--- title: "While you were sleeping: 9 December 2016" description: "Astronaut John Glenn passes away, Chad le Clos breaks 100m fly record, and feathery dinosaur discovered." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "South Africa" author: "John Stupart" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/johnstupart/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-12-09-while-you-were-sleeping-9-december-2016/" published: "2016-12-09T06:06:38" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 775 --- # While you were sleeping: 9 December 2016 > Astronaut John Glenn passes away, Chad le Clos breaks 100m fly record, and feathery dinosaur discovered. By John Stupart · Published 9 December 2016, 08:06 SAST ## Content *"Zero G and I feel fine."* **John Glenn** ![Elections aftermath: Why did the ANC ignore its own research?](https://i1.createsend1.com/ei/d/6F/A22/558/csimport/849x493q70gaspard1.051627.jpg) STORY OF THE DAY [Smooth Operator: Gaspard leaves South Africa as he came – carrying Obama’s ‘Hope’](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-dhkyol-l-u/) By RANJENI MUNSAMY Ambassador Patrick Gaspard’s love affair with South Africa began as a child and our politics turned him into an activist and a political animal. When he served as political director in the White House, he was described as “one of the most powerful men in American politics”. Instead of remaining at President Barack Obama’s side for a second term, Gaspard asked to come to South Africa as the United States’ chief diplomat. He hasn’t had the easiest term here, managing chicken wars and fending off “regime change” allegations. In his last week in South Africa, before he takes up his powerful position in international philanthropy, he spoke to RANJENI MUNUSAMY about his plans to keep “Hope” alive. WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING [John Glenn passes away](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-dhkyol-l-n/) The first American to orbit the earth has died age 95. John Glenn had been in hospital for a week and passed away surrounded by family. Glenn is also the oldest man to have gone into space, having gone on a mission in 1998 aged 77. Tributes have poured in from around the world. Fellow astronaut and space pioneer Buzz Aldrin said he was "saddened that we lost another space pioneer and world icon". [Chad le Clos breaks 100m fly record](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-dhkyol-l-p/) Chad le Clos has smashed the 100m fly world record while competing at the Short Course Swimming World Championships in Windsor, Canada. Le Clos achieved a time of 48.08 seconds, smashing his own previous record of 48.44. [Impeachment day for Korean president](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-dhkyol-l-x/) South Korean President Park Geun-Hye is facing an impeachment vote today. Embroiled in a nepotism scandal, Park now has the potential to be the country's first democratically-elected president to be impeached. The opposition require just another 29 votes to secure Park's exit. [Feathers on dinosaur discovered](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-dhkyol-l-m/) Researchers have discovered a dinosaur tail still with its feathers. Encased in amber, the tail is believed to be around 99 million years old. The discovery sheds important light on the origin of feathers, and, indeed, on how feathers adorned dinosaurs in particular. Feathers have been linked to dinosaurs for a while now, but this is the first discovery of feathers on a tail intact. — PICTURE OF THE DAY BY EPA/MIKE NELSON US actress Emma Stone (L) and Canadian actor Ryan Gosling (R) pose during a hand and footprint ceremony honouring them at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, US, 07 December 2016. Stone and Gosling star in the upcoming movie 'La La Land'. ![Image](https://i3.createsend1.com/ei/d/6F/A22/558/csimport/h_531528972.222533.jpg) IN NUMBERS 23% The percentage of crew members aboard Christopher Columbus' "Santa Maria" who were named Juan. FACT OF THE DAY Today is **International Anti-Corruption Day**. This august occasion is largely ignored in South Africa. In the final two years of his life,**Van Gogh** averaged about three paintings per week. 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