Weekend News in Tweets: burkini ban overturned & PRASA’s R42m toilet seats

News moves at the speed of social media in today’s world, and that’s especially the case on the weekend. Take a look at the world news you might’ve missed this weekend through the 140-character lens of Twitter.

Welcome to the Weekend News on Twitter (26 August – 28 August).

South African pilot Michel Leusch was killed Saturday when he lost control of a stunt plane at a Chinese airshow. Durban born, Leusch was performing at the 1st Silk Road International General Aviation Convention in the city of Zhangye, in China’s Gansu province. He was 33.

South Africa pilot dead in plane crash in China air show. Plane lost control when diving https://t.co/KlPbkFpBuy pic.twitter.com/sm1iOUTCEu

— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) August 27, 2016

Reaction over a French Riviera town’s ban on Muslim women wearing burkinis to beaches reached boiling point this weekend, as celebrities weighed in. Although France’s Council of State court ruled Friday that the ban goes against civil liberties of French citizens, some mayors suggest that they will continue to enforce the ban.

Also, former French president Nikola Sarkozy just happens to support the ban as well.

So Sarkozy calls the burkini a ‘provocation.’ Whether women cover or uncover their bodies, seems we’re always, always ‘asking for it.’

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 25, 2016

Although France’s Council of State overturned the burkini ban enforced by some Riviera towns, some mayors remain defiant

Italy, after last week’s earthquake that killed over 200 people, begun burying the dead this past weekend. The mag 6.2 quake struck the country’s centre, near the town of Amatrice, around 160km north-east of Rome.

Soon after the quake struck, #PrayForItaly began trending on Twitter.

#Terremoto video live https://t.co/4nCJbgD1tW

— Luigi Grimaldi (@LuigiGrimaldi19) August 24, 2016

Aerial footage shows the devastating impact and destruction of the 6.2 #ItalyEarthquake https://t.co/O2lUkXpEGw pic.twitter.com/k9HNOGGqtO

— CNN (@CNN) August 24, 2016

Did PRASA just pay R42-million for 70 toilets? That’s what a new set of legal documents issued Friday to the Johannesburg High Court suggests.

According to the report, former PRASA CEO Lucky Montana signed off on the deal to install toilets in the Afro 4000 locomotives destined for South Africa. These were the same trains deemed too tall for South Africa’s infrastructure.

The ANC has denied any wrong-doing, after the report also suggested that 10% of the initial tender was to be rewarded to the ruling party.

ANC rejects allegations of impropriety at #PRASA https://t.co/9g4nsilmjQ

— #ANCThanksSA (@MYANC) August 26, 2016

BREAKING: Popo Molefe claims R80-million from a controversial #Prasa deal may have found it’s way to @MYANC. https://t.co/SBJmJe8cK3

— Mail & Guardian (@mailandguardian) August 26, 2016

The Springboks lost their first ever match in Argentina in Saturday’s Rugby Championship test in Salta. Going down 26-24, the loss puts current coast Allister Coetzee under more pressure, and now sees South Africa level on points with Argentina in the table.

Springboks can’t hold on in Salta, lose 26-24 against @unionargentina Well done to Pumas in winning this one. pic.twitter.com/SrwJR5nYhy

— South African Rugby (@Springboks) August 27, 2016

Google Search Trends

The Springbok’s loss also dominated Google’s weekend search queries, at least in comparison to this weekend’s top news stories.

The oddly-named Typhoon Lionrock developed into a category four storm over the weekend (it has since lost impetus as a category two), and is due to make landfall in Japan on Tuesday.

Amazing Himawari-8 rapid scan imagery of Typhoon Lionrock in the Pacific on 8/24! See more @ https://t.co/H74HRzSnPb pic.twitter.com/zIb1rtmNAG

— NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) August 26, 2016

Prominent business family, the Guptas, have announced that they will sell all South African assets by the end of the year. In a statement, the family suggests that it “is the right time” and that the decision is in the best interests of their family and the country.

This is the #Guptas #GuptasExit statement pic.twitter.com/moxEnxX7mg

— Ashraf Garda (@AshrafGarda) August 27, 2016