A new treatment for skin cancer patients added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, More cost-of-living relief measures to be discussed in Wednesday's cabinet meeting, Arsenal make dominant display, beating Crystal Palace 5-0.
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TRANSCRIPT
- A new treatment for skin cancer patients added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
- More cost-of-living relief measures to be discussed in Wednesday's cabinet meeting.
- Arsenal make dominant display, beating Crystal Palace 5-0.
The federal government has announced the listing of a new treatment in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme [[PBS]] for patients suffering from skin cancer.
A drug called Opdualag is set to be listed under the P-B-S from February 1 ((first)).
Patients with advanced melanoma will be reimbursed for any required purchase of the drug to help with their treatment.
Australia has one of the world’s highest rates of melanoma, with more than 17,700 people across the country estimated to have been diagnosed with the potentially devastating disease in 2022 alone.
Clinical Associate Professor at The Queen Elisabeth Hospital Rachel Roberts-Thomson says this is a welcome announcement.
"Whilst melanoma prevention is really key in Australia, for patients with advanced melanoma, having treatment options tailored to their needs, this is very very important. And so, today's listing expands access to patients to treatments with this diagnosis of advanced melanoma. And as a clinician, treating patients with advanced melanoma, this announcement is really welcomed."
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called his cabinet colleagues to Canberra weeks before parliament resumes to tackle mounting economic and cost of living issues.
The everyday pressures that Australians are up against are expected to be discussed at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday which some M-Ps say is routine.
Inflation has pushed interest rates substantially higher since the COVID-19 pandemic, while energy costs have climbed due to domestic and overseas factors.
Health Minister Mark Butler says that despite the measures taken by the government in 2023 to help ease cost-of-living pressures, there is an understanding that more needs to be done.
"The full caucus is coming back together on Wednesday to hear from the Prime Minister and to discuss our plans for 2024. As I said, we did a lot of work last year, including $23 billion in targeted cost-of-living relief for households, but we also recognise and the Prime Minister has said there's obviously more for us to do through 2024. He's commissioned Treasurer in Finance to put together further proposals for cost-of-living relief, we have other measures that are already legislated to take effect over the course of 2024."
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North Korea's state-run broadcaster KRT has reported Russian President Vladimir Putin has revealed his intention to visit Pyongyang in the near future.
Russia has thanked North Korea for its support in the Ukraine war.
The meeting between Pyongyang and Moscow is set to follow the United Nations Charter and other international laws, according to the news report.
KRT says Mr Putin has also thanked North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for the invitation following last week's meeting with North Korean Foreign Affairs Minister Choe Son Hui in Russia.
"President Putin expressed deep thanks once again for the invitation of Chairman of the State Affairs Kim Jong Un to visit Pyongyang at a convenient time and expressed his willingness to visit the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at an early date."
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Australia is underprepared for the possibility of a fentanyl epidemic as the drug looks more and more likely to increase in the country.
That's the warning from health experts who say while illicit fentanyl is yet to garner underworld popularity, more needs to be done to get ahead of its threat.
Fentanyl, which can be about 100 times stronger than morphine, is prescribed legally in Australia for severe pain but can be illegally trafficked.
Co-health addiction medicine specialist Paul MacCartney warns it is a matter of when - not if - fentanyl will hit Australia's streets in earnest.
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In football,
Arsenal have annihilated Crystal Palace 5-0 at the Emirates Stadium to reduce their margin from top-placed Liverpool to just two points.
Gabriel gave the Arsenal the lead just after 11 minutes, with the onslaught continuing as Dean Henderson headed the ball into the back of his own net at the 37th.
Leandro Trossard added to the visitor's misery a minute before the hour mark, with the final score being written by a Gabriel Martinelli brace deep into injury time.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he is pleased with his team's performance.
"Really pleased with the clean sheet first, which was something that we've been missing as well to win more games and with (the) amount of goals we scored and sharing those goals as well. Which I think is going to make a really good impact in the team."
