Gun purchases in Brazil have increased by 91 percent on the previous year, with over 180,000 new guns registered, in what is the highest number on record. 

The gun culture in Brazil is on the rise alongside legal gun ownership, however some say mechanisms to track their use and owners are lacking.

Fabio Irapua Casitas, a former Army trooper, says citizen’s knowledge on guns are important and says there's a need to qualify, educate and then arm.

More than 17 people have been injured at a customs post in Afghanistan after a gas tanker exploded.

The tanker exploded in Islam-Qala and set off an enormous fire that spread to more than 100 other tankers, Afghan officials reported. However, the cause of the explosion has not been determined.

Electricity supplies from neighbouring Iran were disconnected as a precaution, leaving the city of Herat without power

Local Brisbane brewers Newstead Brewing Co have secured a deal to export their beers to Hong Kong.

Nine different brews - four from Newstead Brewing Co’s popular core range and five special limited release beers are scheduled to reach Hong Kong lips from 15 February.

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says “It’s a big ‘cheers’ to the company and the 45 staff which have achieved so much in just eight short years since it was established in Doggett Street, Newstead.

Acting chief health officer Sonya Bennett has confirmed Queensland health authorities have managed to contact all 1500 people connected to exposure sites at Melbourne Airport before travelling into the state.

Dr Bennett said the state is in a very positive position in controlling any potential spread.

The border closure to travellers from greater Melbourne would be reviewed after 14 days instead of the usual 28 days because there was not yet wider community transmission associated with the cluster.

The Queensland government has announced new spending and support for touring artists in an effort to quell the effects of COVID-19 on the arts industry.

Queensland’s Minister for the Arts Leanne Enoch says the Queensland government will inject 8.5 billion dollars into the state’s economy and support more than 92,000 jobs for Queenslanders.

Ms Enoch says two new funds have opened, the Touring Queensland Fund and the Touring Queensland Fund Quick, replacing the existing Playing Queensland Fund.

The Royal Society of Tasmania and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery will today apologise to the state's Aboriginal communities for stealing and mistreating cultural heritage for more than a century.

Apology would be brought by bringing back traditional owners the 14,000 years old ancient rock art out of the museum collection and back to its home at Preminghana in the state's far north west.

The apology hopes to be followed with attitude change and continued consultation with Aboriginal Tasmanians.

In Japan, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake has struck the eastern coast, leaving millions without power and triggering a landslide.

According to Japan’s Cabinet Secretary Katsunobo Kato, casualties and structural damage are being assessed and at this stage 100 people have been injured.

The earthquake hit the Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures, the same that were hit by the more powerful 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The strength of the earthquake shook buildings in Tokyo, which are hundreds of kilometres away.

An outbreak of Ebola has just been declared in Guinea, with three recorded deaths since 2016.

According to Guinea’s health Chief, Sakoba Keita, the Conakry laboratory confirmed the presence of the Ebola virus early Sunday morning. 

Guinea is more prepared for the epidemic than five years ago because of good progress on vaccines, according to the World Health Organisation, who are also rushing in assistance and seeking to ensure people receive adequate inoculations