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Ash Barty announces her next sporting move.
Retired tennis star Ash Barty will play in a global golf tournament in the United States alongside several fellow big sporting names.
She’ll be wielding a golf club rather than a tennis racquet in the Icons Series. In a statement, Barty referred to the tournament as "a unique opportunity to have fun, test yourself and compete against the world's greatest athletes in a sport that we are all so passionate about".
Alongside tennis, Barty has been publicly passionate about golf too, especially given she met her partner Gary Kissick on the golf course and he is a PGA Golf trainee professional.
"I’m excited to be part of the Icons Series and I hope through my participation in the series that we can encourage more women and girls to participate in golf around the world," she said.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Barty has taken out a stake in the Icons Series, with hopes to one day bring the tournament to Australia.
Seven-time major winner Karrie Webb played a round with Barty at Victoria Golf Club in 2019 and said Barty had the talent to make it on the LPGA tour.
"She’s a really handy player and just that one day I could tell if she puts some time into it she will be a great player," Webb told AAP. "It was everything - she hit the ball a long way."
For a full rundown on Ash Barty’s retirement and plans for the future, you can read more here: Ash Barty is the world’s best tennis player. At 25, she's retiring to “chase other dreams”.
See you on the fairway, Ash Barty! 👀🏌️♀️
— ABC SPORT (@abcsport) April 19, 2022
The recently retired tennis superstar is returning to competitive sport, but she'll be swinging a club instead of a racquet!
Barty will reportedly compete in an international golf tournament in June.
Is there anything she can't do? 🤩 pic.twitter.com/0vtyxFwU34
Yemen’s Houthi rebels agree to stop using child soldiers.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have agreed to rid their ranks of child soldiers, who have fought by the thousands during the country's seven years of civil war.
The news was confirmed by the United Nations, after the Houthis signed what the UN described as an "action plan" to end and prevent recruiting or using children in armed conflict, killing or maiming children and attacking schools and hospitals.
The Houthis' deputy foreign minister, Hussein al-Azey, and a representative from the UN's children's agency, Philippe Duamelle, posed for the media at a signing ceremony in Yemen's capital. The Houthis called the agreement "a plan to protect children".
As a 2-month nationwide truce is underway in Yemen, UN welcomes new commitment to end & prevent grave violations against children, who have suffered tremendously through more than seven years of conflict.https://t.co/nzSJCPXZIb
— United Nations (@UN) April 19, 2022
Virginia Gamba, the UN’s top official looking out for children in war zones, called the Houthis' move "a positive and encouraging step," but she noted that "the most difficult part of the journey starts now".
"The action plan must be fully implemented and lead to tangible actions for the improvement of the protection of children in Yemen," said Gamba.
The UN says nearly 3,500 children have been verified as recruited and deployed in Yemen's civil war. However, a senior Houthi military official told The Associated Press in 2018 that the group had inducted 18,000 child soldiers into its army by then, and former child soldiers told the news cooperative that boys as young as 10 were recruited. More than 10,200 children have been killed or maimed in the war, the UN says.
Yemen’s civil war erupted in 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthis seized Sanaa and forced the government into exile. War monitors estimate the conflict has killed over 14,500 civilians and 150,000 people when combatants are included. The fighting also created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
- With AAP.
Channing Tatum and Thandiwe Newton’s fight was only going to end one way.
Lizzo joined a very elite club this weekend, becoming one of a handful of performers who have hosted Saturday Night Live and appeared as the night’s musical guest. But it’s the news about her new relationship that has really got us interested.
Plus, over the weekend a scandal erupted around Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, with a rogue tweet leading news outlets to report that A$AP had cheated on his pregnant girlfriend with her co-worker. Now the full story has come to light, but the fate of this famous couple is already sealed.
And it’s been reported that actress Thandiwe Newton was fired from the new Magic Mike movie after getting into an intense argument on set with Channing Tatum. The stories that have leaked from the set paint a pretty troubling picture of what happened between the stars, but the headlines are only telling one side of the story.
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The pop culture stories you missed.
Hello everyone!
All long weekend, I've been obsessed with one thing: Coachella.
The famous music festival in the Californian desert is back after years of limbo due to COVID, with weekend one featuring performances from superstars like Harry Styles, Megan Thee Stallion, Billie Eilish, Doja Cat and The Weeknd.
While I got extremely into the performances via the festival YouTube page, even I can admit, the thing most of us look forward to from Coachella is... the completely impractical desert fashion.
Yes, the dust IS going to get into every nook and cranny, but that doesn't stop anyone from chucking on some sweaty leather chaps.
Thankfully, my wonderful colleagues have pulled together all the looks for us to peruse here: After 3 years of limited travel and cancelled gigs, let's have a snoop at Coachella's 2022 fashion.
And for a deeper look at the beauty, we have this: From baby braids to coloured liner: 6 beauty trends coming out of Coachella 2022.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina's sad news, and all the news you need to know this morning.
Morning all, and welcome back from the long weekend.
On Sunday night, 60 Minutes aired a re-examination into the Louise Woodward case which dominated media headlines in the mid-90s.
We pulled together all the best bits yesterday, and re-examined the main points from the trial ourselves, and it's a story our readers were obsessed with this Easter Monday.
Catch up here.
But first, let's get you across the top news stories you need to know this morning, Tuesday April 19.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce death of baby son.
Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo and his partner Georgina Rodriguez have announced their son, one of their newborn twins, has died.
The couple shared the news in a statement on social media on Monday evening, writing, "It is with our deepest sadness we have to announce that our baby boy has passed away. It is the greatest pain that any parents can feel."
"Only the birth of our baby girl gives us the strength to live this moment with some hope and happiness. We would like to thank the doctors and nurses for all their expert care and support.
"We are all devastated at this loss and we kindly ask for privacy at this very difficult time. Our baby boy, you are our angel. We will always love you."
Ronaldo, who has four other children, announced in a social media post last October that he and Rodriguez were expecting twins.
A message on United's Twitter account on Monday evening read: "Your pain is our pain, @Cristiano. Sending love and strength to you and the family at this time."
Your pain is our pain, @Cristiano 💔
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 18, 2022
Sending love and strength to you and the family at this time. https://t.co/24oyEV8CQi
2. Albanese promises $38m for disaster relief as Morrison admits he misspoke after JobSeeker gaffe.
Anthony Albanese will seek to highlight Scott Morrison's inaction on disaster response as the second week of the election campaign continues.
Albanese has announced $38 million funding pledge over three years to Disaster Relief Australia, a veteran-led organisation assisting communities after natural disasters.
The funding would allow for the organisation to have 5200 more volunteers join the ranks, along with helping to cover recruitment, training and equipment.
Morrison will spend the day in Western Australia, speaking about the government's economic management.
The West Australian reports the prime minister will pledge $200 million for four new hydrogen hubs in WA and $50 million for mineral supply chain jobs.
But after criticising Albanese for an economic gaffe, the prime minister made one of his own when asked about JobSeeker on Monday.
Morrison said the JobSeeker rate was $46 a week when the unemployment benefit was in fact $46 a day.
PM @ScottMorrisonMP says JobSeeker is $46 a week at press conference today. It’s $46 a day #auspol pic.twitter.com/NnI2lSDeCA
— Lanai Scarr (@lanai_scarr) April 18, 2022
He later clarified he had misspoke, but declined to answer questions on whether he was out of touch.
3. Putin honours soldiers involved in Bucha operation as 'second phase of war' starts.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has granted the honorary title of Guard to the military's 64th Guards Detached Motor Rifle Brigade, accused by Ukraine of massacring civilians in the city of Bucha.
"For its heroism and courage for the strength and merits shown by the brigade in combat to defend the Homeland and the interests of the State in conditions of armed conflict, I decree (...) assign the honorary title of Guard to the 64th Guards Detached Motor Rifle Brigade," a presidential decree said.
Kremlin is not just calling war crimes fake but now promoting the accused. Putin has now awarded the 64th motor rifle brigade the title of “Guards.” It was among the units that was reported to be operating in Bucha. pic.twitter.com/KMYmdjG9I5
— Andrew Roth (@Andrew__Roth) April 18, 2022
After the withdrawal of Russian troops from northern Kyiv, Ukrainian authorities denounced a massacre of civilians in Bucha, where several hundred bodies were found, some of whom were handcuffed. The Kremlin has rejected the accusations as false.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's presidential chief of staff said "the second phase of the war has started", referring to Russia's new assault in eastern Ukraine.
"Believe in our army, it is very strong," chief of staff Andriy Yermak wrote on the Telegram messaging app, according to the ABC.
4. Family mourns death of teen stabbed at Sydney Easter Show.
The 17-year-old stabbed to death at Sydney's Royal Easter Show has been remembered by his family as a "happy, outgoing young man".
Uati "Pele" Faletolu, who was expecting a child with his girlfriend, was stabbed in the chest last week while on break from working at the show.
"We are heartbroken and this has been a difficult time for us as a family," his mother posted on social media on behalf of the family.
"Uati was a happy, outgoing young man with a loving heart. He was a loyal friend, a caring brother, and a selfless son and partner."
The mother of a 17-year-old father-to-be stabbed to death at Sydney's Royal Easter Show has paid tribute to her "selfless son". #9Todayhttps://t.co/r0DN49TYm9
— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) April 18, 2022
"Even with the tragic circumstances surrounding Uati's passing, we as a family do not want Uati remembered as a victim but to use this time to honour and celebrate the beautiful person that he was."
A 15-year-old has been charged with carrying a knife in relation to the incident, but police do not believe he was responsible for the stabbing and are appealing for any witnesses.
5. Rocket fired into Israel as tensions soar.
Palestinian militants have fired a rocket into southern Israel for the first time in months, after clashes at a sensitive holy site in Jerusalem and a wave of attacks elsewhere.
Israel said it intercepted the rocket, fired on Monday, and there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
Israel holds Gaza's militant Hamas rulers responsible for all such projectiles and usually launches air strikes in their wake. It was the first such rocket fire since New Year's Eve.
Hours earlier, the leader of the Islamic Jihad militant group, which boasts an arsenal of rockets, had issued a brief, cryptic warning, condemning Israeli "violations" in Jerusalem.
Rocket sirens sounded in Kissufim and Ein Hashlosha in southern Israel on Monday night.https://t.co/h6boT1vHbU
— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) April 18, 2022
Ziad al-Nakhala, who is based outside the Palestinian territories, said threats to tighten an Israeli-Egyptian blockade on Gaza imposed after Hamas took power in 2007 "can't silence us from what's happening in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank."
Palestinians and Israeli police clashed over the weekend in and around the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, which has long been an epicentre of Israeli-Palestinian violence. Protests and clashes there last year eventually led to an 11-day Gaza war.
You're all up to speed. We'll bring you more of the top news stories throughout the day.
- With AAP.
Supplements: A very expensive wee, or actually helpful?
After two years of living through a pandemic and with the colder winter months approaching, it can be very tempting to rush down to your local chemist and pick up a whole host of supplements and vitamins to try and stay healthy.
But could you actually be doing yourself more harm than good if you haven't sought out any professional medical advice beforehand?
The Quicky speaks to an expert in supplements, and one of our Mamamia colleagues who thinks she may have contributed to her own health issue with too many vitamins.
Feature Image: Instagram @ashbarty.