Your afternoon Briefing

Good afternoon, readers. We have Sam Dastyari, bizarre ships, the Queensland LNP and the cause of the man flu.

Good afternoon, readers. We have Sam Dastyari, the Queensland Liberal National Party’s new leader, bizarre ships and why women are responsible for the man flu.

Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten and Labor candidate for Bennelong Kristina Keneally visit St Charles Catholic Primary school in Ryde, Sydney, Tuesday, December 12, 2017. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING

Dastyari exit ‘staged for Keneally’

Julie Bishop has called for Sam Dastyari’s resignation to take effect immediately, suggesting Labor had “stage managed” the Labor senator’s exit as a “back-stop” for Kristina Keneally.

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Senator Sam Dastyari holds a press conference in Sydney, Tuesday, December 12, 2017. Dastyari has quit the Senate amid intense scrutiny of his interactions with a Chinese businessman and political donor. (AAP Image/Ben Rushton) NO ARCHIVING

One halal of a crater

Gravity has reasserted its surly bonds around Sam Dastyari and left us with one halal of a crater, writes James Jeffrey. In other Dastyari commentary, Chris Kenny asks: Why did it take so long for the Dastyari Dynasty to end?

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LNP Deputy Leader Deb Frecklington and LNP Leader Tim Nicholls meeting with a number of likely new LNP MPs from Pumicestone and Sunshine Coast seats, Beachmere. Photographer: Liam Kidston

LNP elects first female leader

Queensland’s Liberal National Party has elected its first female leader — Deb Frecklington — after the party’s bruising state election loss.

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Cuki on the Florida shore. Picture: Ian Gronosky.

Hurricane Irma’s mystery ships

A boat crewed by dummies and a Soviet buoy are among the bizarre things that have washed up on the Florida coast.

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CAREERS: Man holding head on pillows, concept of headache, overworked, pain, sick

Man flu real, women responsible

For years men have suffered taunts from female partners that “man flu” is merely an exaggeration of minor colds. According to this scientist, man flu is not only real, it’s the fault of women.