A DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) official has reminded teachers and students to be careful with what they share on social media now that they spend more hours online.DepEd Cebu City Division Superintendent

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 01:13:00 -0800

Supplies of Hongkongers’ favourite Australian food – such as lobster, beef, milk, and yogurt – will continue amid the coronavirus pandemic as the country’s government has allocated A$110 million (HK$522 million) to subsidise exports.The Australian consul general in Hong Kong said on Wednesday the government would charter freight flights to deliver fresh produce of seafood, premium red meat, dairy products, as well as horticulture, including premium fruits and packaged salad or vegetables. These products will be flown to four key markets – mainland China and Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, and United Arab Emirates.Imports of fresh food to the city have been choked by cancellations of passenger flights worldwide amid the pandemic that has infected more than 1.4 million people and killed more than 81,000 people globally as of Wednesday.“The cancellations of all passenger flights between Hong Kong and Australia have put a strain on cargo flow,” Shannon Powell, senior trade and investment commissioner and deputy consul general (commercial), said.“The government will support transport costs to the key markets. The idea behind the mechanism is to keep commodity prices more or less the same by reducing costs.”Hong Kong is Australia’s No 1 market of fresh and chilled beef and fresh cheese, No 2 market of lamb and frozen game and poultry, No 3 market of milk and cream, and No 4 market of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and pork. ‘Hong Kong food shortage risk’ after mainland China tightens border virus checksIn 2019, Hong Kong imported 38.8 per cent more food and live animals from Australia from the previous year, at HK$12.69 million. Overall imports from the country jumped 15 per cent in 2019 from 2018, official statistics showed.The funding scheme, called international freight assistance mechanism, will help exporters and producers reduce costs, such as those related to airports and taxes, Powell said.Exports of Australian fresh produce were disrupted and prices soared after cargo delivery on passenger flights was stopped last month amid the pandemic.More than 100 weekly flights were connecting Australia with Hong Kong before the pandemic.Argyle Food Group, which distributes Australian chilled beef in Hong Kong, said freight costs on imports jumped almost fourfold.“Normally, we pay around A$1.50 per kg of imports. Last week, we paid A$5.40 per kg,” Bryce Graham, the company’s co-CEO said. “It’s ranging between A$2.50 and A$5.40 depending on the day.”She said the Australian government would charter freight flights from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth. This first flight is expected to take off within two weeks.Sea shipment remains unaffected by the pandemic.This article Coronavirus: food supply to Hong Kong from Australia will not be affected despite pandemic first appeared on South China Morning PostFor the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020.

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 00:59:48 -0800

THE Department of Health (DOH) reported the confirmation of 106 additional cases of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and five additional mortalities Wednesday, April 7.This brought the total case count to

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 00:54:00 -0800

More than four kilograms of suspected shabu was confiscated from a taxi driver by Talisay City police operating in Barangay Valencia, Carcar City at around 12:30 am on Wednesday, April 8, 2020.The suspect

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 00:45:00 -0800

Local governments in Visayas and Mindanao can impose community quarantines in their respective districts, the government's task force on COVID-19 said today. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said in a virtual presser that local government units in both islands can implement quarantines "if they deem necessary." He added that all government officials need to do is ...This article, Local gov'ts can enforce quarantines in Visayas and Mindanao, says COVID-19 task force, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters!

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 00:00:21 -0800