Europe is experiencing its worst winter weather since the eighties. Another snowstorm struck over the weekend — blocking food, urgent deliveries and isolating rural residents. Hundreds of people, mainly the homeless, have died in sub-zero temperatures.

Tuesday marks one year since uprisings in Bahrain were crushed by security forces. Since then, the Sunni-ruling family has pledged to make changes and called for dialogue with the largely Shi'ite opposition. Critics say what has been done so far has been inadequate.

The transition of power in China this fall will usher out a generation of engineers and technocrats, and replace them with economists and lawyers who may be less scared of political experimentation. But two distinct factions are emerging, and their biggest challenge will be how to handle changes.

The Greek Parliament has approved a crucial austerity and debt-relief bill to keep the country out of bankruptcy and remain a part of the eurozone.

A U.S. contractor working to provide Internet service to Cuba's small Jewish community was charged with spying and sentenced to 15 years in a Cuban prison. Alan Gross was reportedly working for the U.S. Agency for International Development.

For the month of February, a tiny village south of Madrid is running its economy on pesetas, which hasn't been used since 2002. It's a bit of a gimmick to lure older consumers who have piles of unused currency in their closets to spend it, but it's worked, bringing more trade to to town.