--- title: "While you were sleeping: 12 December 2017" description: "Terror attacker targeted New York subway, Trump demands NASA mission to moon, and Israel retaliates against Hamas." 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/2017-12-12-while-you-were-sleeping-12-december-2017/" published: "2017-12-12T06:02:15" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 712 --- # While you were sleeping: 12 December 2017 > Terror attacker targeted New York subway, Trump demands NASA mission to moon, and Israel retaliates against Hamas. By John Stupart · Published 12 December 2017, 08:02 SAST ## Content **Tuesday, 12 December 2017** *“Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.”* **Walter Cronkite** ![Image](https://i1.createsend1.com/ei/d/2E/FE5/227/csimport/22933-Mazda-BT-50-Facelift-Choice-Digital-3.195016.gif) ![Image](https://i2.createsend1.com/ei/d/2E/FE5/227/csimport/849x493q70carien-elections1.050604.jpg) STORY OF THE DAY [ANC Leadership Race: What goes on behind the scenes – breathalyser tests and confiscated cellphones](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuluhkk-l-p/) By CARIEN DU PLESSIS Voting for new ANC leaders this weekend is set to be a sober process, with conference organisers planning to conduct spot breathalyser tests. Also, no selfies with ballot papers will be allowed in a bid to stamp out vote-buying. Ultimately, much of the conference’s success will hinge on how 15 “very senior” ANC members and one agency conduct the party’s leadership election. WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING [Terror attack hits New York](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuluhkk-l-x/) A suicide bomber tried to blow himself up in a New York subway on Monday, injuring three. The 27-year-old Bangladeshi immigrant triggered a home made pipe bomb strapped to himself. However, the bomb failed to detonate properly and left the attacker, Akayed Ullah, severely wounded. Ullah told police he had hoped to avenge American airstrikes on Islamic State in Syria. [Tanks, aircraft strike Gaza](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuluhkk-l-m/) Israeli military forces hit Hamas targets in retaliation for several rockets launched at southern Israel on Monday. At least two rockets were launched, with one intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defence system. Tank and aircraft strikes immediately retaliated. The cost of Trump's words, it seems, are beginning to be tallied. [Trump instructs Nasa to send Americans to the Moon](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuluhkk-l-c/) Banking hard left in the aftermath of his Jerusalem debacle last week, President Donald Trump is now setting sights on the Moon. Trump directed Nasa to plan for sending American astronauts to the Moon, in preparation for a future Mars trip. As needlessly expensive it might be to send people to the Moon, the prospect of 4K live-streaming a Moon-landing in our lifetimes is enticing. [Half of middle aged people have hardened arteries](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuluhkk-l-q/) Researchers publishing in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology has discovered that half of those aged 40-54, not obese, don't smoke or have diabetes will have clogged arteries. This was due to what they believed to be high levels of "bad cholesterol". The research indicates that bad LDL cholesterol may not be a simple result of poor health choices such as smoking and over-eating. — ![Image](https://i3.createsend1.com/ei/d/2E/FE5/227/csimport/22933-Mazda-BT-50-Facelift-Choice-Digital-3.194958.gif) PICTURE OF THE DAY By EPA-EFE/Fredrik Sandberg Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden at the table of honour during the banquet for the Nobel Prize laureates in Stockholm, Sweden, 10 December 2017. ![Image](https://i4.createsend1.com/ei/d/2E/FE5/227/csimport/h_53951262.195515.jpg) IN NUMBERS 650 The average number of calories lost when donating a pint of blood. FACTS OF THE DAY **Today in 1963 Kenya gains independence** from Britain. **Donald Duck**has appeared in the most films of all Disney characters. ![Image](https://i5.createsend1.com/ei/d/2E/FE5/227/csimport/22933-Mazda-BT-50-Facelift-Choice-Digital-3.195046.gif) FEATURED ARTICLES ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Thamm-SASSASCOPA-DEAL.jpg) [SassaGate Reloaded: Three steps towards payments for social grants revealed by Post Office and Sassa](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuluhkk-l-v/) BY MARIANNE THAMM ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70duplessis-explainer-main.jpg) [Explainer: ANC Leadership Race – exact sequence unclear, but it’s likely that the opening session will happen first](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuluhkk-l-s/) BY CARIEN DU PLESSIS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70yelland-IRPmadness.jpg) [Op-Ed: Irrational IRP madness grips the energy sector in South Africa](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuluhkk-l-w/) BY CHRIS YELLAND ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70greg-ancfreestate.jpg) [ANC Leadership Race: Free State branches rally against provincial and national conference delegates](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuluhkk-l-yh/) BY GREG NICOLSON ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70DM-Thegathering-threats-8.jpg) [The Gathering (video, session 8): Pauw, Abedian and Manyi face off over threats to SA](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuluhkk-l-yu/) BY DAILY MAVERICK ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70ancer2-SPY.jpg) [AmaBookaBooka: Turning the tables on Jonathan Ancer](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuluhkk-l-jr/) BY JONATHAN ANCER ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70chibaLetter.jpg) [Laloo Chiba: An appeal to President Zuma to step down in the interests of the country, the ANC and the people](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuluhkk-l-jj/) BY LALOO CHIBA OPINIONISTAS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70Jessie-Duarte-for-column.jpg) [Steinhoff saga shows that corporate SA speaks with a forked tongue](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuluhkk-l-ji/) A column by JESSIE DUARTE ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70Philip-van-Ryneveld.jpg) [The power of the ANC’s provinces could lead to the party’s demise](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuluhkk-l-jh/) A column by PHILIP VAN RYNEVELD ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70562c5ffb4076dfd1ddee1be88f4bf94a.jpg) [Corporate corruption is not like government corruption](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuluhkk-l-ju/) A column by IVO VEGTER ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q707fc6b61188b1c5c5e41f8b57f7356f0c.jpg) [Empathy and imagination: The lessons pupils need](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuluhkk-l-tr/) A column by MARELISE VAN DER MERWE — **Weather** BFN: min: 14° max 32°, cloudy CPT: min: 14° max: 24°, sunny DBN: min: 18° max: 23°, rainy EL: min: 13° max: 23°, cloudy JHB: min: 14° max: 27°, cloudy KIM: min: 15° max: 34°, cloudy MHK: min: 18° max: 33°, cloudy PMB: min: 14° max: 24°, rainy PE: min: 12° max: 26°, cloudy PTA: min: 15° max: 31°, cloudy **Financial Data** Oil=$64.80 Gold=$1,244.27 Platinum=$888.91 R/$=13.62 R/€=16.06 R/£=18.18 BTC/$=16,665 JSE All Share=57,997.33 DJIA=24,371.76 FTSE 100=7,453.48