Western Europe

CNN In sections of France, Germany, Spain and Italy an early powerful snowstorm is blocking roads and sending stranded Europeans to emergency shelters.;

Western Europe was dealing with the aftermath of violent weather Monday after a winter storm dubbed "Xynthia" battered at least six countries, leaving at least 58 people dead, authorities said. Hardest hit was France, where at least 47 people were killed, according to the Interior Ministry. French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited the departments of Charente-Maritime and Vendee on the nation's west coast Monday, where the extra-tropical cyclone hit. "It's a national catastrophe," French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said Sunday.

Sunning in Hawaii Jetting to Paris A scenic drive to a quaint bed and breakfast Tell us about your favorite romantic getaway.Related storiesBogart stamp unveiled July 31, 19979yearold gets Hanukkah wish, lights up Empire State Building December 23, 1997Destinations India April 1997Taj MahalDestinations Camogli, Italy May 1997Destinations Mont St. Michel, France December 1996Related sitesNote Related sites will open in a new browser window.The Inn at MysticMystic MoreThe Majestic Taj MahalElizabeth Barrett BrowningThe Empire State Building official Internet siteWoodbridge Senior High School The Hemingway Haunts TourThe Papa PageU.

The European Internet economy will be a $1.2 trillion market by 2004, equal to nearly 15 percent of Western Europe's current GDP (gross domestic product) value, according to a new study from Gartner Group Inc.The electronic-commerce market in Europe, which is currently worth $40.8 billion, will grow to $1.1 trillion in the same time period, making up the majority of the increase. The four countries leading the e-commerce boom in Europe today will continue to lead in 2004, Nick Smith vice president of Gartner Group Services said in a press conference Thursday.

In Bulgaria, four people were injured and hundreds were left homeless after a tornado swept through the south of the country. The community of Zhaltusha was hardest hit with more than 70 percent of its buildings demolished. ; At least 2 people were killed and 14 others injured in the American Midwest after a series of tornadoes pummeled western Iowa. Two tornadoes touched down northwest of the town of Traynor, one of them reportedly more than one mile wide. ;Volcano of Fire Mexicos Volcan de Fuego let out 20 outbursts during a 24hour period, sending volcanic ash raining onto surrounding communities.

A U.S.-built, unmanned mini-submarine on an ocean research mission has successfully crossed the North Atlantic by gliding on underwater currents, U.S. officials said Wednesday in Spain, where they came to retrieve it. The ocean crossing is thought to be a first for the robotic device that looks like a small torpedo with wings, and was powered only by batteries that allowed it to change buoyancy so it could catch ocean currents. A similar effort in 2008 failed and the device was never recovered.

Jared was forced to choose between a dying father and the love of his life. Judy Rickard had to quit her job and lose her full pension to be with the one she loved. Martha McDevitt-Pugh packed up and moved to another country to be with her future spouse. "Nobody should be in that position. Nobody should have to be an exile," Rickard said. But all three said their hands were forced by federal immigration laws that don't allow Americans to sponsor their foreign-born same-sex partners for citizenship as a man may do for his wife or a woman for her husband.

Romania has become a major transit for the sale of people into the European Union. Victims as young as 12 years old are trafficked into Romania from destinations as far-reaching as Honduras, Afghanistan, the Congo, and China. Once they reach Romania, many of these victims are assigned for passage beyond into Western Europe. While Romanian law officially prohibits all forms of human trafficking, the country's strategic geographic location -- a crossroads between East and West -- makes it a source, transit and destination country for the people trade.

Mexico tourism is having a bit of a PR problem lately. Reports of mass grave sites, daylight shootings and carjackings from the escalating drug war don't exactly build confidence for a family planning a week's holiday. And on April 22, the U.S. State Department upgraded its travel warnings to target 14 of Mexico's 31 states. Now's not the time to visit our southerly neighbor, right? Well, wrong. Mexico is a lot safer than you may realize. We tend to lump all of Mexico -- a country the size of Western Europe -- together.

President Obama said Friday that he was "surprised and deeply humbled" by the decision of the Norwegian Nobel Committee to award him the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. The committee said it honored Obama for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." Obama said he viewed the decision less as a recognition of his own accomplishments and more as "a call to action." The decision appeared to catch most observers by surprise.

Western Europe was dealing with the aftermath of violent weather Monday after a winter storm dubbed "Xynthia" battered at least six countries, leaving at least 58 people dead, authorities said. Hardest hit was France, where at least 47 people were killed, according to the Interior Ministry. French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited the departments of Charente-Maritime and Vendee on the nation's west coast Monday, where the extra-tropical cyclone hit. "It's a national catastrophe," French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said Sunday.

A U.S.-built, unmanned mini-submarine on an ocean research mission has successfully crossed the North Atlantic by gliding on underwater currents, U.S. officials said Wednesday in Spain, where they came to retrieve it. The ocean crossing is thought to be a first for the robotic device that looks like a small torpedo with wings, and was powered only by batteries that allowed it to change buoyancy so it could catch ocean currents. A similar effort in 2008 failed and the device was never recovered.

The European Internet economy will be a $1.2 trillion market by 2004, equal to nearly 15 percent of Western Europe's current GDP (gross domestic product) value, according to a new study from Gartner Group Inc.The electronic-commerce market in Europe, which is currently worth $40.8 billion, will grow to $1.1 trillion in the same time period, making up the majority of the increase. The four countries leading the e-commerce boom in Europe today will continue to lead in 2004, Nick Smith vice president of Gartner Group Services said in a press conference Thursday.

CNN In sections of France, Germany, Spain and Italy an early powerful snowstorm is blocking roads and sending stranded Europeans to emergency shelters.;

In Bulgaria, four people were injured and hundreds were left homeless after a tornado swept through the south of the country. The community of Zhaltusha was hardest hit with more than 70 percent of its buildings demolished. ; At least 2 people were killed and 14 others injured in the American Midwest after a series of tornadoes pummeled western Iowa. Two tornadoes touched down northwest of the town of Traynor, one of them reportedly more than one mile wide. ;Volcano of Fire Mexicos Volcan de Fuego let out 20 outbursts during a 24hour period, sending volcanic ash raining onto surrounding communities.

AOSTA, Italy CNN At least one person died Tuesday when an avalanche rumbled through a small village in the Italian Alps, while another avalanche claimed two lives at an Austrian ski resort.;Heavy rains and snows have set off avalanches across Western Europe. At least a dozen people have died in Switzerland, Italy, Austria and France in recent weeks, and several are missing.;Tuesdays avalanche swept without warning through Morgex, about 12 kilometers 7.5 miles from Italys northwestern border with France and Switzerland.

EVOLENE, Switzerland CNN Thirteen people remained missing Monday night after snowstorms and heavy rain caused avalanches and flooding in France, Switzerland, Germany and Austria. Authorities were already blaming five deaths on the storm.;In France, fears mounted for three French skiers strandedfor the sixth day in an igloo 10,000 feet up in the Alps and two others injured and missing in the Pyrenees.;Blizzards and the threat of avalanches prevented gendarmes from setting out to rescue the three skiers blocked by snow above the resort of Pralognan since last Tuesday.

Sunning in Hawaii Jetting to Paris A scenic drive to a quaint bed and breakfast Tell us about your favorite romantic getaway.Related storiesBogart stamp unveiled July 31, 19979yearold gets Hanukkah wish, lights up Empire State Building December 23, 1997Destinations India April 1997Taj MahalDestinations Camogli, Italy May 1997Destinations Mont St. Michel, France December 1996Related sitesNote Related sites will open in a new browser window.The Inn at MysticMystic MoreThe Majestic Taj MahalElizabeth Barrett BrowningThe Empire State Building official Internet siteWoodbridge Senior High School The Hemingway Haunts TourThe Papa PageU.

In Britain, drifting snow two meters deep paralyzed road traffic north of Birmingham and Wales. A truck driver died when he collided with another truck. In Shropshire, police said a car thief died after crashing into a tree. ;In France, The regions of Lorraine, Alsace, Jura and Frache Comte were affected by the severe weather.;Many drivers got stuck in the snow on the motorway near Besancon that connects Mulhouse and Dijon. Firefighters and soldiers took many people to rescue points, and dispensed hot drinks and blankets to others.