The Swedish mafia is back with a vengeance on the Costa del Sol it seems, with another fatal broad daylight shooting occurring in Puerto Banus. It's not the first time we've asked this - should we be afraid?The team also tackle the thorny topic of charity abuse on the Costa del Sol, which is rife, according to OP sources. Unscrupulous people worm their way into commanding positions at a charity - and find that there's no local authority with any oversight or supervision over their conduct.Meanwhile spiking is back on the agenda, either drink spiking or - more disturbingly - outright needle-jabbing people with drugs while they're out and about enjoying themselves. The OP has teamed up with the popular Puerto Banus good-time eatery La Sala to launch a campaign combating the source.And finally the sad tale of British expat Margaret Stewart, 82, who took her own life after living in Spain for 36 years. She had resided for years in a naturist camp site near Cartagena, but faced an uncertain future after the authorities sold the land to a developer. A campaign of harassment and intimidation duly followed, it is alleged, threatened to evict Margaret and her husband from the camp and the only home they had.
The OP team return for another episode of insightful chat on the hot topics.This time Editor Jon Clarke, one of the foremost experts on the Madeleine McCann case, gives his verdict on the German judiciary's decision to release prime suspect Christian Brueckner from jail. The man who is '100% guilty of her murder' is now walking free.We then turn our attention to the topic of Tommy Robinson, the highly divisive anti-immigration activist. This newspaper has a chequered past with him, yet he continues to enjoy strong support from a segment of our readership.The final topic is Pedro Sanchez's brave stance on Gaza, being the only high-profile European leader to call out Israel's assault.Give it a listen!
In the latest episode of THE REST IS SPAIN podcast, back after a summer hiatus, Caroline is joined by Walt and Jon to chew over the latest news in Spain.Hot topics this week were the severe wildfires that have plagued Spain during the summer and the case of a missing Marbella toddler who has been taken out of the country by his Russian mother - violating a judicial order.The other big topic discussed by the team is a shocking murder in Almería connecting to a mysterious and isolated hippy beach with an unsavoury reputation.The gang also take a deep dive into the complexities of immigration and the rising right-wing sentiment in Spain, inspired by a Brit in Benidorm who said she moved to Spain because 'there were too many foreigners in the UK'.It's all good stuff - tune in and have a listen!
The Olive Press gang - minus Walt - return for the fifth episode of the Rest is Spain podcast, in association with Staysure Insurance.
This week, Jon and Caroline reflect on a busy couple of weeks - including the Lionesses' fabulous Euros victory over Spain where one former expat played a pivotal role. But attentions soon turn to more serious matters as the pair delve into a recent supermarket shootout that has rocked sleepy Estepona. The team then cast an eye over the scandals that have rocked Spanish politics - including allegations that PM Pedro Sanchez profited off his father-in-law's sex empire - before exploring what possible links the infamous Epstein files may have to the Iberian peninsular (plus an explainer on how Jon was the first journalist to link the now-dead paedophile to President Trump, back in 2000).
Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review if you enjoy the show.
The Olive Press podcast is for British and English-speaking expats in Spain, curious Spaniards, and anyone interested in the clash of cultures, crime, and politics shaping modern Spain.
Hosted by Caroline Lips and joined by Olive Press publisher Jon Clarke and digital editor Walt Finch, each week they dive into breaking stories, longform investigations, and in-depth interviews with local residents, police, and political figures.
The Olive Press gang return for the fourth episode of the podcast, in association with Staysure Insurance.Welcome to Episode 4 of the Olive Press Podcast.
On the agenda this week the team get deep under the surface of a number of timely topics, including the morals and ethics of buying from street sellers in Spain, the intricacies of Gibraltar's historic new deal - and what it means for us.They also tackle Ibiza's unbelievable housing crisis and what can possibly be done about it, Spain's record on animal cruelty and Mijas' infamous donkey taxis, and is Spain actually getting hotter, or is it the same heat as always?
Caroline, Walt and Jon return for the third episode of the Olive Press Podcast, tackling the big expat topics of the week.This time the team have to confront the uncomfortable reality of drug-trafficking mafias on the Costa del Sol, the incoming dangers for expat retirees who've invested their pensions in offshore funds, and Jon's recent expedition to Portugal for yet another hunt for Maddeleine McCann.There's also a host of other topics covered in the week's news that might have missed your radar. Check it out!
Follow us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a review if you enjoy the show.
The Olive Press podcast is for British and English-speaking expats in Spain, curious Spaniards, and anyone interested in the clash of cultures, crime, and politics shaping modern Spain.
Hosted by Caroline Lips and joined by Olive Press publisher Jon Clarke and digital editor Walt Finch, each week they dive into breaking stories, longform investigations, and in-depth interviews with local residents, police, and political figures.
Welcome to the second ever edition of the new Olive Press Podcast, in which the team discusses the big issues of the week for expats in Spain.Caroline Lips sits with Olive Press owner and publisher Jon Clarke and Digital Editor Walter Finch.This time over we explain the horrifying situation of the Swedish expat whose home was stolen from under her feet by crooks using a fake power of attorney from Colombia.We then discuss our ongoing campaign against the painkiller Nolotil, linked to dozens - or perhaps hundreds - of deaths of Brits, Irish and other north Europeans in Spain over the years.We also run the rule over how 60,000 English football fans fared when they descended upon Bilbao for the Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotsputs.And of course much more, please tuck in!
Welcome to the inaugural Olive Press Podcast, where we discuss the news and stories in Spain for expats from our set up in Marbella.
Caroline Lips sits with Olive Press owner and publisher Jon Clarke and Digital Editor Walter Finch.
On today's menu, we talk over our investigation into the Continental Wealth Management scandal in which hundreds of retirees lost their pensions.
Sticking to the theme, we then discuss the latest expat scandal involving Iberian Funerals before moving on to the mayor of Estepona and the hot water he has got himself into.
It's a wide-ranging survey of the news landscape in Spain in English, we hope you enjoy.