A Return to the Moon; UV Radiation Alert in Summer; MINSA Warns of Skin Cancer Risks; Sun Protection Key Amid Extreme Heat.

Friday, January 30, 2026. A Return to the Moon Outside the norm of my page-turning, I recently looked into the philosphy of François-Marie Arouet known more readily as “Voltaire”, an 18th century, philosopher during a time of Enlightenment.  Voltaire consistently argued that: •          excessive emotion clouds judgment •          reason allows distance, perspective, even humor •          tragedy is intensified by unexamined feeling He is atributed to saying “Life is a tragedy for those who feel, and a comedy for those who think.”  (There appears to be just too darn much feeling and not enough thinking.) Much of what dominates our attention today lies outside our control; public outrage, political division, and the constant demand for reaction. The disciplined mind learns to step back from such noise and focus instead on what is lasting, purposeful, and worthy of effort. Today, with little fanfare, humanity is preparing to return to the Moon. Not as an exercise in pride, nor as an escape from earthly concerns, but as a deliberate act of exploration and preparation. This modern space program is seldom discussed, yet it reflects a quiet commitment to reason, patience, and progress measured over generations rather than moments. Exploration undertaken with humility serves a greater good. It requires cooperation, restraint, and acceptance of difficulty, not for applause, but because it is right to advance knowledge and capability where we can. In times marked by polarization, such shared endeavors remind us that common purpose does not require uniform thought. To lift our gaze upward is not to ignore the world before us, but to gain proper perspective within it. Progress, when guided by reason and responsibility, remains possible. And in choosing to build rather than react, to prepare rather than despair, we affirm a simple truth: duty fulfilled in service of the future is never wasted. Brett Mikkelson Director, B.M. Investigations, Inc. – Private Investigations in Panama TOP NEWS and TIDBITS: European Commission Tightens Its Visa Policy and Links It to Cooperation on Returns The European Commission (EC) adopted on Thursday the European Union’s (EU) first-ever visa strategy, which entails stricter conditions for visa issuance and links it to various factors, such as cooperation by third countries on returns and readmissions. The strategy also envisages the suspension, refusal, or restriction of visas for states that carry out hostile actions undermining EU security, and places strong emphasis on attracting talent and using advanced digital tools for visa management. “With this strategy, we are putting Europe in order, with stronger borders and more effective returns,” said the European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, at a press conference. One of the pillars of the plan, the Commission explained, is strengthening EU security through stricter oversight of existing visa-free regimes “in order to ensure continued compliance and prevent the misuse of visa-free travel.” The EU maintains agreements with several countries—including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, the United States, Canada, Japan, and South Korea—allowing their nationals to travel to the Schengen area without requiring a visa. The strategy also foresees amendments to Article 25a, which links visa policy to third-country cooperation on the readmission of irregular migrants, enabling the EU to adopt specific measures in cases of insufficient cooperation on returns and readmissions. Among these possible targeted restrictive measures are “the suspension, refusal, or restriction of visa applications in response to hostile actions by third countries that undermine EU security,” as well as the introduction of new measures to strengthen the security of travel documents in order to combat fraud. The strategy is also aimed at adopting new measures to attract and retain talent, making what the EC described as “legitimate travel” “easier, faster, and more predictable for tourists and business travelers.” Some of these measures include new digital procedures, such as the simplification and partial automation of pre-departure checks for visa-exempt travelers starting in the fourth quarter of 2026, the creation of multiple-entry visas, and improved conditions for talent, including the consideration of new legal frameworks for entrepreneurs, professors, and students. READ ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE Moody’s: This Is the Year When Panama’s Credit Rating Is Decided—Either It Moves to Stable or Is Downgraded In an exclusive interview, Jaime Reusche, the new lead analyst for Panama’s rating, speaks about expectations, what has been done right, and the important role the National Assembly will play. “We do not believe there is any reason to go beyond this year to determine whether Panama remains investment grade with a stable outlook or loses its investment-grade status and is downgraded,” said Jaime Reusche, the new lead analyst for Panama’s rating at Moody’s. When Panama managed to maintain its investment-grade rating of Baa3 at Moody’s Ratings last November, the sense of relief was evident. The decision came at a time of high fiscal tension, with a deficit that had widened significantly in 2024. Although efforts were made in 2025, they were not sufficient to fully resolve the situation. The rating was maintained, but with a clear warning: the negative outlook remained in place and needed to be addressed. That definition will come this year. And it does not depend solely on the Executive Branch; according to the rating agency, the National Assembly will play an important role. The person now directly responsible for evaluating Panama is Jaime Reusche, an analyst with more than a decade at Moody’s, who recently assumed leadership of the country’s sovereign rating as part of a regular rotation process required by the U.S. regulator. He replaced Renzo Merino, who had covered Panama for 11 years. “The U.S. regulator always requires these responsibilities to be rotated from time to time to have fresh eyes looking at a country,” Reusche explained in an exclusive interview with SNIP Noticias from New York. Moody’s sees clear progress, but also a test that has yet to be fully passed: the country’s ability to act as an investment-grade sovereign when facing fiscal stress. Panama’s fiscal deficit declined from 7.3% to an estimated 4.4% in 2025, slightly higher than the government’s own projection