. Others, however, are videos completely produced by AI tools, with the occasional helping human hand to navigate the programs to create an intuitive video. The global community has affixed to AI almost like a drug, and its widespread pointless use is infecting the world, day by day. It has been a topic that we were all aware existed previously, but it was almost like a switch flipped, and suddenly everyone became so attached to it; so viciously addicted to the laziness of “making AI generate it for me”.


It is impossible to talk about AI without stating the largest technological celebrity of the past year: ChatGPT. The project was released on November 30th, 2022, and is continuously being developed by OpenAI as more and more users ask questions daily and feed it with data. The basic pillars in which ChatGPT (3.5) lies are known as the artificial neural network, which is the digital system by which Artificial Intelligence becomes intelligent. Basically, there are different inputs given to an AI, and so through different processes and research (neural network), the AI outputs processed information.


The main difference between ChatGPT and the outdated AI tools available in the 2010s is that OpenAI’s usage of processes in neural networks became much more reliable. The increased funding for research caused improved neural networks, which got better and better once more information and raw data were given to analyse. For instance, the amount of data given to process and study ChatGPT 3.0 was about 570GB of data, a number which has grown for the ChatGPT successors (3.5 and 4). Overall, the large investment made more research, development, and data accessible to develop the language models.


The largest difference between the ChatGPT versions is their versatility. Even with ChatGPT 3.5’s incredible processing, the variety of different tools incorporated into ChatGPT 4.0 made its growth become exponential, always ‘feeding it’ new sets of data. Eventually, the larger investment, research, testing, and ‘feeding’ of different language models catalysed the development of different AI tools. Nowadays, AI is everywhere. It went from a powerful testing tool to a practicality in everyday life. The development of AI in the international population is truly fascinating, as it is now used for corrections, image generation, image correction, sound creation, video generation, and many other purposes – all derived from the ‘antique’ purpose of generating a simple text. Of course, we have to be careful – these language models are continuously in training and development, therefore there is still a considerable presence of ‘hallucinations’ and everyday errors where AI tools drift off into their own neural network calculations, ignoring the given data.


With the popular global immersion into AI, a sizeable sentiment of fear has lay upon the world. The augmented development of AI is becoming almost unrecognisable, thus showing everyone that AI might take up most jobs. If mastered to perfection, a robot can do everything a human can do, but better, as there is no margin for technical error. The flaws seen in modern AI tools are all sourced from their code, not their ability to follow it. If all codes are perfectly amended, there are probably no jobs that can escape from AI’s domain. Even so, AI might even develop itself, creating a possibility of a dystopian future where AI is better than us. Elon Musk has previously shown interest in the concept of UBI (Universal basic income), which would grant humans a basic income policy independent of any factors (unconditional), which would still make the human economy and lifestyle exist after a supposed rule of AI, if it were to replace the human race.


In summary, AI has been catalysed in modern times by investment, research, and development – a process that has led to the creation of a variety of specific AI tools. Even with modern mistakes in AI code, there is an expectancy that AI will still develop in the future, possibly threatening the use of the human race.

“We moved to a dead-end road,” says Daniel Labarge. A beer is lodged in the cup holder of his tractor as he goes about his Friday-afternoon chores. “Nice, calm, quiet. Then all of a sudden it blew up.” Mr Labarge’s farm in Champlain, New York, is within spitting distance of America’s northern border. A few years ago his unassuming street, Roxham Road, became a destination for migrants crossing north into Canada. Now, he says, the foot traffic is coming from the other direction.


Migration across America’s borders has long been a central issue in national security and policy debates, primarily the southern border. Yet while the country’s attention has been on the Rio Grande, some migrant flows have shifted. Ever more people are trying to get to America via its border with Canada. While the focus has traditionally been on the southern border, recent trends have revealed a significant shift in migration patterns, with the northern border, particularly along the Swanton Sector, emerging as a new focal point for illegal crossings. This change underscores the fluid nature of migration and presents new challenges for managing the world's longest land border.


The Swanton Sector, a 295-mile stretch of borderlands covering parts of eastern New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire, has become the epicenter of this surge. The area has seen a dramatic increase in migrant encounters, with nearly 19,500 recorded this fiscal year, up from roughly 900 in 2021. This increase, though smaller in scale compared to the southern border, highlights the complexities of managing this vast and diverse border region.


Geography helps explain why migrants are drawn to the Swanton Sector. They can travel south from Montreal, cross the border near Champlain and catch a bus to New York City. Dozens of migrants gather at the Greyhound stop in Plattsburgh, New York, where they huddle in a cramped shelter and await the bus. Soraya Seiden, who lives in town, hands out water and snacks every day. “It gets cold here soon…and daylight diminishes,” she says, “You see young girls, young men with their suitcase out there waiting in the dark.”


Robert Garcia, the agent in charge of the Swanton Sector, reported that more migrants were apprehended in his territory over ten months than in the previous 13 years combined. The majority of these migrants hail from Mexico and India, drawn to this region by its relatively accessible geography and proximity to major urban centers like Montreal and New York City. Smuggling networks, which facilitate these crossings, have capitalized on the northern border's perceived permeability, arranging everything from flights to Toronto or Montreal to transportation to the border and pickup vehicles on the other side. The cost for these services can range from $1,500 to $35,000.


The crossing is not without risks. There are no walls up here, but the borderlands where America and Canada meet are vast and rural. Dense forests surround fields of corn and wheat. The winter cold can be deadly. The frigid bodies of migrants are sometimes found on both sides, as evidenced by the tragic story of Ana Karen Vasquez-Flores, a Mexican migrant who drowned while attempting to cross into the United States via the Great Chazy River. Her death is a stark reminder of the dangers migrants face even in areas perceived as safer alternatives to the southern border.


The surge in northern border crossings has not only strained law enforcement resources but also affected local communities. Residents like Kyle Koss, who lives near the border, have observed an increase in migrants passing through their properties, often leaving behind discarded belongings. While local authorities have not reported a significant rise in crime, some residents have expressed concerns about safety, with a few taking additional precautions, such as carrying firearms.


Despite these concerns, data consistently shows that undocumented immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than U.S.-born citizens. A study co-led by Northwestern University economist Elisa Jácome, which analyzed 150 years of U.S. Census data, found that immigrants are 60% less likely to be incarcerated than native-born citizens. This finding challenges the narrative often used to justify stricter immigration controls and highlights the positive contributions immigrants make to American society.


As the Biden administration grapples with these new challenges, it has responded by tightening asylum procedures and increasing deportations at the northern border. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains uncertain, and the situation continues to evolve.


In navigating these challenges, it is crucial that policymakers base their decisions on facts rather than fear. The surge in northern border crossings is a complex issue that requires a holistic approach to immigration policy — one that acknowledges both the security concerns and the invaluable contributions of immigrants to the United States. Balancing these considerations will be key to effectively managing America’s borders in the years to come.