Two dead, nine hurt in US school explosion

Two people have been killed and nine injured when a gas explosion ripped through a Christian private school in Minneapolis, starting a fire and causing a building to collapse.

The body of a school employee who had been missing for most of Wednesday after the blast at Minnehaha Academy was recovered that evening, Minneapolis Fire Chief John Fruetel told a news conference.

Fruetel declined to identify either victim pending notification of next of kin.

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported that the remains removed earlier in the day belonged to Ruth Berg, a 47-year-old receptionist at the school who was engaged to be married.

Family members earlier told local news channel KARE that John Carlson, an 81-year-old custodian, was missing and that no one had been able to reach him.

The nine people who were injured were taken to local hospitals, and one was in critical condition, Fruetel said.

Authorities say there are early indications that a ruptured gas line may have led to the explosion and that it was caused by contractors working at the school. The academy confirmed on Facebook that there had been a gas leak and explosion at its Upper School.

“This is a day of extraordinary heartbreak in Minneapolis,” Mayor Betsy Hodges told the news conference.

Source: Two dead, nine hurt in US school explosion | Perth Now

US Women’s Open: South Korea’s Park Sung-hyun wins major

South Korea’s Park Sung-hyun wins the US Women’s Open by two strokes, her first LPGA title in her debut season.

The 23-year-old carded a final-round five-under-par 67 to finish on 11 under at the Trump National in New Jersey.

Compatriot Choi Hye-Jin was two strokes behind in second, while China’s Shanshan Feng, who held a one-shot lead overnight, went round in 75 to finish tied for fourth, five strokes adrift.

A South Korean has won the US Open seven times in the past 10 years.

Park told Fox Sports: “I did not have the best first and second rounds so I wanted to believe in myself in the remaining rounds. Trusting myself definitely helped.”

England’s Charley Hull finished 11 strokes behind Park on level par, with Scotland’s Catriona Matthew a further six shots back.

Source: US Women’s Open: South Korea’s Park Sung-hyun wins major – BBC Sport

Battle of the Sexes trailer: Emma Stone + Steve Carell’s tennis drama is perfect for Oscar season

What happens when a tennis match victory comes to represent so much more than immediate glory? When Billie Jean King accepted Bobby Riggs’ challenge to a nationally televised match with a winner-takes-all prize of $100,000, she knew that win meant so much more than personal pride. Riggs, a master self-promoter, had taken the stance that women made inferior tennis players and that he, even in his 50s, could beat out any of the top female players…

VIDEO: Battle of the Sexes trailer: Emma Stone and Steve Carell’s new tennis drama is perfect for Oscar season | The Independent

IS militants occupy school in Philippines

Pro-Islamic State militants have stormed a town and occupied a school in the southern Philippines on the same island where fighting between government troops and Islamist militants has entered its fifth week.

Members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were engaged in a gun battle with the military, Chief Inspector Realan Mamon, the police chief of Pigcawayan town, said in a radio interview on Wednesday. The town is in North Cotabato province in the centre of Mindanao island.

Pigcawayan is 190km south of Marawi City, where BIFF militants, along with fighters from other groups allied to the Islamic State group, have been holed up and fighting the Philippines military for more than a month.

Source: IS militants occupy school in Philippines

AFL Tony Plugger Lockett is unrecognisable as he returns to Sydney Swans

AFL legend Tony ‘Plugger’ Lockett, 51, looks completely unrecognisable as he returns to the field after 15 years. Lockett was announced as a part-time goal kicking coach for the on

Footy legend Tony Lockett, 51, has emerged from his reclusive retirement from the Sydney Swans 15 years ago to work part-time for his beloved club as a forwards and goal kicking coach.

Lockett, known universally in Australian Rules Football circles by his nickname ‘Plugger’, is the highest-ever goalscorer in the code’s history, appeared vastly different from his playing days.

While his return is big news for the Sydney club, his foray back into the game has been overshadowed by his slimmed-down appearance.

Source: AFL Tony Plugger Lockett is unrecognisable as he returns | Daily Mail Online

Two people overdose on first day of Secret Garden festival as thousands of free-spirited Australians flock to farmland outside Sydney.

Two people have overdosed while dozens more were found with drugs on the first day of the Secret Garden Festival as thousands of free-spirited Australians flock to farmland outside Sydney.

As festival-goers dressed to impress despite the wet-weather, others had their celebrations cut short after being caught with illegal substances.

‘Yesterday, there were a total of 28 drug detections for MDMA, cocaine, LSD and cannabis. There were also two reports of drug overdoses,’ Superintendent Ward Hanson told The Daily Telegraph.

Source: Two people overdose on first day of Secret Garden festival | Daily Mail Online