A small bird ended up in the hands of a ten-year-old boy. It resembled a common sparrow but differed by one detail that did not match his expectations: a yellow spot on its throat. This bird had been shot with a toy gun, one of the many childhood pastimes of that era. Instead of putting it aside, the child kept examining it, wondering: why does it look different and what species of bird is this?
This question became a turning point in his life, changing the understanding of birds in India. The boy was Salim Ali.
Born on November 12, 1896, as Salim Moizuddin Abdul Ali, he was the youngest of nine children. His father died when he was just over a year old, and his mother followed three years later. Orphaned at an early age, Salim and his siblings were raised by their stepmother's uncle, Amiruddin Tiabji, and aunt Hamida Begum in Mumbai.
Years later, India came to know him as the 'Birdman of India'—an ornithologist whose work transformed the study of birds from scattered observations into a systematic science. However, this journey began not in the forest or laboratory, but with the curiosity of a child who simply wanted an answer.
Unable to identify the unusual bird, Salim's uncle took him to V.S. Millard, the honorary secretary of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). Millard identified it as a sparrow with a yellow throat, now known as a petronia with chestnut shoulders. But he did something much more important than just naming the bird.
Recognizing the boy's inquisitiveness, he showed him the Society's collection of preserved birds, introduced him to the astonishing diversity of Indian avifauna, provided him with books, and encouraged careful birdwatching. For Salim, this visit was a true revelation.
The excitement of finding a matching bird among hundreds of specimens stayed with him long after he left the museum. He repeatedly returned to the BNHS, reading, observing, and learning. The search for one bird opened up an entirely new world.
This moment, which occurred over a century ago, determined the course of Indian ornithology.
Salim Ali grew up to be one of India's most influential naturalists during a period when the wildlife of much of the country remained poorly documented. Instead of studying birds solely through museum collections, he believed they needed to be understood where they actually lived—in forests, wetlands, deserts, mountains, and grasslands.
He traveled across the Indian subcontinent, often through remote landscapes, observing birds in their natural habitats, recording their behavior, migration, breeding, and distribution. For nearly two decades, he conducted extensive regional bird surveys for the Bombay Natural History Society. Most of this work was done voluntarily, covering only travel and camping expenses. These surveys created some of the earliest scientific records of Indian birds and laid the foundation for modern ornithological science in the country.
In his autobiography, 'The Fall of a Sparrow,' published in 1985, Salim Ali noted that his true interest had always been in the 'live bird in its natural environment.' This philosophy defined both his science and his legacy.
Salim Ali wrote over 20 books on the birds of the Indian subcontinent, making birdwatching accessible to both scientists and general readers. His book, 'Book of Birds of India,' first published in 1941, introduced generations of Indians to the country's avian diversity and remains an indispensable guide for novice bird lovers. Together with American ornithologist S. Dillon Ripley, he also prepared the landmark ten-volume 'Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan,' which remains a standard reference for ornithologists.
He played a key role in supporting the protection of the Bhartapur sanctuary, now known as Keoladeo National Park, and was one of the voices that helped prevent the destruction of the Silent Valley in Kerala, which is now one of India's most vital biodiversity landscapes. Today, countless birdwatchers head out to wetlands before dawn, carrying binoculars instead of guns, recording observations instead of collecting trophies. Scientists continue to use the methods established by Salim Ali, while citizen science platforms have introduced millions of people to the simple act of birdwatching.
This legacy is rooted in an idea that remains as powerful today as it was over a century ago: nature conservation often begins with curiosity. For Salim Ali, it all started with a bird that looked nothing like a sparrow.
Grammy-winning musician Tyla is organizing a special event called A*POP Takeover at Gold Reef City in Johannesburg. The event is held in partnership with South African Tourism and supported by Absa.
On August 16, the popular Johannesburg amusement park will be fully dedicated to the theme of 'A*Pop' along with its fans, affectionately known as Tygers. Tyla released her second album 'A*Pop' on July 24 and returned to Mzansi after a series of world tours to celebrate this occasion with her fans who have followed her from the beginning.
Gold Reef City holds special significance for Tyla, as it does for many Johannesburg residents who spent their Saturdays and holidays there. Commenting to eNCA, Tyla shared the reasons why celebrating the album specifically with her fans in Gold Reef City is important.
She stated: 'Johannesburg shaped me as a person, as an artist. I grew up here, and the Jozi Tigers were my first Tigers who knew and supported me. I am very happy that I can return and just appreciate home, and share this special place with the OG Tigers, because I have always loved Gold City and would like to share this day with everyone.'
Despite being a global superstar touring worldwide, Johannesburg will forever remain home to her. She emphasized the importance of family and home, telling eNCA: 'Family is very important to me, and home is very important to me, because there is no place like it in the world. When I have to travel across all oceans and go to new places, I always try to find time to come back home and reconnect with my roots.'
Tyla announced on her social media how her fans can win tickets to the Gold Reef City event. Fans can create a TikTok video using any song from the APOP* album to have a chance to win a ticket to the Fan Appreciation Day at Gold Reef City.
As part of this initiative, South African Tourism will provide transport for fans from different areas of Gauteng to Gold Reef City, giving young South Africans the opportunity to participate in the A*POP celebration and her return home.
Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille noted in a press release: 'Tyla has always been authentic in her work. A daughter of the African soil and a protector of South Africa. I agree with her that one must visit South Africa to understand its beauty and its people.'
This is not the first time Tyla has organized temporary events for local fans. Two years ago, she held a one-day pop-up shop and fan meet-and-greet at Mall of Africa in Midrand, which celebrated the huge global success of her debut album.
The event was presented by Sony Music Africa and Spotify Africa.
A dispute between French newspapers and Google has taken a new turn with the introduction of AI-generated summaries in search results. The association representing nearly 300 newspapers expresses concern that this feature could decrease website traffic and demands that the company comply with previously established agreements.
The group also raises questions about the use of journalistic material in AI features without providing fair compensation. The main focus of this discussion is AI Overviews, a functionality launched in France at the end of July, which presents an AI-created summary above conventional results, aggregating data from various sources.
For media outlets, this change can directly impact the volume of visits. If the desired answer is already visible on Google, some users may choose not to click on the links, resulting in a decrease in visits to the sites that produced the original content.
The APIG association formalized a complaint to the French competition authority, requesting that Google honor the commitments made with media groups in 2022. Among the points raised, Marc Feuillée, president of APIG and CEO of the newspaper Le Figaro, emphasized the relevance of the information produced by the outlets, stating that 'Information has considerable value.'
The entity clarified that its intention is not to impede the progress of artificial intelligence; editors are merely seeking recognition for this value and due remuneration for the use of their content.
This conflict occurs in a challenging context for the press, given that in the last two decades, many media outlets have seen a decline in revenue due to the migration of advertising to the internet, where technology companies have concentrated a large part of the profits.
Google, for its part, argues that the summaries facilitate more elaborate questioning and help users discover new content. The company also assures that it offers mechanisms for editors to manage the use of their materials.
However, this issue is not new. In 2024, the French competition authority fined Google 250 million euros, approximately R$ 1.47 billion, for failing to comply with parts of the agreement signed with media groups.
Additionally, in December 2025, the European Union announced an investigation to determine whether Google infringed competition rules by using content published by media outlets and other editors to train and provide AI services without appropriate compensation. This episode demonstrates how the expansion of artificial intelligence is redefining the relationship between search engines and content creators, maintaining the newspapers' concern about preserving the value of their journalistic material when the answer can be displayed even before accessing the original site.
The game Halloween: The Game will not be available for sale in Australia and New Zealand after Australian authorities denied it age classification. The reason for the refusal is not related to the violence or murders committed by the iconic Michael Myers, but rather to the depiction of drugs within the game itself.
This decision has drawn attention from other gaming communities. Fans of Grand Theft Auto 6 have begun discussing whether strict Australian regulations could affect the release of the highly anticipated Rockstar Games title, scheduled for November 2026.
Halloween: The Game, which was set to launch in September for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, was submitted to the Australian Classification Board (ACB)—the body responsible for classifying films and video games in the country. According to information from the development team, the board decided not to assign a rating to the game, which effectively prevents its commercialization in Australia.
The studio emphasized that the rejection is not linked to the presence of Michael Myers or violent content, but specifically to the portrayal of controlled substances. The issue lies in the mechanic that allows players to consume drugs, including marijuana, to gain bonuses and advantages during matches.
These restrictions also apply to New Zealand, where the game will not be sold in physical or digital formats. Australian legislation traditionally applies strict criteria to the depiction of drugs in video games, especially when real substances are associated with character benefits.
A well-known example is Fallout 3. During the classification process, mentions of morphine were altered; the substance was renamed 'Med-X,' a fictional name that later entered the franchise's lore. Now, the situation with Halloween: The Game has once again highlighted these rules.
The decision quickly reached dedicated GTA 6 communities. Some Australian and New Zealand gamers have started wondering if the new Rockstar title will face similar issues. The concern is not only about Halloween.
In July, Australian GTA Online players faced a restriction on access to casino features related to betting. This change was due to local gambling regulations. Given the franchise's history with drugs, violence, betting, and other adult content, this incident raised questions about potential regional adaptations in GTA 6.
Nevertheless, there are currently no indications that the game will be banned in Australia. The franchise's history shows that a complete ban is not the most likely scenario. Grand Theft Auto V was released into the Australian market without issues and received an R18+ rating, the highest available for video games in the country. Among the elements considered were mentions and depictions of drugs.
The important difference lies in how these substances appear in the gameplay experience. Australian rules can be particularly strict when real or illicit drugs are used as mechanics capable of providing the player with incentives or advantages. Currently, there is insufficient information on how GTA 6 will handle such mechanics.
Despite community concerns, Rockstar Games has not announced any changes regarding the Australian release of GTA 6. The game remains scheduled for November 19, 2026, with versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. While Halloween: The Game proceeds toward its September release in other markets, it will remain unavailable in Australian and New Zealand physical and digital stores following the classification denial.
