Late British physicist Stephen Hawking’s wheelchair and 1965 PhD thesis are going on sale, London-based auction house Christie’s announced.

Proceeds from the high-tech wheelchair will be donated to charity.

Dr Hawking’s daughter Lucy says the sale will give “admirers of his work the chance to acquire a memento” of his “extraordinary life”.

Queensland’s Department of Births, Deaths and Marriages set up mobile offices on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait to boost Indigenous birth registration rates. 

This initiative came as figures highlighted one-fifth of all births are not recorded in Queensland’s remote Indigenous communities. 

Queensland registrar-general David John told the ABC the main issue people without a birth certificate face is trying to get a tax file number, license or passport. 

The National Union of Students Against Racism and several other groups will be peacefully protesting Qantas Airlines’ involvement in deporting refugees, this Friday on Elizabeth Street in Brisbane. 

At the Qantas Annual General Meeting on the 26th of October, shareholders will consider resolutions aimed at ending their company’s participation in forcing asylum seekers from Australia. 

In recent months over 140 business, cultural, academic and human rights leaders have asked Qantas to cease involvement in the Australian government's deportation policies.
 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is backing Malcolm Turnbull to represent Australia at a conference in Bali next week, despite criticism from within his government. 

MP Barnaby Joyce blamed Turnbull for the Liberal Party’s loss in the Wentworth by-election, and questioned whether the former PM should be rewarded with a diplomatic position. 

Prime Minister Morrison argued that Turnbull’s established relationship with Indonesian leader Joko Widodo meant he was a natural fit for the conference. 

A report released by the Lung Foundation Australia predicted Lung Cancer will cost the Australian economy more than 6.6 billion dollars by 2028 if changes aren’t made to the way the disease and patients are treated. 

More than 9000 people died from the disease last year- making it the number one cause of cancer death in the country. 

The report made six recommendations including an increase in lung cancer specialists, a public awareness campaign to reduce stigma around the disease and more psychosocial support for those who have been diagnosed.
 

Japan’s government said freelance journalist Jumpei Yasuda held hostage in Syria for the past three years has been freed and is reportedly staying at an immigration facility in the Turkish city of Antakya.

Mr Yasuda went missing in June 2015 after travelling from Turkey to Syria to report on the country’s civil war and was reportedly held hostage by a group linked to al-Qeada.

The Japan Times reported that the group had demanded a $10m ransom for Mr Yasuda which the Government refused to pay. 

South Koreans who use cannabis while in Canada could face criminal charges when they return to their home country, warn Korean police.

An official from South Korea’s narcotics unit said violators will be punished according to the Korean law and could face up to five years in prison.

The South Korean government put a warning out the day before Canada legalised marijuana.

The UN Human Rights Committee said France’s ban on the Niqab is a violation of human rights and has called on it to review the legislation.