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Today — 26 February 2025Main stream

It's a tough time for consulting globally. In big-spending Gulf states, not so much.

26 February 2025 at 06:27
Riyadh skyline
Saudi Arabia is spending big on consultants to help realize its national vision.

Bernd von Jutrczenka/picture alliance via Getty Images

  • Demand for consulting firms has been down in key markets like the US and UK.
  • However, the advisory business is booming in Gulf states thanks to national development projects.
  • Working on major national projects is giving consultants "unique" influence in the region, experts told BI.

Recent years have been tough for the consulting business. Growth has plummeted in some key markets, and the challenging economic climate has led to layoffs and restructuring at major firms. But one region is proving to be a consulting bright spot.

International consultancies are finding success in the Gulf Cooperation Council, or GCC — a political and economic bloc that includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman.

According to Source Global, a UK-based research firm that tracks the consulting industry, the GCC consulting market grew 13.2% in 2023.

Source Global's research found that in the more mature US and British markets, growth in 2023 slowed to 5.2% and 4.7%, respectively. In previous years, growth in both countries had been in double digits.

Dane Albertelli, a senior analyst at Source Global, told Business Insider that the scale of growth in the GCC advisory market is "unprecedented" and that it has become "the place for opportunity and the place where these companies can make a lot of money."

Albertelli said that data for 2024 has yet to be finalized but that the GCC market was expected to have accelerated by more than 15%.

A 'cascade' of opportunities

Opportunities for consultants in the GCC started with the UAE roughly 20 years ago, when its government poured resources into plans to diversify its economy away from oil.

Heavy investment in tourism, aviation, real estate, and financial services led to the need for planning and technical expertise. Consulting firms started to pour money and resources into meeting the needs of the Emirati government, and "it's just been a cascade from there," Albertelli said.

The scale of Western consulting firms' presence in Gulf nations is apparent in the volume of offices they have in the region. All of the Big Four — Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG — have 10 or more offices in GCC countries, while McKinsey has eight, BCG has six, and Accenture has four. The UAE is a particular hot spot, with Deloitte having nine offices in the country.

Saudi Arabia has been leading the drive in recent years with its Vision 2030 strategy, a $1 trillion project to reduce reliance on oil revenues and boost the country's standing on the global stage.

The centerpiece of Vision 2030 is Neom, an ambitious megacity and tourism hot spot being built in the country's northern deserts. But Saudi Arabia is also planning to construct a whole new district in Riyadh, preparing to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games and the 2034 FIFA World Cup, and aiming to become a "national champion" in AI.

A drone show is seen displaying the words "Welcome to Saudi 34" as Saudi Arabia is announced as the host nation for the FIFA World Cup 2034 on December 11, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia will host the FIFA World Cup 2034.

Christophe Viseux/Getty Images for Saudi Arabian Football Federation

Dubai is now a tourism and expat hot spot, and the UAE's economy is booming. But the drive for growth and the need for consultants hasn't stopped — the current push is toward healthcare innovation with the aim of becoming a medical tourism hub.

Similar tourism, sport, technology, and infrastructure initiatives are underway in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman.

"That naturally translates into an awful lot of advisory work," Albertelli said. International consultants are being called in to design and implement projects ranging from transportation networks and city construction to education reform and public sector tech systems.

Such projects have not been without controversy. Saudi Arabia has been accused of human rights abuses against local tribespeople living close to the site of Neom, while hundreds of migrant workers were acknowledged to have died in Qatar in the lead-up to the 2022 World Cup.

Albertelli said that while they spend to diversify away from reliance on petrochemical dollars, the Gulf nations' backlog of oil funds has ensured that the advisory sector avoids the macroeconomic tension that has hit the European and US advisory markets.

Barring any massive geopolitical tension, opportunities aren't going anywhere, Albertelli said. He expects the rate of growth to continue for several years and says the main change to the market will be that, as infrastructure gets built, the work will shift from strategy to operations advice.

From the pull factor of little to no income tax to the recent opening up of society, the region has plenty to attract consultants besides a steady stream of projects.

"If you don't mind a bit of sun, it's probably the best place to go for your career," Albertelli said.

A unique market

The GCC consulting market is unique in that most firms' clients are national governments rather than private companies, giving international firms a significant role in shaping the public sector.

"The degree of access and influence that consultancies have over policymaking is far more extensive than what you see in most other regions," Dawud Ansari, President of the Majan Council, an Omani think tank focused on development in the Gulf region, told BI. "They don't just refine policies or draft reports — they design entire national visions and, in some cases, effectively take over the steering wheel of major policy initiatives."

"Most Gulf states have a limited number of national think tanks and independent expertise, meaning that when a decision needs to be made, the instinct is usually to bring in an external, mostly foreign, consultant," al-Ansari told BI.

"They come from a completely different cultural and institutional background, which inevitably affects how they operate and how aligned their recommendations are with local realities."

Al-Ansari said that the continued reliance on external expertise for policymaking could erode public trust and restrict nationals from developing career paths in public policy.

Urban skyline and modern skyscrapers in Dubai Marina
Dubai, the capital of the UAE, has transformed into a major tourism hub.

Lu ShaoJi/Getty Images

As the market continues to grow, a rising number of local boutique advisory firms are being created. The Saudi government's "Saudization" policy — which enforces a quota system on high-value industries — is also resulting in more nationals entering the offices of international consultancies.

Albertelli told BI that most Gulf states are focused on the outcomes and care about the brand rather than the nationality of consultants.

"All the big countries in the GCC want the best talent and they're willing to spend no matter where it's from. Obviously, these are all big Western companies, but I think they realize that, particularly with the Big Four, they're massive international firms," he said.

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Read the original article on Business Insider

Blue state sheriff unleashes on 'un-American' sanctuary laws, makes special offer to Homan

26 February 2025 at 04:57

EXCLUSIVE: As most leaders in deep blue Washington state double down on sanctuary policies and refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, Sheriff Bob Songer of Klickitat County is pledging to support federal immigration enforcement in any way he can, telling Tom Homan to "put me on speed dial."

In December, Songer published a video through the Klickitat County Sheriff's Office's official Facebook page in which he said the Biden administration had "allowed our country to be invaded" and publicly vowed to help ICE enforce immigration law. 

Songer’s stance flies directly in the face of Washington’s migrant sanctuary laws, which prohibit law enforcement from assisting federal authorities in enforcing immigration laws. 

It also puts him at odds with other law enforcement authorities in the state and Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson, who has vowed to "protect law-abiding Washington families" including the "overwhelming majority of undocumented residents" who he said are "decent, hard-working, law-abiding residents." 

ALLEGED FENTANYL-SMUGGLING IMMIGRANTS LEAD POLICE ON DANGEROUS CORNFIELD CHASE

Uncowed by this, Songer - who, after serving in law enforcement for 56 years, is currently serving his third term as sheriff - said, "I will cooperate with ICE 100 percent because they're doing the right thing." 

In an interview with Fox News Digital, he explained that, despite being a small, rural county in Washington, illegal immigrants regularly pass through the county and very often receive government benefits paid for by the taxpayers. 

"When people have invaded our country across the southern border and even the northern border, Canada, our government, it's their job to protect our American citizens by preventing that invasion," he said. "Why would any governor, any mayor, any county commissioner, or any sheriff or police chief knowingly allow criminals, serious criminals for murder, rape, whatever, protect them from immigration, protect them from ICE?" 

"So why am I standing up against that?" he continued. "You bet I'm saying that Tom Homan, if you wish to contact me, I'll give you my phone number, he can have me on speed dial.

TOM HOMAN TELLS MIGRANT TERROR GROUPS TRUMP WILL ‘WIPE YOU OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH’

Songer said there are two main reasons for his bold stance. First, he believes Washington’s sanctuary law is unconstitutional, and secondly, he feels the U.S. citizens of Klickitat County are demanding it.  

CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE

"I honestly believe that it's the best thing for our citizens," he explained, adding: "You know what's neat about an elected sheriff versus police chief … an elected sheriff is elected by the people. His or her only boss is the people, not the governor, not the county commissioners, not anybody but the people themselves. That's the sheriff's boss.

Responding to criticisms from Democrats and the media that not all illegal immigrants should be arrested and deported by ICE, Songer said, "They’ll try to tell you, ‘well, those who just waded across the Rio Grande, that's a civil infraction,’ that’s bull, it's a crime under federal law. Period. No matter what their intentions were.

TEXAS GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES CRACKDOWN ON MASSIVE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY NEAR MAJOR CITY

"They're coming into this country across the border with no legal representation at all. In other words, they know they're breaking the law. Why not? They get free phones, free medical, free sign up, it's Christmas for them," he said. "And at the same time, our government, Democrat government, they didn't give a d--- about veterans or homeless that are U.S. citizens."

"I know Washington State is a blue, blue, blue sanctuary state. It's scary to live in this kind of atmosphere," he concluded. "But I wanted to make it clear and make it known to Tom Homan and President Trump and Vance, the vice president, that as long as I'm in office … I will totally cooperate with it and I want them to know that all they got to do is reach out and ask for assistance in Klickitat County, and I'll be there, standing at attention and willing to carry out the duties."

Yesterday — 25 February 2025Main stream

Homan issues stark warning for illegals amid clash with sanctuary city officials: 'We're coming'

25 February 2025 at 04:00

FIRST ON FOX: Border czar Tom Homan is firing back against attacks from local politicians in a major "sanctuary city" while warning illegal immigrants that they need to be "looking over their shoulder" in the days and weeks ahead.

Fox News Digital asked Homan about comments made by Boston City Councilor Sharon Durkan, who responded to comments made by Homan at CPAC, who said he was "bringing hell" with him to Boston and criticized the police commissioner for not working with ICE.

"She needs to put her U.S. citizen taxpayer constituency ahead of illegal aliens who rape children," Homan told Fox News Digital. "I'm not coming for her, she shouldn't be afraid of me. Who should be afraid of me are those in the country illegally. They need to be looking over their shoulder, because we’re coming."

BOSTON COUNCILWOMAN SOUNDS OFF AFTER TOM HOMAN'S CPAC PROMISE TO ‘BRING HELL’ 

"You're not a police commissioner," Homan said about Commissioner Michael Cox last week. "Take that badge off your chest. Put it in the desk drawer. Because you became a politician. You forgot what it’s like to be a cop."

Durkan responded by mocking Homan for serving as a police officer in the village of West Carthage, New York, in the 1980s before eventually heading Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and serving as a Border Patrol agent.

"Laughable that someone who spent their career policing a town smaller than a Fenway Park crowd thinks they can lecture Boston on public safety," Durkan's post on X read.

"Commissioner Michael Cox serves with distinction and earns trust with integrity," the city official continued. "Tom Homan should know, we don’t scare easy."

"Yes, I understand that Tom Homan spent his career as a federal agent within Border Patrol & ICE, but that’s a world away from the realities of policing a major city," she later clarified. "His background is in immigration enforcement, not community policing—where trust and accountability are key."

Speaking to Fox News Digital, Homan said Durkan should be grateful for ICE’s involvement.

"ICE has recently arrested nine illegal aliens, sexual predators in Mass., and removed them from the streets of Mass. She ought to be thanking ICE for making the streets safer," he said.

"And me coming there saying, ‘I'm going to bring some law enforcement resources to keep removing sexual predators from their communities and protect their children.’ She ought to be applauding ICE. She ought to support us. She ought, as the representative of a community, ought to be begging the governor and state legislature to end the sanctuary city policies and help ICE remove significant public safety trust from the communities," he said.

Boston is one of a number of "sanctuary" cities that limits state and local law enforcement cooperation with ICE, meaning that illegal immigrants with convictions or pending charges will be released back onto the streets rather than being turned over to ICE custody. Proponents of sanctuary policies argue it encourages cooperation with police from otherwise law-abiding illegal immigrants.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE

The Trump administration has ramped up interior ICE enforcement, with arrests skyrocketing compared to the same period last year. The administration has made international agreements to increase deportations and has taken certain Biden-era limits off ICE officers. Homan has been leading the charge.

Homan has said repeatedly that the target of the operations are public safety threats but that no one in the U.S. illegally is off the table. Speaking to Fox, Homan said critics of ICE’s work should speak to the victims of illegal immigrant crime.

"She ought to sit down and talk to a mother of one of these children that were raped by an illegal alien. This child will never be the same again. You would think she'd be putting them ahead of illegal aliens," he said.

He also dismissed the criticism of his background from Durkan.

"As far as me starting my career as a town cop, I truly believe it’s the community that raises you, it takes a community to raise a child, and the community that raises you, the first thing you do is to serve that community," he said. "I think it's the right thing to do. It's an American thing to do, and for a kid that grew up in a small community to become the ICE director – an agency of 21,000 law enforcement officers – I consider that the biggest honor of my life."

He also noted that ICE enforces hundreds of laws, many that have nothing to do with immigration enforcement, including drug smuggling, firearms trafficking and weapons of mass destruction. 

"I want her to understand that ICE is a well-rounded federal enforcement agency, one of the biggest agencies," he said. "We’ve got over 400 statutes we enforce."

Fox News' Andrea Margolis and Bill Melugin contributed to this report.

Before yesterdayMain stream

Tom Homan tells migrant terror groups Trump will ‘wipe you off the face of the Earth’

22 February 2025 at 13:09

Trump administration Border Czar Tom Homan warned criminal aliens Saturday that they would all be arrested and said he would make good on his promise to immigrant terror groups to "wipe you off the face of the earth."

Homan, who previously served as the acting director of ICE and currently leads the Trump administration’s border efforts, told a rapt audience at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) that the number of illegal immigrant "gotaways" is down by 95%.  

"We had about 1,800 a day in 2023. You know how many we had yesterday? Forty-eight," he said. "You're talking about 2,000 miles of border, and only 48 people escaped. But that's 48 too many. I'm not going to be happy till that number’s zero."

ACTIVISTS IN MEXICO REPORT FLOW OF MIGRANTS HAS 'ENORMOUSLY DECREASED' ONE MONTH INTO TRUMP ADMIN

The border czar also announced that in Trump’s first month in the Oval Office, ICE arrested 21,000 illegal aliens.

"I'm happy with the numbers, but I'm not going to be satisfied until every criminal alien gang member, every criminal alien, every Tren de Aragua is eradicated from this country and [we've] sent their ass to Gitmo, where they belong," he said.

Addressing criminal migrant groups like Venezuela's Tren de Aragua and El Salvador's MS-13 – which the Trump administration just designated "foreign terrorist organizations" – Homan said the Trump administration is making good on its promise to stamp them out.

"He’s going to wipe you off the face of the earth," he said. "You have killed more Americans than every terrorist organization in the world combined. You are now a terrorist organization. So, word out to anybody that assists them, anybody that sells their drugs on a street, anybody assists these cartels in any way, you are helping a terrorist organization."

TRUMP ADMIN REVEALS LIST OF CARTELS AND GANGS TO BE DESIGNATED TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS

"We're going to save lives, because when 95% less people [are] coming across the border, how many women aren't being raped? How many Americans aren’t dying from fentanyl overdoses? How many … terrorists aren't getting in the country? How many women and children aren’t sex-trafficked in this country? When you have a border lockdown, we're saving lives," he said.

Addressing criticism from Democrats and the media that ICE has arrested illegal aliens without criminal charges, along with criminal aliens, Homan said, "Yeah, damn right we did. Because you're in a country illegally, which happens to be a violation of our law."

"Entering this country illegally is a crime, and we're not going to forgive it," he said.

And addressing self-proclaimed "sanctuary" cities and states, where local and state governments refuse to cooperate with ICE, Homan said his now-familiar line: "Game on."

MAGA LAW GROUP FILES BRIEFS IN SUPPORT OF TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDER ENDING BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP

"Sanctuary cities are a sanctuary for criminals," he said. "We're enforcing the laws enacted by Congress, and we're not going to apologize for it, not under this administration."

Homan singled out Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox, who recently doubled down on the city’s sanctuary policies and said his officers would not assist ICE with deportation operations.

"You said you doubled down on not helping the law enforcement officers of ICE. I'm coming to Boston, and I'm bringing hell with me," he said. "I looked at the numbers this morning, I counted, I stopped counting at nine. Nine child rapists that were in jail in Massachusetts, but rather than honoring an ICE detainer, you released them back into the street. You're not a police commissioner. Take that badge off your chest. Put it in the desk drawer. Because you became a politician. You forgot what's it’s like to be a cop."

‘RAMPANT’ ABUSE IN BLUE STATE MIGRANT SHELTER SYSTEM, SAYS FORMER DIRECTOR: ‘COLOSSAL MESS’

Homan also took a few moments to express his gratitude to the men and women of federal law enforcement agencies like ICE and Border Patrol.

"God bless the men and women of ICE. God bless all the DOJ components, we’ve got the U.S. marshals, DEA, FBI, ATF, all these five agencies helping us," he said.

And to the men and women of Border Patrol, Homan said, "I love each and every one of you wearing that green uniform. You are the finest 1% of this country."

CPAC is an annual gathering of conservatives from across the country. This year, the conference took place in National Harbor, Maryland, and saw the participation of Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Elon Musk and several other top Trump Cabinet officials and Republican leaders.

Homan takes victory lap after illegal immigrant crossings plummet during Trump admin: 'He is delivering'

17 February 2025 at 11:31

President Trump's border czar Tom Homan is touting the administration's dramatic drop in illegal immigrant encounters at the southern border compared to the Biden administration.

Homan took to X to say that Border Patrol "has encountered a total of 229 aliens across the entire southwest border."

"That is down from a high of over 11,000 a day under Biden," he said. "I started as a Border Patrol Agent in 1984, and I don’t remember the numbers ever being that low."

HOMAN, AOC CLASH OVER WEBINAR TO HELP IMMIGRANTS' ‘EVADE’ ICE RAIDS: ‘I THOUGHT I EDUCATED HER’ 

"President Trump promised a secure border and he is delivering," he said.

The Trump administration has come in with an agenda to launch a historic mass deportation campaign and to provide additional border security. Trump signed orders on day one restarting border wall construction, limiting the ability to claim asylum, declaring a national emergency and ending Biden-era parole programs.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE

His administration has expanded expedited removal, removed limits on "sensitive places" on ICE agents, and launched raids across the country – while also suing "sanctuary" jurisdictions.

Fox News Digital reported last week that illegal immigrant arrests have soared. According to Department of Homeland Security data, obtained by Fox News Digital, there were 11,791 interior ICE arrests from Jan 20 to Feb 8., compared to 4,969 during the same period in 2024. That’s a 137% increase.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ARRESTS SKYROCKET UNDER TRUMP ICE COMPARED TO BIDEN LEVELS LAST YEAR

Arrests of aliens with criminal histories have soared by nearly 100% from 4,526 in the same period in 2024 to 8,993 under Trump this year. Arrests of fugitive aliens at-large, meanwhile, have gone up from 2,164 to 5,538 – a 156% increase. Arrests of criminal aliens in local jails have gone up 59%.

Fox News also reported that the daily average number of known gotaways – illegal migrants who successfully entered the U.S. without apprehension – at the southern border since the beginning of February has plummeted to just 132 per day, down 93% from the highest numbers when former President Joe Biden was in office.

On "America's Newsroom," Homan was asked when he is likely to run out of criminal illegal immigrant targets.

"We got almost 600,000 illegal aliens in the United States with a criminal conviction. So I won't be happy till we eradicate every one of those," he said.

White House scorches 'moron' left-wing senator for seething over 'obvious' Trump family parody account

16 February 2025 at 09:22

The White House slammed Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy as a "moron" on social media after the Connecticut lawmaker posted an expletive-riddled admonishment against a Lara Trump parody account he seemingly believed belonged to the president's daughter-in-law. 

"You are a moron, Chris. It is obvious this page is not affiliated with President Trump, his family, or the administration. We do, however, support your right to make such a statement, no matter how imbecilic it makes you look," the White House's X account, Rapid Response 47, said in a message posted on Friday. 

The rapid response account is a new White House account that was launched in January to hold "fake news accountable." 

The White House was responding to Murphy singling out a social media post he ostensibly believed Lara Trump posted regarding border czar Tom Homan potentially arresting Rep. Alexandira Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. Murphy included a screenshot of the alleged Lara Trump tweet, showing the handle for the account belongs to an X page called the "Lara Trump Page," a parody fan account  – not her official X account. 

HOMAN, AOC CLASH OVER WEBINAR TO HELP IMMIGRANTS 'EVADE' ICE RAIDS: 'I THOUGHT I EDUCATED HER'

"If you support Border Czar Tom Homan arresting AOC for giving illegal aliens instructions on how to avoid deportation, post a [thumbs up emoji] in the comments," the fan page account posted on Thursday. "Make your voice heard."

Murphy responded to the social media post by arguing the Trump administration has "some f---ing gall" discussing free speech when advocating for the arrest of a Democrat. 

'STUNNING AND BRAVE': DEM SENATOR MOCKED AFTER HYPING ALL-NIGHTER STUNT IN PROTEST OF TRUMP NOMINEE

"It takes some f---ng gall to have Vance lecturing Europe on ‘free speech’ when at the exact same time the Trump regime is threatening Democrats back home with arrest if they even explain people’s rights to them," Murphy posted to X on Friday. 

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ARRESTS SKYROCKET UNDER TRUMP ICE COMPARED TO BIDEN LEVELS LAST YEAR

Murphy's tweet was hit with a community note, detailing that he was responding to a parody fan account and that Lara Trump did not issue such a tweet. 

"This is a screenshot of a parody account of Lara Trump. Her real account is below and no such post exists," the community note states.

AOC'S OFFICE ADVISES MIGRANTS ON HOW TO AVOID DEPORTATIONS IN LIVE WEBINAR

Fox News Digital reached out to Murphy's office for comment Sunday morning, but did not immediately reply. 

The parody account's message was likely referring to Ocasio-Cortez's office posting a webinar "Know Your Rights" guide about how illegal immigrants can avoid deportation amid the Trump administration's border crackdown following the immigration crisis that rocked the U.S. under the Biden administration. 

Homan, former acting director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and current border czar under the second Trump administration, told Fox News' Laura Ingraham last week that he asked the Justice Department if Ocasio-Cortez's guide crossed a legal line. 

"Is that impeding our law enforcement efforts?" Homan said on the "Ingraham Angle."  "If so, what are we going to do about it? Is she crossing the line? So I'm working with the Department of Justice and finding out. Where is that line that they cross? So maybe AOC is going to be in trouble now."

Fox News Digital's Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report. 

Homan, AOC clash over webinar to help immigrants 'evade' ICE raids: 'I thought I educated her'

14 February 2025 at 14:06

FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump's border czar Tom Homan on Friday clashed with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., over a webinar she hosted advising migrants about how to handle an encounter with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

"Let’s pray that she is not ‘educating’ the next murderer of a young college nursing student on how to evade arrest by ICE," Homan told Fox News Digital on Friday. "How many more young women have to be raped, murdered and burned alive until she wakes up?"

Homan had first said on "The Ingraham Angle" that he had emailed the deputy attorney general asking whether Ocasio-Cortez's hosting of a "Know Your Rights with ICE" event on her Facebook page could count as an impediment to federal law enforcement.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ARRESTS SKYROCKET UNDER TRUMP ICE COMPARED TO BIDEN LEVELS LAST YEAR

"Is that impeding our law enforcement efforts?" Homan said. "If so, what are we going to do about it? Is she crossing the line? So I'm working with the Department of Justice and finding out. Where is that line that they cross? So maybe AOC is going to be going to be in trouble now."

During the event, viewers were informed of how to deal with ICE search requests. Migrants were also warned of "ruses" they allege ICE agents employ to get people to comply with searches, while the hosts also touted "trends" in how ICE conducts its searches, which have ramped up in recent weeks under the Trump administration. People were also recommended to record such searches and how to differentiate between different warrants ICE agents are likely to carry.

Ocasio-Cortez did not take part in the webinar but did upload tips to Instagram — via posters in both English and Spanish — and called on her followers to share the posters widely and study them. She also called on her followers to print out the posters and "tape them up in your workplace or keep them by your door." 

"So if ICE comes to your workplace or home, whether you are a citizen or noncitizen - YOU can defend your community and our constitution by exercising your right," she wrote.

On Thursday, Ocasio-Cortez took to X to mock Homan for suggesting she could be in trouble.

"MaYbe shE's goiNg to be in TroUble nOw," she posted.

"Maybe he can learn to read. The Constitution would be a good place to start," she said.

AOC'S OFFICE ADVISES MIGRANTS ON HOW TO AVOID DEPORTATIONS IN LIVE WEBINAR

In comments to Fox News Digital, Homan said that he was asking the Justice Department for their interpretation of the law regarding impeding and obstruction, and that he is "well aware of the Constitution, but I am also aware that DOJ gives legal interpretations on issues like this to ensure ICE acts in accordance of the law."

He then suggested Ocasio-Cortez read Title 8 USC 1324 and 8 USC 1325, "statutes enacted by Congress, of which she is a part of."

"It’s not OK to be in the U.S. illegally. It’s a violation of federal law to enter this country illegally. It is not OK to assist those in the U.S. illegally in furtherance of their illegal entry and unlawful presence. I thought I educated her on this several years ago during congressional testimony.," he said, referencing a viral clash from the first Trump administration at a congressional hearing.

"She can call it ‘advising those who are illegally in the U.S. of their constitutional rights.' But we all know it’s really about evading ICE and how not to get arrested and how not to adhere to a federal judge’s order to leave after receiving due process at great taxpayer expense," he said.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE

"She obviously believes that we should not enforce laws enacted by Congress. By working against ICE, she is putting those that committed a crime entering this country illegally and those that committed asylum fraud and those who ignored a federal court order of deportation over those that enforce our laws and risk their lives every day trying to keep our communities safe."

Ocasio-Cortez responded, telling Fox News Digital: "I am glad Mr. Homan is checking with the Department of Justice to familiarize himself with the limits of his agency’s authority in entering the homes of everyday Americans without a warrant. And I am proud to offer civil education to everyday Americans to ensure ICE’s compliance with the law, given the numerous reports of agents providing incorrect paperwork in their attempts to enter and search private homes."
 
"Since Mr. Homan seems to be vaguely familiar with U.S. immigration law, we also remind him that according to Congressional statute, becoming undocumented in the United States is a civil offense and not a criminal one. I look forward to continuing our work in ensuring the safety of everyday New Yorkers while keeping families together," she said.

The clash comes as many left-wing Democrats continue to raise objections to the mass deportation operation launched by the Trump administration. However, some Democrats have also expressed support, with New York City Mayor Eric Adams meeting with Homan on Thursday and agreeing to let ICE agents on to Rikers Island. While New York City is a "sanctuary" city, Adams has expressed openness to deporting criminal illegal immigrants.

Fox News Digital reported earlier on Friday that ICE interior arrests have skyrocketed under the Trump administration compared to the same period during the Biden administration last year, with a 137% increase over last year. Arrests of aliens with criminal histories have soared by nearly 100% from 4,526 in the same period in 2024 to 8,993 under Trump this year. 

Fox News' Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.

NYC council moderates 'thrilled' at Homan visit, pledging to help border czar fight 'progressive monopoly'

14 February 2025 at 09:41

Moderate members of New York City’s otherwise overwhelmingly progressive City Council met with President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, on the same day the lawman met with Mayor Eric Adams.

Homan, himself a New York State native from the Watertown area, joined a meeting of the bipartisan "Common Sense Caucus" led by Councilmembers Bob Holden, D-Glendale, and Joann Ariola, R-Howard Beach.

At the meeting, Homan pledged to act swiftly when informed of another migrant shelter being planned for an outer borough.

Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato told 1010WINS after the meeting that Homan had been incensed to learn that Adams’ Office of Asylum-Seeker Operations had announced a 2,200-bed shelter in the Bronx.

DEMOCRATIC NYC COUNCILMAN BOB HOLDEN BACKS ZELDIN OVER HOCHUL

"Get me that address," Homan reportedly told Marmorato, R-Throggs Neck.

The shelter is planned for a low-income area off the Bruckner Expressway in Mott Haven – not far from the RFK-Triboro Bridge, according to reports.

"Enough is enough," Marmorato – the only Bronx Republican on council – headlined a press release about "migrant dumps" there.

Holden is a moderate who famously took office in 2017 by unseating a Democrat who outraised him tenfold while running on the endorsed Republican, Conservative and Dump de Blasio ballot lines.

"Today, we had a productive meeting with Tom Homan, the Border Czar, to discuss the serious public safety consequences of sanctuary laws," Holden said in a statement.

"I have full confidence in Homan and his team to enforce federal laws and keep our communities safe."

As for Adams’ meeting with Homan, he appreciated the mayor’s acknowledgment of the crisis, but added, "words are not enough – he needs to take real action."

BLUE CITY POLICE SERGEANTS SAY THEY'RE PAID LESS THAN SUBORDINATES AS BILLIONS GO TO MIGRANTS

Adams, who on Thursday also pledged to work with the feds to fight gang proliferation at the city’s Rikers Island prison, announced executive action to reopen an ICE facility on the island in Hell Gate.

Holden called the move a "significant first step" toward prioritizing New York City public safety.

"I first pitched the idea of reopening the ICE office in December, and I’m glad to see action finally being taken. Thank you to Tom Homan for his leadership on this issue."

Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, a Brighton Beach Republican and immigrant from Ukraine, noted that her family "came here legally" and slammed the "top-down failures" of the Biden era.

"It’s a thrill to have a man of action leading immigration and border enforcement," Vernikov said on X, formerly Twitter, adding that she was unable to make the meeting itself but sent a staffer in her stead.

"The consensus is that we are all done with the media and leftist politicians making excuses for lawbreaking," she said, adding that she had paved her own path to legal citizenship and now practices immigration law.

"Illegal immigration is destroying this city and is offensive to citizens. Full stop. If the mayor won’t revoke sanctuary city status, I expect the Trump administration will provide very compelling and hard-hitting incentives to do so."

Ariola, who took over as the caucus’ GOP co-chair upon longtime Staten Island Councilman Joe Borelli’s retirement, said on X that "we need change – we need it now."

Councilman David Carr, R-New Dorp, also tweeted about the Homan meeting, saying New York needs to stop "shielding" migrants from ICE.

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Councilwoman Vickie Paladino, R-Whitestone, reacted to the meeting by pledging to double her efforts to fight the crisis.

"Despite the progressive monopoly in this city, I plan to use whatever power I have, in partnership with the Trump Administration wherever possible, to keep my district and my constituents safe," she said.

Democrats currently hold a 44-5 supermajority on the council, with one vacancy from each party.

One caucusmember, however, skipped the meeting with Homan, saying that she had a scheduling conflict and that "not every immigrant is a criminal."

"I am an immigrant. No one can ever tell me about the challenges faced by newcomers to New York and to this nation," Councilwoman Susan Zhuang, who was born in China, told City & State.

"Find the criminals and deport them, yes. But leave decent hard-working families alone," said Zhuang, D-Dyker Heights.

Ex-NY Giants player is helping deported migrants in Guatemala, blames Biden for the problem

12 February 2025 at 01:00

EXCLUSIVE: Retired New York Giants safety Jack Brewer and his global ministry are on the ground in Guatemala City this week, helping officials receive migrant families deported from the U.S., providing food, support and prayer as they essentially start life anew.

Brewer and his Jack Brewer Foundation have years of experience working in impoverished areas of the world like Haiti, Malawi and Central America, which Brewer said has allowed him to work closer than most and interact with the returning families.

While it is President Donald Trump and border czar Tom Homan enforcing U.S. law and deporting illegal immigrants, Brewer said it is clear former President Joe Biden’s "broken" policies are truly to blame for the heartache and hardship. 

"Three years ago, I started to follow the fatherlessness crisis that is happening right here in Guatemala, where a lot of men were leaving their households and coming to Joe Biden’s open borders – and just seeing it literally devastate families."

CHARITY LEADERS SLAM BIDEN ADMIN RESPONSE TO US PLANES SHOT IN HAITI AMID CHAOS

Brewer said Guatemala was losing much of its workforce and that a lot of those poor families trying to get to the U.S. actually did not know a "legal" immigration route existed, and they instead took the cartels and others at their word and paid thousands of dollars to be trafficked north.

"They’ve been told by coyotes and different people that you can just come [to the U.S.], and if you come here, if you bring your child, they'll just let you in," Brewer said.

"And so, you know, there's a huge education gap there on the ground."

Brewer also met with Raul Berrios from CONAMIGUA – the National Council for Attention to Migrants of Guatemala – as well as Sergio Samuel Vela-Lopez, head of the Guatemala Penitentiary Department.

Berrios, Lopez and others are trying to create an effective system for welcoming the migrants and processing those who are innocent families versus those who may have criminal records or other issues requiring government attention, according to Brewer.

FORMER NFL SAFETY JACK BREWER TORCHES CA'S COSTLY REPARATIONS PUSH

Many families returning to the capital city live hundreds of miles into the countryside and have no established way of getting there. Some buses, however, have been hired to take migrants closer to home, and Brewer visited one of them and spoke to its driver.

"It’s really a unique perspective, I think, and just some of the things that we've witnessed since we've been here," he said, adding stories ranged from familial hardships to reports that more than a dozen people have been burnt alive by Mexican cartels for failing to pay for passage.

"It’s just pretty tough to see and witness and watch."

When a U.S. military plane arrived carrying migrants, Brewer was on the tarmac.

HEGSETH, HOMAN TOUR BORDER

"We were able to provide them with food and, most importantly, with Bibles, and we preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

Brewer said the Guatemalan Migration Authority is focusing its efforts on children ages 8 and under. Many of these children have been "lied to," Brewer said.

"They’re told it’s their life’s mission to migrate to the U.S. illegally," he said, recounting stories told by some returning migrants of children on the backs of cartel coyotes and others drowning in rivers.

Then-Vice President Kamala Harris made her own trip to Guatemala City in March 2024, seeking to understand the "root causes" of illegal migration.

"When you look at the root causes, we're also looking at issues of corruption. Again, we're looking at the issue of climate resiliency and then the concern about a lack of economic opportunity," Harris said in 2021.

Brewer rejected that Harris’ work made any difference, saying she and her then-boss’s policies "empowered human traffickers" and that half of Guatemala still lives in extreme poverty with little education.

He said the former leadership at the State Department "misguided resources" through USAID, a practice that Trump is now aggressively cutting back on.

"We need to first put our resources into addressing the issues that are fueling a multibillion-dollar human trafficking industry. Walls, deportations and enforcement are a must, but educating indigenous populations on the truths of coyotes will deliver a devastating blow to the modern human slave trade," Brewer said.

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"Guatemala is not enforcing their migration issue in the country. Haitians and Venezuelans are warned of the dangers of migrating, but there is no enforcement at the time."

"There needs to be arrest and enforcement, but they require resources. Guatemala prisons are already overcrowded, and they don’t have immigration beds available for enforcement," added Brewer, who said he also visited those prisons and saw conditions for himself.

I made Ree Drummond's and Joanna Gaines' Buffalo chicken dips, and only one was good enough for the Super Bowl

6 February 2025 at 12:54
ree drummond buffalo chicken dip and joanna gaines buffalo chicken dip
The Pioneer Woman's recipe for Buffalo-chicken dip was super creamy thanks to the addition of ranch, while I thought Joanna Gaines' underwhelming.

Rob Kim/Getty Images; Monica Schipper/Getty Images; Erin McDowell/Business Insider

  • I made two different celebrity-chef recipes for Buffalo chicken dip.
  • The Pioneer Woman's recipe was super creamy, thanks to the addition of ranch.
  • However, I thought Joanna Gaines' recipe for Buffalo chicken dip was lacking in flavor.

It's the Super Bowl this Sunday, and nothing goes better with the big game than a tangy, creamy Buffalo chicken dip with a side of chips.

I decided to try out two Buffalo chicken dip recipes from celebrity chefs to see which was more of a crowd-pleaser. I made recipes from Joanna Gaines and Ree Drummond, also known as the Pioneer Woman. Gaines and Drummond, both Southern chefs, have gained fame — and fortune — for their family-friendly, comfort-food recipes.

However, in researching and trying out each chef's recipe for Buffalo chicken dip, I learned they approach the game-day favorite very differently. While Gaines' recipe was easier to make and required simpler ingredients, the Pioneer Woman's recipe was far more flavorful, thanks to the addition of ranch dressing and two different kinds of cheese. 

Keep reading to learn how to make each recipe, and see how they compare. 

The Pioneer Woman's recipe for Buffalo-chicken dip calls for fewer than 10 ingredients.
pioneer woman buffalo chicken dip
The ingredients for The Pioneer Woman's Buffalo-chicken dip.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

To make The Pioneer Woman's recipe, you'll need:

  • 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup Buffalo sauce
  • 1/3 cup ranch dressing
  • 1/3 cup blue cheese crumbles
  • 2 cups chopped, cooked chicken
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, divided
  • 4 scallions, thinly sliced, divided
After preheating my oven to 375-degrees Fahrenheit, I started by softening the cream cheese in a medium-sized bowl.
pioneer woman buffalo chicken dip
The cream cheese in a bowl.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

You could leave your cream cheese out on the counter for a while, or microwave the bowl of cream cheese for around 45 seconds like I did. I then used a spatula to slightly mix the cream cheese to make it even softer and easier to combine with the other ingredients. 

I then added in the Buffalo sauce.
pioneer woman buffalo chicken dip
The Buffalo sauce and cream cheese in a bowl.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I used the spatula to gently fold the sauce and cream cheese together, rather than mixing it together vigorously. 

After adding in the ranch dressing, I mixed it together.
pioneer woman buffalo chicken dip
The cream cheese mixed with ranch and Buffalo sauce in a bowl.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

It might take some extra effort to get all the clumps of cream cheese to combine. I didn't have one, but you could also use an electric mixer to ensure all of your ingredients are fully combined. 

The Pioneer Woman recommended using a store-bought rotisserie chicken for this recipe.
pioneer woman buffalo chicken dip
The rotisserie chicken.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I bought mine from a local Key Food grocery store in New York City for $8.99, excluding tax. 

I used a knife and fork to gently pull the meat away and placed it on a cutting board.
pioneer woman buffalo chicken dip
I pulled apart the rotisserie chicken.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I then used a large chef's knife to chop and shred the chicken into smaller pieces. You'll need about 2 cups of chicken meat for this recipe, which I found to be roughly half the rotisserie chicken. 

I then added the chopped chicken, blue-cheese crumbles, cheddar cheese, and scallions into the sauce.
pioneer woman buffalo chicken dip
The ingredients for the Buffalo-chicken dip in a bowl.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I used the same spatula to mix the ingredients.

After the dip was fully mixed, I spooned it into an 11-inch-by-7-inch casserole dish.
pioneer woman buffalo chicken dip
The Buffalo-chicken dip before going in the oven.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I found that I had the perfect amount of dip for the casserole dish I used. 

I then topped the dip with the remaining cup of cheddar cheese.
pioneer woman buffalo chicken dip
The Buffalo-chicken dip topped with cheese.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I also grated a little bit more over the top of the dish for some added cheesiness. 

After cooking in the oven for 20 minutes, the dip was hot, bubbling, and ready to eat.
pioneer woman buffalo chicken dip
The finished Buffalo-chicken dip.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I let the dip rest for about five minutes before serving it at a friend's party. 

The edges of the dip were caramelized and super creamy.
pioneer woman buffalo chicken dip
A tortilla chip dipped in the Buffalo-chicken dip.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The dip itself had a lot of flavor and got rave reviews from the guests. You could really taste the blue cheese and cheddar, while the scallions added a hint of freshness that I haven't had in any other Buffalo dip I've ever made. It was also perfectly spicy, without being overpowering. 

I would definitely make this recipe for my Super Bowl party or any gathering with friends. Not only was the recipe incredibly easy to follow and only took me 30 minutes from start to finish, but the result was beyond delicious and flavorful.

Joanna Gaines' recipe for Buffalo-chicken dip required simpler ingredients, although many were the same as I used for the previous recipe.
joanna gaines buffalo chicken dip
The ingredients for Joanna Gaines' Buffalo-chicken dip.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

To make Joanna Gaines' recipe, you'll need:

  • 1 cup shredded chicken breast
  • 8 ounces of cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup grated yellow cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup hot sauce
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
I started by adding the ingredients to a large mixing bowl.
joanna gaines buffalo chicken dip
The ingredients for Joanna Gaines' Buffalo-chicken dip.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

You'll need to either let the cream cheese come to room temperature or microwave it for a few seconds, like I did, to soften it slightly. Since I had already shredded some chicken from the previous recipe, I used the leftovers in this recipe. 

I then used an electric mixer to combine the ingredients fully.
joanna gaines buffalo chicken dip
The Buffalo-chicken dip in a large mixing bowl.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

This recipe made far less dip than the other one, but you can double or triple the recipe if you need to.

Unlike the Pioneer Woman's recipe, this Buffalo-chicken dip is served cold and doesn't ever go in the oven.
joanna gaines buffalo chicken dip in a bowl
Gaines' Buffalo-chicken dip.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

After spooning the dip into an airtight container, I popped it in the fridge for an hour to cool and set. After it was done, I removed it and spooned the dip into a small bowl for serving.

I liked the addition of the garlic powder and other seasonings, but I preferred the warmth of the previous dip.
joanna gaines buffalo chicken dip
A tortilla chip dipped in the Buffalo-chicken dip.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I also thought Gaines' recipe could have used more spice — I could barely taste the Buffalo sauce and it definitely didn't have the same kick as the previous dip. The finely chopped chives added a bit of flavor, but I preferred the stronger taste of the scallions. 

While this recipe was so easy I could have practically made it with my eyes closed, I didn't think it had the same amount of flavor as the dip that took longer to make. 

Overall, I had to give the win to Ree Drummond's Buffalo-chicken dip.
pioneer woman buffalo chicken dip
The Pioneer Woman's Buffalo-chicken dip came out on top.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider; Monica Schipper/Getty Images

The Pioneer Woman's dip was warm, comforting, and a standout dish at the party I served it at.

I did like that Gaines' recipe required fewer ingredients — if you don't count the seasonings — and only took 10 minutes to make, not counting the 1 hour it took to set in the fridge. Using an electric mixer also made the process a breeze.

However, I'm not sure I would want to serve Gaines' version to my family. It tasted fine, but it didn't bring the wow factor I found with the more elaborate, flavorful recipe from Ree Drummond.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Homan, lawmakers signal cooperation on ‘overlooked’ northern border amid migrant spike: 'Same vision'

31 January 2025 at 08:26

EXCLUSIVE: Republican lawmakers representing the Northern Border Security Caucus are looking to meet with border czar Tom Homan about the "overlooked" northern border -- with Homan telling Fox News Digital he is keen to work with them "ASAP."

Reps. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., and Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., have written to Homan, congratulating him on his new role as border czar in the new Trump administration. 

"As this new administration begins, we, as co-chairs of the Northern Border Security Caucus, want to highlight the importance of protecting the Northern border, which as you well know has been overlooked considering the ongoing crisis at our Southwest border," they write to Homan, in a letter obtained by Fox News Digital.

BIDEN ANNOUNCES NEW NORTHERN BORDER DEAL, FENTANYL COALITION WITH CANADA AS IMMIGRATION CRISIS RAGES

While the overall numbers of migrant encounters are vastly outnumbered by the southern border, with just under 200,000 encounters for FY 2024, it has seen a sharp increase in numbers during the Biden administration. In FY 23, there were more apprehensions than the prior 10 years combined.

"The Northern border has faced an unprecedented rise in encounters during the last administration with FY2024 encounters rising nearly 82% over FY2022. The number of unaccompanied children encountered skyrocketed 262% in the same period," the lawmakers say. "The Swanton Sector, where a Border Patrol agent was shot and killed on January 20th, has seen an outrageous 1,720% increase in encounters from FY2022 to FY2024."

NORTHERN BORDER SECTOR SEES 550% INCREASING IN MIGRANT APPREHENSIONS LAST FISCAL YEAR

Kelly and Zinke announced the reintroduction of the caucus earlier this month for the 119th Congress. The 24-member caucus calls for secure borders and looks to raise awareness of the immigration issues facing the states at the border with Canada.

Telling Homan that he has made it clear that he shares "our same vision for a more safe and secure Northern border," they invited him to a meeting with the caucus on how "Congress and the new Administration can work together to secure the Northern Border."

In response to a request for comment from Fox News Digital, Homan said he will "engage with them ASAP on ways to secure the northern border to decrease illegal crossings of aliens and narcotics and address the national security vulnerabilities."

The caucus was founded in 2023 as numbers were spiking at the northern border, and the members have raised concerns about the number of migrants on the terror watchlist who have crossed via the border. They have noted that 87% of all terror watchlisted individuals encountered at ports of entry were apprehended at the northern border.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE

Coralie Fargeat is the 9th woman to be nominated for a best director Oscar — here are all the others

24 January 2025 at 14:24
left: jane campion, smiling and holding an oscar; center: chloe zhao, speaking and holding an oscar; right: Coralie Fargeat
smiling on a red carpet
Jane Campion, Chloé Zhao, and Coralie Fargeat are three of the nine women who have been nominated for best directing at the Academy Awards.

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Todd Wawrychuk/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images; Amy Sussman/Getty Images

  • In the Oscars' nearly century-long history, only nine women have ever been nominated for their directing.
  • Jane Campion, Chloé Zhao, and Kathryn Bigelow are the only women to win the best director award.
  • Coralie Fargeat is the latest woman to be nominated, for her film "The Substance."

The Oscars have been around since 1929, but to date, only nine women have been nominated for the award for best director.

Since Lina Wertmüller became the first woman nominated for the award in 1977, there have only been a handful of subsequent nominations, and even more notable snubs. Only three women who were nominated for the award have ever won it.

Coralie Fargeat, who was nominated for "The Substance," is now the ninth woman to be nominated for the award for best director at the Oscars.

Fargeat and "The Substance" have been major players on the festival and awards circuit in the 2024-2025 season. Fargeat won the award for best screenplay at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, and she notched nominations for directing and screenplay at the 2025 Golden Globes. Demi Moore, the film's star, was also nominated for best actress at the Academy Awards after winning the same award at the 2025 Golden Globes.

Here are all the women who have been nominated for best director at the Oscars.

Lina Wertmüller, "Seven Beauties" (1977)
Lina Wertmüller
Lina Wertmüller.

Getty Images

In 1977, Wertmüller became the first woman ever to be nominated in the directing category at the 49th Academy Awards. She was also nominated for best original screenplay. Her film, "Seven Beauties," is an Italian-language movie about an Italian man who deserts the army during World War II, and is captured by Germans and sent to prison camp. 

Wertmüller lost the directing category to John G. Avildsen for "Rocky." Other nominees in the category were Sidney Lumet ("Network"), Ingmar Bergman ("Face to Face") and Alan J. Pakula ("All the President's Men").

Jane Campion, "The Piano" (1994), "The Power of the Dog" (2022)
jane campion holding her oscar statuette. she's wearing all black and smiling widely, her hair worn loose
Jane Campion won the award for best directing for "The Power of the Dog."

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

In 1994, Campion became the second woman to be nominated for directing a film. "The Piano," about a mute piano player and her daughter, stars Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, and Anna Paquin, who won best supporting actress at age 11. 

At the 66th Academy Awards ceremony, Campion won for best original screenplay, but lost the directing category to Steven Spielberg, who won for "Schindler's List."

Campion is the only woman who has earned multiple best director nominations at the Academy Awards. In 2021, she was nominated and won the award for "The Power of the Dog," which starred Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, and Kodi Smit-McPhee.

Sofia Coppola, "Lost in Translation" (2004)
Sofia Coppola
Sofia Coppola.

Getty Images

Coppola's critically acclaimed dramedy starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson was a favorite in the 2004 awards season, earning her a nomination for best director. The movie, about two lonely Americans who become friends after meeting at a Tokyo hotel, was also nominated for best picture.

Though it didn't win in either of those categories, Coppola won the statue for best original screenplay. Coppola lost the directing category to Peter Jackson for "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King." Other nominees in the category included Fernando Meirelles ("City of God"), Peter Weir ("Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World"), and Clint Eastwood ("Mystic River").

Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker" (2010)
Kathryn Bigelow oscar
Kathryn Bigelow.

Getty Images

Bigelow was the first female director to win an Oscar, and earned the award for her film "The Hurt Locker." The film follows an elite bomb disposal unit during the Iraq War.

Bigelow won over Quentin Tarantino ("Inglorious Basterds"), Lee Daniels ("Precious"), Jason Reitman ("Up in the Air"), and James Cameron ("Avatar").

Greta Gerwig, "Lady Bird" (2018)
Greta Gerwig
Greta Gerwig.

Getty Images

Gerwig was nominated for best director for her coming-of-age film "Lady Bird," which starred Saorise Ronan and Laurie Metcalf. Metcalf and Ronan were both nominated in acting categories, Gerwig was also nominated for the award for best original screenplay, and the film was nominated for best picture.

"Lady Bird" did not win any of those awards. The directing award that year went to Guillermo del Toro for "The Shape of Water."

Chloé Zhao, "Nomadland" (2021)
chloe zhao holding an oscar on stage, wearing a taupe colored dress with flowing sleeves and a high neckline. her hair is worn in two long braids.
Chloé Zhao accepting the award for best directing for "Nomadland."

Todd Wawrychuk/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images

Chloé Zhao became the first woman of color to win the award for best director with her film "Nomadland." The film stars Francis McDormand a woman who pursues a nomadic lifestyle in the United States.

"Nomadland" also won the best picture award that year, and McDormand won the award for best actress. Zhao was also nominated for, but did not win, the Oscars for best adapted screenplay and best film editing.

Emerald Fennell, "Promising Young Woman" (2021)
emerald fennell wearing a green and pink sparkling gown, holding up an ocsars statuette and smiling
Emerald Fennell won the award for best original screenplay for "Promising Young Woman."

Chris Pizzello-Pool/Getty Images

Emerald Fennell was nominated for her film "Promising Young Woman" in 2021, but lost the directing award to Zhao that year.

"Promising Young Woman" was also up for best picture that year, but also lost to "Nomadland." Fennell, however, won the award for best original screenplay.

Justine Triet, "Anatomy of a Fall" (2023)
justine triet standing in a shimmering tent, surrounded by people. she's smiling and holding her oscar, wearing a shimmering pinstripe suit
Justine Triet won the award for best original screenplay for "Anatomy of a Fall."

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Justine Triet was nominated for best director for her film "Anatomy of a Fall," a French film that stars Sandra Hüller (also nominated) as a woman attempting to prove that she's innocent of her husband's possible murder.

Triet did not win the directing award, which went to Christopher Nolan for "Oppenheimer." She and writing partner Arthur Harari did, however, win the award for best original screenplay.

Coralie Fargeat, "The Substance" (2024)
coralie fargeat at the golden globes. she's wearing a black textured strapless dress, with a protruding piece over her shoulder, and has her hair curly and loose. she's standing in front of a pink and white floral background
Coralie Fargeat at the 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards.

Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Fargeat is the ninth woman to be nominated for best director at the Academy Awards, and the tenth overall nomination.

Her film, "The Substance," stars Demi Moore as a actor in her 50s who, after being fired from a longtime gig, takes a drug that creates a younger version of herself, played by Margaret Qualley.

For the directing award, Fargeat is competing against Sean Baker ("Anora"), Brady Corbet ("The Brutalist"), James Mangold ("A Complete Unknown"), and Jacques Audiard ("Emilia Pérez").

Carrie Wittmer contributed to a previous version of this article.

Read the original article on Business Insider

The second-oldest person in the US has died aged 113. Her 4 secrets to a long life include not having kids to avoid stress.

20 November 2024 at 05:51
Herlda Senhouse sitting in a chair and wearing red lipstick, a red patterned shirt, and pearl necklace.
Herlda Senhouse was the second oldest person in the US before she died on Saturday.

Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

  • Herlda Senhouse, formerly the second oldest person in the US, died this week at the age of 113.
  • She thought lifestyle factors could have contributed to her longevity as well as her genes.
  • They included not having kids, eating healthily, and being part of a community.

Herlda Senhouse, born in 1911, appreciated three things about 2024: electric light, indoor plumbing, and having a Black female vice president.

Senhouse, who died at age 113 on Saturday, lived in Wellesley, Massachusetts. She worked as a housekeeper and nanny for white families, and faced racism including being denied the opportunity to study nursing, she told The Telegraph in 2021. Senhouse founded the Boston Clique Club, a group of dancers and musicians who raised money to help educate Black students in Boston.

"I never thought I'd see a Black woman vice president, which is amazing, and I'm so happy," she said.

Senhouse wanted to keep helping others even after she died: she donated her brain to researchers at Boston University, who are studying whether genes help some people live past 100 for the New England Centenarian Study.

As well as her genes, Senhouse attributed her longevity to a few lifestyle factors.

Don't have children to avoid stress

Senhouse often said that the secret to her longevity was not having children, Stephanie Hawkinson, a public information officer for the town of Wellesley told US News and World Report on Monday.

One 2017 study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that people without children didn't live as long as parents, possibly because of the support they received. But Senhouse thought that not having children helped her avoid stress, which research suggests can accelerate aging.

Eat healthily and don't smoke

"I don't smoke or drink. And I don't drink those fizzy waters… no soda. I seldom eat fast food," Senhouse told WBZ News in 2022.

People who followed healthy eating guidelines, including consuming lots of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes, had a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and respiratory disease in a 2023 study. The research involved 119,000 female nurses and male health professionals and was published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine. These people were also less likely to smoke and more likely to exercise.

Be part of a community

Hawkinson said that Senhouse had a big community of friends, family, and fellow church members.

She also spent lots of time with her best friend, Margaret Robinson, whom she met over 60 years ago. They called each other every day and got their hair and nails done together every two weeks, WBZ News reported.

Researchers carrying out the Harvard Study of Adult Development have found that healthy relationships can lower the risk of dying at any age and help to reduce pain in older age, BI's Hilary Brueck previously reported.

Know when to let go

Do your best to fix issues in your life, but if you can't, let it go, Senhouse told The Telegraph.

Perseverance and focusing on the good things in life are common traits among centenarians, Business Insider previously reported. And longevity researchers who have spoken to over 1,000 centenarians told BI that many centenarians try not to stress about things out of their control.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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