Australian surfer Mick Fanning survived a shark attack in yesterday’s final of the World Surfing League’s J-Bay Open in South Africa, fighting off the circling predator with his fists.

A diver has survived a second shark attack nine years after he nearly died from a similar experience.

Oil giant BP today said it has agreed to sell assets in the US Gulf of Mexico for a total of $5.6bn to an American petroleum firm.