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

Spanish café reported for charging customers for ice in coffees

Spanish consumer watchdog Facua has reported a cafeteria in Málaga for charging customers 10 euro cents extra for coffees served with ice, or rather not warning that they would do so.

Facua has taken the matter to the Andalusian government after receiving several complaints from customers about this café in the Plaza Mayor shopping centre in Málaga city.

The problem lies in the fact that it isn't legal for hospitality establishments to charge for additional services or products if this isn't clearly stated on the menu.

Jennifer Lawrence to get San Sebastian Festival award

Oscar-winning actor and producer Jennifer Lawrence will receive a lifetime achievement award at the San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain next month, organisers said Tuesday.

The 35-year-old will get a special "Donostia" award at the festival, where her latest movie "Die, My Love" will be shown.

The festival described Lawrence as "one of the most influential actors of our time" in announcing the award.

The new movie, which Lawrence also produced, will be shown on September 26th, the same day as she receives the award.

The Spanish festival, which runs from September 19 to 27, will also give a lifetime achievement award to Esther Garcia, a producer closely linked to many of the films of Pedro Almodóvar and other top Spanish directors.

Police busts illegal animal trafficking ring in Valencia

The Spanish Civil Guard on Tuesday said it had dismantled an illegal animal trafficking ring, including endangered or protected species.

Two men aged 30 and 35 were found with more than 150 animals at an illegal pet store in the town of Nules, in the eastern Valencia region.

Neither had a permit to raise the animals, which they sold on the internet. Both are being prosecuted for trafficking protected species and smuggling, a statement read.

The investigation began several months ago when officers saw a listing on an internet site offering "protected species for sale".

They then discovered videos of a man raising animals including leopards, owls and llamas.

After finally managing to locate the site in Nules, more than 150 types of 56 exotic species were found in cages, including two ring-tailed lemurs, a Bali starling, a zebra, five kinkajous, four ibises and two meerkats.

The average market value of the seized animals is nearly €70,000 ($81,500), the Civil Guard said.

In April, officers dismantled an online trafficking operation in big cats, including white tigers, lynx and pumas in the Balearic Islands.

Three quarters of Spaniards prefer a mortgage to rent

Three out of every four Spaniards active in the housing market believe that current rental prices make it more worthwhile to pay a mortgage than to rent a property as tenants.

It's an opinion that is four percentage points higher compared to 2024, according to a report prepared by property search engine Fotocasa.

The survey also showed that 66 percent of respondents say that current mortgage conditions in Spain make home ownership difficult, 12 percent lower than last year.

"In this context, the traditional attachment to property ownership in Spain is gaining strength again. Not only is the cultural sense of owning property maintained, but housing is also being strengthened as an investment vehicle and as a future asset," said María Matos, Director of Research and spokesperson for Fotocasa.

With additional reporting by AFP.