The Olive Press - Olive Press News Spain

Spain's Valencia Switches On Its Xmas Lights This Friday

First Christmas in Spain? These are the five most popular – and sometimes bizarre – festive traditions

As an expat in Spain, you might not be familiar with the local Christmas traditions. The country has many that vary from region to region,

23 Dec, 2025 @ 11:00

La Cultura·Lead·National News

Christmas in Cadiz left in the dark after heartless thieves strike in midnight raid

CADIZ has been left in the dark this Christmas after thieves stole thousands of euros’ worth of technical equipment from the city’s Christmas lights control

23 Dec, 2025 @ 10:20

Cadiz·Crime & Law·Lead

These hiking routes among Malaga’s snow-capped mountaintops are perfect for a Christmas escape -here’s what you need to know

IF you think Malaga is all sun loungers and seaside chiringuitos, Christmas is the season that proves otherwise. When the crowds thin out and temperatures

23 Dec, 2025 @ 09:53

Lead·Malaga·Olive Press Travel

Ozempic and other anti-diabetes drugs lead medicine spending in Spain’s health service

OZEMPIC and other similar medications used to fight diabetes accounted for the single largest medical expenditure in Spain’s public health system in 2024. Ministry of

23 Dec, 2025 @ 09:00

Health·Lead

Two Benidorm cleaners found guilty of hate crimes after calling a colleague a 'dwarf'

Benidorm cleaners found guilty of hate crimes for calling a colleague a ‘dwarf’

TWO female cleaners at a Benidorm clinic have been given six-month prison terms for harassing and mocking a colleague with short stature. They continually referred

23 Dec, 2025 @ 08:00

Benidorm·Costa Blanca·Crime & Law·Lead

Ring in 2026 in style — Marbella’s most luxurious New Year’s Eve experiences unveiled

ACROSS Marbella hundreds will be ringing in the new year at the most luxurious galas, dinners and parties – here are the hotels they’ll be

22 Dec, 2025 @ 18:15

Lead·Marbella

What is El Gordo? Spain’s national Christmas lottery takes place this weekend

EXPLAINER: Why Spain is obsessed with the lottery – and how it really works as this year’s winners are announced

EVERY December, televisions across Spain are tuned to the same hypnotic sound: schoolchildren singing out long strings of numbers in a chant that seems to

22 Dec, 2025 @ 16:00

EXPLAINER·Lead·National News

Bluetooth: The mysterious technology that connects everything except when you need it to – and AnyTech365’s ingenious fix for the frustration

BLUETOOTH is one of those modern miracles that feels like it should come with a cape. It connects your phone to your speaker, your smartwatch

22 Dec, 2025 @ 15:48

Other News

BIOPARC Fuengirola: 365 Days of Conservation on the Costa del Sol

YOU might not expect it, but in the very heart of the Costa del Sol is a place where no two visits are ever the

22 Dec, 2025 @ 14:35

Andalucia·Costa del Sol·Lead·Nature

Brits make up one in five of Spain’s visitors, new data shows – here’s their favourite spots

NEARLY one in five travellers to Spain came from the UK last month, new data has shown, as the country continues to consolidate as one

22 Dec, 2025 @ 14:06

Lead·National News

Eight-decade mystery ends as WWII French submarine is found off Cadiz

A FRENCH submarine scuttled during the Second World War has finally been found in the waters off Cadiz, ending a search that spanned more than

22 Dec, 2025 @ 12:54

Cadiz·Lead

DUCKS IN LINE: What are the costs of buying a property in Spain in 2026?

IF you’re planning to buy a property in Spain, your first thought has probably been the price of the property itself. While that’s clearly a

22 Dec, 2025 @ 12:00

Lead·Property

War-zone chaos in Malaga as gangs clash with axes and swords in city-centre park

GANG violence exploded in Malaga as rival groups clashed in a city-centre park on Sunday – prompting terrified onlookers to flee as they brandished axes

22 Dec, 2025 @ 10:20

Crime & Law·Lead·Malaga

Drunk British tourist is arrested for trying to open plane door during easyJet flight to Spain

Shock at Malaga airport as ‘dead’ British woman wheeled onto easyJet flight causing a 12-hour delay

A ‘DEAD’ British woman was wheeled onto an easyJet flight from Malaga airport by her family. Claiming she was ‘just tired’, relatives took the 89-year-old

22 Dec, 2025 @ 10:15

Lead·Travel News

Spain’s biggest supermarket chain Mercadona hands out an early Xmas present to all its workers

SPAIN’S biggest supermarket chain, Mercadona, will give its staff an extra seven days of annual leave from next year, plus a one-month bonus salary. The

22 Dec, 2025 @ 10:00

Business & Finance·Lead·National News·Valencia

Cold air mass will cause big fall in temperatures and bring persistent rain and snow to parts of Spain

Coldest Christmas for 15 years predicted for the Costa Blanca with snow in some areas

THE State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has predicted this Christmas will be the coldest in the Valencian Community since 2010 plus there could be some snow

22 Dec, 2025 @ 09:00

Alicante·Costa Blanca·Lead·Valencia·Weather

The nutty and sweet Spanish Christmas treat that can be tough to bite!

What is turron? All you need to know about the Spanish Christmas treat

MANY a Spaniard enjoys tucking into the festive treat of turron which can challenge the strongest teeth – and best dentures! Turrons are a nougat-like

22 Dec, 2025 @ 08:00

Alicante·Food & Drink·Lead

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

‘Greenhouse’ gas dealers arrested after police find €3m of cannisters set for fridges and air conditioners in Spain

A GANG illegally selling ‘greenhouse’ fluorinated gases used in fridges and air conditioners has been brought down by the Policia Nacional and the Tax Agency.

19 Dec, 2025 @ 17:00

Alicante·Crime & Law·Environment·Lead·Madrid·Valencia

Heavy rain prompts yellow alert for Costa del Sol this weekend

SPAIN’s weather agency has issued a yellow alert for Costa del Sol this weekend as ‘heavy’ rainfall is expected to batter Malaga city through Friday

19 Dec, 2025 @ 16:38

Costa del Sol·Lead·Weather

Raids on Costa del Sol topple cocaine gang shipping drugs to the UK

MORE than two tonnes of cocaine were seized and five people arrested as raids on Costa del Sol brought down a criminal network trafficking drugs

19 Dec, 2025 @ 15:30

Costa del Sol·Crime & Law·Lead

Mallorca’s biggest real estate scam sees three people jailed for 28 years after pocketing €3.3m for non-existent homes

THREE people have been jailed for nearly 28 years over a €3.3 million real estate scam in Mallorca- the biggest recorded case on the island.

19 Dec, 2025 @ 13:25

Balearic Islands·Crime & Law·Lead·Mallorca

OnlyFans model and wife of John George murder suspect faces manslaughter charge after Brit, 54 dies in Costa Blanca car crash

OnlyFans model and wife of John George murder suspect is arrested for the second time in three months on Costa Blanca

MADISON Smyth, the wife of the alleged killer of John George, has been arrested for the second time in three months on the Costa Blanca.

19 Dec, 2025 @ 11:04

Costa Blanca·Crime & Law·Lead·Valencian Community

The Olive Press- Page 27

First Christmas in Spain? These are the five most popular – and sometimes bizarre – festive traditions

Christmas in Cadiz left in the dark after heartless thieves strike in midnight raid

These hiking routes among Malaga’s snow-capped mountaintops are perfect for a Christmas escape -here’s what you need to know

Ozempic and other anti-diabetes drugs lead medicine spending in Spain’s health service

Benidorm cleaners found guilty of hate crimes for calling a colleague a ‘dwarf’

Ring in 2026 in style — Marbella’s most luxurious New Year’s Eve experiences unveiled

EXPLAINER: Why Spain is obsessed with the lottery – and how it really works as this year’s winners are announced

Bluetooth: The mysterious technology that connects everything except when you need it to – and AnyTech365’s ingenious fix for the frustration

BIOPARC Fuengirola: 365 Days of Conservation on the Costa del Sol

Brits make up one in five of Spain’s visitors, new data shows – here’s their favourite spots

Eight-decade mystery ends as WWII French submarine is found off Cadiz

DUCKS IN LINE: What are the costs of buying a property in Spain in 2026?

War-zone chaos in Malaga as gangs clash with axes and swords in city-centre park

Shock at Malaga airport as ‘dead’ British woman wheeled onto easyJet flight causing a 12-hour delay

Spain’s biggest supermarket chain Mercadona hands out an early Xmas present to all its workers

Coldest Christmas for 15 years predicted for the Costa Blanca with snow in some areas

What is turron? All you need to know about the Spanish Christmas treat

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

‘Greenhouse’ gas dealers arrested after police find €3m of cannisters set for fridges and air conditioners in Spain

Heavy rain prompts yellow alert for Costa del Sol this weekend

Raids on Costa del Sol topple cocaine gang shipping drugs to the UK

Mallorca’s biggest real estate scam sees three people jailed for 28 years after pocketing €3.3m for non-existent homes

OnlyFans model and wife of John George murder suspect is arrested for the second time in three months on Costa Blanca

Spain’s Pedro Sanchez vows to release all top-secret files related to failed coup d’état attempt made 45 years ago today

WATCH: Father and daughter rescued in dramatic operation after being swept to sea from same Tenerife rock pool where four tourists died late last year

A mysterious joker calling himself the ‘Son of Cervantes’ is leaving bizarre anti-foreigner poems on statues around Malaga’s Ronda

Massive €15m shopping and leisure complex set to open this summer on the Gibraltar border bringing Aldi, Fitness Park and 400 new jobs

Man convicted of animal cruelty after cameras caught him spraying acid at neighbour’s barking dog in Spain