Lauren Frayer

Amid the rise of far-right political parties in Europe, Spain has no similar movement. That may be due to its history under a dictatorship and Spaniards' own experience as impoverished migrants.

Many complain their magnificent city is being ruined by tourism. Some 30 million visitors arrive every year, bringing much-needed revenue — but crowding out longtime residents and businesses.

Ada Colau is a former Occupy activist, once arrested for blocking home evictions during Spain's economic crisis. Now she's Barcelona's mayor, a job in which, she says, "you're closest to the people."

Geert Wilders wants his country to return to its white, Christian roots, shut down mosques and exit the EU. He's favored to win March elections, though unlikely to become prime minister.

As the country reels from its financial crisis, a new restaurant, run by a Catholic priest, lets paying daytime customers foot the dinner bill for homeless people to dine with dignity — and style.

The Dutch village of Volendam is prosperous, picturesque — and a stronghold of Geert Wilders' far-right Freedom Party. Though it has few immigrants, Wilders' anti-immigrant message resonates.

With an anti-immigrant party looking strong in the polls, new parties that support immigrants and minorities are cropping up in an attempt to serve as a counterweight.

As the clock strikes midnight, people in Spain gobble 12 grapes in quick succession, with wishes for the new year. Then, they go out to party all night long with cava, a Spanish sparkling white wine.

As ISIS loses ground in Syria and Iraq, police in Europe are concerned the group may step up attacks in the holiday season. Meanwhile, Muslims in Europe report increased harassment and discrimination.

When Germany halted exports in WWII, Spanish brewers asked farmers in a town in northern Spain to plant hops. Now, the town produces 99 percent of the country's hops used by the craft beer industry.

Children in Spain, facing up to three hours of homework a night, have put down their pens and pencils in protest. "We all want our children to succeed," says one father who supports the strike.

Antonino Fernandez, who made his fortune from Corona beer, died in Mexico in August at 98. But he never forgot where he came from — a tiny village in northern Spain that he helped support for decades.

Clara Peeters, a 17th century Flemish painter, hid tiny self-portraits in her still life paintings. She wasn't a household name, then or now, and just 40 or so of her paintings have survived.

A lawsuit against a religious radio station that won't hire women broadcasters highlights a battle over women's rights in Israel.

Some women in Israel's ultra-Orthodox community are pressing for greater rights in confrontations playing out at places including a radio station and the most important site for Jewish prayer.

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men in Israel are increasingly seeking jobs in the secular world, with an eye especially on the high-tech sector.

Hanan Abu Qassem is one of a handful of female emergency medical technicians working at Palestinian soccer games. Stares and jeers don't faze her. "I'm anxious to be a very famous EMT," she says.

Palestinian Sabah Abu Ghanim started surfing off Gaza's coast at age 5. She's featured in a documentary. She's 17 now, and her parents have arranged a marriage and told her it's time to stop surfing.

An Arab hip-hop group has lyrics that say the Jewish state has "raped the Arab soul." The group sees it as free expression. Israel's culture minister says it could incite violence.

The food truck craze has reached the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Two Palestinians who met in an Israeli prison are running one. They learned to cook while working in the prison canteen.