Asia virus latest: Vaccine hope fuel Asia stocks rally; Beijing hits back at Trump; China seeks to stop wildlife trade

Here are the latest developments from Asia related to the novel coronavirus pandemic:

Beijing says Trump 'shirking responsibility' to WHO -

Beijing accused Donald Trump of smearing China and shirking American responsibilities to the World Health Organization, after the US president threatened to pull out of the UN health body.

The American leader has been locked in a bitter war of words with Beijing, alleging it covered up the initial outbreak late last year before the disease spread globally.

Trump on Monday called the WHO a "puppet of China" before tweeting a letter he had sent to the organisation's chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus threatening to make permanent a temporary freeze on funding from the US.

China offers farmers cash to give up wildlife trade -

Farmers in China are being offered cash to quit breeding exotic animals as pressure grows to crack down on the illegal wildlife trade that has been blamed for the coronavirus outbreak.

Authorities have for the first time pledged to buy out breeders in an attempt to curb the practice, animal rights activists say.

Puppy scammers target lonely Aussies during lockdown -

Australia is suffering a wave of puppy scams as fraudsters target the lonely and locked down with fake online offers of cavoodles, French bulldogs and other popular pooches.

The consumer watchdog ACCC said the scammers fleeced people looking for a new pet out of some Aus$300,000 (US$196,000) in April alone.

Hong Kong extends gathering ban to Tiananmen anniversary -

Hong Kong extended anti-virus measures limiting public gatherings until June 4, a move that means an annual vigil marking the Tiananmen crackdown will likely not take place for the first time in 30 years.

The candlelight ceremony usually attracts huge crowds and is the only place on Chinese soil where such a major commemoration of the anniversary is still allowed.

Vaccine hope and easing of lockdowns fuel Asia stocks rally -

Hopes for a vaccine to treat coronavirus and a further easing of lockdown measures around the world spurred a rally on Asian markets as investors tracked a surge across Europe and Wall Street.

A half-a-trillion-dollar Franco-German plan to support the European Union economy also lifted confidence, while Australian investors brushed off news that China had imposed massive tariffs on barley imported from the country.

Cash-strapped Thai Airways to seek restructuring -

Thailand's cash-strapped national carrier will look to undergo a restructuring through the kingdom's bankruptcy court, as the stricken company is battered by the crash in tourism caused by the coronavirus.

Thai Airways -- which is 51 percent owned by the government -- has long fought to stay afloat, registering losses of almost $800 million over the past three years.

Oz football warns players over one-night stands -

Australian Rules footballers have reportedly been told to limit their sexual partners to minimise the chances of COVID-19 disrupting plans for a season restart next month.

Officials have told players that one-night stands will not be banned but they could be punished if they engage in risky behaviour such as a string of hook-ups, Melbourne's Herald-Sun reported.

Singapore knicker nicker gets nicked -

A serial underwear thief has admitted to breaching Singapore's strict coronavirus lockdown to sneak into a backyard and try to purloin women's lingerie.

Lee Chee Kin has stolen underwear from homes on at least 30 occasions since 2018 and police found more than 100 bras during a raid on his home last year, according to court documents.

The city-state's health ministry also apologised to more than 350 people who contracted COVID-19 for accidentally sending them a text message saying they had tested positive again.