Consecutive state governments have been scolded by disability groups and senior law firms as Queensland’s new trains failed to meet international disability access standards.

The Human Rights Commission refused an application made by the Palaszczuk government for a three-year exemption for failing to include disabled toilets on board, despite the $4.4 billion price tag on the trains.

Australia is predicted to be the first country to eliminate cervical cancer due to the effectiveness of a vaccine created by a Queensland researcher.

University of Queensland professor Ian Frazer created Gardasil, the vaccine for the Human Papillomavirus which causes 99.9% of cervical cancers.

Research recently published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases shows the Human Papillomavirus rate has dropped from 22.7% to 1.1% during the past decade, meaning the cancer could soon be eliminated.

Thousands of people have marched through London in efforts to call for gender equality, and to celebrate the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote.

Politicians from different parties joined groups representing all regions as they marched together along the same historic route taken by the suffragettes.

Described as uplifting and inspiring, the event takes place each year in the days leading up to International Women’s Day on March 8.

Authorities in Honduras have arrested an energy company executive who allegedly orchestrated the 2016 murder of prominent environmental activist Berta Cáceres.

Police detained Roberto David Castillo as the perpetrator, who had previously served as CEO of a company with plans to construct a hydroelectric dam which Cáceres had actively campaigned against before her murder.

Two masked gunmen fatally shot the activist at her home in La Esperanza in March 2016.

Australian motorists attended the Federal Court today against the global carmaker Volkswagen, as it has been three years since their cars were revealed to have been fitted with software that could detect test conditions and reduce emissions in order to improve results.

The scandal led to the resignation of Volkswagen executives, saw others sentenced to jail and resulted in billions of dollars in fines.

Cardinal George Pell returned to court in Melbourne today for what is expected to be a month-long committal hearing for historical sexual offence charges.

Cardinal Pell was charged by Victorian Police in June last year and was granted leave from the Vatican by Pope Francis to return to Australia to fight the charges.

Defence barrister Robert Richter told a previous hearing Cardinal Pell will plead not guilty to all charges.

Brisbane ratepayers have been shelling out millions of dollars for solar projects, but it will be almost 10 years before they see any financial return.

In the last two financial years, Brisbane City Council has spent $2.5 million on energy efficiency and emissions reduction projects - including installing solar panels at some of the city’s bus depots and libraries.

Solar spends are expected to remain high until 2028, but the council believes this is a smart investment.

North Queensland flood victims will be offered additional disaster assistance by state and federal governments after battling heavy rainfall since last month.

Areas such as Burdekin, Charters Towers, Etheridge, Palm Island and Townsville have had a severe weather warnings in place while emergency crews have been on standby throughout north Queensland.

More rain is expected to hit north and south-east Queensland over the coming week.