Four Indian soldiers have been killed in cross border skirmishes on Sunday evening.

Hostilities have escalated between the Pakistan and Indian armies in the state of Kashmir in Northern India, with the soldiers being the latest in an increasingly long list of casualties.

The violence is expected to continue into the foreseeable future, despite an official ceasefire in 2003.

The Lord Mayor of Melbourne has resigned after sexual harassment allegations were made against him almost two months ago.

Councillor Robert Doyle, who has since been admitted to hospital due to poor health, says he felt he had been denied the principles of fair justice during the City of Melbourne investigation.

Mr Doyle, who has been mayor since 2008, also resigned from his position as chairman of Melbourne Health, following a separate investigation after a third woman accused him of harassment at a hospital event.

New allegations have been levelled at the US for allegedly threatening Russia with the recent review of their Nuclear program.

North America’s new national defence strategy unveiled last month put 'countering other world powers such as China and Russia' at the centre of it’s military policy, shifting away from action against muslim militants.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani accused America of hypocrisy in a televised address, saying America was shamefully threatening Russia and other allies.

A warning has been issued to  Australian families that power bills could increase significantly by the end of the year if wholesale gas prices continue to climb.

Economic modelling has shown households in New South Wales could be charged an extra $430, while in Queensland the bills could be as much as $312.

Unions claim that too much gas is being exported, forcing the mark up in prices.

The Queensland Murray Darling Committee have issued a warning for feral pig hunters throughout Queensland after a number of pigs have been believed to have been infected with leptospirosis.

Regional coordinator for feral animals Darren Marshall, said The Queensland Murray Darling Committee is funding a research project into the feral pigs with the hope of finding better ways to control numbers.

In humans, without treatment, leptospirosis can lead to kidney and liver damage and even death.