A Chinese scientist who claims to have created the world’s first genetically edited babies has paused the trial following international outcry.

Geneticist He Jiankui defended his work on Wednesday saying he had successfully altered the DNA of twin girls born to a HIV positive father.

While the procedure is a potential fix for inheritable diseases, it is extremely controversial within the medical community as it has the potential to eventually alter the entire gene pool.

Southern India’s only transgender candidate in state elections has gone missing, and there are fears she has been kidnapped.

Chandramukhi Muvvala, who is also an activist with the Telangana Hijra Intersex Transgender Samti, a local advocacy group for hijras – or transgender women – which campaigns against transphobic violence, disappeared minutes after she left her home on Tuesday morning on her second day of campaigning.

The United Nations has named Australia among the G20 nations falling short of achieving their Paris climate commitments.

The UN Emissions Gap Report for 2018 said Australia’s projected emission are expected to be “well above” its target and would remain at high levels rather than reducing to the 2030 target.

The UN says G20 as a group is collectively not on track to hit its targets, suggesting for members to implement additional emissions-reduction policies.

The Queensland bushfire crisis has eased slightly with conditions downgraded from catastrophic to severe.

However, authorities are warning the state is not in the clear yet as heatwave conditions will continue to grip the central and north coast until Tuesday at least.

Thousands of Queenslanders have been forced from their homes as firefighters battled up to 140 wildfires.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Queensland is still facing unprecedented conditions and "uncharted waters we have not seen the likes of before".

In a new analysis from Macquarie University, researchers have found inner city students are scoring higher NAPLAN results than those in the outer region, highlighting a stark socio-economic divide.

It is reported that those in the outer south-east and south-west suburbs are almost certain to be scoring below the national average, while those in the inner city are achieving above.

Labor will introduce legislation to change the Sexual Discrimination Act to protect LGBTI students from discrimination at faith-based schools on Thursday.

This legislation is predicted to act as a political wedge, forcing the government to introduce their own legislation to parliament in the next few days.

However, the Greens intend to go further than this and amend the opposition’s legislation to include discrimination against teachers and staff.