The Dambusters squadron, whose daring and audacious raid during the Second World War is often held up as an example of bravery and ingenuity, will be celebrated around Britain this week which marks the 70th anniversary of the May 1943 mission, codenamed "Operation Chastise".

Four workers are missing and presumed drowned after an under-construction dam partially collapsed in western Cambodia, officials said.

Authorities failed to properly warn residents in the Black Sea region of floods that killed at least 171 people and left others scrambling for safety, Russia's emergencies minister acknowledged today.

More than 150 people are now known to have died in the worst floods to hit Russia in a generation, with the official response to the tragedy becoming heavily politicised even before the waters had fully receded. President Vladimir Putin flew to the region on Saturday to coordinate the rescue efforts, while opposition politicians accused authorities of criminal neglect.

Forecasters warned there was little prospect of summer as once again more than a month’s worth of rain fell in just a few hours today bringing flooding and misery to parts of southern England.

With hosepipes banned in some areas, a lack of water could impact us all. By Charlie Cooper

There may be blizzards in the north, but much of the UK is so gripped by drought that, from today, millions of people will be subject to draconian restrictions on their use of water

Those Walfordians must be fuming. Every year EastEnders' fabulously doomy Christmas Day episode provides the ultimate catharsis for festive viewers keen to expunge the pain of weeks of enforced jollity.

Premier Oil has struck oil at its Erne exploration well in the North Sea.

Parts of Britain face a drought next year unless there is a very wet winter the Environment Secretary, Caroline Spelman, warned yesterday.

Tests on Rockhopper Exploration's oil find in the Falkland Islands have come in at the "upper end of expectations", the company said yesterday, sending its shares up by nearly a third.

As BP's shares headed south, BG claimed the FTSE 100 crown last night with forecast-beating results.

BG Group more than doubled the estimate of its oil and gas reserves in Brazil yesterday, sending the resources group's stock soaring nearly 5 per cent.