According to Mexico’s Interior Ministry, “Nearly 30,000 people were killed last year, marking the worst year [for homicides] recorded in Mexico… But security analysts have cast doubt on the government figure, saying it’s likely much worse” (Deutsche Welle, January 21, 2018). The government figure is based on the number of murder cases opened by authorities, not on the actual number of murders.

“The Next War” is the title of a recent article in the Economist magazine (January 25, 2018) that examines the changing relationship between the United States, China, Russia, Europe and other nations, and how the U.S. seems to have overlooked or ignored those relationships. The article also notes how decades of neglected military research and development is placing the U.S.

Most people have not been inside a jail. It’s not a place that anyone in their right mind wants to be. Yet, jails are filling up and new ones can’t be built fast enough. Local, state, and federal penal systems are strained beyond capacity, and they struggle for increases in their budgets to meet the demands placed upon their institutions.

On Saturday, January 13, Hawaiian residents received the warning on their phones: “Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill.” Hawaii’s Emergency Management Agency sent this false alarm in error when someone “pushed the wrong button.” Nevertheless, it caused widespread fear and panic!

Imagine yourself receiving a similar message! What would you do?

Last week, Jamaica’s Prime Minister proclaimed a state of emergency due to extreme violence related to the lottery in the northwest corner of the island nation. According to reports published in the Jamaica Gleaner on January 19 and January 21, there were over 330 murders in St.