World news today July 5: WHO records world’s largest one-day COVID-19 cases increase
	World news today July 3: Russia referendum: Vladimir Putin now able to extend his rule until 2036
	World news today July 2: Indian grooms passed away after infecting over 100 wedding guests

Two planes collided Sunday over Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho (Photo: New York Times)

Two planes collide in the US, 8 dies

Two planes collided Sunday over Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, the US, while 8 passengers and crew are believed to be aboard the two planes when the incidents happened. Officials said it was likely that no one survived.

According to NBC News, witnesses at the scene said they saw two planes colliding above the water, then crashing into the lake near Powderhorn Bay at around 2:20 pm.

Two fatal victims were recovered from the wreck before the vehicles sank into the lake, while six other victims, including children, were thought to be dead but no other details was revealed.

Kootenai County Sheriff's Office spokesman Ryan Higgins said the planes were at a depth of more than 38 m and must not be recovered until July 6 or 7.

The couple were charged and detained in December 2017, with Pierre-Marie H. has since been released on bail.

The court that tries them will be made up exclusively of professional magistrates, and given the sensitive nature of the case, will probably be tried behind closed doors.

Two French ex-spies on trial accused of espionage for China

Pierre-Marie H. and Henri M. who both work for France’s foreign intelligence service, the DGSE are accused of working for China while French officials have been at pains to avoid releasing details of the affair.

The pair will appear in a special court accused of "delivering information to a foreign power" and "damaging the fundamental interests of the nation".If convicted, they willface 15 years in prision, AFP reported.

Both men were charged and detained in December 2017, with Pierre-Marie H. has since been released on bail.

The court that tries them will be made up exclusively of professional magistrates, and given the sensitive nature of the case, will probably be tried behind closed doors.

Pierre-Marie H. and Henri M. are accused of working for China (Photo: Msn)

Up to 34 deaths in flooding in southern Japan

18 confirmed deaths and 16 presumed dead in Japan after the heavy rain floods struck the Kumamoto, Kagoshima prefectures.

Deep floodwaters and the risk of more mudslides hampered search and rescue operations Sunday in southern Japan, including at elderly home facilities where more than a dozen died and scores were still stranded, CBC.CA reported.

Large areas along the Kuma River were swallowed by floodwaters, with many houses, buildings and vehicles submerged almost up to their roofs. Mudslides smashed into houses, sending people atop rooftops waving at rescuers.

At a flooded elderly care home in Kuma Village, where 14 residents were presumed dead after rescuers reached them on Saturday, rescue continued Sunday for the dozens of remaining residents and caregivers.

Sixty-five residents and about 30 caregivers were trapped at the riverside care facility Senjuen when floodwaters and mud gushed in. All remaining 51 residents, including three who had hypothermia, had been rescued by boats and taken to hospitals for treatment by Sunday afternoon.

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency stated that overall 18 people were confirmed dead, while 16 others, including those at the nursing home, were presumed dead. Fourteen others were still missing as of Sunday afternoon. Dozens of others were still trapped in inundated areas waiting to be rescued.

18 confirmed deaths and 16 presumed dead in Japan after the heavy rain floods struck the Kumamoto, Kagoshima prefectures (Photo: LA Times)

China issues the third-level alert of bubonic plague

Authorities in the Bayan Nur city, Inner Mongolia on Sunday issued a warning following a suspected bubonic plague case reported in the hospital.

According to Reuters, the municipal health committee has issued the third-level alert, the second-lowest in a four-level system.

The alert forbid the hunting and eating of animals that could carry the plague and asks the public to report any suspected cases of plague or fever with no clear causes, and to report any sick or dead marmots.

Earlier last November, Inner Mongolia had also reported four cases of plague, including two of pneumonic plague, known as the "Black Death" in the Middle Ages – a highly infectious and often fatal disease that is spread mostly by rodents.

China issues the third-level alert of bubonic plague (Photo: CBC.ca)

Gold Price Analysis: XAU/USD buyers can ignore soft weekly open below $1,775

Gold prices bounce off the intraday low of $1,772.67 to currently around $1,774.22 during the early Monday morning in Asia. The bullion offered a gap-down weekly open of $1,774.45 after closing near $1,776 on Friday. Even so, the precious metal stays near to the multi-year high of $1,789.28 flashed earlier in the month, Fx Street reported.

Be it the surge in the US coronavirus (COVID-19) cases or the global policymakers’ rush to keep their economies afloat, the pandemic has hit the macro finances so hard that rush to risk-safety increased off-late. Also adding to the market’s risk aversion could be the geopolitical tension between the US and China, as well as Beijing’s tussle with India and some of the developed economies.

As per a Reuters tally, In the first four days of July alone, 15 states have reported record increases in new cases of COVID-19, which has infected nearly 3 million Americans and killed about 130,000. It was also known that Texas registered the record high pandemic figures for the seven days in a row while numbers from Australia, China and Europe have been mildly high. Furthermore, talks of virus vaccine have been taking rounds but fail to cut the strong fears.

US President Donald Trump is still waited to sign the sanctions on diplomats from Beijing, involved in passing the Hong Kong security law. However, the White House official confirmed a few more punitive measures are in the pipeline. It should also be noted that the US recently sent two aircraft carries to the South China sea for exercise as Beijing holds drills. Elsewhere, the tension between India and China continues to grow while Iran continues to flash the early signals of worries.

Gold prices bounce off the intraday low of $1,772.67 to currently around $1,774.22 during the early Monday morning in Asia (Photo: Fx Street)

On the other hand, upbeat employment data from the US, coupled with China’s welcome activity numbers, favor global equity traders despite virus woes. As a result, S&P 500 Futures mark 0.4% gains to 3,127 as we write.

Moving on, the US traders will return to the desk after a long week comprising Friday’s Independence Day holiday, which in turn will make the markets a bit more active today. As a result, June month’s US ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI, expected 49.5 versus 45.4 prior, will have a major audience and could negatively affect the precious metal prices if breaking 50.00 mark.

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