Your noon Briefing

Hello readers. Here’s the latest on how the day is playing out plus a light read for lunchtime.

Hello readers. In your noon digest, Dasher departs in disgrace, Aussies are up for Golden Globes, and top holiday eating tips to help you win the battle of the bulge.

Sam Dastyari announces his resignation from the Senate. Picture: John Feder.

Dasher pulls the pin

Disgraced Labor Senator Sam Dastyari has announced his resignation from parliament. A despondent Senator Dastyari described himself as patriotic Australian and said he was resigning to avoid being a distraction to Labor. “Today, after much reflection, I’ve decided that the best service I can render to the federal parliamentary Labor Party is to not return to the Senate in 2018,” Senator Dastyari told a press conference this morning. “I’ve not reached this decision lightly. But in my deliberations, I’ve been guided by my Labor values, which tell me that I should leave if my ongoing presence detracts from the pursuit of Labor’s mission. It is evident to me we are at that point.”

“I will spare the party any further distraction.”

Sam Dastyari

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Politicians hit the campaign trail in the federal seat of Bennelong ahead of the by-election vote this Saturday. Liberal member John Alexander and Labor member Kristina Keneally hand out flyers outside the pre polling office in Epping, John was joined by Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison. Picture: Toby Zerna

China rhetoric won’t affect Bennelong result: Bishop

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has denied that the Turnbull government’s rhetoric around Chinese interference is having an impact on its candidate John Alexander’s prospects in Saturday’s Bennelong by-election. The latest two-party preferred Newspoll has Mr Alexander tied 50-50 with Labor candidate Kristina Keneally in the north western Sydney seat, which is home to a large Chinese community. “By-elections are always difficult, particularly for an incumbent government, but there will be a range of issues that affect the outcome in Bennelong,” Ms Bishop told Sky News.

“I’ve always assumed that a by-election would be difficult to win.”

Julie Bishop

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Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie, Hugh Jackman.

Aussies galore up for Golden Globes

Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape Of Water and the HBO series Big Little Lies lead the nominations for the 75th Golden Globes, which were announced today by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Del Toro’s romantic fantasy received seven nominations and Big Little Lies, based on the novel by Australian author Liane Moriarty, received six. There were several Australians among the nominees, including Nicole Kidman, who was nominated for best actress in a limited series in Big Little Lies, where she is competing against co-star Reese Witherspoon. Margot Robbie is nominated for best actress, comedy or musical for her performance as disgraced figure skater Tonya Harding in I, Tonya, and Hugh Jackman is up for best actor, comedy or musical, for his role as P.T. Barnum in The Greatest Showman.

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Illustration: Sturt Krygsman

Keating thinks we’re idiots

Paul Keating is at his least appealing when he strays into the history war, a topic he approaches with the intellectual rigour of ­rottweiler with a diploma in postcolonial studies, writes Nick Cater.

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Group of people celebrating with Santa hats. They are having fun at a Summer Christmas party, and there is food on the table. There are also cocktails. Istock

The light read: Good holiday eating without gaining weight

At this time of year, many revellers overdo it at the holiday table, ­unwilling to forgo the turkey or ham with side dishes that mark the season. Lauri Wright, the director of the doctorate in clinical ­nutri­tion program at the University of North Florida’s Brooks College of Health, dishes on midday dining and why a healthy breakfast may be the key to indulging in a big meal without guilt.

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Comment of the day

“He never once said he did all he could for the Australian people, just that he did all he could for the Labor Party. These people live in a bubble in Canberra.”

Meg, on Sam Dastyari’s resignation.