Today in Spain: A roundup of the latest news on Friday

Málaga to fine holiday let owner who banned young guests

The Andalusian government is preparing disciplinary action against a tourist apartment in Málaga that prohibited young people from staying there.

"Do not confirm your reservation if any of the guests are under 35 years old," was the message posted on a tourist apartment in Málaga city on the Booking.com website.

The property was not registered in the Andalusian Tourism Registry either, rendering it illegal.

The owner now faces fines between €2,000 and €150,000 for the two infractions.

Madrid to start changing homeowners rubbish tax in September

Starting in September, Madrid property owners will receive rubbish tax bills of €40 on average, which they will have to pay within two months.

Municipalities across Spain all have to introduce rubbish taxes over the course of 2025, although there has been confusion surrounding the rules.

The new garbage tax will affect around 1.7 million properties in the Spanish capital, with some exceptions and deductions for large families, empty homes and vulnerable households.

In 2026, it will be possible for residents of the capital to set up direct debit for payments, as in the case of IBI property tax.

Man sets fire to bar for not getting mayonnaise in his sandwich

Spanish Civil Guard have arrested a man in Córdoba in southern Spain for pouring gasoline on a local bar and then setting it alight.

The reason for his actions? The bar owner didn’t put mayonnaise in this sandwich as requested.

After receiving a second no to the mayonnaise from the waitress, the man got up from his seat, went to a nearby petrol station, filled up a bottle with fuel and then proceeded to pour it on the bar, before lighting it with a match.

Brazilian tourists use jiujitsu to pin down thief in Barcelona

Brazilian tourists Gustavo and Gabriel Souza were leaving their apartment while on holiday in the Catalan capital when they heard nearby screams from a woman who shouted “thief”.

"I ran after the man. I grabbed him from behind and we held him down until the police arrived," Gustavo told La Sexta news.

The brothers used their knowledge of Brazilian martial art jiujitsu to subdue the thief, who had just stolen a chain from a tourist and a gold ring from a woman.

The Souzas are not the first holidaymakers in Barcelona to be hailed as heroes for pinning down thieves in the city with the highest rate of pickpocketing and violent robberies in Spain.