Category: News
Inician argumentos en histórico juicio sobre adicción a redes sociales
Por KAITLYN HUAMANI y BARBARA ORTUTAY
LOS ÁNGELES (AP) — Las mayores empresas de redes sociales del mundo enfrentan este año varios juicios históricos que buscan responsabilizarlas por los daños que sufren los niños al usar sus plataformas. Esta semana ocurrirán los argumentos iniciales para el primero, en el tribunal del Condado de Los Ángeles.
Meta y YouTube enfrentarán reclamos de que sus plataformas perjudican y vuelven adictos a los niños. TikTok y Snap, que originalmente fueron nombrados en la demanda, llegaron a un acuerdo por sumas no reveladas.
“Ese fue solo el primer caso: hay cientos de padres y distritos escolares en los juicios por adicción a las redes sociales que comienzan hoy, y lamentablemente, nuevas familias cada día que están alzando la voz y llevando a las grandes tecnológicas a los tribunales por sus productos deliberadamente dañinos”, declaró Sacha Haworth, directora ejecutiva del proyecto sin fines de lucro Tech Oversight Project.
Al centro del caso está una joven de 19 años identificada solo por las iniciales “KGM”, cuyo ejemplo podría determinar cómo se desarrollarán miles de otras demandas similares contra las empresas de redes sociales. Ella y otros dos demandantes han sido seleccionados para casos de prueba en que las partes verán cómo se desarrollan sus argumentos ante un jurado y qué daños pueden ser otorgados, indicó Clay Calvert, investigador senior no residente de estudios de políticas tecnológicas en el American Enterprise Institute.
Es la primera vez que las empresas argumentan su caso ante un jurado, y el resultado podría tener efectos profundos en sus negocios y en cómo manejarán el uso de sus plataformas por parte de menores de edad.
KGM afirma que su uso de las redes sociales desde una edad temprana la hizo adicta a la tecnología y exacerbó su depresión y pensamientos suicidas. La demanda alega que esto se hizo a través de decisiones deliberadas de las empresas para hacer sus plataformas más adictivas, a fin de incrementar sus ganancias. Este argumento, si tiene éxito, podría frustrar el intento de las empresas de defenderse bajo el principio de libertad de expresión de la Sección 230, que las protege de cualquier queja por material publicado en sus plataformas.
“Inspirándose en las técnicas conductuales y neurobiológicas utilizadas por las máquinas tragamonedas y explotadas por la industria del cigarrillo, los demandados incrustaron deliberadamente en sus productos una serie de características destinadas a maximizar el compromiso juvenil para impulsar los ingresos publicitarios”, dice la demanda.
Se espera que ejecutivos, incluido el CEO de Meta, Mark Zuckerberg, testifiquen en el juicio, que durará de seis a ocho semanas. Los expertos han comparado el proceso con los juicios contra las grandes tabacaleras que llevaron a un acuerdo en 1998 en que las empresas tuvieron que pagar miles de millones de dólares y restringir su publicidad.
“Los demandantes no son meramente daño colateral de un producto”, dice la demanda. “Son las víctimas directas de las decisiones de diseño intencionales tomadas por cada demandado. Son los recipientes intencionales de las características dañinas que los llevaron a incesantes tendencias autodestructivas”.
Las empresas tecnológicas niegan que sus productos perjudiquen deliberadamente a los niños, citando una gran cantidad de salvaguardas que han agregado a lo largo de los años y argumentando que no son responsables del contenido publicado en sus sitios por terceros.
“Recientemente, una serie de demandas han intentado culpar a las empresas de redes sociales por los problemas de salud mental de los adolescentes”, indicó Meta en una publicación reciente en su blog. “Pero esto simplifica un problema serio. Los clínicos e investigadores encuentran que la salud mental es un problema profundamente complejo y multifacético, y las tendencias sobre el bienestar de los adolescentes no son claras ni universales. Reducir los desafíos que enfrentan los adolescentes a un solo factor ignora la investigación científica y los muchos factores estresantes que impactan a los jóvenes hoy en día, como la presión académica, la seguridad escolar, los desafíos socioeconómicos y el abuso de sustancias”.
Un portavoz de Meta apuntó en una declaración reciente que la empresa está en fuerte desacuerdo con las acusaciones descritas en la demanda y que está “segura de que la evidencia mostrará nuestro compromiso de larga data con el apoyo a los jóvenes”.
José Castañeda, portavoz de Google, señaló que las acusaciones contra YouTube son “simplemente falsas”. En una declaración, dijo: “Proporcionar a los jóvenes una experiencia más segura y saludable siempre ha sido fundamental para nuestro trabajo”.
El caso será el primero de una serie de casos que comenzarán este año que buscan responsabilizar a las empresas de redes sociales por los efectos psicológicos nocivos en los niños. Un juicio federal que comenzará en junio en Oakland, California, será el primero en representar a los distritos escolares que han demandado a las plataformas de redes sociales por daños a los niños.
Además, más de 40 fiscales generales estatales han presentado demandas contra Meta, alegando que está dañando a los jóvenes y contribuyendo a la crisis de salud mental juvenil al diseñar deliberadamente características en Instagram y Facebook que adictan a los niños a sus plataformas. La mayoría de las demandas son federales, pero algunas son estatales.
TikTok también enfrenta demandas similares en más de una docena de estados.
Mientras tanto, en Nuevo México, los argumentos de apertura comienzan el lunes para un juicio sobre acusaciones de que Meta y sus plataformas de redes sociales no han protegido a los jóvenes usuarios de la explotación sexual, tras una investigación encubierta en línea. El fiscal general Raúl Torrez demandó a Meta y Zuckerberg a finales de 2023, quien luego fue retirado de la demanda.
Los fiscales insisten que Nuevo México no busca responsabilizar a Meta por su contenido, sino por su papel en la difusión de ese contenido a través de algoritmos complejos que proliferan material que puede ser dañino, diciendo que descubrieron documentos internos en los que empleados de Meta estiman que alrededor de 100.000 niños cada día son sometidos a acoso sexual en las plataformas de la empresa.
Meta niega los cargos civiles mientras acusa a Torrez de seleccionar documentos específicos y hacer argumentos “sensacionalistas”. La empresa dice que ha consultado con padres y fuerzas del orden para introducir protecciones en las cuentas de redes sociales, junto con configuraciones y herramientas para padres.
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Ortutay reportó desde Oakland, California. La corresponsal Morgan Lee en Santa Fe, Nuevo México, contribuyó.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Key Events This Week: Payrolls, CPI And Retail Sales
Key Events This Week: Payrolls, CPI And Retail Sales
The next five days will feature an unusual pairing of major US data releases: the January employment report on Wednesday and the January CPI report on Friday, two reports which usually never appear in the same week. Ahead of those, markets will digest December retail sales and the Q4 employment cost index tomorrow, alongside a heavy schedule of Fed speakers, many of them current voters. Global inflation updates from China (Wednesday) and several European economies will add to the momentum, while the UK’s Q4 GDP (Thursday) will also be released. Corporate earnings remain in full swing, even if six of the Mag-7 have now reported, thus reducing some potential volatility until Nvidia report on February 25th.
For the employment report (which we will preview fully tomorrow), DB economists expect headline and private payrolls to rise by 75k (consensus at +69k and +75k respectively), a modest improvement relative to recent trend rates. If this holds, they anticipate the unemployment rate staying at 4.4%. They also expect average hourly earnings to increase 0.3%, with hours worked unchanged at 34.2, leaving the year over year growth rate of our payroll based nominal compensation proxy drifting up to 4.5% from 4.3%.
This month’s release will include the usual benchmark revisions to the establishment survey, though the population control adjustment to the household survey has been postponed to next month. The preliminary benchmark revision of roughly 0.6% to March 2025 employment was already unusually large, and the BLS is also introducing more frequent updates to the birth death model. While it’s impossible to know exactly how these higher frequency adjustments will influence recent data, even small changes could matter given that January typically shows the largest non seasonally adjusted job losses of the year. The final benchmark revision may also shift again, as it often deviates from the preliminary estimate once updated QCEW data are incorporated. All of this raises the uncertainty around Wednesday’s figures.
Turning to inflation (which we will also preview fully later this week), DB economists expect headline CPI to increase 0.26%, held down by an expected 2.4% drop in motor fuel prices, while core CPI should rise 0.35%. On this basis, headline CPI would slow to 2.46% year over year (from 2.68%), and core to roughly 2.55% (still rounding to 2.6%). The January release will include updated relative importances and new seasonal factors, which could affect individual components and possibly lead to firmer readings when last year’s data are re-examined. This could prompt some Fed officials to reassess the near term path of inflation.
Elsewhere in the data flow, tomorrow’s retail sales report should mirror evidence of solid holiday demand. Economists expect headline sales to rise 0.4%, with ex autos and retail control up 0.4% and 0.5%, respectively. That would leave Q4 retail control growing at a 4.5% annualized pace for the seventh straight quarter above 4%, supporting a firm consumption contribution in the Q4 GDP report due later this month. They also expect a 0.8% rise in the Q4 ECI, bringing the year over year pace down to 3.5%, still above its pre-pandemic average. Thursday’s jobless claims should ease back toward 226k after last week’s weather related spike.
Fed communication will be constant throughout the week. Governor Waller, Governor Miran, and Atlanta’s Bostic speak today, followed by Cleveland’s Hammack and Dallas’s Logan tomorrow. Vice Chair of Supervision Bowman speaks Wednesday, where regulatory topics and the balance sheet outlook may surface. Discussions around balance sheet strategy are gaining attention amid the nomination of Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair, given his previously stated preference for a smaller balance sheet. Logan, Miran, and Kansas City’s Schmid will offer additional views later in the week, including first reactions to the jobs report.
In Europe, economic indicators due include Q4 GDP in the UK on Thursday as well as CPI prints in Denmark, Norway (both tomorrow) and Switzerland (Friday). In geopolitics there will be notable focus on the Munich Security conference to be held Friday through Sunday. Remember that last year’s summit was home to the extraordinary speech by JD Vance which was partly credited as responsible for the huge rearmament drive in Europe.
In Asia, we also have the January inflation reports in China due Wednesday. Our economists forecast producer prices to further rebound to -1.6% YoY from -1.9% in December 2025. In contrast, CPI inflation will likely slow to 0.4% YoY from 0.8% (see more here). Japanese PPI is out on Thursday.
Rounding out with earnings, this week’s lineup features tech names including Cisco, Applied Materials and Shopify as well as US consumer firms Coca-Cola and McDonald’s.
A busy week for European large caps includes results from AstraZeneca, Hermes, Siemens and L’Oreal. Other highlights feature energy firms TotalEnergies and BP as well as Unilever, AB InBev and Ferrari among consumer stocks.
Courtesy of DB, here is a day-by-day calendar of events
Monday February 9
Data: US January NY Fed 1-yr inflation expectations, Japan January Economy Watchers survey, M2, M3, bank lending, December BoP trade balance and current account balance, labour cash earnings, Norway Q4 GDP
Central banks: Fed’s Waller and Bostic speak, ECB’s Lagarde, Nagel and Lane speak, BoE’s Mann speaks
Earnings: UniCredit, DBS, Apollo, ON Semiconductor
Tuesday February 10
Data: US January NFIB small business optimism, Q4 employment cost index, December retail sales, import price index, export price index, November business inventories, Japan January machine tool orders, Denmark January CPI, Norway January CPI
Central banks: Fed’s Hammack and Logan speak
Earnings: Coca-Cola, AstraZeneca, Gilead Sciences, S&P Global, Welltower, Spotify, BP, CVS Health, Barclays, Marriott International, Williams, Robinhood, Cloudflare, Ferrari, Ford, Datadog, Kering, Fiserv
Auctions: US 3-yr Notes ($58bn)
Wednesday February 11
Data: US January jobs report, federal budget balance, China January CPI, PPI, Japan January PPI, Italy December industrial production, Canada December building permits
Central banks: ECB’s Cipollone and Schnabel speak, BoC Summary of Deliberations
Earnings: Cisco, McDonald’s, T-Mobile US, Shopify, AppLovin, TotalEnergies, Siemens Energy, EssilorLuxottica, NetEase, Equinix, Vertiv, Heineken, Deutsche Boerse, Commerzbank, Dassault Systemes, Kraft Heinz, Humana, Albemarle
Auctions: US 10-yr Notes ($42bn)
Thursday February 12
Data: US January existing home sales, initial jobless claims, UK Q4 GDP, January RICS house price balance, Germany December current account balance
Central banks: ECB’s Radev, Lane, Stournaras, Nagel and Cipollone speak, BoC’s Rogers speaks
Earnings: Applied Materials, Hermes, Siemens, L’Oreal, Arista Networks, SoftBank, Unilever, Anheuser-Busch InBev, British American Tobacco, Vertex, Agnico Eagle Mines, Howmet Aerospace, Airbnb, Vale, Mercedes-Benz, RELX, Zoetis, Adyen, Legrand, Expedia, PG&E, DSM-Firmenich
Auctions: US 30-yr Bonds ($25bn)
Friday February 13
Data: US January CPI, China January home prices, Q4 BoP current account balance, Germany January wholesale price index, Eurozone December trade balance, Q4 employment, Switzerland January CPI
Central banks: Fed’s Miran and Logan speak, BoJ’s Tamura speaks, BoE’s Pill speaks
Earnings: Safran, NatWest, Cameco, Capgemini, Norsk Hydro, Moderna
Other: Munich Security Conference (through January 15)
Finally, looking at just the US, Goldman writes that the key economic data releases this week are the retail sales report on Tuesday, the employment report on Wednesday, and the CPI report on Friday. There are several speaking engagements by Fed officials this week, including events with Fed Governors Waller and Miran on Monday and the Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Bowman on Wednesday.
Monday, February 9
No major data releases are scheduled.
01:30 PM Fed Governor Waller Speaks: Fed Governor Christopher Waller will speak on digital assets at an event organized by the Global Independence Center. Q&A is expected. On January 30, Waller said, “I dissented at the most recent meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) after concluding that cutting the policy rate by 25 basis points was the appropriate stance of policy.” He added that the reasons for his dissent are that “the labor market remains weak” and “though inflation is elevated from tariff effects, appropriate monetary policy is to look through these effects as long as inflation expectations are anchored, which they are.”
02:30 PM Fed Governor Miran Speaks: Fed Governor Stephen Miran will participate in a moderated conversation at Boston University. Q&A is expected. On January 5, Miran said, “I’m looking for about a point and a half of cuts [in 2026]” because “underlying inflation is running within noise of our target, and that’s a good indication of where overall inflation is going to be in the medium term.”
03:15 PM Atlanta Fed President Bostic (FOMC non-voter) Speaks: Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic will participate in a moderated conversation with Bill Watts, editor of Pro Farmer. Q&A is expected. On February 2, Bostic said, “We are still too high in inflation, so I think we need to be somewhat restrictive.” He added that “I do feel the downside risk—that a catastrophe is going to happen in employment—is much further away from us than it was even a month ago, and that gives me some confidence we can be patient.”
05:00 PM Fed Governor Miran Speaks: Fed Governor Stephen Miran will be interviewed on WBUR Podcast in Boston. Q&A is expected.
Tuesday, February 10
08:30 AM Import price index, December (consensus +0.1%, last flat); Export price index, December (consensus +0.1%, last flat)
08:30 AM Retail sales, December (GS +0.4%, consensus +0.4%, last flat); Retail sales ex-auto, December (GS +0.3%, consensus +0.4%, last +0.4%); Retail sales ex-auto & gas, December (GS +0.4%, consensus +0.4%, last +0.5%); Core retail sales, December (GS +0.3%, consensus +0.5%, last +0.8%): We estimate core retail sales increased 0.3% in December (ex-autos, gasoline, and building materials; month-over-month SA), reflecting solid alternative data but a headwind from potential residual seasonality. We estimate headline retail sales increased 0.4%, reflecting an increase in auto sales but lower gasoline prices.
12:00 PM Cleveland Fed President Hammack (FOMC voter) Speaks: Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack will speak on the banking and economic outlook at the 2026 Ohio Bankers League Economic Summit. Speech text and Q&A are expected. On December 12, Hammack said, “I see rates as right around a neutral level, [and] I would prefer to be on a slightly more restrictive stance to help put more pressure on inflation that remains too high.”
01:00 PM Dallas Fed President Logan (FOMC voter) Speaks: Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan will deliver remarks and participate in moderated Q&A at the 2026 Asset Management Derivatives Forum in Austin, Texas. Speech text is expected.
Wednesday, February 11
08:30 AM Nonfarm payroll employment, January (GS +45k, consensus +69k, last +50k); Private payroll employment, January (GS +45k, consensus +75k, last +37k); Average hourly earnings (MoM), January (GS +0.35%, consensus +0.3%, last +0.3%); Unemployment rate, January (GS 4.4%, consensus 4.4%, last 4.4%): We estimate nonfarm payrolls increased 45k in January. On the negative side, we estimate that the birth-death model—which will be updated with this report, more details below—could contribute 30-50k fewer jobs to payroll growth (on a seasonally adjusted basis) than in recent months and big data indicators suggested a modest pace of private sector job growth. Additionally, we expect unchanged government payrolls—reflecting a 10k decline in federal government payrolls that is offset by a 10k increase in state and local government payrolls. On the positive side, the pace of layoffs—a particularly important determinant of net job growth in January—remained subdued. However, the seasonal factors have evolved to expect smaller declines in employment in recent Januarys, limiting the potential boost from this channel. We do not expect a drag from winter Storm Fern, which formed about a week after the reference week.
We estimate that the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.4% in January, but we see the risks as skewed to a decline: the bar for rounding down to 4.3% is not high from an unrounded 4.38% in December and the January unemployment rate appears to suffer from modestly negative residual seasonality (the unrounded unemployment rate has declined in each of the last three Januarys). We estimate average hourly earnings rose 0.35% month-over-month in January, reflecting positive calendar effects.
This month’s report will be accompanied by the annual benchmark revision to the establishment survey and a methodological update to the birth-death model. The BLS’s preliminary estimate of the benchmark payrolls revision indicated that cumulative payroll growth between April 2024 and March 2025 would be revised 911k lower. We estimate that the final downward revision will likely be somewhat smaller—in the range of 750-900k—as job growth in the QCEW, which informs the revision, has been revised up since the BLS issued the preliminary estimate. The BLS will also update the net birth-death forecasts in the post-benchmark period (April 2025-December 2025) to incorporate information from the QCEW and the monthly payrolls survey. A downward revision to the post-benchmark period appears likely, reflecting the continued slowdown in the QCEW and weak private payroll growth during the post-benchmark period. Starting with this month’s report, the birth-death model will incorporate current sample information each month.
10:00 AM Kansas City Fed President Schmid (FOMC non-voter) Speaks: Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid will speak at the Economic Forum of Albuquerque in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Speech text and Q&A are expected. On January 15, Schmid said, “I believe that there is a risk that lowering rates could do more harm to the inflation side of our mandate than benefit on the employment side.” He added that “I see little reason at this point to further lower the policy rate, though of course, I will be watching the data closely for signs that growth is losing momentum or that the labor market is weakening more substantially.”
10:15 AM Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Bowman Speaks: Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman will participate in a virtual moderated conversation at Keefe, Bruyette & Wood 33rd Annual Winter Financial Services Conference. Q&A is expected. On January 16, Bowman said, “Absent a clear and sustained improvement in labor market conditions, we should remain ready to adjust policy to bring it closer to neutral.” She added that while monetary policy is not on a preset course, “we should also avoid signaling that we will pause without identifying that conditions have changed.”
04:00 PM Cleveland Fed President Hammack (FOMC voter) Speaks: Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack will participate in a leadership dialogue at Ohio State University. Q&A is expected.
Thursday, February 12
08:30 AM Initial jobless claims, week ended January 31 (GS 220k, consensus 224k, last 231k); Continuing jobless claims, week ended January 24 (consensus 1,850k, last 1,844k)
10:00 AM Existing home sales, January (GS -2.5%, consensus -3.2%, last +5.1%)
07:00 PM Dallas Fed President Logan (FOMC voter) Speaks: Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan will give opening and closing remarks at an event with Governor Stephen Miran. Speech text is expected.
07:05 PM Fed Governor Miran Speaks: Fed Governor Stephen Miran will participate in a moderated discussion at the Dallas Fed. Q&A is expected.
Friday, February 13
08:30 AM CPI (MoM), January (GS +0.24%, consensus +0.3%, last +0.1%); Core CPI (MoM), January (GS +0.33%, consensus +0.3%, last +0.2%); CPI (YoY), January (GS +2.44%, consensus +2.5%, last +2.7%); Core CPI (YoY), January (GS +2.52%, consensus +2.5%, last +2.6%): We estimate a 0.33% increase in January core CPI (month-over-month SA), which would lower the year-over-year rate by 0.1pp to 2.5% on a rounded basis. Our forecast reflects upward pressure from seasonal distortions on the communications (GS forecast: +0.4%) and private transportation (+1.5%) categories. We expect a modest boost from start of the year price resets in categories like medical care commodities (GS forecast: +0.7%), and upward pressure from tariffs on categories that are particularly exposed (such as recreation) worth +0.07pp. We expect firm travel services inflation (airfares: +2%; hotels: +1%), reflecting signals from alternative price data. We expect softer autos inflation, reflecting a 1.5% decline in used car prices, unchanged new car prices, and a moderate increase in the car insurance category (+0.4%). We forecast a slight slowdown in the shelter categories (rent: +0.24%, OER: +0.25%), reflecting a continued slowdown in their underlying trend. We expect unchanged medical services prices, reflecting a continued decline in medical insurance prices (-0.7%) but increases in other medical care services categories. We estimate a 0.24% rise in headline CPI, reflecting higher food prices (+0.4%) but lower energy prices (-1.3%).
In this month’s report, the BLS will release recalculated seasonal factors that reflect the price movements of 2025—which could reduce the impact of seasonal distortions that explained some of the month-to-month variation in core inflation last year—as well as updated weights. The annual seasonal factor revisions tend to cause monthly inflation readings to be revised toward the annual average. In other words, higher inflation readings for the year tend to be revised lower and lower readings tend to be revised higher. On average over the last decade, about 20% of the relative strength of a month’s initial core inflation vintage has been revised away in its first annual revision. Last year, monthly core CPI inflation was particularly elevated in January (23bp above the 2024 average) and particularly low in March-May (8bp below).
Source: Goldman, DB
Tyler Durden
Mon, 02/09/2026 – 09:55
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/key-events-week-payrolls-cpi-and-retail-sales
Por qué algunas mujeres prefieren amigas en vez de San Valentín y cómo lo celebran
Por ALICIA RANCILIO
Christie O’Sullivan de Trinity, Florida, ha pasado 21 Días de San Valentín con su esposo, pero su celebración favorita fue una que pasó con una amiga antes de casarse.
Tomaron el día libre en el trabajo, se hicieron masajes y salieron a tomar cócteles y a cenar en un restaurante elegante.
“Para mí, fue un diez de diez. Todo ese día fue intencional”, expresó O’Sullivan. Lo recuerda como algo que la empoderó “en un día que usualmente está lleno de presión por estar en una relación, o tristeza porque no estaba en una en ese momento”.
Galentine’s Day (una celebración para las mujeres con sus amigas que viene de la palabra inglesa gal) se convirtió en un fenómeno de la cultura pop con un episodio de 2010 de la comedia televisiva “Parks and Recreation” que celebraba las amistades femeninas alrededor del Día de San Valentín. El personaje de Amy Poehler, Leslie Knope, reunió a sus amigas el 13 de febrero.
“¿Qué es el Día de Galentine? Oh, es solo el mejor día del año”, dijo Knope.
Honrar las amistades femeninas puede suceder cualquier día del año, por supuesto. Ya sea el 13 de febrero u otro día, aquí hay algunas maneras de crear una experiencia llena de diversión:
Es una fiesta
Chela Pappaccioli de Franklin Lakes, Nueva Jersey, ha organizado una fiesta de Galentine en su casa durante los últimos tres años. Contrata a un barman y un DJ, y este año invitó a 45 de sus más cercanas y queridas amigas. Hasta ahora, tiene 34 confirmaciones y está preparando bolsas de regalo para que sus invitadas se lleven a casa. No se permiten hombres “a menos que el barman sea hombre”.
El evento puede ser extravagante, pero Pappaccioli dice que vale la pena.
“Es un escape para estar solo con tus chicas, ser tonta, hacer algo divertido y simplemente enfocarse en las amistades que has creado y disfrutar de la compañía de cada una”, comenta.
Aprender algo nuevo
Liz Momblanco de Berkley, Michigan, quien se describe a sí misma como una “aficionada en serie”, invita a sus amigas a tomar clases como decoración de galletas y pasteles, caligrafía y vitrales.
“Disfruto aprender algo nuevo y tener una experiencia compartida”, dijo Momblanco, quien ha asistido a retiros de un día para mujeres que ofrecen actividades como arreglos florales, yoga o una inmersión en agua fría.
Marney Wolf, quien dirige la empresa de retiros Luna Wolf, dice que proporcionar una oportunidad para el arte y la creatividad construye comunidad.
“Te une, ya sea la cosa más pequeña o algo realmente profundo. Ves a estas mujeres adultas convertirse casi en una respuesta infantil de jardín de infantes como, ‘¡Oh, Dios mío! ¡Buen trabajo! ¡Eres tan talentosa!’ Ese pequeño impulso es lo más fácil de hacer”, comentó.
Llenar un vacío de San Valentín
Wolf se asegura de programar retiros temáticos de Galentine cerca del Día de San Valentín porque algunas mujeres no tienen a alguien con quien pasar el 14 de febrero.
“Yo sé que puede ser un momento realmente solitario para las personas y creo que algunas lo dan por sentado”, dice.
Pappaccioli comentó que un par de amigas divorciadas asisten a su fiesta, e “incluso si estás casada puede ser deprimente porque tu esposo puede que no esté haciendo lo que quieres o tu novio puede que no te apoye de la manera que deseas”, dice.
“Es agradable saber que no necesitas eso. Aún puedes celebrar la festividad, pero darle un giro y celebrar las relaciones que deseas”.
Crear lazos diferentes
Las reuniones de Galentine pueden forjar nuevas amistades. Y pasar tiempo de calidad con una amiga brinda la oportunidad de guardar el teléfono, evitar distracciones y construir recuerdos.
O’Sullivan es estratega de redes sociales para empresas, pero recuerda que su mejor Día de San Valentín con su amiga fue sin teléfonos celulares.
“Podíamos estar completamente presentes, sin fotos, sin mensajes, sin nada”, dice.
“Así que, aunque eso significa que no hay un registro real de que ese día ocurrió, también significa que los detalles se convirtieron en un recuerdo central sin ello”.
Algunas celebran el Día de Galentine simplemente saliendo a tomar un café o jugando a las cartas. Podrías ir con un grupo de amigas a una obra de teatro o museo, o hacer una caminata o una clase de ejercicio.
Otras ideas incluyen ir de compras a tiendas de segunda mano, bailar, patinar, karaoke, hacer diarios y hacerse manicuras y pedicuras.
Eye On Iran: Pentagon Held Live-Fire War Drills In Persian Gulf
Eye On Iran: Pentagon Held Live-Fire War Drills In Persian Gulf
US forces conducted live-fire military drills in the Persian Gulf at a moment of ongoing Washington threats to attack Iran over its nuclear program as well as ballistic missile arsenal.
“Last week, Navy Sailors from USS Santa Barbara participated in the exercise Killer Tomato, a live-fire maritime gunnery exercise conducted in the Central Command’s area of responsibility and supported by an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) posted on X Sunday.
It continued, “The exercise provided realistic training to improve surface gunnery proficiency while reinforcing joint air-maritime integration, combat readiness, and deterrence across the region.”
It’s unclear why the US military only chose to reveal it Sunday, and not in real-time while the drills were actually being conducted. This was perhaps a security measure, to ensure no incidents or run-ins with Iranian forces, after previously an Iranian drone was shot down as it was said to be headed toward US warships.
As for use of the A-10 Thunderbolt, this long in service aircraft would assist in thwarting any small vessel threat or attack against American ships, as it is able to fly very low and take out craft with its powerful machine guns. It conducted low strafing runs as part of these latest Persian Gulf drills.
The futuristic-looking vessel featured in the US Navy’s photos is the USS Santa Barbara, described by a defense journal as follows:
The vessel is one of the U.S. Navy’s high-speed, modular Independence-class littoral combat ships, designed for operations in contested coastal waters. USS Santa Barbara is capable of speeds exceeding 40 knots and has a range of around 4,300 nautical miles at cruising speed, allowing it to conduct extended patrols and rapid response missions across the region. It displaces more than 3,100 tonnes at full load and is powered by a combined diesel and gas turbine propulsion system driving four waterjets. It carries a core crew of around 40 personnel, with capacity for additional mission specialists depending on the role assigned.
Central Command’s photo set from the war drills…
Last week, @USNavy Sailors from USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) participated in the @USAFCENT-led exercise Killer Tomato, a live-fire maritime gunnery exercise conducted in the @CENTCOM area or responsibility and supported by @usairforce A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. The exercise… pic.twitter.com/esO5BtCMKT
— U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet (@US5thFleet) February 8, 2026
Since late January, American and Iranian forces have been holding dueling drills and war games in the region, in an effort to signal military readiness amid a tense showdown.
Ultimately it is Israel that is most alarmed by Iran’s missile program, given Tel Aviv was on the direct receiving end during the June war – also said to involve hypersonic missiles sent.
US bases within range of Iranian ballistic missiles.
AFP Infographic with a map showing the range of Iran’s main intermediate-range ballistic missiles and the location of major US bases and infrastructure housing American personnel in the Middle East. Ranges are approximate as… pic.twitter.com/ilewg6e2lp
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) February 9, 2026
CENTCOM has recently said that while Iran’s military has a “right” to operation professionally in international waters, it must avoid any provocative or harassing behavior involving American vessels or forces. The two enemy sides are one small ‘live fire’ incident away from potentially sparking major conflict.
Tyler Durden
Mon, 02/09/2026 – 09:45
https://www.zerohedge.com/military/eye-iran-pentagon-held-live-fire-war-drills-persian-gulf
Kroger names former Walmart executive as its new CEO
Kroger named former Walmart executive Greg Foran as its chief executive officer on Monday, 11 months after the abrupt resignation of its previous CEO.
Foran led Walmart’s U.S. division for six years before departing in 2019. While there, he introduced online ordering and pickup, and accelerated Walmart’s digital capabilities.
Walmart has reshaped itself into a tech-powered retail giant that has leaned heavily into automation and artificial intelligence, and it’s one of the biggest competitive threats to Kroger, the largest standalone U.S. supermarket chain.
Shares of The Kroger Co. rose 6% before the opening bell Monday after Kroger said Foran would lead the company.
Walmart has become a larger challenge to Kroger and other traditional grocers as Americans increasingly pick up their groceries along with other general goods that Walmart sells. Walmart currently controls around 21% of the U.S. grocery market, compared to 8.5% for Kroger, according to the market research company Numerator.
Kroger proposed a merger with Albertsons in 2022 as a way to better compete with Walmart, Costco and others. But the Federal Trade Commission and two states — Washington and Colorado — sued to block the merger in 2024, saying it would raise prices and lower workers’ wages by eliminating competition. Judges ultimately ruled that the merger should not proceed.
Foran succeeds Ron Sargent, who has been Kroger’s interim leader since former CEO Rodney McMullen resigned last March. McMullen had been Kroger’s CEO since 2014 and was also the company’s chairman. Kroger said he resigned after an investigation into his personal conduct, which was unrelated to the business but violated its ethics policy.
Sargent will continue to serve as Kroger’s chairman to ensure a smooth leadership transition.
“Greg is a highly respected operator who knows how to run large-scale retail businesses, strengthen store execution and lead high-performing teams,” Sargent said in a statement. “His leadership style, focus on the customer, commitment to associates, and disciplined approach to execution are the perfect fit for Kroger.”
Foran, a New Zealand native, most recently served as CEO of Air New Zealand, where he also improved digital capabilities, led negotiations with the airline’s union and guided it through the pandemic.
Kroger, based in Cincinnati, has 2,731 stores and 409,000 employees.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/09/kroger-walmart-ceo/
Eddie Bauer, the 106-year-old label that pioneered outdoor sportswear, files Chapter 11
NEW YORK — The operator of roughly 180 Eddie Bauer stores across the U.S. and Canada has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Eddie Bauer LLC said Monday it had entered into a restructuring pact with its secured lenders as it made the filing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey.
The bankruptcy filing marks the third time in a matter of a little over two decades for the storied-but-now-tired brand that began as a Seattle fishing shop, later outfitted the first American to climb Mount Everest and made thousands of newfangled down jackets and sleeping bags for the military during World War I.
According to the release, Eddie Bauer retail and outlet stores in the U.S. and Canada will remain open and continue serving customers as the company begins its process of winding down certain stores. It noted that it will conduct a court-supervised sales process, and if a sale can’t be executed, it will begin a wind-down of its U.S. and Canadian operations.
“This is not an easy decision,” said Marc Rosen, CEO of Catalyst Brands, which maintains the license to operate Eddie Bauer stores in the U.S. and Canada. “However, this restructuring is the best way to optimize value for the retail company’s stakeholders and also ensure Catalyst Brands remains profitable and with strong liquidity and cash flow.”
Eddie Bauer’s retail store locations outside of the U.S. and Canada are operated by other licensees, are not included in the Chapter 11 filings, and will continue operating in the ordinary course.
Authentic Brands Group continues to own the intellectual property associated with the Eddie Bauer brand and may license the brand to other operators, the company said. The operations of other brands in the Catalyst Brands portfolio are not affected by this filing and will continue in the normal course, according to the release.
Eddie Bauer’s e-commerce and wholesale operations will not be impacted by the wind down, as they are operated by a company called Outdoor 5, LLC.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/09/eddie-bauer-bankruptcy/
Evanston Reparations OKs payments to descendants, gets update on DNA connections with Africa
Evanston’s Reparations Committee announced Feb. 5 it will issue reparation payments to 44 additional descendants this summer, while providing an update on its DNA Roots Program and exploring a potential tax on Delta-8 THC products in an effort to expand funding.
The Reparations Program, established in 2019 and later approved by City Council in 2021, is the first government-funded initiative in the United States aimed at providing reparations for Black Evanston residents who experienced housing discrimination between 1919 and 1969 and to direct descendants of those residents.
Each of the 44 descendants will receive $25,000 in reparation payments intended for housing expenses, Cynthia Vargas, Evanston’s Communications and Community Engagement Manager, stated in an email to the Tribune.
“Over the next few weeks, residents assigned numbers 127 through 171 will be contacted to let them know their payment is on the way,” Tasheik Kerr, assistant to the city manager, said during the meeting.
As of Jan. 31, the city has received $276,588 for the Reparations Fund through the real estate transfer tax, with no additional donations reported. The program also receives revenue from Evanston’s 3% Cannabis Retailers Occupation Tax, but state law prohibits disclosure of the total amount.
Since revenue from the city’s cannabis tax has proven limited due to low sales, the committee discussed a potential municipal tax on Delta-8 THC products as a way to boost funding for reparations. Delta-8 THC products are a psychoactive form of cannabis commonly sold in gummies, vapes or other edible forms, with packaging that can resemble candy or snacks.
Alexandra Ruggie, Evanston’s corporation counsel, emphasized that as a ‘home-rule’ community that doesn’t have to wait on federal or state action, the city has the authority to impose a levy on the products.
“Delta-8 products tend to be rather inexpensive, so the tax on them, it likely won’t be a huge revenue stream, but it is revenue,” said Ruggie. “The other thing that we will have to work out with our finance team is how to go about collecting those taxes, whether we tax it when there’s a point of sale at an Evanston business, or whether or not we tax it when those businesses buy it from the supplier.”
2nd Ward Councilmember Krissie Harris agreed, saying that while she doesn’t believe a tax on Delta-8 THC products will greatly increase revenue, it will “keep moving that number forward.” She also added the committee is not intentionally withholding payment to reparation recipients, noting that distributions are made as revenue becomes available.
To impose the tax, the committee would need to refer the proposal to the City Council, where it requires support from two council members, according to Ruggie.
In addition to discussion on reparation payments, LaKisha David, a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, updated the committee on Evanston’s DNA Roots Pilot Program, which offers free DNA testing for African American descendants of slaves to trace back their ancestry and possibly connect them with living relatives in Africa.
The pilot program, contracted through June 30, has a goal of testing 1,600 participants. So far, 247 participants have received DNA results, with 130 more expected in the next few weeks. David said while the program seeks an extension beyond the contract period, the team is currently working to build a public-facing website and improved database to help manage DNA results.
“I want to say that our research team is working to do this. We are building the website. We report to the state quarterly. We are on time. We will meet our goal of having a more polished result delivery system by June 30, which was the commitment,” she said.
¿Podrá el primer ministro Starmer sobrevivir al escándalo Mandelson-Epstein?
Por PAN PYLAS
LONDRES (AP) — El primer ministro británico, Keir Starmer, enfrenta una batalla para mantenerse en el cargo mientras recibe fuertes críticas por su decisión en 2024 de nombrar al veterano político Peter Mandelson como embajador en Estados Unidos a pesar de sus vínculos con el magnate Jeffrey Epstein, acusado de abuso sexual de menores.
El criterio de Starmer está bajo los reflectores como nunca antes, después de la reciente publicación de millones de documentos relacionados con Epstein por parte del Departamento de Justicia de Estados Unidos que mostraron cuán cercanos eran Mandelson y Epstein.
Hay una ira generalizada porque el primer ministro nombró a Mandelson, una figura clave en el Partido Laborista de Starmer, para un puesto tan sensible y de alto perfil.
Starmer destituyó a Mandelson en septiembre después de que se publicó un lote de correos electrónicos que mostraban que siguió siendo amigo de Epstein después de la condena del difunto financiero en 2008 por delitos sexuales que involucraban a una menor.
Pero los correos electrónicos recién publicados muestran que Mandelson también transmitió información gubernamental sensible —y con el potencial de mover los mercados financieros— en 2009, cuando era miembro del gabinete laborista.
Ahora el liderazgo de Starmer está en duda, y varios legisladores laboristas han pedido su salida. Su jefe de gabinete renunció el domingo, asumiendo la culpa por aconsejar a Starmer que nombrara a Mandelson, y su director de comunicaciones cayó el lunes.
Muchos creen que eso no es suficiente para mantener a Starmer en el cargo.
El primer ministro busca persuadir a los miembros de su partido para que lo respalden. Ha pedido disculpas al público británico y a las víctimas del tráfico sexual de Epstein por haber creído lo que él ha denominado “las mentiras de Mandelson”.
Hay varias formas en las que Starmer podría irse, algunas más sencillas que otras.
La forma más fácil
La opción más simple es que Starmer anuncie su intención de renunciar, desencadenando una votación para el liderazgo laborista. Una renuncia podría ocurrir si miembros del gabinete le dicen a Starmer que ha perdido demasiado apoyo dentro del partido o si miembros de su gobierno renuncian en protesta.
Aquellos considerados con ambiciones de liderazgo incluyen al secretario de Salud, Wes Streeting, la secretaria del Interior, Shabana Mahood, y la ex viceprimera ministra, Angela Rayner, quien tuvo que renunciar el año pasado después de admitir que no pagó suficientes impuestos en la compra de una casa. Una investigación sobre eso está en curso.
Pero no hay un claro favorito.
Andy Burnham, el popular alcalde de Manchester que no pudo postularse en una elección especial en la ciudad a finales de este mes, no sería elegible porque el primer ministro debe ser miembro del Parlamento.
Quienquiera que se postule, la elección probablemente tomaría semanas, y Starmer probablemente permanecería en el cargo hasta que eso concluya.
Si Starmer decide renunciar de inmediato, el gabinete y el órgano de gobierno laborista probablemente elegirían a un líder interino para ser primer ministro, probablemente alguien que no se postule para ser líder laborista. El viceprimer ministro David Lammy podría ser adecuado para el puesto.
Según las reglas laboristas, los candidatos deben contar con el apoyo de una quinta parte de los legisladores del partido, alrededor de 80.
Aquellos que cumplan con ese umbral luego tendrían que recibir el apoyo del 5% de los partidos laboristas de las circunscripciones locales o al menos de tres afiliados del partido, de los cuales dos deben ser sindicatos. Los afiliados son grupos u organizaciones que se consideran que tienen intereses consistentes con los del Partido Laborista; incluyendo sindicatos y sociedades cooperativas y socialistas.
Los miembros elegibles del partido y los afiliados luego votarán por el líder utilizando un sistema electoral que clasifica a los candidatos. El ganador es el primer candidato en asegurar más del 50% de los votos.
El rey Carlos III luego invitaría al ganador a convertirse en primer ministro y formar un gobierno.
La forma no tan fácil
Si Starmer no renuncia, podría enfrentar un desafío, potencialmente desde dentro de su gabinete.
A diferencia del Partido Conservador, que tiene una historia de deshacerse de líderes como Margaret Thatcher en 1990 y Boris Johnson en 2022, el Partido Laborista no tiene esa memoria muscular. Ningún primer ministro laborista ha sido destituido, aunque Tony Blair anunció su plan de renunciar en 2007 después de una serie de renuncias de bajo nivel.
Los candidatos tendrían que cumplir con los umbrales de elegibilidad mencionados anteriormente, pero Starmer estaría automáticamente en la boleta.
Starmer enfrenta una serie de obstáculos en las próximas semanas. El primero probablemente será cuando se publiquen los archivos relacionados con la designación de Mandelson. Starmer espera que muestren la magnitud de las mentiras de Mandelson. Si no, podría ser muy arriesgado para el primer ministro.
Otro posible escollo podría ser la elección especial en Gorton y Denton el 26 de febrero, tradicionalmente un escaño seguro para los laboristas. Sin embargo, esta vez será una lucha difícil, con el desafío que representan el partido antinmigrante de derecha Reform U.K. y los Verdes, de izquierda.
La decisión de prohibir a Burnham postularse también representa un riesgo para los laboristas. Aunque fue bloqueado con el argumento de que una victoria de Burnham desencadenaría una costosa elección especial para la alcaldía en Manchester, los críticos afirman que Starmer no quería ver a un rival potencialmente peligroso de regreso en la Cámara de los Comunes.
Después de eso, viene una serie de elecciones en mayo. Muchos en el Partido Laborista temen que el partido pueda perder el poder en Gales por primera vez desde que se creó la legislatura en 1999, quedarse muy corto en Escocia y verse golpeado en las elecciones locales en Inglaterra.
Está claro que Starmer enfrenta un panorama difícil.
Y eso sin contar con más sorpresas que puedan sacudir aún más su mandato.
“Eventos, querido muchacho, eventos”, dijo Harold Macmillan, primer ministro entre 1957 y 1963, cuando se le preguntó cuáles eran los mayores desafíos para los líderes.
________
Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
UK police force ‘assesses claims’ the ex-prince Andrew sent sensitive reports to Epstein
LONDON — Thames Valley police said Monday that it is assessing allegations that the former Prince Andrew sent confidential trade reports to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The police force, which serves areas west of London, including the ex-royal’s former home in Windsor, launched the inquiry after news organizations reported on emails that suggest the then-prince sent Epstein reports from a 2010 tour of Southeast Asia he took as Britain’s envoy for international trade.
An anti-monarchy campaigner said he reported the former prince for suspected misconduct in public office and breaches of Britain’s Official Secrets Act as a result of the emails, which were among the more than 3 million pages of documents released last month by the U.S. Justice Department.
“We can confirm receipt of this report and are assessing the information in line with our established procedures,” the police force said in a statement.
Andrew, who was stripped of his royal titles last year, has denied all wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. He is now known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Separately, Britain’s most popular royals made public their views on the scandal for the first time. Prince William and Princess Catherine on Monday expressed concern for Epstein’s victims. The comments were released by a Kensington Palace spokesperson as William traveled to Saudi Arabia for an official visit.
“I can confirm that the Prince and Princess of Wales have been deeply concerned by the continued revelations,’’ the spokesman said. “Their thoughts remain focused on the victims.”
The statement is the latest effort by the British monarchy to respond to the escalating crisis surrounding the former Prince Andrew after emails released by the Justice Department show that he carried out an extensive correspondence with Epstein even after the financier was jailed for soliciting prostitution with a minor.
The jeopardy faced by the royal family could be seen Monday when King Charles visited Lancashire, in north west England. While most of the public clapped, cheered and waved flags, one person shouted, “How long have you known about Andrew?” the BBC reported.
The latest released emails appear to show that Andrew sent Epstein reports from a 2010 tour of Southeast Asia that the then-prince took as Britain’s envoy for international trade. Earlier, Andrew appeared to share the itinerary for the two-week trip to Hanoi, Saigon, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong with Epstein.
In October, the king’s 65-year-old brother was stripped of his royal titles after previous revelations about his relationship with Epstein. He is now known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
The king last week forced Mountbatten-Windsor to leave his longtime home at Royal Lodge near Windsor Castle, accelerating a move that was first announced in October but wasn’t expected to be completed until later this year. Anger over Mountbatten-Windsor’s living arrangements had grown amid concern that he was still reaping rewards from his status as a royal even though he is no longer a working member of the royal family.
Mountbatten-Windsor is now living on the king’s Sandringham estate in eastern England. He will live temporarily at Wood Farm Cottage while his permanent home on the estate undergoes repairs. Unlike Royal Lodge, which is owned by the crown and managed for the benefit of taxpayers, Sandringham is owned privately by the king.
Mountbatten-Windsor has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in his relationship with Epstein.
Charles and Queen Camilla, who has long campaigned against violence against women, haven’t commented directly on the newly released Epstein files, with Buckingham Palace instead referring the media to a statement the royal couple made last year as the scandal began to accelerate.
“Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse,’’ Buckingham Palace said in a statement released on Oct. 30, when the king announced that Andrew would be stripped of his titles.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/09/prince-andrew-epstein/
East Chicago Central freshman Naji Meux is staying grounded. But his play suggests ‘the sky’s the limit.’
Freshman guard Naji Meux received valuable advice before he played his first game for East Chicago Central.
The words came from senior captains Jamarie Pollard, Joseph Watkins Jr. and JeVaughn Wofford.
“Don’t be scared,” Meux was told. “Be you. Get out there and hoop.”
That message has become a driving force behind the 6-foot-1 Meux’s impressive debut season for the Cardinals (9-10, 2-1). He’s averaging 9.7 points, which leads all freshmen in the Great Lakes Athletic Conference, and scored a career-high 21 points against Portage in January.
Meux, who recently turned 14, is also averaging 4.4 rebounds, more than half of which have come on the offensive end. That stands out most to East Chicago Central coach Alaa Mroueh.
“He just has a knack for the ball,” Mroueh said. “You look up, the ball comes off the rim and somehow always ends up in his hands. That’s a credit to how he’s embraced the physicality at this level.
“Getting second- and third-chance shots has allowed him to get some easy scores, and once he gets those, he finds a way to get going.”
Meux is showing signs that he can be a complete player.
“His 3-point shot has been decent this year as well,” Mroueh said. “He spots up well and takes great, in-rhythm looks. But again, his ability to come up with not only offensive rebounds but defensive rebounds as a guard is what’s going to give him the edge over a lot of players for years to come.
“He’s developing into a pretty good defensive player, too, and I think all of those things are why he has the upside that he has.”
East Chicago Central’s Naji Meux passes the ball during a practice on campus on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (Mandy Coppinger / Post-Tribune)
Meux is one of three freshmen — along with 5-11 guard Mekhi Gillis and 5-9 guard Zayden Johnson — whom Mroueh trusts in big moments. Gillis averages 7.1 points and 1.3 steals, and Johnson averages 5.8 points and 4.2 rebounds. They’re a promising core for the Cardinals’ future.
“We’re good at a lot of the same things,” Meux said. “We can all be the point guard, we can all facilitate and we’re all capable of being patient.”
The trio’s chemistry extends beyond the court.
“Outside of basketball, if you see Naji, you’re going to see Mekhi and Zayden, too, and vice versa,” Mroueh said. “You’re going to see all three of them together wherever you go. Just seeing the relationship they possess, I think their biggest strong suit is how close they all are.”
That has caught Pollard’s attention as well.
“The future of the program is in good hands with them three and other freshmen stepping up into the room,” he said. “All three of them can be Indiana All-Stars because I see the potential they all have if they keep bringing the hard work.”
Then came Pollard’s boldest prediction.
“They can win a state championship,” he said.
Pollard has additional advice for Meux.
“Naji will become one of the top players in the region by his junior year if he keeps putting in the hard work that he puts in now,” Pollard said. “Just stay positive with your team. Don’t let anybody get down on themselves. If they make a mistake, pick them back up. Keep a positive energy and always be positive when it comes to game time.”
East Chicago Central’s Naji Meux, second from left, guards teammate Mekhi Gillis during a practice on campus on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (Mandy Coppinger / Post-Tribune)
Mroueh shares that belief in Meux.
“The sky’s the limit,” Mroueh said. “I think this kid could play with the best of them. He could be among the top players in the state, and one day, I think he’s going to play (at the level) of some of the top players in the country.”
But Meux is approaching the future one day at a time. He believes in himself and in the potential of his fellow freshmen, even tossing out the word “dynasty” in the spirit of his favorite NFL team, the Kansas City Chiefs, but keeps his personal expectations grounded.
“I see myself becoming a big part of this program for years to come, especially for the underclassmen coming in,” he said. “With my energy, being around people, I like to make people feel warm.”
Noah Poser is a freelance reporter.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/09/east-chicago-high-school-basketball-naji-meux/
