AI & Copyright Clash: A high-stakes rights deal for an unpublished debut novel, Call Me, I’ll Hide The Body, reportedly hit a wall after questions about whether AI was used in writing—raising fears about clear copyright chains. AI’s Book-Scanning Boom: Investigations claim major AI firms are buying used books in bulk via intermediaries and destroying them after digitization to harvest training data, with older titles seen as especially valuable. Publishing in Crisis: A separate report links AI to growing pressure on publishers and film buyers to police authors’ AI use, turning “good faith” assurances into deal-breakers. Cultural Resilience in Venezuela: Venezuela’s culture minister inspected Caracas’s La Gran Pulpería del Libro Venezolano after earthquakes; shelves collapsed but the collection largely survived, with support promised to keep the landmark bookstore standing. Reading Support After Disasters: CENAL ran a workshop for reading mediators at a transitional camp, equipping families with tools to promote reading and critical thinking. Community Books & Events: Stonington Public Library hosts Kate Woodworth for Little Great Island, while the Edinburgh festival expands live-streamed author events to local libraries. Loss in Literature: Bestselling Texas author Benjamin Alire Sáenz died at 71 after a lengthy illness, with tributes pouring in ahead of his upcoming novel. Local School Book Controversy: Jammu and Kashmir authorities withdrew two library books after complaints they glorified militants and used disputed terminology.