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Saturday's news in under 5 minutes.

We’ve rounded up all the latest stories from across Australia and around the world – so you don’t have to go searching.

1. Former Olympic swimmer Susie O’Neill says she ‘inspired culture of sleeping tablet use’.

Former Australian Olympic swimmer and gold medal-winner Susie O’Neill has told Bruce McAvaney she took Temazepam – which is used to treat insomnia – the night before the 200-metre butterfly at the 2000 Sydney Olympic games.

O’Neill, who was known as Madame Butterfly, made the admission during an interview for Olympians: Off the Record, which will air on 7Two on Monday night.

“I don’t want to say I’m the cause, but I think I did start that culture of sleeping tablets,” she said.

In a statement to News Corp Australia via her management, O’Neill distanced herself from the comments, saying she took sleeping tablets on one occasion during 2000.

“My use of the word culture in this context is probably not the best use of word. It’s more that it became something that officials and team doctors were more conscious of managing as part of athlete preparations following the Sydney Games.” she said.

2. Two teenage girls have been charged with attempted murder in Brisbane.

Two girls aged in their late teens have been charged by police following a stabbing this week and are due to appear in the Pine Rivers Magistrates Court today.

The ABC reports that the pair – aged 19 and 17 – broke into a home in Warner, north of Brisbane, on Wednesday morning. It is alleged that they then stabbed a 16-year-old girl living in the home.

Their alleged victim was taken to the Royal Brisbane hospital with stab wounds to the chest, later undergoing surgery.

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It is believed her injuries were not life threatening.

3. Officials to confirm whether debris belongs to MH370 this weekend.

It appears likely that the plane debris found on Reunion Island is from missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370. Officials say that confirmation will be made by the company who made the plane and that announcement is “imminent”.

On Friday, Malaysian Airlines told the Malaysian government that the debris is definitely from a Boeing 777. Officials have been sent to France to inspect the wreckage.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported today that experts will be able to confirm whether the part belongs to the missing flight this weekend.

The identification number found on the wreckage will be crucial to establishing whether the debris belongs to MH370.

4. Blue Mountains bushfire burning “out of control.”

Over 100 firefighters are battling a bushfire in Wentworth Falls in New South Wales’ Blue Mountains this morning.

Image via Twitter @NSWRFS.

Whilst the fire is currently burning in an inaccessible area, firefighters are trying to keep the fire away from homes in Horden Rd and Coronation Rd which they believe may be affected within the next few hours.

The New South Wales Rural Fire Service has said the strong winds of up to 70 kilometres per hour will make controlling the fire difficult, and have advised  residents to remain vigilant.

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The firefighters will be joined later today by a helicopter which will begin waterbombing in an effort to stop the fire from spreading.

5. Obama announces new ‘Let Girls Learn’ initiative.

President Obama has announced a new initiative between USAID, the State Department, Tanzania and Malawi which aims to empower adolescent girls.

On his recent trip to Kenya and Ethiopia, President Obama said “If you want your country to grow and succeed, you have to empower your women.”

 

The New York Times reports that Let Girls Learn’ will address the challenges girls face in accessing education and empower them to break through barriers of poverty and violence to ensure they can meet their economic potential.

Do you have a story to share with Mamamia? Email us at news@mamamia.com.au.
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