While these huge sums are deployed daily for military activities, hundreds of millions of people still lack access to basic food.

According to the UN World Food Programme, ending global hunger by 2030 could cost around $93 billion per year, which is less than 1% of what the world has spent on military budgets over the past decade.

Yet, the U.S. alone spends roughly $2.7–$3 billion per day on defence when annual budgets are broken down into daily figures.

In simple terms, a fraction of global military expenditure could fund large-scale hunger reduction programmes.

In fact, the same conflicts that drive military spending often worsen hunger directly by displacing populations and disrupting agriculture.

A UN Development Programme report warns that rising military budgets are “diverting resources from the very foundations of stability,” including food systems and development.

The Boston Consulting Group notes that investment in sustainable agriculture can be four times more cost-effective than direct food aid, yet it receives only a small share of global funding.

So could the U.S. “solve world hunger” by redirecting war spending?

Reallocating hundreds of billions of dollars could dramatically reduce hunger. But ending it entirely would require sustained global coordination, institutional reform and long-term investment beyond emergency feeding.

But although the world can afford to end hunger, is it willing to prioritise it?

While COVID-19 intensified the emotional strain, Gallup’s findings show that this trend predates the pandemic. The causes, researchers say, vary across regions, but one theme keeps emerging about technology and polarisation.

"So, if we look at things like the rates of worry, 39% of the people we interviewed in 2024 reported that they experienced a lot of worry the day before. When we first started tracking that data in 2006, it was only at 30% and so 9% of the global population is a big portion. And we see similar patterns for the other emotions —stress, physical pain, anger, and sadness — over that time frame. With a lot of those gains really coming in the last few years, and it's something that troubles me when I look at this data," Dan Foy thr Global Research Director at Gallup, told Global South World.

In many regions, particularly post-Soviet Eurasia, perceptions of safety have doubled over the last 20 years.

These are countries that have undergone significant political and social transformations, moving from instability toward greater structure and governance.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the sense of safety has slipped, from 58% to 53%, and in Latin America and the Caribbean, only half of the population says they feel safe walking alone at night.

With this paradox, the world has a long way to go in achieving a balance between the safety and emotional health of its people.

Watch the full interview attached to the story for more insight.

He highlighted that Ukraine’s three-month military incursion into Russian territory has stalled in this area, potentially due in part to North Korea’s reinforcement of Russian ranks.

The troops are believed to be embedded within Russian units, disguised as members of the Buryat ethnic group from the Russian Federation. The presence of North Korean soldiers on the frontlines has raised global concerns about the implications of Pyongyang’s military cooperation with Moscow. 

NATO officials stated on Friday, November 8, that the recent deployment of North Korean troops constitutes a "dangerous expansion" of the country's support for Russia's military operations in Ukraine.

But why are North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia? Analysts suggest that the North Korean regime sees the deployment as a chance to gain valuable combat experience and technical training for its military, one of the largest in the world, which boasts 1.2 million soldiers but lacks significant combat exposure.

Experts note that this arrangement could also offer North Korea an opportunity to test its military equipment in real-world conditions and gather intelligence on its performance. The development has not gone unnoticed by South Korea, a major arms supplier to Ukraine. 

Last month, CNN reported that South Korea hinted it might reconsider the level of military support it provides to Ukraine if the North Korean presence in Russia continues.

The tension between the Koreas remains high, with South Korea and North Korea still technically at war and separated by one of the world’s most heavily militarized borders. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, along with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, issued a joint statement in Seoul condemning the deployment of North Korean soldiers “in the strongest possible terms.” The statement highlighted worries that Russia might supply North Korea with materials and technology that could further Pyongyang’s military ambitions.

In a separate joint statement on November 6, the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the EU’s High Representative expressed strong condemnation of North Korea’s alleged deployment. The statement affirmed their “unwavering commitment to support Ukraine as it defends its freedom” and voiced concerns over the potential transfer of nuclear or missile-related technology from Russia to North Korea, which would violate United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs).

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the increasing military cooperation between the DPRK and Russia… We are also deeply concerned about the potential for any transfer of nuclear or ballistic missile-related technology from Russia to the DPRK in violation of the relevant UNSCRs. We urge the DPRK to stop assisting in Russia’s war of aggression,” the statement read.

In conclusion, the joint statement underscored the commitment of the allied nations to work closely with international partners to formulate a coordinated response to the latest development.

“I was really confused, like what?” she recalls. "But I took the chance. I realised I didn’t like sitting in class, and as time went by, I just felt like, I think this is what I want to do.”

From that moment on, she was unstoppable but even then, the spray can and blank wall idea had not yet clicked.

Her first taste of painting on walls came during her university years, on the walls of her friend’s room.

 “I asked my friend who had a nice room, can I paint your room? Because I asked my parents if I could paint my room and they were like no. That’s when I realised, this is fun. I’d like to try it again,” she said with a laugh.

And try she did. She found a community of street artists in her city, and before she knew it, she was painting her first wall on the street.

Redefining beauty

Through the years, street art became a means for Yessi to inspire change. She would not just splash and spray on walls but tell stories with her art.

She would paint characters with a blend of bright colours but the faces and skin of these characters, particularly women, will always be darker shades.

Yessi’s paintings did not show the typical slim, curvy-shaped women that the world has subtly come to accept as standard, she had them come in different sizes, shapes and skin colours.

What one may not know is that these paintings have a back story. Growing up, Yessi faced bullying because of her dark skin, which was considered quite far from the lighter complexions.

“In Indonesia, and many Asian countries, everyone expects you to have light skin. For many years, I was famous for being ‘the dark girl.’ My dad taught me to fight the bullying, and I tried to break the stigma in my art. Skin doesn’t need to be white or light cream. This is my colour, and I’m proud of it and I try to show that in my work.” She told GSW in an interview.

Through her art, she has inspired body positivity and confidence, urging women to embrace their natural appearance and reject society’s narrow standards of beauty.

Painting around the world

Yessi now travels the world as a mural artist with her partner Stan, sharing her story by painting on walls in Europe, Asia, and Africa.

She has painted more than 20 walls across 15 countries including a massive 160-square-meter piece in Serbia.

Yessi also promotes culture and diversity through her art by blending the stories of the local communities into the murals she creates.

“I ask the organisers about the local traditions before I paint. It helps me connect with the culture, and it shows in the art.”

Support for her work

Yessi says she has come to enjoy her work as a female street artist from Bali because of the support she has received.

Although she began with her own funding for Street Art Festivals she was invited to, the talented artist now has support from the Indonesian government and other private companies who sponsor her work.

“I got the support from the Indonesian government but also from private companies. So every year I tried to look for a festival in Europe and then I made a proposal and my agency in Jakarta helped me to, to find a sponsor,” she said.

International recognition and future plans

Yessi’s murals earned her a spot in the Forbes’ list of 30 under 30. With dreams of continuing her journey as a street artist, Yessi’s future is bright. She’s determined to show the world that Indonesian women can shine in the global street art scene.

“I want to encourage other girls to be brave. Just try. Even if you’re scared, there’s always a way.” Together with three friends, she’s started a Street Art Festival in Bali, hoping to create opportunities for other artists like herself.

“We provide everything the artists need, just like I’ve experienced abroad. Flights, accommodation, food, materials—all covered. I want them to feel supported and focus on creating their best work.”

She is currently working on the next edition scheduled for 2025.

Watch her full interview with GSW here:

The rise of social media and other visual platforms is shifting the narrative. In the past, women were often seen as secondary in male-dominated professions, but now, they are gaining visibility and influence.

For creative fields like the arts, Anusha is confident that female artists are finally able to showcase their talents on a larger scale. With platforms like social media, women can display their work and reach audiences in ways that were previously out of reach.

“I think especially now with this visual space that we have entered because of social media, we see women as being more at the centre stage. Even if we're talking about just musicians that are more celebrated now, like I think we see more because it is such a visual, visually driven media landscape that we are driving into,” Anusha Alamgir told Global South World.

“I think women now more than ever will have the time to call the shots. And I think being a woman artist in this day and age, it just will allow it, it will just continue to get progressively better for women.”

With the right tools and platforms to control their own narratives and show their work, Anusha is convinced that the contemporary woman has a bigger chance to call the shots in the professional world, rather than have to depend on men to do so.

Many Salvadorans have backed the government’s tough measures, hoping for an end to the violence that has plagued the country for years. Gangs in El Salvador have long controlled territories, engaged in extortion, and committed violent crimes, leaving entire communities under their influence.

However, reports from human rights organisations indicate that the crackdown has resulted in overcrowded and unsanitary prison conditions, with many detainees denied basic amenities. Critics argue that the campaign has led to arbitrary arrests, with innocent individuals swept up in the government's "war" against gangsters.

One such case is that of Yessica Mercedes, a 43-year-old seamstress whose family has been deeply affected by both gang violence and the government’s response.

Mercedes shared her story, revealing that one of her brothers was killed by gang members, while another was jailed during the government’s crackdown.

“I have a brother who died. I have funeral receipts that say he died because of the same criminal groups that lived there. He lost his life after being beaten until he was in a coma,” Mercedes told AFP.

She stressed that neither of her brothers was involved with gangs, saying her family had been caught between gang violence and the government’s aggressive anti-gang campaign. “I am not defending, or against, the government. What I want is for them to hand over my innocent brother. That's what I want: to be able to take care of him, give him his medication, have him in my home, take care of him myself. I don't want to take him out of prison in a coffin,” she added.

Antonio Zavala, a businessman who served a 13-month prison sentence for "aggravated fraud," echoed concerns about prison conditions. He disclosed to AFP, “Extortion no longer comes from the gangs (‘pandillas’), but from the government."

The government has detained over 85,000 adults and more than 3,000 minors aged 12 to 17 in its effort to combat gang violence. However, human rights groups estimate that a significant portion of those detained may be innocent. “Based on the numbers, we estimate that at least 30% of those on trial are innocent,” said Ingrid Escobar, director of Salvadoran NGO Socorro Juridico Humanitario.

In a 2023 BBC report , El Salvador's vice-president Felix Ulloa acknowledged that thousands of those arrested were likely not involved in gang-related crimes. Despite this, he defended the security measures, arguing that the crackdown has brought a level of peace that the country has not seen in years. "It's not perfect, but it's good. We've done something really good here," Ulloa told BBC.

For small-scale entrepreneurs like 58-year-old Lisebeth Ajayi, sachet water is a lifeline. A trader in Lagos's bustling Obalende market, she relies on selling sachet water as a primary source of income. "Those who can’t afford bottled water rely on the water sachets to use them to cook, wash themselves or bathe," she told AFP. "Some will cook or wash their hands when they are dirty with them, and for some, it's to drink."

However, the unchecked consumption of sachet water has resulted in a significant plastic waste crisis. Environmental activist Doyinsola Ogunye warned of the dire consequences: "Nigeria has a lot of plastic sachet water, and when there’s a lot, it starts to clog the drainages and causes flooding and malaria and so many other issues like that for the environment, public health as well," Ogunye also told AFP

The environmental impact extends beyond clogged drainage systems. The plastic waste also threatens marine life. "When it gets to the beach, we have animals like the fish that we eat, and aquatic life like sea turtles, now feed on these pure water nylons thinking it is food, and it kills them as well," she added. "The danger of one 'pure water' nylon in our environment causes so much disaster. I would say it's a cocktail for disaster when this 'pure water' nylon gets into our environment."

With plastic sachets taking 30 to 40 years to decompose, the problem is set to persist for decades, filling up landfills and contributing to land degradation. Climate Action Africa noted that these plastics not only occupy landfill space but also reduce water infiltration into the soil, accelerating environmental degradation.

Nanasi was designed to address the need for digital tools to manage inventory and payments. Initially serving restaurants, the app quickly expanded to a wider range of small and medium-sized enterprises.

As Nanasi evolved, Mativo recognised a new challenge, businesses needed better tools to forecast customer behaviour and optimise their inventory and pricing strategies. This insight led him to launch Duck, a data analytics company that helps larger businesses make informed decisions based on real-time data.

"And what we do is that we provide real-time data to large businesses to help them figure out you know, how to price their products as well as where to distribute the products," Mativo told Global South World in an interview.

A report from Edge Delta states that most businesses analyse  37% to 40%  of their data, and 97.2% of companies invest in big data solutions.

According to Mativo, Duck was birthed from a mixture of conversations with businesses as well as, being able to identify that there was a problem, that businesses needed to solve.

He found that many companies struggled to access the data necessary for effective pricing and distribution. Duck’s mission is to bridge this gap, providing actionable insights that help businesses refine their strategies.

"As a good entrepreneur, I believe you should be able to identify opportunities. So how I identified this opportunity was through customer feedback," he explained.

"So, for example, think of a product like Coca-Cola that's being sold in a market like Africa. Coca-Cola would struggle to price its product competitively, given that there are other you know, consumer brands or drinks in the market. It would also struggle to know where exactly they should distribute those products." Mativo added. "So what I realised was there was an information gap or a data gap where businesses don't really have an accurate picture of their products and competition in the market."

Mativo was surprised to find a strong demand for data-driven insights, a shift from his initial scepticism about whether businesses would invest in intangible assets like data.

Two-thirds of C-level executives at least sometimes ignore data and make decisions based on intuition, according to The Alation State of Data Culture Report .

"So it makes sense to sell a physical product to a business. However, when you think of an intangible asset like data you're not really sure whether businesses can actually pay money for information. So I was surprised that businesses are actually willing to pay for information about their products," Mativo expressed his disbelief.

Through Duck, Mativo is not just offering a service but empowering businesses with the tools they need to succeed.

Watch the full interview:

Isayaku Musa, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer believes that the startup’s innovative solutions hold great potential. “With drones, you can reduce the traditional method of farming, whereby you use tractors and other things, where you emit carbon dioxide and other unwanted air pollutants into the environment… You can minimise that. That is part of the mitigation aspect of climate change,” Musa explained in an interview with Global South World.

Despite their vision, Vora Robotics has struggled to thrive due to a lack of financial support. After initially raising 3 million Naira (approximately $1,920) with five co-founders, the startup has faced difficulties in securing grants or additional funding.

According to Musa, this lack of investment hampers their ability to fully realise the potential of their climate-smart agricultural technology.

The absence of government support contrasts sharply with promises made during Nigeria’s 2023 elections. President Bola Tinubu’s manifesto vowed to support innovation and entrepreneurship by transforming Nigeria into a nation of creators rather than consumers.

The commitment to fostering economic growth through manufacturing and invention raised hopes among startups like Vora Robotics. However, since taking office in May 2023, Tinubu’s administration has been met with widespread criticism over economic challenges, inflation, and unsatisfactory policies.

Frustration culminated in the #EndBadGovernance protests that swept across the country from August 1 to August 10, 2024. These protests, driven by economic hardship and dissatisfaction, had severe consequences for businesses.

For Vora Robotics, the unrest led to a complete halt in operations. “We have not even resumed to the office because of a fear of the unknown,” Musa said at the time of the interview.

Operating out of Kaduna in northern Nigeria, the team has been particularly affected by the protests, which turned violent in many areas. “The protests have gone to the level whereby you can be injured… They can even kill you, if I'm not mistaken, because a lot of people lost their lives because of this protest,” Musa disclosed.

The company continue to face significant obstacles, from financial constraints to security challenges. Yet, Musa remains hopeful that with the right support and investment, their drones could revolutionise agriculture in Nigeria.

Watch the full interview:

LenoKids, a WhatsApp Chatbot learning platform is an early childhood education start-up powered by South African students in partnership with the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in South Africa.

Sange Mafinyongwana, the platform's Chief Executive Officer in an interview with Global South World's Edward Sakyi, shared that the project was born out of the 2022 MTN Digital Innovation Programme which looked to provide solutions to some of the social problems in health , education and agriculture.

"We were part of the 2022 MTN Digital Innovation Programme... Looking to address social issues within our communities... Those three sectors were mainly education, health and agriculture. Due to the passion that I have and with my team within the education space, we then looked at finding or addressing a problem within the education sector," Sange said.

It was on their journey to solve some educational sector problems they discovered an alarming statistic that "81% of fourth graders in South Africa could not read for meaning."

"If learners cannot read for meaning at the foundation phase, can you now just imagine in terms of how that will affect their future careers as they grow up?" he added. The group, according to Sange, while trying to find why this problem existed came up with LenoKids.

"We wanted parents to be involved in their child's learning journey by more or less creating a WhatsApp innovative platform that is driven by an AI that is educationally based and trained to more or less make learning and reading fun and engaging for learners by creating content that will be gamified and that will be aligned with the school curriculum," Sange explained.

Commenting on why the team opted for WhatsApp, Sange emphasised: "In South Africa, over 80% of cell phone users have WhatsApp. It's one of the communication channels that's being used mostly in South Africa. We saw a niche unique value proposition of us developing the platform on WhatsApp because it's already an on-use platform. And with terms of data, it won't be more or less a challenge for parents to use or give their children access to data."

"Utilising WhatsApp was more or less a good strategy for us by saying, we don't need to worry about accessibility. They are already using WhatsApp. We don't need to worry about data. Parents already use WhatsApp with their data. And then we don't need to compete with other apps," he added.

In a 2021 report on Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), South Africa ranked last with 288 points against 500 points in a global assessment to monitor the progress of literacy and reading comprehension of 9 and 10-year-olds.

BBC reports that the country's minister at the time, Angie Motshekga, blamed the low score on the closure of schools during the pandemic.

She also added "Reading instruction often focuses solely on oral performance, neglecting reading comprehension and making sense of written words" as a contributing factor.

Watch the full interview below:

Beyond the effects of climate change, coffee production itself contributes to the carbon footprint. So, while a cup of coffee can bring a lot of joy, the rising temperatures, lack of rainfall, and humidity are all reducing the growth and production of the crop.

Simply put, there’s high demand for coffee but less supply, which means you either need more money to buy it or be prepared to change your coffee-drinking habits.

This gap in the market is what motivated Prefer CEO and Founder Jake Berber and his Co-founder, the "Fermentation Prince" Ding Jie Tan, to create bean-free coffee.

Together, they introduced Asia’s first bean-free coffee in 2022, a product that has become the leading alternative to traditional coffee on the market.

“We use bread, soy, and barley from local manufacturers here to create coffee flavours via our fermentation process. And after we ferment it, we roast it and then we grind it up into coffee grounds,” Berber told GSW.

“It is the real deal. It tastes just like coffee. It gives the same experience as drinking coffee and, if you want, it gives that same kick or caffeine that coffee does. We're just able to create coffee in a more affordable and sustainable way,” he added.

Prefer currently works with several businesses in Singapore, including cafes and restaurants, that are happy to integrate their bean-free coffee into their operations to reduce costs and their carbon footprint.

Watch the full interview below:

These shirts, worn untucked and without a jacket, remain popular among South African politicians, continuing to make a statement a decade after Mandela's passing.

Known affectionately as Madiba in South Africa, the clan name of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, these shirts symbolize more than just clothing, they represent a commitment to Mandela's principles and legacy.

"Anybody who wants to live a Mandela legacy or who wants to live Mandela ethos in life, guess what they are doing? They will go and pick up Madiba shirts. The similar thing that is done by the politicians," Ndamase said.

Ndamase, a self-taught designer, has counted among his clients South Africa's current president, Cyril Ramaphosa, and former presidents Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma. Ministers, government officials, and local politicians regularly commission his creations. Even international figures like former US President Bill Clinton and boxing legend Mike Tyson have been seen in Madiba shirts.

"It has moved now from one generation to another. I've taught quite a number of young and upcoming designers about the Madiba shirt," he added.

Ndamase vividly remembers the moment when Winnie Mandela contacted him shortly after Nelson Mandela's release from prison in 1990. Mandela, who had spent 27 years behind bars for his anti-apartheid activism, needed clothing suitable for addressing corporate leaders and the general public without the formality of a tie.

"It must be something that, when he's with other statesmen, he can be identified, among other statemen, without the tie," Ndamase recalled.

Meeting Mandela at his home in Johannesburg's Soweto, Ndamase crafted a unique style: loose-fitting silk shirts adorned with bold, oriental-inspired patterns. These shirts, available in deep colours like burgundy and royal blue or earthy tones depicting natural elements, became synonymous with Mandela's distinctive fashion sense and non-conformist style.

Now 64 years old, Ndamase is passing on his expertise to a new generation of designers. In September, he will travel to New York to host a masterclass for young designers and present his Vukani brand's latest collection at an event celebrating 30 years of democracy in South Africa.

Born in Mdantsane on South Africa's southeastern coast, Ndamase continues to find fulfilment in his Johannesburg workshop, where each stitch he sews contributes to his lifelong dedication to preserving Mandela's legacy. "It's a dream come true, he said. It's a legacy collection."