--- title: "While you were sleeping: 14 December 2017" description: "Major setback for May over Brexit divorce, USA to deploy cyber soldiers, and The Rock gets a star." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "Newsdeck" author: "John Stupart" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/johnstupart/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-12-14-while-you-were-sleeping-14-december-2017/" published: "2017-12-14T05:56:52" updated: "2017-12-14T05:56:53" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 721 --- # While you were sleeping: 14 December 2017 > Major setback for May over Brexit divorce, USA to deploy cyber soldiers, and The Rock gets a star. By John Stupart · Published 14 December 2017, 07:56 SAST · Updated 14 December 2017, 07:56 SAST ## Content **Thursday, 14 December 2017** *"I do not understand how holding a placard to protest against gender-based violence would be interpreted as insulting the modesty of a woman."* **Beatrice Mateyo** ![Image](https://i2.createsend1.com/ei/d/15/973/964/csimport/849x493q70pauli-vanwyk-zuma-reacts-ruling-N.050421.jpg) STORY OF THE DAY [Analysis: President Zuma heads to ANC conference with bloodied nose amid damning court rulings](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uujlkjk-l-c/) By PAULI VAN WYK On Wednesday, Jacob Zuma became the first president of South Africa to be issued with a personal legal cost order. Twice over. This was delivered by the High Court in Pretoria, which has issued a stinging slapdown in three different court cases since Friday. In less than a week, Zuma was described as “reckless”, “unreasonable”, “grossly remiss” as a litigant with a “flagrant disregard” towards his obligations and, in two unrelated cases, too “conflicted” to fulfil his constitutional duties. WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING [#ANCdecides - conference looms large](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uujlkjk-l-q/) Soon the ANC will be holding its elective conference. With it, Jacob Zuma will be replaced with another Chosen One to steer the party out of the maelstrom he has led it into. Daily Maverick will be covering the conference every step of the way while you begin your December holidays. Between mince pies, follow all things trending via our hash tag, #ANCdecides2017. Alternatively, read everything, and we mean absolutely everything, [right over here](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uujlkjk-l-a/) . [Mayday as British MPs rebel on Brexit bill](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uujlkjk-l-f/) British Prime Minister Theresa May has suffered a crippling defeat in the House of Commons overnight. Rebel voters in her own party helped decide the outcome, meaning Britain's parliament will get a final vote on any Brexit divorce deal with Brussels. Brexit, it seems, is dead set to become the messiest political process in Britain's history. [US military to deploy cyber soldiers to the battlefield](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uujlkjk-l-z/) Far from a Mountain Dew, Doritos-filled stereotype, the United States military will deploy actual, literal cyber soldiers with regular units into the battlefield. Already integrated for six months, CYBERCOM's troops have allegedly placed "implants"' in Islamic State's networks, allowing for significant monitoring and intelligence gathering. Gramps' war against Nazi Germany could not look more different if CYBERCOM were fighting Martians at this point. [The Rock gets a star](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uujlkjk-l-v/) Dwane "The Rock" Johnson has been honoured with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star. The American football player slash wrestler slash actor appeared next to his star on Wednesday with his wife and two-year-old daughter. The Rock has also gained another honour of sorts: He was named by Forbes as the highest paid film actor for 2017. — IN NUMBERS $500,000 The cost to build the Jabba the Hutt puppet. FACTS OF THE DAY Today **Star Wars**hits cinemas. May the Force get your tickets and a quiet audience. **Jawas****speak Zulu** sped up. FEATURED ARTICLES ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70qobo-anc-reform.jpg) [Op-Ed: ANC Death Knell? The five stages of a party in its death throes](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uujlkjk-l-yh/) BY MZUKISI QOBO ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70duplessis-tips-delegates-copy.jpg) [ANC Leadership Race: Seven survival tips for delegates to the conference](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uujlkjk-l-yu/) BY CARIEN DU PLESSIS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70ThammMogorogoro.jpg) [Analysis: Morogoro conference – memorandums, wedge drivers and the saving of the ANC’s soul](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uujlkjk-l-jr/) BY MARIANNE THAMM ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70thamm-peter-hain-dec13.jpg) [State Capture: Lord Hain cautions British banks not to threaten SA whistleblowers](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uujlkjk-l-jj/) BY MARIANNE THAMM ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70mark-heywood-constitution.jpg) [Op-Ed: Looking back to look forward – the next 21 years of the Constitution](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uujlkjk-l-ji/) BY MARK HEYWOOD ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70DM-gathering-malema-10.jpg) [The Gathering (video, session 10): Julius Malema – The Guptas are an irritation](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uujlkjk-l-jh/) BY DAILY MAVERICK ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70greg-cyril-ramaphosa-prince-MAIN.jpg) [ANC Leadership Race: Cyril Ramaphosa – five years after his return, the prodigal son might finally get to be king](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uujlkjk-l-ju/) BY GREG NICOLSON ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70palesa-zumaPresidency.jpg) [Op-Ed: The good, The Bad and The Very Ugly – an economic review of Zuma’s Presidency](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uujlkjk-l-tr/) BY PALESA SHIPALANA OPINIONISTAS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70Judith-February.jpg) [Nasrec’s Choice: Zuma’s proxies have to go and he should be recalled](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uujlkjk-l-tj/) A column by JUDITH FEBRUARY ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70vavi-columnist.jpg) [ANC Elective Conference will deliver nothing to the workers and the poor](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uujlkjk-l-ti/) A column by ZWELINZIMA VAVI ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70Meokgo-Matuba.jpg) [State Capture and monopoly capital – two sides of the same old coin](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uujlkjk-l-th/) A column by MEOKGO MATUBA — **Weather** BFN: min: 12° max 28°, cloudy CPT: min: 14° max: 21°, cloudy DBN: min: 18° max: 24°, rainy EL: min: 12° max: 21°, cloudy JHB: min: 13° max: 26°, cloudy KIM: min: 16° max: 29°, cloudy MHK: min: 14° max: 32°, cloudy PMB: min: 12° max: 19°, rainy PE: min: 13° max: 23°, cloudy PTA: min: 16° max: 30°, cloudy **Financial Data** Oil=$62.41 Gold=$1,253.08 Platinum=$882.61 R/$=13.50 R/€=15.92 R/£=18.06 BTC/$=17,699 JSE All Share=57,344.41 DJIA=24,642.16 FTSE 100=7,496.51