Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 9 Dec 2016

1. Conservatives hold Sleaford seat in by-election

The Conservatives have held on to the Lincolnshire seat of Sleaford at a by-election triggered when MP Stephen Phillips quit over "irreconcilable policy differences" with the government on Brexit. Caroline Johnson secured a majority of 13,144, with Ukip in distant second. Labour was beaten into fourth by the Lib Dems.

Tory win in Sleaford by-election leaves Labour red-faced

2. Tory MPs defend Johnson over Saudi remarks

Several prominent Conservative MPs have defended Boris Johnson after he accused Saudi Arabia and Iran of fighting proxy wars and "twisting Islam", saying Theresa May was too quick to slap him down. May's spokesperson said the Foreign Secretary's views were his own, not those of the government.

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3. Social media 'fuelling rise in self harm in children'

The NSPCC has warned social media is making UK children unhappy and fuelling an increase in self-harm. In 2015-2016, 14% more 11 to 18-year olds were admitted to hospital in England and Wales after harming themselves than in the previous year. The NSPCC says it took 50 calls a day from self-harmers last year.

4. Astronaut John Glenn dies aged 95

John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, has died at the age of 95. The astronaut circled the planet three times in 1962, one year after the Russians put a cosmonaut in orbit. He later became a Democrat senator for Ohio, serving for 25 years, and made an unsuccessful bid for the presidency.

5. London Olympics 'corrupted' by Russian doping

More than 1,000 Russian athletes. including Olympic medalists and footballers, benefited from state-sponsored doping, according to the second part of a report by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Its author, Canadian law professor Richard McLaren, said the London 2012 Olympics had been "corrupted on an unprecedented scale".

London 2012 'corrupted on unprecedented scale' by doping

6. Geert Wilders convicted on discrimination charge

Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders has been found guilty of inciting discrimination after remarks about Moroccans in the country. Despite the convicton no penalty was imposed by the court on Wilders, whose party leads the polls ahead of election in March. He was acquiited of another charge of inciting hate.

7. Hillary Clinton: Fake news risks lives

Former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton says "lives are at risk" due to an "epidemic" of fake news stories on the internet. Clinton's speech, her first public appearance since losing November's election, came after a gunman was arrested for opening fire at a pizza parlour in Washington DC over a bogus news story.

8. Dinosaur feathers discovered in piece of amber

A tiny dinosaur fossil found in a bead of amber bought at a market in Myanmar is giving scientists an insight into how feathers evolved. The fossil, which measures 1.5ins long, dates back to around 99 million years ago, say researchers. The feathers lack the well-developed central spine of modern bird plumage.

Feathered dinosaur tail found preserved in amber

9. Anger over Lawrence's 'butt-scratching' tale

Jennifer Lawrence has been criticised after telling the BBC's The Graham Norton Show how sacred rocks in Hawaii were "so good for butt itching". She added: "One rock I was butt-scratching on ended up going loose... All the Hawaiians were like, 'Oh, my God, it’s the curse.' I’m in the corner going, 'I’m your curse. I wedged it loose with my ass.'" Twitter users said she been disrespectful to local customs.

10. Briefing: Why did so many celebrities die in 2016?

First it was David Bowie. Then Terry Wogan – and then Alan Rickman, Ronnie Corbett, Paul Daniels, Victoria Wood and Prince. And that was in just the first four months of 2016, prompting fears that there would be nobody left in the entertainment industry by the end of the year.

Celebrity deaths: Why did so many famous people die in 2016?