Who is the Turkmenator and what is a Russian socialite doing at a shipyard?

Who is the Turkmenator and what is a Russian socialite doing at a shipyard?

By Sherie RyderBBC News

• 5 hours ago

Image copyrightTURKMEN TV ALTYN ASYR

Image captionThe 'Turkmenator' loads his weapon

A video featuring Turkmenistan's president displaying his military prowess has been gaining traction on social media - but not for the reasons you might think.

The country's opposition website Khronika Turkmenistana edited a state TV video of President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov demonstrating his shooting skills, but instead of running the video they tweaked the beginning by adding a clip from Arnold Schwarzenegger's action film Commando.

The video - in its edited form - has been watched over 250,000 times in the last 24 hours and has prompted sarcastic comments with some now calling the president the "Turkmenator".

In the state TV clip you can see President Berdymukhamedov - who is also commander-in-chief of the central Asian country's armed forces - firing at a target. The voiceover in the original clip says the president's abilities are "worthy of emulation by military servicemen".

However, not everyone agrees.

Read full articleWho is the Turkmenator and what is a Russian socialite doing at a shipyard?

Policeman resigns after sharing racist 'drowning' post

By Sam BrightBBC Trending

• 9 hours ago

Image copyrightSEAN GARDNER/GETTY IMAGES

A police officer in Louisiana has resigned after sparking online outrage with an inflammatory meme.

Wayne Welsh, an officer with the Estherwood police force, shared the image on his personal Facebook page on Sunday.

Read full articlePoliceman resigns after sharing racist 'drowning' post

After Trump, "big data" firm Cambridge Analytica is now working in Kenya

By Sam BrightBBC Trending

• 3 August 2017

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES

Image captionKenya's president, Uhuru Kenyatta (pictured, far left), met Donald Trump at a recent G7 summit in Italy

A firm that worked for Donald Trump and which once claimed ties to a pro-Brexit campaign group is now reportedly working for Kenya's incumbent president.

Cambridge Analytica's mission statement is simple. On its website, the firm says it "uses data to change audience behaviour." Most notably, the company was hired by Donald Trump's presidential campaign and has been given some credit for Trump's electoral success.

Read full articleAfter Trump, "big data" firm Cambridge Analytica is now working in Kenya

Burqas or bus seats? How a photo caused an internet stir

By Sherie RyderBBC News

• 2 August 2017

Image copyrightUNKNOWN

Image captionWhat do you see?

A photograph showing an empty bus in Norway has been gaining worldwide attention.

The picture which sparked debate was originally posted on a private Norwegian anti-immigration group's Facebook page, but has since been shared elsewhere.

Read full articleBurqas or bus seats? How a photo caused an internet stir

Why Afghan women are campaigning for their names to be heard

By Patrick EvansBBC News

• 1 August 2017

Media captionThe Afghan women who want to be called by their names, not their husbands'

In Afghan society it is the custom that women's names should not be uttered publicly.

Women are generally only referred to as the mother, daughter or sister of the eldest male in their family. Using the name of a woman is frowned upon and can even be considered an insult.

Read full articleWhy Afghan women are campaigning for their names to be heard

Why are Iranians joking about onion prices?

By Patrick EvansBBC News

• 31 July 2017

A sharp increase in the price of onions has caused consternation amongst social media users in Iran.

According to BBC Monitoring, onions used to cost between 1,000 and 1,500 tomans (30p; 39 cents). Now they are selling for around 4,400 tomans.

Read full articleWhy are Iranians joking about onion prices?

Panama Papers: Hashtags and puns as Pakistan PM resigns

By Tulika Bhatnagar & Patrick EvansBBC News

• 28 July 2017

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES

The resignation of Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been met with argument among Twitter users in the country.

His resignation followed a decision by the country's Supreme Court to disqualify him from office.

Read full articlePanama Papers: Hashtags and puns as Pakistan PM resigns

Fun with MPs' portraits and photoshopping Farage

By Patrick EvansBBC News

• 27 July 2017

Image copyrightMCANDREWPHOTO

New portraits of MPs have been released as part of continuing improvements to the UK Parliament website, while former UKIP leader Nigel Farage has recommended Christopher Nolan's latest movie.

Predictably, people have been having fun with both.

Read full articleFun with MPs' portraits and photoshopping Farage

Arab Despacito: Comedy version of the song complains about high dowries

By Nada Rashwan & Patrick EvansBBC News

• 26 July 2017

Image copyrightYOUTUBE

Omanis have released their own humorous cover of the Despacito internet sensation grumbling about the prohibitive price of marriage arrangements in their country.

Contrasting with the seductive tone of the original, their version complains aboutthe high marriage costs demanded by women's families in Oman.

Read full articleArab Despacito: Comedy version of the song complains about high dowries

Fact-checking site gets lifeline after donation drive

By Sam BrightBBC Trending

• 25 July 2017

Image copyrightGOFUNDME/SNOPES.COM

One of the most established myth-busting websites raised more than $500,000 from public donations in a single day after becoming embroiled in a bitter legal dispute.

Long before "fake news" became a common refrain, there was Snopes. The site was established in 1994 with the aim of debunking internet conspiracy theories and is now visited by millions each month.