1 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:08,840 Speaker 1: From The Daily Os. I'm zara, i'm emma. It's Thursday, 2 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 1: the nineteenth of December. Here's what's making headlines this evening. 3 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:17,640 Speaker 2: Australia will reopen its embassy to Ukraine in Kiev, following 4 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:20,960 Speaker 2: its closure in response to Russia's twenty twenty two invasion. 5 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:24,560 Speaker 2: Foreign Minister Penniwong announced the decision during her first visit 6 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 2: to the Ukrainian capital since the war began nearly three 7 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 2: years ago. The embassy had been evacuated under the Morrison government, 8 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 2: with operations temporarily relocated to Poland. Ukraine's Foreign minister welcomed 9 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:39,839 Speaker 2: the reopening of the Australian embassy in Kiev, calling it 10 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:43,640 Speaker 2: a show of solidarity with Ukraine. However, the announcement drew 11 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:47,560 Speaker 2: criticism from Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Patterson, who labeled 12 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:50,159 Speaker 2: the move far too late and accused the federal government 13 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 2: of mismanaging a critical international relationship. Penniwong has announced additional 14 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 2: funding in support of Ukraine, including ten million dollars for 15 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 2: the country's energy infrastructure, which has been targeted by Russian strikes. 16 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:08,760 Speaker 1: One hundred and forty eight Australians have returned home after 17 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 1: being evacuated from Vaniwatu following a seven point three magnitude 18 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:17,320 Speaker 1: earthquake and several after shocks surrounding the capital of Port Villa. 19 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 1: The Vanuatu government has declared a state of emergency as 20 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: efforts to find survivors trapped beneath the rubble continue. The 21 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 1: federal government sent immediate rescue and medical assistance to the 22 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 1: island nation, with the Australian Aid teams now working alongside 23 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:36,400 Speaker 1: local officials to provide disaster relief. Evacuation flight assistants has 24 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 1: been provided by the Royal Australian Air Force ahead of 25 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:44,040 Speaker 1: commercial flights resuming. Ozzies still in Vanuwatu, including permanent residents, 26 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 1: have been urged to contact the Australian Consular Emergency Center 27 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 1: if they need further support. 28 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 2: A toxicology report has found no methanol was present in 29 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 2: the cocktails at the center of a poisoning incident in Fiji. 30 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 2: Four Australians but hospital after consuming drinks at the Warwick 31 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 2: Resort on Fiji's Coral Coast. During a press conference this week, 32 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 2: Fiji and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism Villi 33 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 2: m Govoka confirmed that tests on the drinks consumed by 34 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:17,359 Speaker 2: affected tourists showed no illicit substances. However, the root cause 35 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:21,360 Speaker 2: of the incident remains unclear. All seven tourists, including the 36 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 2: four Aussies, who were admitted to hospital with physical and 37 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:28,960 Speaker 2: neurological symptoms, have now been discharged. Fiji's Deputy PM has 38 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 2: called on foreign governments to revise their travel advisories for Fiji, 39 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 2: urging the removal of terms like spiking and precautionary warnings 40 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:40,520 Speaker 2: that may discourage tourism. 41 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:43,959 Speaker 1: And Today's good news. A Christmas tradition at a US 42 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:47,800 Speaker 1: based dental company will continue for its fortieth year this weekend, 43 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: with free dental care to be offered to in need patients, 44 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 1: including children, across one hundred and eighty dental surgeries. Comfort 45 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 1: Dental's Care Day on December twenty three has been running 46 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 1: since nineteen eighty four, giving access to dental care for 47 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 1: those unable to access services regularly. Last year's care days, 48 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,640 Speaker 1: or more than two million dollars worth of dental services donated. 49 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: President and founder of Comfort Dental, doctor Rick Kushner, said 50 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 1: for some patients it's the only time they can access 51 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 1: a dentist all year. 52 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 2: That's the latest from The Daily O's newsroom. If you're 53 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 2: looking for something else to listen to, make sure you 54 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:25,360 Speaker 2: catch up on today's deep dive about Australia's first mission 55 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 2: to the Moon. We'll be back tomorrow morning. Until then, 56 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 2: have a great evening. 57 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:34,359 Speaker 1: My name is Lily Maddon and I'm a proud Arunda 58 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 1: Bungelung calcotton woman from Gadighl Country. The Daily oz acknowledges 59 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 1: that this podcast is recorded on the lands of the 60 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 1: Gadighl people and pays respect to all Aboriginal and Torres 61 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 1: Strait Island and nations. We pay our respects to the 62 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 1: first peoples of these countries, both past and present.