Mexico’s murder rate broke new records in 2018, with an increase of 15% from the previous year, as the country’s violent drug war drags on.

Figures this week show that over 28 000 homicide cases were opened, presenting a serious challenge for new President Lopez Obrador, who promised calmer times after 12 years of militarised crackdowns.

He has so far focussed on stamping out fuel theft, which costs the country $3 billion annually.

An exclusive Brisbane member’s organisation, Tattersall’s Club, has vowed to defend any attempts to overturn its historic move to allow women to join the organisation.

Despite male members of the 153 year old club voting to expand its membership in December to include women, there have been reports of opponents considering a legal challenge against the decision.

The Shoalhaven recycling facility in New South Wales is the first of its kind outside of Poland to introduce new technology to see the reduction of 90% of household waste by the end of 2021.

Contents taken from the normal red lidded bins will undergo sterilisation, drying and separation into different groups of recyclable materials, with the non-recyclable items being sent to landfill.

The United States Supreme Court has today voted in favour of President Donald Trump’s policy to ban certain transgender people from the military.

The court voted 5-4 to overturn certain injunctions that were previously blocking the policy from going forward, although challenges still exist within the lower courts.

If passed, the policy would prohibit "transgender persons who require or have undergone gender transition" from serving.

US singer Chris Brown has been arrested in Paris, along with his bodyguard and friend, after a 24 year old woman filed a rape charge against them.

The woman alleges she was raped by Brown in the singer’s room at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on January 15th, after meeting the men earlier in the evening at a nightclub.

A rape conviction in France can result in up to 15 years in prison.

New South Wales Liberals are furious over Scott Morrison’s decision to parachute in former Labour president Warren Mundine, for the local seat of Gilmore.

Grant Schultz, who was picked as the candidate eight months ago, as replacement for sitting member Ann Sudmalis who is quitting politics, has slammed the move as undemocratic.

Liberals won the Gilmore seat by 1500 votes in 2016, and some fear their treatment of Mr Schultz, who is now running as an independent, could cost the party their seat.

Former federal MP, Clive Palmer has been fined for a traffic crash that took place in Brisbane last year after failing to give way.

Mr Palmer was due to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday after the incident that took place on Moggill Road in Kenmore in March last year.

He did not appear in court, which has left him with a $378 fine, which does not include the court fees he now owes.

The owner of fish and chip shop “The Battered Wife” in far north Queensland has been forced to close her business after she was the subject of a ‘witch hunt’ by an anti-abuse not for profit organisation.

The name of the shop drew criticism from numerous Queensland MPs last year for trivialising domestic violence and was condemned in a subsequent barrage of social media posts.

Owner Carolyn Kerr has defended the name of her shop with the support of locals, saying she was raising awareness for the issue.