Myanmar is facing increasing pressure to lift a two-week-long internet blackout after the United States becomes the latest to demand a response.

US State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus says as many as one million people are without internet communication and called for it to be restored without delay.

The Human Rights Watch says the blackout is creating additional difficulties for international not-for-profits who rely on WhatsApp for their work.

A team of researchers at the University of Sydney found dingoes and kelpies do not share DNA, despite their visual similarities. 

The Kelpie, a herding dog derived from the Scottish collie, was brought to Australia in the late 1800s, while the dingo is a native Australian species which arrived in Australia 4000 years ago.

Dog genetics expert Professor Claire Wade says while the kelpie and dingo both have the “up version of the ears, when you look closely at the DNA you can see it is quite different.”

The Lockyer Valley Council will remodel their rates billing procedures to minimise the impacts on residents in response to some properties being hit with major land valuation increases in the Lockyer Valley.

The average land value increase for the area is 15 per cent, but individual figures vary widely.

Almost 4000 objections were lodged state-wide this year by property owners regarding up to 124 per cent higher increases in land values compared to the average.

Runcorn Heights State School and Dutton Park State School tuckshops are being forced to close amid rising food costs and a shrinking number of volunteers. 

Dutton Park P&C president Katrina Cutler says there are not enough volunteers to sustain regular service and predicts more canteens will follow suit.

P&C Queensland chief executive Kevan Goodworth says tuckshops have been forced to reduce opening hours, employ staff and outsource operations to manage the amounting pressures.

Scientists from around Australia and overseas will gather in Brisbane this week for the Translational Photosynthesis Conference, with the theme “Innovations in Agriculture for Food Security”. 

Chief Investigator of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis and chair of the organising committee, Professor John Evans, says the issue of food security is becoming more pressing around the world. 

Reportedly almost half a million Congolese have been forced from their homes and at least 400 killed in inner-ethnic fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

More than 400,000 people have fled the province since the fight started three weeks ago, with many trying to make it across the border. 

The Congolese president is expected to assess the humanitarian crisis in the region.

More than 13,000 dogs are allegedly being slaughtered every month in the Indonesian city of Solo to meet local demand for the animal’s meat. 

A recent investigation by the Dog Meat Free Indonesia Coalition of campaigners found about 200 street vendors and restaurants were selling dog meat for typically around $2 a serving. 

Campaigners say the dog meat trade poses major public health risks, and Bali’s Governor as well other locals have cracked down on the trade.