Remembering the comic genius that was Moin Akhtar
On the 15th anniversary of his death, we revisit an obituary written by Nadeem Farooq Paracha.
Hello, my fellow chronically online friends! We‘re stepping into the new year with some of the most jaw-dropping news from around the world, so you better believe that this week, social media was abuzz with absurd announcements, renewed conflicts, threats and eye-rolling tittle tattle from the entertainment world.
From lawyers roughing up YouTuber Rajab Butt outside a Karachi court to Zohran Mamdani’s impressive mayoral inauguration, here’s everything we debated, raged about, criticised and celebrated online this past week.
The week kicked off (quite literally!) with YouTuber Rajab Butt being assaulted outside a Karachi sessions court. Videos that swiftly went viral showed Butt being dragged, kicked, slapped, and left with torn clothes. His assailants were groups of lawyers. Social media erupted in condemnation, calling out the legal fraternity for abandoning the very code they are meant to uphold. Irony, many said, died a thousand deaths after a mockery of justice was carried out by those who were supposed to safeguard it.
Other news that took over social media was when Hamas confirmed the death of its military wing spokesperson Abu Obeida in an Israeli attack. Tributes and condemnations came pouring in as many hailed Obedia for his years of resistance. The group, for the first time, also revealed the masked individual’s identity, saying his real name was Hudhayfah Samir Abdullah al-Kahlout. Social media also grieved the assassination of al-Kahlout’s entire family, including his three young children.
Moving to the lighter side of things: Stranger Things finally concluded. And boy, what a lukewarm finale it was. Fans called out the makers for a very underwhelming series finale and you know what? I concur. Let’s call it what it really was: two hours of almost nothing.
I’ll be honest, for the first few hours after the world rang in 2026, things were finally looking up. It began with Zohran Mamdani’s much-anticipated New York mayoral inauguration that broke the internet for all the right reasons. Bhangra took over the streets as New York welcomed its first-ever Muslim and immigrant mayor in proper desi fashion, and as X hit gold with all its meme-worthy content. There were many, as one would expect, outstanding moments from the inauguration that made it to social media. However, my favourite has to be the Bernie Sanders Uno reverse meme and Mamdani’s heartfelt appreciation for his wife, Rama.
While we’re on the subject of appreciation, the internet also thanked Hollywood A-lister Angelina Jolie for visiting Egypt’s Rafah border crossing with Gaza. The Maleficent star also visited a local hospital in Arish, where Palestinian patients transferred from Gaza are being treated. People celebrated her for using her stardom for all the right reasons.
What is a social media round-up without someone spilling the beans about a celebrity or two — or in this case: four! Fans were shocked after news of the alleged impending nuptials of superstars Sajal Aly and Hamza Sohail, and Hania Aamir and Asim Azhar made rounds on social media. It all started when Galaxy Lollywood’s Momin Ali Munshi confirmed that the rumoured couples were all set to tie the knot ‘very soon’. As congratulations were exchanged and venues were discussed, the rumour mill was abruptly shut down by Something Haute’s Hassan Choudhry and Aamna Haider Isani, who shared that “sources close to the four celebrities have firmly denied the news”. Since then, fans on social media have called for credible reporting and accountability.
Right around the weekend, however, hope for a peaceful 2026 vanished after the US invaded Venezuela. Under the directions of President Donald Trump, the US ‘captured’ cough, cough, abducted Nicolas Maduro, a sitting president, from his country’s capital. Within a matter of hours, he was on a warship to Guantanamo Bay and later on a plane to New York, where he now awaits trial for several charges. The irony was that when asked his resolution for 2026 was, Trump said, “Peace. Peace on Earth.” Since his statement, Trump has ordered attacks on a sovereign country as well as threatened three others (Cuba, Colombia and Mexico) and netizens can’t help but marvel at how quickly words of diplomacy were translated into airstrikes and ultimatums.
That’s it for this week! I’ll be back next week with more updates!