Nasa rover Curiosity has beamed back pictures of bedrock that suggest a fast-moving stream, possibly waist-deep, once flowed on Mars – a find that the mission’s chief scientist called exciting.

The Mars rover Curiosity was due to wrap up an exhaustive instrument check last night, clearing the way for its first lengthy drive later today to determine whether the Red Planet has ever been hospitable to life.

A diver was missing and presumed dead today after he was attacked by a shark off a popular beach near the southern Australian city of Adelaide.

Spaniard Luis Sanchez, 21, representing Liberty Seguros, won the third stage of the Jacobs Creek Tour Down Under and with it took the coveted yellow jersey after yesterday’s 139km stage from the bayside suburb of Glenelg to the seaside town of Victor Harbour.