World news today: Trump double downs on use of Hydroxychloroquine as coronavirus cure, British PM in intensive care as symptoms worsen

World news today: Trump again promotes use of Hydroxychloroquine as coronavirus cure

President Donald Trump

For the second straight day, the president pushed the use of hydroxychloroquine, which has not been proven to treat the coronavirus, the New York Times reports.

According to CNN, without citing evidence, he said it's a "great" and "powerful" anti-malaria drug "and there are signs that it works on this, some very strong signs."

For people without heart problems, Trump recommended combining hydroxychloroquine with azithromycin, a common antibiotic. He said azithromycin "will kill certain things that you don't want living within your body."

Yet there is little reliable evidence that the drugs -- either alone or in combination -- are effective at treating the novel coronavirus.

Still, Trump said: "What do you have to lose? What do you have to lose?"

World news today: The US criticizes China over Vietnamese vessel sinking in East Sea

The US on April 6 said it was "seriously concerned" about China's reported sinking of a Vietnamese fishing vessel in the East Sea. Source: US Embassy in Vietnam

The United States condemns China's reported sinking of a Vietnamese fishing vessel on April 2, appalling that China is exploiting the world’s focus on addressing COVID-19 pandemic to assert its unlawful maritime claims in East Sea.

In its statement, the US Department of State said this incident is the latest in a long string of China’s actions in the East Sea amid the global focus on fighting COVID-19.

It urged China to instead focus on supporting international efforts to fight the global pandemic.

"We call on the PRC (People's Republic of China) to remain focused on supporting international efforts to combat the global pandemic, and to stop exploiting the distraction or vulnerability of other states to expand its unlawful claims in the South China (East) Sea," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.

“Since the outbreak of the global pandemic, Beijing has also announced new ‘research stations’ on military bases it built on Fiery Cross Reef and Subi Reef, and landed special military aircraft on Fiery Cross Reef,” the US State Department statement added.

The US spokesperson called on China to focus on supporting international efforts to combat the global COVID-19 pandemic, and to stop exploiting the distraction or vulnerability of other states to expand its unlawful claims in the sea.

Earlier, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang said Vietnam lodged a protest over the incident and requested China to compensate as well as not to complicate the situation in the East Sea.

About 8 fishermen on board the sunken ship had been rescued, and four of them have been brought ashore.

World news today: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson moved to hospital’s intensive care as coronavirus symptoms worsen

Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain leaving Downing Street in mid-March, prior to announcing his coronavirus diagnosis.Credit...Tolga Akmen/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was moved to intensive care after his coronavirus symptoms worsen on Monday afternoon, his office said in a statement.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain leaving Downing Street in mid-March, prior to announcing his coronavirus diagnosis.Credit...Tolga Akmen/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Johnson's office said the 55-year-old prime minister has been conscious and did not need ventilation. He asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to deputize for him, the spokesman said.

“Over the course of this afternoon, the condition of the prime minister has worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he has been moved to the intensive care unit at the hospital,” the spokesman added. “The PM is receiving excellent care, and thanks all [National Health Service] staff for their hard work and dedication.”

The move came just a day after Johnson was admitted for what were said to be routine tests.

Johnson had been quarantined in his home since being diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 26.

Read more: British PM Boris Johnson moved to hospital’s intensive care as coronavirus symptoms worsen

COVID-19 case tally: 1.3 million cases globally, China reports no new death for the first time

People wearing face masks are seen at a shopping area in Beijing, China on April 6, 2020. © REUTERS/Tingshu Wang

The world: 1,347,689 cases of infection; 74,644 deaths.

- The United States: 367,650 cases of infection; 10,943 deaths

- Spain: 136,675 cases of infection, 13,341 deaths.

- Italy: 132,547 cases of infection; 16,523 deaths.

- Germany: 103,375 cases of infection; 1,810 deaths.

China on Tuesday reported no new coronavirus deaths the previous day for the first time since January.

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James Bond star Honor Blackman passes away, aged 94

Honor Blackman riding her Norton Big Four motorcycle through Hyde Park in 1949 (PA)

British actress Honor Blackman, who starred as Pussy Galore in the classic James Bond film Goldfinger, has died at 94.

Family members in England say she died at her home of natural causes unrelated to the coronavirus and was surrounded by family, the Guardian reports.

Relatives say she was an "adored mother and grandmother" who had "an extraordinary combination of beauty, brains, and physical prowess."

Blackman appeared in more than 100 movies over her long career but she was best known for playing Pussy Galore in Goldfinger opposite Sean Connery's James Bond, the New York Post reports.

Prior to her role as Goldfinger's Bond girl Pussy Galore, Blackman starred as Cathy Gale on the classic 1960s TV series The Avengers. This character helped make her "a role model for an emerging generation of women," BBC News wrote in its obituary, noting that her characters were "more than a match for their male co-stars." Other notable films of Blackman's include Jason and the Argonauts and Shalako.

World news today: Life and career of James Bond star Honor Blackman [photos] News world today: British actress Honor Blackman, who starred as Pussy Galore in the classic James Bond film Goldfinger, has died at 94.

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