Australia & Pacifics

SUVA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday donated medical supplies to Fiji to help the South Pacific island nation fight against COVID-19.

Speaking at the handover ceremony of the medical supplies, Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Qian Bo said the Chinese government donated 300,000 U.S. dollars cash to the Fijian government to support its combat against COVID-19.

Qian handed 52 carton boxes of medical supplies with a total value of about 270,000 Fijian dollars (about 119,880 U.S. dollars) to further support Fiji's effort in going through the pandemic.

WELLINGTON, May 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) – New Zealand reported no new COVID-19 case over the past 24 hours, the first time in 49 days, with the total number of infections staying at 1,487, the Ministry of Health said today (Monday).

Director-General of Health, Ashley Bloomfield, told a press conference that, one probable case has been reclassified as confirmed, so the total case number remained unchanged.

The death toll stood at 20, Bloomfield said, adding, 1,276 cases have now recovered, and currently four people are in hospital, with none in ICU.

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern asked citizens to stay the course on social restrictions still in place to contain the coronavirus, and said no decision had been taken yet on whether the measures would be further eased.

New Zealand on Monday reported no new cases of COVID-19 for the first time since March 16.

SINGAPORE, May 1 (NNN-CNA) — A Singaporean man was rescued by the Fijian navy after the ongoing coronavirus pandemic left him stranded at sea on a yacht, with his food supplies running low.

The 59-year-old man set sail from Singapore three months ago on a three-year boat expedition, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said in a Facebook post.

Events for the sailor took an unexpected turn when countries started closing their borders because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

SYDNEY, May 1 (NNN-Xinhua) — A man was shot dead by the police after reportedly stabbing five people at a shopping center in the Australian state of Western Australia on Friday.

At around 10 a.m. local time, police responded to reports of an armed offender at the South Hedland Square shopping center. Reports said non-lethal attempts to subdue the man failed and officers were forced to use firearms.

“Officers have discharged a firearm. St John Ambulance was called to assist,” a police spokesperson said.

SYDNEY (Reuters) - The Australian government said on Friday it would meet a week ahead of schedule to decide whether to ease social distancing restrictions, as the numbers of new coronavirus infections dwindle and pressure mounts for business and schools to reopen.

Australia has reported about 6,700 cases of the new coronavirus and 93 deaths, well below the levels reported in the United States and Europe. Growth in new infections has slowed to less 0.5% a day, compared to 25% a month ago.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - U.S. oil prices jumped on Wednesday, trimming some of this week’s losses, after U.S. stockpiles rose less than expected and on expectations demand will increase as some European countries and U.S. cities moved to ease coronavirus lockdowns.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 futures climbed to a high of $14.40 a barrel and were up 15.4%, or $1.90, at $14.24 at 0233 GMT, paring a 27% plunge over the first two days of this week.

Brent crude LCOc1 futures rose 4.6%, or 93 cents, to $21.39 a barrel, adding to a 2.3% gain on Tuesday.

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Malaysia’s AirAsia Group Bhd (AIRA.KL) said on Wednesday it did not intend to take any new aircraft deliveries this year due to the sharp fall in demand from the coronavirus crisis and was relooking at its order book with Airbus SE (AIR.PA).

Reuters last week reported Airbus has put six jets up for sale after giving up on AirAsia taking delivery of them, according to sources familiar with the matter.

AirAsia is one of the European manufacturer’s largest customers.

SYDNEY (Reuters) - China accused Australia of “petty tricks” on Wednesday in an intensifying dispute over Canberra’s push for an international inquiry into the coronavirus outbreak that could affect diplomatic and economic ties between the countries.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his proposed inquiry into how the coronavirus developed and spread would not be targeted at China but was needed given COVID-19 had killed more than 200,000 people and shut down much of the global economy.

27 April 2020; AFP: Survivors of last year's New Zealand volcano eruption are planning to sue cruise ship company Royal Caribbean for failing to warn of the risks involved in touring the area, lawyers said Monday.

There were 47 people, mainly Australian tourists, on White Island when it erupted on December 9 last year, killing 21 people.

Many were carried off with horrific injuries, including extensive external and internal burns from the explosion that sent steam, ash and gases hurtling from the caldera.