A TORNADO ripped across south-western Indiana and northern Kentucky early yesterday, killing at least 20 people, wrecking homes and knocking out power to thousands, state and county authorities said.

A tornado ripped across parts of two central states early today, killing at least 16 people, wrecking homes and knocking out power to thousands, state and county authorities said.

A man who spent nearly two decades on death row in the US for raping and killing a teenager was executed early today.