
Who is Huma Abedin? Indian-origin ex-aide to Hillary Clinton; now married to George Soros's son Alex Soros
Indian-origin author and longtime
aide Huma Abedin has married Alex Soros, the son of billionaire philanthropist George Soros.
The event dubbed as the 'wedding of liberal royalty' by
The New York Times
, was held at the couple's home in New York and drew a star-studded, high-profile guest list that included political heavyweights and celebrities.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Among those present were Hillary and Bill Clinton, Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and international guests like Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.
Other attendees included Vogue editor Anna Wintour, socialite Nicky Hilton Rothschild, and longtime Clinton ally Susie Tompkins Buell, adding to the glitz and influence at the celebration.
Who is Alex Soros?
Alex Soros, 39, is the chairman of the Open Society Foundations, the global philanthropic organization founded by his father, billionaire investor George Soros.
Raised in New York, Alex graduated from New York University in 2009 and earned a PhD in history from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2018.
In June 2023, he was named the heir to his father's fortune and took over leadership of OSF and Soros Fund Management.
Who is Huma Abedin?
Huma Abedin, 48, is a longtime political aide and trusted confidante of Hillary Clinton.
Often called Clinton's 'second daughter,' she worked closely with her in various roles — from the White House to the US Senate and the State Department.
Born in Michigan to an Indian father and Pakistani mother, Abedin was raised in Saudi Arabia. She often credits her multicultural background for shaping her identity and perspective.
She started her political journey at 19, interning in the First Lady's office in 1996, and steadily rose through the ranks to become one of Clinton's most trusted aides.
Over the years, she held several prominent positions: senior advisor to Senator Clinton, traveling chief of staff during the 2008 presidential campaign, deputy chief of staff at the US State Department, and ultimately vice chair of Hillary for America in 2016.
Her final role with Clinton was as chief of staff. Though known for keeping a low profile, Abedin's personal life has drawn attention.
She married former Congressman Anthony Weiner in 2010, but their relationship unraveled after multiple sexting scandals, The People reported. The couple separated in 2016 and divorced in 2017. They share a son, Jordan Zain Weiner, born in 2011.
She briefly dated actor Bradley Cooper before meeting Alex Soros at a mutual friend's birthday party in 2023.
The two got engaged in May 2024 and recently married in a high-profile wedding attended by political heavyweights and celebrities alike.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Scroll.in
16 minutes ago
- Scroll.in
Pakistan nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize, cites ‘pivotal' role during conflict with India
Pakistan announced on Saturday that it has nominated United States President Donald Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize 'in recognition of his decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership' during the recent conflict with India. 'The Government of Pakistan also acknowledges and greatly admires President Trump's sincere offers to help resolve the longstanding dispute of Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan – an issue that lies at the heart of regional instability,' Islamabad stated in a social media post. It also described Trump as a 'genuine peacemaker'. The winner of the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize is expected to be announced in October 2026. Pakistan to recommend US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize 2026: Pakistan statement — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) June 21, 2025 Pakistan's announcement came days after Trump claimed that he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize for multiple global peace efforts, The Hindu reported. 'I should have gotten it four or five times,' the US president was quoted as saying by AP. 'They won't give me a Nobel Peace Prize because they only give it to liberals.' In a social media post on Saturday, Trump reiterated that he would never receive a Nobel Peace Prize, 'no matter what I do'. He also repeated his claim that he had helped 'stop the war' between India and Pakistan. New Delhi has rejected Trump's assertions. On Wednesday, New Delhi stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had told the US president that India will never accept mediation to resolve tensions with Pakistan. Trump was also told that New Delhi had agreed to the ceasefire only on Islamabad's request, said India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. Hours after the statement, Trump hosted Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, at the White House. Speaking afterwards, Trump thanked both Munir and Modi for their roles in 'ending the war', and noted ongoing trade discussions with both countries, The Hindu reported. The tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad escalated on May 7 when the Indian military carried out strikes – codenamed Operation Sindoor – on what it claimed were terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The strikes were in response to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which killed 26 persons on April 22. The Pakistan Army retaliated to Indian strikes by repeatedly shelling Indian villages along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. At least 22 Indian civilians and eight defence personnel were killed. On May 10, India and Pakistan reached an 'understanding' to halt firing following a four-day conflict. New Delhi's announcement on the decision to stop military action had come minutes after Trump claimed on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to the ceasefire. However, India has said that the decision to stop firing was taken bilaterally and that there was no intervention by the US. The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize is selected by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. The five-member panel is appointed by the Norwegian Parliament. According to the Nobel Prize website, a nomination for the Peace Prize is valid if submitted by qualified individuals such as government officials, judges, professors, former laureates or members of recognised peace organisations. This includes 'members of national Assemblies and national governments of sovereign states as well as current heads of state'. Self-nominations are not accepted.


Indian Express
18 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Gave Amitabh Bachchan a Hollywood film's CD instead of a script when I went to sign him, recalls producer: ‘He asked what do I do with it?'
In the early 2000s, Amitabh Bachchan was successfully mounting a comeback in Bollywood after enduring a tough period in the 1990s. During this time, filmmakers in India had no qualms about remaking Hollywood films, even without buying any rights as the laws regarding these matters weren't strictly in place at the time. Keeping up with the trend, Big B was also offered the remake of a Hollywood film, but interestingly, without a script. The actor, who is often regarded as the greatest actor in the Indian film industry, was directly handed the CD of a Hollywood film and was told that they will Indianise it if he came on board, which, obviously, left the actor shell shocked. While appearing on Friday Talkies' YouTube channel, producer Bunty Walia spoke about the making of Ek Ajnabee, which was directed by Apoorva Lakhia, and also starred Arjun Rampal, and said that Lakhia decided to make this film after watching Denzel Washington-starrer Man on Fire. The duo thought that if they wanted to remake it, Amitabh would be the best man for the job. Right before this, Lakhia had made his Bollywood debut with Abhishek Bachchan-starrer Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost. Bunty recalled, 'I talked to Amitabh sir's secretary, Sheetal ji, and we fixed up a meeting with him. When I met with him, he asked me for the script, and I told him that we didn't have any script, and I handed him the CD of Man on Fire. I told him we were going to 'Indianise' it and then make a film.' Walia added that Amitabh was confused with what they were trying to do and asked him, 'What do I do with it?' His secretary was definitely not impressed by their level of readiness. 'I remember Sheetal ji looking at me like I was a fool. We didn't have a script or schedule for the film, and we were trying to sign him for the film. He gave us dates for many months later and told us straight that now it was our job to convince Amitabh sir to do the film.' ALSO READ: Bollywood's biggest hairstylist died penniless, family was left with 'nothing to eat' despite counting Bachchans, Kapoors as friends After borrowing money from his father and talking to the actor, Walia was able to sign him for the film, but even though the veteran actor had said yes to the project, he still had his reservations about playing an action hero. Walia talked about shooting in Bangkok and shared how Amitabh was curious to know why they signed him. 'We had some time on our hands, and Amitabh sir asked me, 'Why did you guys sign me? I am an old man.' I smirked and said, 'If you think you are old, then so many people from the industry should just retire'.' Amitabh's time shooting Ek Ajnabee was certainly eventful, as previously shared by Apoorva Lakhia during his appearance on Friday Talkies. The director shared that while roaming around Bangkok after shooting one day, Big B ended up going to a strip club called Exotic p****. 'I told him, 'Sir, this is Patpong; there are live shows here. If I take you, there will be riots. He said, 'No, we will go.' So, I said, Let's go.' Big B would make new plans every day after filming was over, and according to Lakhia, he would reach the set right on time, even if he had been clubbing the night before. Apart from Amitabh, the cast of the film also included Arjun Rampal, Rucha Vaidya, Perizad Zorabian, and Akhilendra Mishra. The movie it took inspiration from, Man on Fire, was directed by Tony Scott.


Mint
19 minutes ago
- Mint
Memes are changing how we talk IRL
It started as a joke. Rishabh Malik, 21, a college student from Rajasthan, mimicked a trending meme at a party. 'Only one friend got it—we ended up laughing, but the rest looked lost," he says. 'That's when I realised not everyone lives online like we do. Sometimes," he adds, 'meme references completely derail a conversation, leaving it fragmented or flat." Visha Agrawal, 23, a graphic designer from Ahmedabad, has experienced similar moments. 'I quoted a reel and then had to explain the entire backstory. It killed the moment," she says. For her, the problem runs deeper. 'People escalate everything into a debate, even trivial stuff like AI memes. No one knows when to stop." Manan Sharma, 22, who works in advertising in Mumbai, has observed digital language infiltrating professional spaces. 'I've had coworkers say things like 'LMAO' or 'XD' out loud in meetings. It feels robotic. Like we're performing the internet version of ourselves." As our online lives bleed into the real world, social media's logic—fast, curated, and often performative—is subtly reshaping how we speak, share and show up offline. Real-world communication is beginning to mirror social media: fast-paced, reaction-driven and curated for attention. Mumbai-based Rutu Mody Kamdar, founder of Jigsaw Brand Consultants, specialising in consumer research, behavioural insights and cultural strategy, explains how digital validation has altered behaviour beyond screens. 'While validation has always been part of human nature, what's changed in the social media age is the pace, scale, and structure of how it plays out," she says. Earlier, validation was shaped by real-time cues in a room—today, it's shaped by the logic of virality. 'People now narrate stories not just to connect, but to resonate, to land, to be remembered—often unconsciously mirroring the rhythm of a post." Kamdar notes a 'performative edge" creeping into everyday offline moments. 'People talk at dinner like they're writing a caption. The ability to sit with nuance is diminishing." Conversations are either hyper-verbal or awkwardly thin—emotions skimmed, not felt. This shift is particularly visible in Gen Z and younger millennials, who have grown up with their online and offline selves deeply enmeshed. According to Instagram's 2024 Trend Talk report, Indian Gen Z users increasingly seek day-in-the-life content and advice from creators, blurring the boundary between what's authentic and what's aspirational. In turn, their real lives begin to echo the curated tones of their digital personas. Empathy eroded Mumbai-based clinical psychologist and trauma therapist Rupa Chaubal observes this closely in her practice. 'Gen Z's worldview is largely shaped by what they consume online. Many turn to Google or social media before speaking to their parents," she says. 'They believe they already know enough, which reduces trust in human experience." This trust deficit doesn't just affect families—it impacts peer groups, workplaces, and romantic relationships. 'Empathy is eroding. I see clients reacting impulsively or resorting to harsh criticism in conflicts," Chaubal explains. 'An increasing sense of entitlement becomes a barrier while handling real-life disagreements." Even in therapy, online habits seep in. 'Some clients bring memes to explain how they feel rather than using their own words," she says. Others cite social media counterpoints as if trying to 'dethrone" the therapist. 'It becomes a battle of sources." Preeti D'Mello, founder of The Fulfillment Institute, a leadership coaching and organisational development institute, and an organisational psychologist based in Princeton, New Jersey, links this to an overdependence on digital validation. 'When affirmation comes from likes and shares, people start needing constant feedback. They struggle with patience, active listening, and empathy." She sees the result in both personal and professional settings. 'People are more reactive and less able to sit with opposing views. Civil discourse is declining." Is debate mode the default? Malik says that at his engineering college, juniors often approach conversations like Twitter threads. 'You say something and they come back with 'Um, actually…'—as if every interaction is a thread to win, not a discussion." This debate-mode mindset, driven by online norms like quote-tweeting and clapbacks, often leaves real-life interactions tense or exhausting. 'People forget they're not on a comment section," Sharma says. 'You can't just mute or block someone in person." Chaubal adds, 'Younger clients seem more interested in the 'intent' of communication than the content itself. They're restless, they lose interest if a conversation isn't stimulating—and they often struggle with eye contact or pauses." This inability to read or respond to non-verbal cues—especially among those raised during the peak of screen use during covid—further frays connection. 'It can lead to relationships that feel hollow or unstable." The offline resistance Yet, even in a hyper-connected world, people are beginning to carve out intentional spaces for offline connection—often without making a big show of it. A recent trend, especially among young urban dwellers, involves turning apartments into temporary cafés. Friends are invited over for coffee shop-style hangouts—no phones, no agendas, just in-person time. Others are organising monthly themed dinners, cooking together, or doing small group activities like zine-making or handmade balm workshops. The goal is to shift attention from passive scrolling to active, tactile engagement. The trend is catching on because it offers something digital life can't: slowness, unpredictability, and the intimacy of shared silence. As Kamdar puts it, 'We're not going back to a pre-internet world. The answer isn't retreat—it's integration." She encourages a return to values that shaped real-world connection: deep listening, genuine curiosity, presence without performance. While the idea of a digital detox is often floated, experts agree that simply going offline isn't enough. 'What's needed is conscious choice-making," says Chaubal. 'A digital habit that overrides impulse control can have psychological side effects—social withdrawal, irritability, anxiety." Her advice: choose fewer platforms, set realistic time limits, and engage in real conversations—even if they're awkward or slow. 'It's about re-learning how to be human, without the filter of a screen," she says. D'Mello agrees: 'True social intelligence is built sitting around a dinner table, navigating pauses, and learning to read a room's unspoken needs." The internet has given us incredible tools—community, expression, visibility–but it's worth asking what we might be losing in the process. A long walk with a friend. A screen-free dinner. A quiet moment that isn't uploaded. Maybe the most radical thing we can do is simply show up, fully. Anoushka Madan is a Mumbai-based freelance lifestyle writer. She posts @noushontheinternet.