A TORNADO has killed four people and injured seven more in northern Vietnam.

AT least 28 people have been killed and 600 injured by two tornados that tore through northern Bangladesh.

RESIDENTS of north-eastern Australia fled or battened down the hatches today as the worst cyclone in three decades headed toward the region's island resorts and coastal communities.

THE ongoing cold snap has led to the Lothians' biggest gritting operation in more than four years.

SNOWFALLS and icy conditions are expected to continue across Edinburgh and the Lothians over the next few days.

HEAVY snow and icy conditions were continuing to cause problems in parts of Scotland yesterday.

WINTER weather caused chaos on one of Scotland's busiest motorways yesterday, after 30 vehicles were involved in a crash during the morning rush hour, closing the road for nearly three hours.

A SUDDEN snow storm paralysed roads across the region today as a 30 car pile-up closed the M8 and drivers abandoned their cars at the road-side in Edinburgh.