, Author at Olive Press News Spain

MICHAEL COY delves into the world of Spain’s premier forensic linguist – who catches crooks with just one word

HER name is Sheila Queralt. By training, she’s a linguist. But if you are thinking of committing crime in Barcelona, her home town, or anywhere

21 Dec, 2025 @ 14:25

Crime & Law·National News

Big night TONIGHT for 'nougat' town that's one of Spain's first to switch on its Christmas lights

Spain doesn’t quite get Christmas as we know it, writes MICHAEL COY – so here’s how to enjoy it the Spanish way

MICHAEL COY discusses some of the rituals associated with the winter festivities. Just like with Hallowe’en, Spain has tended to go off half-cocked over Christmas.

21 Dec, 2025 @ 08:49

La Cultura·Lead·National News

MICHAEL COY introduces us to his hero – George Santayana: A Spanish-American thinker famous for his pithy sayings

Whom should we choose as our heroes? John Wayne? Cristiano Ronaldo? Nigel Farage? Should we have heroes at all? MICHAEL COY introduces us to one

20 Dec, 2025 @ 14:33

La Cultura·Lead·National News

Daring swashbuckle and the restoration of honour: MICHAEL COY on a Spanish theatrical classic -the Mayor of Zalamea

MICHAEL COY has a story for us – a stirring tale of honour, abuse and true nobility. It’s unlikely that you’ve ever visited Zalamea. The

20 Dec, 2025 @ 08:19

La Cultura·Lead·National News

Shock as bird flu rips through Spain’s beloved stork population

POPULATIONS of the the iconic stork – the much-loved wild bird native to north and central Spain – are being devastated by a rapidly-mutating bird

15 Dec, 2025 @ 11:30

Green·Health·Other News

Grim end of year for violence against women in Spain: Six deaths in 15 days – will 2026 be the worst on record, asks MICHAEL COY

SPANISH people call it violencia de género. This year in Spain, 44 women have lost their lives. Six have died in a grimly rising tide

13 Dec, 2025 @ 09:00

Crime & Law·Lead·Other News

Spain turns to ‘IKEA-style’ flat-pack homes to solve massive housing shortage

SPAIN is betting on ‘IKEA-style’ kit homes to solve a massive housing deficit that has left the country short of 600,000 properties. A quiet revolution

10 Dec, 2025 @ 14:00

Lead·Property

Why is December 6 known as Constitution Day in Spain?

Today, December 6, is Constitution Day in Spain — a national holiday. Because of this, many shops are closed. Despite its proximity to Christmas, it

6 Dec, 2025 @ 09:30

Lead

THIS WEEK IN SPAIN: Michael Coy has been diving into the Spanish archives again…

Here are FOUR historical byways which make the first week of December significant Hernán Cortés Though his achievements changed the course of world history, it’s

6 Dec, 2025 @ 09:00

La Cultura·Lead·Other News

ON THIS DAY: Spain permitted female nouns, two legendary singers were born – and a Spanish cinematic classic was released, writes MICHAEL COY

THE English language is wholly and entirely democratic. No-one tells English speakers how to use certain words or what we can and can’t ‘officially’ say.

5 Dec, 2025 @ 10:30

La Cultura·Lead

In Spain it’s known as violencia de genero. Tuesday, November 25, marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

WE all have a mental image of domestic violence, but the Spanish government urges us to broaden our understanding. Physical abuse is, sadly, familiar to

23 Nov, 2025 @ 11:57

Andalucia·Lead

Linking the opera Carmen to the Sevilla tobacco factory and a French author

We all have heard of Carmen, the sexy heroine of the opera set in Sevilla. But what’s her connection with nicotine? Michael Coy informs us.

23 Nov, 2025 @ 10:27

La Cultura·Lead

LIFE IN SPAIN: The Deceiver of Seville, Mozart and the modern bullring

WHAT thread connects the Spanish theatre of the 17th century, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and the modern bullring? Let’s start with the bullring. If you ever

22 Nov, 2025 @ 10:07

La Cultura·Lead

THIS WEEK IN SPAIN: The Prestige oil tanker disaster

On November 19, 2002, a ship went down off the Spanish coast, causing an ecological catastrophe. MICHAEL COY reminds us what happened. SPAIN is especially

22 Nov, 2025 @ 09:00

Environment·Green·Lead

‘¡Franco ha Muerto!’ Today marks the 50th anniversary of Franco’s death. Spain’s dictator is remembered by MICHAEL COY

HE had no charm and no charisma. In his 83 years on earth, no one ever quoted him cracking a joke or saying anything remotely

20 Nov, 2025 @ 10:00

Lead

MOMENTS IN SPANISH HISTORY: The Siege of Toledo

FOR 68 desperate days in the summer of 1936, around 1,500 people found themselves trapped inside Toledo’s ancient fortress, the Alcazar. How they held out

9 Nov, 2025 @ 10:36

La Cultura·Lead

MOMENTS IN SPANISH HISTORY: The Battle of Trafalgar

IT was one of the most pivotal events in world history unfolded—a moment whose 220th anniversary has just passed. The Battle of Trafalgar, fought between

8 Nov, 2025 @ 16:39

La Cultura·Lead

LIFE IN SPAIN: The Frank Sinatra incident in Malaga

ON September 19, 1964, Malaga police slapped Frank Sinatra with a 25,000 peseta fine – around $175 – after the singer sparked a barroom brawl.

1 Nov, 2025 @ 10:01

Andalucia·La Cultura·Lead·Malaga·Other News

LIFE IN SPAIN: A work of art that offers a glimpse into some ancient Spanish traditions.

THE canvas was painted by Bartolome Esteban Murillo in 1675, in Sevilla. Today it hangs in the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC. Its

26 Oct, 2025 @ 09:00

Andalucia·La Cultura·Lead·Other News

SPOTLIGHT ON: Pedro Almodóvar Spain’s greatest-ever film director?

PEDRO Almodóvar Caballero has made a career out of being an outsider. He is obviously – even flamboyantly – gay, and his films go out

25 Oct, 2025 @ 13:47

National News

A National Hero: This week in 2006, Fernando Alonso won his second consecutive Formula One World Championship. MICHAEL COY ponders the importance of professional sport in our lives.

AN era is coming to a close in Spain. We’ve lived through a generation of world-beaters – but sport being sport, these heroes must eventually

25 Oct, 2025 @ 13:00

Lead·Sport

LIFE IN SPAIN: A tale of three Spanish exiles

THE date November 6 may seem to be just another day, but in Spanish minds it is associate with tales of exile. Of the three

25 Oct, 2025 @ 12:18

La Cultura·Lead·Other News

ON THIS DAY: When Spain’s dictator Franco met Adolph Hitler

THE little town of Hendaye lies literally on the border. The Basques – known in Spain as vascos – occupy a region that long predates

23 Oct, 2025 @ 14:00

La Cultura·Lead

Military Parade For Hispanic Holiday In Madrid, Spain 12 Oct 2020

LIFE IN SPAIN: If you see parades and military displays today, and if on Monday you find shops and offices closed, it’s because the people of Spain are celebrating their ethnicity. MICHAEL COY explains.

TO non-Spaniards, it sounds slightly odd – “El Día de la Hispanidad” (‘The Day of Spanishness’), but October 12 is an important landmark on the

12 Oct, 2025 @ 10:00

La Cultura·Lead

LIFE IN SPAIN: How Spain’s Christopher Columbus, the world’s greatest explorer, was clapped in chains 525 years ago this week

EVERYONE knows the story of Christopher Columbus – the man who sailed west and opened the door to the New World. But fewer know the

4 Oct, 2025 @ 17:00

La Cultura·Lead·Other News

AN EXPAT IN SPAIN: Jackie Trent, the British singing star who made Menorca her home

WHAT connects Menorca, Stoke City Football Club, Swinging London, and the theme song from the soap opera Neighbours? The two-word answer is Jackie Trent, the

4 Oct, 2025 @ 12:15

La Cultura·Lead·Other News

MICHAEL COY delves into the world of Spain’s premier forensic linguist – who catches crooks with just one word

Spain doesn’t quite get Christmas as we know it, writes MICHAEL COY – so here’s how to enjoy it the Spanish way

MICHAEL COY introduces us to his hero – George Santayana: A Spanish-American thinker famous for his pithy sayings

Daring swashbuckle and the restoration of honour: MICHAEL COY on a Spanish theatrical classic -the Mayor of Zalamea

Shock as bird flu rips through Spain’s beloved stork population

Grim end of year for violence against women in Spain: Six deaths in 15 days – will 2026 be the worst on record, asks MICHAEL COY

Spain turns to ‘IKEA-style’ flat-pack homes to solve massive housing shortage

Why is December 6 known as Constitution Day in Spain?

THIS WEEK IN SPAIN: Michael Coy has been diving into the Spanish archives again…

ON THIS DAY: Spain permitted female nouns, two legendary singers were born – and a Spanish cinematic classic was released, writes MICHAEL COY

In Spain it’s known as violencia de genero. Tuesday, November 25, marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

Linking the opera Carmen to the Sevilla tobacco factory and a French author

LIFE IN SPAIN: The Deceiver of Seville, Mozart and the modern bullring

THIS WEEK IN SPAIN: The Prestige oil tanker disaster

‘¡Franco ha Muerto!’ Today marks the 50th anniversary of Franco’s death. Spain’s dictator is remembered by MICHAEL COY

MOMENTS IN SPANISH HISTORY: The Siege of Toledo

MOMENTS IN SPANISH HISTORY: The Battle of Trafalgar

LIFE IN SPAIN: The Frank Sinatra incident in Malaga

LIFE IN SPAIN: A work of art that offers a glimpse into some ancient Spanish traditions.

SPOTLIGHT ON: Pedro Almodóvar Spain’s greatest-ever film director?

A National Hero: This week in 2006, Fernando Alonso won his second consecutive Formula One World Championship. MICHAEL COY ponders the importance of professional sport in our lives.

LIFE IN SPAIN: A tale of three Spanish exiles

ON THIS DAY: When Spain’s dictator Franco met Adolph Hitler

LIFE IN SPAIN: If you see parades and military displays today, and if on Monday you find shops and offices closed, it’s because the people of Spain are celebrating their ethnicity. MICHAEL COY explains.

LIFE IN SPAIN: How Spain’s Christopher Columbus, the world’s greatest explorer, was clapped in chains 525 years ago this week

AN EXPAT IN SPAIN: Jackie Trent, the British singing star who made Menorca her home

British expat arrested at Costa Blanca airport and faces extradition for scamming £180k out of UK clients

These Malaga neighbourhoods are among Spain’s most expensive – as prices top €10,000 per square metre, according to new data

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Who is Jamie del Burgo? All you need to know as Queen Letizia of Spain’s brother-in-law appears to double down on affair claims

One of Spain’s biggest-ever VAT scams netted €300m for hydrocarbon firms who laundered cash abroad

Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia is nearing completion – but will it ever be truly finished?