Unidentified material that has washed ashore in south-western Australia is being examined for any link to the lost Malaysian plane, authorities have said.

An Australian swimmer who was mauled by a 16-foot shark and survived said today he saw a shadow in the water seconds before the attack and thought it was a dolphin.

American balloonist Steve Fossett has been forced to carry out repairs outside his capsule, only hours after beginning his attempt to fly solo around the world.