The Costa del Sol is facing an issue with a fast-growing population of parakeets.
This problem has been ongoing since the 1970s and 1980s with officials keen to do something about it.
A one-year contract was signed by Fuengirola’s town hall to tackle the problem of the growing population of parakeets. However, this is due to expire in March.
Authorities are putting it out to tender once again, with a budget of €79,408 (£66,265).
The issue first began when owners of these birds started to release them at the same time as other specimens escaped and settled in parks and wooded areas in the area, reports say.
Due to this, parakeets began to reproduce and in a short period of time the population expanded quickly.
Officials say there is a “worrying trend” in terms of the population growth, which is harming the native population of parakeets in the area.
“The current contract for the bird population control service expires on 25 March. Therefore, there is a need to ensure the continuity of the contracted service, as the parakeet has become a problem for the conservation of biodiversity in the parks and green areas of Fuengirola and a risk due to the danger of falling nests and branches of the trees that house them,” explained a document issued by the town hall.
“Their easy adaptation to the different habitats they colonise and their high reproductive success rate mean that the population is growing every year.
“In view of this upward trend and the constant complaints from neighbours who suffer the nuisance caused by the birds’ behaviour, it is necessary for the Fuengirola town hall to take action, in accordance with current legislation,” states the document.
Parakeets will be captured with some sources claiming this will be done with cages and not with aggressive systems such as shooting the birds with pellets.
The birds are generally regarded as the smallest of all parrot species and are usually found kept as pets.
They are some of the most popular pet birds, not only because they are affordable but also because they are friendly and easy to tame.
Parakeets can be taught to mimic human speech, though they are more difficult to understand than other parrots.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps has become one of the most anticipated movies not just of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but of 2025. The film’s teaser trailer debuted to 202 million views in 24 hours. It generated positive reactions from fans, even some who might have been burned out by some of the MCU’s recent offerings. This new take on Marvel’s First Family is generating plenty of buzz, particularly in how it looks to distinguish itself from the previous cinematic incarnations. Yet one particular way The Fantastic Four: First Steps will differentiate itself from other film versions of the Fantastic Four and honor the comics is the inclusion of the child of Reed Richards and Sue Storm: Franklin Richards.
Many fan theories have already popped up about how Sue Storm, aka The Invisible Woman, might be pregnant in Fantastic Four: First Steps and that maybe the marketing digitally removed a baby bump from some shots. After inserting a shot of The Hulk into the Avengers: Infinity War trailer or removing both Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield from the heroic shot of Tom Holland landing in Spider-Man: No Way Home, it might not be out of the realm of possibility.
Yet there is one specific shot in the trailer that Marvel put in to throw people off the scent, one that is meant to mirror the team’s origin but instead is the moment the Fantastic Four family grows. Marvel is hiding the birth of the most powerful MCU character. Here is how it changes what fans know about Fantastic Four: First Steps and how it will tie into the villain Galactus and the wider Multiverse Saga heading into Avengers: Doomsday and could reshape the fallout of Avengers: Secret Wars.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Release Date
July 25, 2025
Director
Matt Shakman
Producers
Jamie Christopher, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Tim Lewis
Franchise(s)
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The ‘Fantastic Four’ Trailer Seemingly Reveals Sue Storm Is Pregnant
The Fantastic Four: First Steps teaser trailer confirms that the movie won’t be an origin story and feature an already established team. However, there are a few shots that hint at the team’s origin, notably Ben Grimm/The Thing watching a news broadcast of the team before they go into space, while another shot shows Reed Richards and Sue Storm in space with Reed holding Sue as she seemingly is turning invisible.
Many have expected that this shot, seen 42 seconds into the teaser trailer, is a flashback to the team’s origin. Yet if this shot is a showcase of their origin, where are The Thing and Johnny Storm / The Human Torch? This shot takes place after the team already has their powers, as Reed’s flight suit features the number 4 on his left arm, while the space suits the group wore before they got their powers do not.
This is backed up by the line in the trailer where Reed is talking to Sue, saying, “Before we went up the first time..” implying the movie will see the Fantastic Four journey into space again. Why would the team go to space specifically? More importantly, why would Reed Richards be nervous or hesitant to go into space again if the Fantastic Four are adventurers? It might be because this trip comes with an added complication.
In the shot of Reed holding Sue Storm in space while she turns invisible, she notably is not wearing a space suit like her husband. She is lying down in a white gown, similar to a hospital gown. She is even positioned like a woman in a hospital bed giving birth, with Reed by her side holding her hand. This suggests this scene in space is not the origin story for the Fantastic Four but is where Sue Storm will give birth to her and Reed’s son, Franklin Richards.
Who Is Franklin Richards in Marvel Comics?
Franklin Richards first appears in Fantastic Four Annual #6 in November 1968, but he was first teased in Fantastic Four Annual #5 the year prior when Sue Storm announced she was pregnant. The decision to give Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman a child stemmed from Stan Lee’s desire to make the characters feel like a real married couple, one that would have children and grow the concept of family that is at the heart of the Fantastic Four.
However, the birth of Franklin Richards was far from easy. Due to the Fantastic Four getting their powers from cosmic rays, this meant that Sue’s blood was coursing with cosmic energy, which made childbirth a difficult and dangerous process, particularly for the unborn baby. Reed, Johnny, and Ben all travel to the Negative Zone to retrieve an item called the Cosmic Rod from a villain known as Annihilus, one that will help deliver Sue to Franklin safely.
Despite being the comic that launched the modern era of Marvel Comics, The Fantastic Four was nearly wiped from Marvel’s history in the 2010s.
Both of his parents were given powers through cosmic means, which meant that Franklin Richards was a mutant-born child and one of the most powerful beings in the Marvel Comics universe. His powers include reality-manipulating and psionic powers so vast he can create new realities, making him an Omega-level mutant.
The complications around Franklin Richards’s birth look to be adapted into Fantastic Four: First Steps, but instead of Reed needing to go into the Negative Zone so that Sue Storm can deliver her child safely, it appears they must do it in space. Franklin Storm’s inclusion in The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a big deal, not only in that he strengthens the family dynamic that is the thematic heart of the team but also in what he means for the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe. Franklin Richard’s ability to create new realities and have untold powers likely will put him in the crosshairs of the Fantastic Four’s greatest foes. He might be the reason the Earth is in danger from Galactus in the first place.
Is Franklin Richards the Reason Galactus Comes to Earth?
Galactus’s presence in Fantastic Four: First Stepsmight be the biggest giveaway that the story will involve Franklin Richards. Franklin Richards and Galactus are intertwined in many ways throughout Marvel’s canon. In FF #16 from March 2012, it is revealed that Franklin Richards is immortal, and both he and Galactus share a sweet moment where the devourer or worlds is happy to know he won’t be alone to witness the heat death of the universe. Franklin Richard will be by his side at the creation of a new universe.
Some comics have implied that Franklin Richards will become the new Galactus in the next reality of the Marvel Comics Universe. In the Earth X comic storyline that featured the Shalla-Bal Silver Surfer that will appear in Fantastic Four: First Steps, Franklin Richards does become the new Galactus. This connection between Franklin Richards being the heir apparent to Galactus might be a key plot point in the film. The new logline for The Fantastic Four: First Steps that was released with the new trailer featured this tidbit: “If Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.”
The idea of the threat of Galactus becoming very personal to the Fantastic Four, and the Devour of Worlds connection to Franklin Richards in the comics, heavily implies Reed and Sue’s child will be in the movie and possibly what draws Galactus to Earth in the first place. While Galactus could feasibly see Franklin as a threat to his power and want to destroy him, that is a moderately easy conflict for The Fantastic Four to overcome in terms of morality.
Marvel’s first family, the Fantastic Four, will finally be making their transition to the MCU after languishing in 20th Century Fox’s back catalogue.
However, Galactus might want to use Franklin Richard’s vast cosmic powers to restore the universe he came from, possibly one from before the beginning of the MCU multiverse and the Multiversal War that He Who Remains and the rest of the Kang the Conqueror variants fought in. Galactus might threaten Earth and force the Fantastic Four to choose between Franklin Richards or the whole world. That certainly is a moral conundrum and one that will truly test the Fantastic Four.
It plays nicely into Sue Storm’s line from the trailer that “whatever life throws at us, we’ll face it together. As a family”, which not only means herself, Reed, Johnny, and Ben, but also Franklin Richards. This is a movie about family and one that will continue to grow. Even in the face of cosmic annihilation, the Fantastic Four’s greatest strength can be found in working with one another. In Fantastic Four #502 from 2003, The Thing tells a young, scared Franklin Richards, “If any of us wuz really trapped in Hell with ya, y’know we’d fight to the bitter end.” The team would never give up Franklin, but they also won’t sacrifice the world and will do everything in their power to stop Galactus, which could lead to the MCU’s future.
Franklin Richard’s Could Be Important to ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’
In the comics, Franklin Richards’s powers of reality manipulation are key parts of two different universe-rewriting storylines. The first was when facing off against the villain Onslaught. The villain, a twisted merger of Professor X and Magneto’s mind, kidnapped Franklin Richards to use his powers to reshape reality. The combined might of the Fantastic Four, X-Men, and The Avengers defeated Onslaught. However, many of the heroes seemingly die in the battle, including the Fantastic Four. Franklin uses his powers to keep them alive in a pocket universe in a storyline called Heroes Reborn, which was used as a way to reboot the Marvel heroes.
Franklin Richards is also key to the fallout of 2015’s Secret Wars; Franklin Richards’s powers were essential in recreating the Marvel multiverse after Doctor Doom destroyed it. With Doctor Doom now the MCU’s new big bad and the sixth movie being titled Avengers: Secret Wars, it seems that Franklin Richards might be key to the future of the MCU. The MCU might mix Heroes Reborn and the aftermath of the Secret Wars comic, with Franklin Richards giving an in-continuity reboot to the franchise, allowing the Fantastic Four to move from their isolated 1960s set universe to be part of the MCU sacred timeline. This could also explain the sudden emergence of mutants and open the door for the X-Men.
“First Steps” Takes On New Meaning
At San Diego Comic-Con 2024, it was confirmed that the title for the MCU Fantastic Four movie would be called The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Since the film was officially announced in December 2020, it had been called Fantastic Four, which made many curious as to why the movie would change the title right before filming. Was it to distinguish it from the other two theatrically released movies titled Fantastic Four? That sounded like enough. But like Spider-Man: Homecoming or Daredevil: Born Again, it is a title with multiple layers.
The obvious point many took was First Steps was a play on Neil Armstrong’s famous first words when he stepped off the Apollo 11 rocket and onto the moon: “This is one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” on July 20, 1969. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a movie set in an alternate 1960s, one that draws heavily from the space race era that inspired the comics (The Fantastic Four’s origins are tied to them stealing a rocket to beat the Russians into space). It seemed like both a play off the space race era setting and a possible hint at the Fantastic Four as a team taking their first steps into the multiverse and the MCU itself.
However, including Franklin Richards might give First Steps a whole new meaning. While it might be a play-off of the 1960s space race era, it also refers to a child taking their first steps. For all parents, the moment a child takes their first steps is significant, one that can feel just as groundbreaking as being a superhero. The inclusion of Franklin Richards has been hiding in plain sight since July 2024.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps not only introduces the very characters that created the modern Marvel Universe into the popular cinematic universe nearly 20 years into its run but also an important character that could reshape the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe as fans know it. New life, new possibilities, and a new MCU could all begin with the birth of Franklin Richards. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is releasing on July 25, 2025.
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
It is time for the PlayStation State of Play in February 2025, which means more gaming news, exciting reveals, and some great updates for players of the PlayStation 5. There are a fair few predictions out there about what kind of trailers and reveals players will be getting, but they will see which ones are true when the event is over. The event is expected to last around 40 minutes, filled in with lots of new content.
Starting at 5:00 EST on February 12, fans can watch the State of Play to find out what predictions will either be proven true or thrown out the window. There is a lot of speculation and a lot of rumors, particularly about the first-party games. God of War is expected to make a big appearance, with a handful of games that might get a new trailer, new gameplay, or some solid release dates. There is almost always a surprise or two as well, which will be revealed here as soon as the news is announced.
All Games Revealed In The PlayStation State Of Play
Everything Covered By The Event
There are a lot of games covered in today’s State of Play, with a wide range of various updates and announcements. Big release date announcements are expected, as well as some highlights and new games. There is the potential for DLC to get announced as well, and in an event like this, there is unlikely to be much in-between game showcases.
All Games Showcased During PlayStation State of Play (February 2025)
Monster Hunter Wilds
New Monster & First Update
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
Backstreet’s back, all right! The Backstreet Boys are heading to Las Vegas this summer with nine shows at the Sphere.
The iconic Y2K boy band will kick off a nine-show residency July 11, making the quintet the first pop act to play the state-of-the art venuechristened by U2 in 2023.
“We’re heading ‘Into The Millennium’ once again!” the group said Wednesday on Instagram. “Relive your Backstreet Boys Y2K memories, but this time… LARGER THAN LIFE at @SphereVegas starting this July!”
Band members AJ McLean, Kevin Richardson, Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough and the embattled Nick Carter are bringing their 1999 album, which featured the hit “I Want It That Way” as well as “Larger Than Life,” “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely” and “The One,” back to the stage. Indeed, the “boys” are currently grown men whose original fervent fanbase likely now consists of moms whose children are old enough for a Vegas trip.
“Fans can expect an unforgettable experience as the Backstreet Boys bring their legendary ‘Millennium’ album to life, alongside a selection of their greatest hits,” concert producer Live Nation said in a statement. “Beloved classics like ‘I Want It That Way,’ and ‘Larger Than Life,’ will be delivered or enhanced with cutting-edge visuals and sound made possible by Sphere’s revolutionary immersive technology.”
The Into the Millennium shows are set for July 11-13, 18-20 and 25-27. Aspiring concertgoers can sign up for the artist presale until Monday. Backstreet Boys Fan Club presale begins Tuesday and will be followed by additional presales. The general sale begins Feb. 21, with all tickets sold at backstreetboys.com.
The Backstreet Boys’ stint at the Sphere follows residencies by U2, Phish, the Eagles, Dead & Company and Anyma. Country star Kenny Chesney will also set up shop at the Sphere from May to June for 15 shows.
The Grammy-nominated group — whose music was a radio mainstay and perennial No. 1 on MTV’s “Total Request Live” at the turn of the century — released its 10th studio album “DNA” in 2019 and later that year launched the subsequent DNA World Tour, its biggest arena tour in 18 years. They also released their first Christmas album, “A Very Backstreet Christmas,” in fall 2023.
Sam Asghari’s relationship with Britney Spears was never going to be normal, given the fact that Spears is one of the most famous women on the planet. But on top of all of that, the singer was famously under a conservatorship for about 13 years — something Asghari says was “strange” for him before their split in 2023.
On the latest episode of The Viall Files posted Wednesday (Feb. 12), Asghari opened up about his relationship with Spears — whom he started dating in 2016 after co-starring in her “Slumber Party” music video — as well as the way her legal predicament affected him as her partner. “She was under the conservatorship, and that was very strange for me to deal with,” he told host Nick Viall. “I got hit with that at the beginning.”
“[Britney] didn’t explain,” Asghari continued, sharing how he learned about the conservatorship through an unnamed third party. “Somebody called me and said, ‘Oh, just so you know, this is this. Make sure you’re obeying by our rules.”
Wanting to be as supportive as possible, the actor added that he “didn’t go look up what’s happening on the news” and instead tried to understand on a personal level why the conservatorship was “ever in place to begin with.” “You don’t get much to say, especially if you’re just a boyfriend or someone that’s just there,” Asghari noted. “Maybe I was afraid they were going to make me not see her. So you have to be gentle and provide as much support as you can.”
The pop star was first put under a conservatorship in 2008, when a judge gave her father, Jamie Spears, legal control over her life and career. Following a yearslong, fan-led “#FreeBritney” movement, the musician was finally able to get the conservatorship officially dismissed in November 2021, a few months before which Brit and Asghari got engaged after about five years together.
On Viall Files, Asghari recalled that the proposal was “overdue.” “We wanted to get married way before, and because of everything and the situation, we had to wait,” he added. “I was holding her hand when she was speaking to the judge and talking about, she wanted the conservatorship to be done with. The second that happened, that’s when it was the right time to propose.”
The couple eventually got married in a star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles in June 2022. And though the relationship would come to an end the following year, with Asghari filing for divorce that August, the model/actor only has fond memories of the superstar. “I always say, even though it’s over now, I’m never sad it’s over,” he said. “I’m grateful it even happened.”
As for the headline-making video Spears posted of herself dancing with knives shortly after the split — the one that led to the police performing a welfare check on the star, after which she assured fans the cutlery had been fake all along — Asghari shared that he wasn’t fazed. “I’m not someone that’s [like], ‘Let me take your phone from you and not allow you to do anything and restrict you from posting your own content,’” he said of the clip.
“She’s a genius artist,” he added. “What’s in her head is gold, and it’s what made her who she is.”
Listen to Asghari’s full interview on The Viall Files below.
Season 5 of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City was rough for Meredith Marks. She was involved in petty squabbles with Whitney Rose over bath bombs. Plus, she did not get along with newbie friend of the housewives, Britani Bateman. After Britani was caught recording an argument among the ladies on her phone, Meredith drifted into the paranoid zone.
After all, Britani claimed that she heard Meredith crying and vomiting in her bedroom. So, Meredith asked Heather Gay to help sweep the rooms for bugs. Spoiler alert: No one bugged Meredith’s room.
Meredith Marks reportedly joined the Season 6 RHOSLC cast
Meredith celebrated her emotional bat mitzvah. Unfortunately, she had security remove guest Angie Katsanevas for allegedly slut-shaming Britani’s hair. And when Mary Cosby threw a gorgeous Breakfast at Tiffany’s brunch, all the ladies dressed as Audrey Hepburn’s character. Meredith’s bangs missed the mark, and after arguing with Angie, Mary ordered Meredith to leave. And that was the end of Mary and Meredith’s friendship.
Still, Meredith’s behavior at the Season 5 RHOSLC reunion was wild. Host Andy Cohen mentioned that Meredith’s husband, Seth Marks, was spending a great deal of time in Ohio for his job. After Andy asked if Seth had a “side chick,” Meredith was ticked.
However, during an argument over who spread a rumor about Angie’s husband, Shawn Trujillo, Meredith had a meltdown. She threatened to storm out and demanded that Andy show footage from last season. Meredith wanted to prove that she didn’t tell Monica Garcia that rumor. “I’m getting angry. The whole reason I came here was not for this. I am finished,” Meredith told Andy. She was certainly spicy during this reunion. Maybe Meredith was done engaging with these ladies.
Well, the podcast Bravo and Cocktails reported that Meredith is returning for Season 6 of RHOSLC. “It’s this holier than now vibe. Like when she stood up and was like, ‘I’m leaving,’ I’d leave. Nobody seemed ready, and nobody really wanted to stop her. She couldn’t stop herself. Angie was like, ‘Okay,’” hosts Amanda and B. revealed. “I was told production loves her, and I find this shocking, but she is back.”
From answering “What is…?” before every question to having to identify multiple items in a category, Jeopardy! player David Madden has found himself on Season 3 of The Floor and fans recognized him right away.
Madden is a former 19-day champion on Jeopardy! and holds the eighth-longest streak in show history, in which he is tied with Jason Zuffranieri. He is only behind all time greats including current host Ken Jennings, Amy Schneider, Matt Amodio, James Holzhauer, Mattea Roach, Cris Pannullo, and Julia Collins.
He first competed on Jeopardy! in 2005, and had a winning streak of 19 total games, with a total of $432, 400. Madden was defeated by Victoria Groce. He then went on to compete in the 2006 Tournament of Champions, but lost the semifinal match. Madden recently returned for the 2024 Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament but failed to win his match and took home an additional $10,000. This brought the contestant’s total earnings to $785,733.33.
Now, the art historian is putting his knowledge to the test once again on another game show. The Floor has 100 people who all come with expert categories. They face off against another person and whoever is left standing when the clock runs out, remains in the game until one person takes over the entire floor.
Season 3, Episode 1 premiered after The Super Bowl LIX ended on Sunday, February 9, and it promised “harder than ever categories.” Host Rob Lowe stood in front of the contestants and shouted out some categories including Marvel, Sports MVPs, and European Geography, which the crowd reacted to in a not-so-positive way.
Madden is the player who is connected to that category and he gave a sinister smile as Lowe called him out.
“You’re sending off intimidating vibes already,” he said.
“The plan is working,” David responded with a raise of his eyebrows.
“I really hope that all of you play aggressively because by the end of the night eight of you will be gone,” Lowe told the contestants.
Madden did not get picked by the randomizer or his fellow contestants to be challenged on the first episode. He was an option to be picked many times, but the contestants picked the categories around him.
“I feel very confident that people are going to leave me and my category alone for a while,” Madden said. “It’s part of my strategy.”
Many fans think that he will only be picked if the randomizer gets him because his category is tough.
Reddit users recognized Madden right away and started a conversation about it on the platform.
“David Madden is on S3 of The Floor. His category is European Geography,” the original poster wrote.
“Given that category, it seems highly unlikey that anyone will challenge him. We probably won’t see him play until the randomizer chooses him,” a fan commented.
“I watched the 1st episode and recognized him right away,” replied another user. They also recognized another contestant – Brian O’Halloran. who plays Dante in the Clerks movies.
Contestants from The Bachelor Franchise, an Olympian, and a Harlem Globetrotter are also on this season.
Watch Madden try to conquer The Floor on Fox on Wednesdays at 9pm est.
adidas Originals is diving into its legacy with the launch of A-TYPE, a collection that blends iconic designs with luxury craftsmanship. Taking inspiration from adidas’ storied past, this new line features premium materials like leather and cashmere, transforming wardrobe staples into fashion statements.
adidas Originals A-Type 2025 Collection
Fiffany Luu poses in A-Type from adidas Originals’ initial campaign. Photo: Gabriel Moses / adidas
The debut lineup focuses on three iconic pieces: the Superstar sneaker, Firebird tracksuit, and Airliner bag. The Superstar, reinterpreted in handcrafted Italian leather, includes cashmere laces and silver-plated lace jewelry.
Paloma Elsesser for the adidas Originals A-Type campaign. Photo: Gabriel Moses / adidas
The Firebird tracksuit, originally designed for track athletes, is now a streetwear essential, elevated with fine leather details. The Airliner bag, a nod to 1970s adidas travel gear, gets a modern revival in supple leather with premium hardware.
adidas Originals A-Type campaign. Photo: Gabriel Moses / adidas
The collection’s campaign, styled by Matthew Henson and captured by Gabriel Moses, features Selena Forrest, Fiffany Luu, and Paloma Elsesser, showcasing A-TYPE’s sleek vision. Currently available only to adidas’ inner circle, wider releases are expected soon.
Footage of the aftermath of the crash was captured by a bystander. The eyewitness said he heard the engines “cut out” before the crash.
A jet has gone down off of Coronado Island in San Diego right next to Shelter Island. I heard the engines cut out and rumor has it that it was an F-35. pic.twitter.com/foNLiErV6o
A fighter jet crashed into the San Diego Harbor on Wednesday, with the two pilots on board ejecting before being rescued by the Coast Guard, according to San Diego Fire-Rescue.
The Coast Guard said the pilots were rescued by a fishing vessel after being in the water for about a minute.
Both pilots are in stable condition, the Coast Guard said.
They were in a two-seat EA-18G Growler, the Navy said.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made his first trip to NATO in Brussels on Wednesday, as allies await to learn how much military and financial support Washington intends to provide to Ukraine’s government. He stated that “the United States doesn’t believe NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome for a negotiated settlement. Instead, any security guarantee must be backed by capable European and non-European troops, deployed as part of a non-NATO mission.
Can Ukraine still secure the guarantees it needs to enter talks on ending the war? How will the Kremlin react? FRANCE24 International Affairs Editor Douglas Herbert explains.
