January 2026 - Georgia times

Italy: How family enterprises plan succession without disrupting strategic direction

Economy

Strategic Succession Planning in Italy’s Family-Owned Companies

Family-owned enterprises hold a predominant place within the Italian private sector, both in scale and cultural weight. Research and academic analyses suggest that these family-run companies make up a substantial…

How are higher-for-longer interest rates changing portfolio construction?

Investments and Business

Interest Rate Hikes: A New Playbook for Portfolio Management

Claude Sophia Merlo Lookman

Interest rates that stay elevated for an extended period reshape the investment landscape. Central banks have signaled a willingness to keep policy rates higher to control inflation and maintain financial…

Investments and Business

Private-sector hiring slumped in January, adding just 22,000 jobs

Claude Sophia Merlo Lookman

The first employment data of the year points to a labor market that is losing momentum rather than gaining traction. With federal data delayed and private-sector hiring barely advancing, early…

Economy

Italian Family Businesses: Navigating Succession Without Strategic Disruption

Claude Sophia Merlo Lookman

Family-owned businesses dominate the Italian private sector in scale and cultural influence. Estimates and academic studies indicate that family firms represent a large majority of Italian companies and account for…

How has the U.S. civil rights story influenced modern institutions and culture?

USA

The Legacy of Civil Rights: Modern US Impact Explored

Claude Sophia Merlo Lookman

The U.S. civil rights movement—broadly defined as the prolonged struggle to secure equal protection, voting access, and social inclusion for African Americans and other marginalized groups—has reshaped modern institutions and…

Man arrested on charges of impersonating FBI agent in alleged attempt to free Luigi Mangione

USA

Fake FBI Agent Caught Trying to Release Luigi Mangione

Claude Sophia Merlo Lookman

An unusual episode outside a federal detention center has highlighted the rigorous security measures tied to high-profile criminal proceedings, as officials report that a man impersonating a federal agent tried…

How do Americans debate monuments and historical memory in public spaces?

USA

Public Space Conflicts: American Monument Debates

Claude Sophia Merlo Lookman

The ongoing discussion surrounding monuments and collective memory in the United States has become an intense, enduring national dialogue about which individuals and events are commemorated in shared public settings,…

What is profitability and how do I measure it?

Investments and Business

Profitability Explained: Definition & Measurement

Claude Sophia Merlo Lookman

Understanding Profitability: Definition and ImportanceProfitability is a fundamental concept in finance and business management, acting as a barometer for the financial health and success of an entity. It refers to…

Alcohol: why “a little” isn’t always harmless

Science and Technology

The Hidden Dangers of “A Little” Alcohol

Claude Sophia Merlo Lookman

Alcohol is one of the most commonly used psychoactive substances worldwide. Many people treat modest drinking—one glass of wine with dinner, a beer after work—as harmless or even beneficial. That…

Month: January 2026

Succession Strategies in Italian Family Enterprises: Maintaining Direction

Strategic Succession Planning in Italy’s Family-Owned Companies

Interest Rate Hikes: A New Playbook for Portfolio Management

Private-sector hiring slumped in January, adding just 22,000 jobs

Italian Family Businesses: Navigating Succession Without Strategic Disruption

The Legacy of Civil Rights: Modern US Impact Explored

Fake FBI Agent Caught Trying to Release Luigi Mangione

Public Space Conflicts: American Monument Debates

Profitability Explained: Definition & Measurement

The Hidden Dangers of “A Little” Alcohol