Global Bookselling & Distribution: Sharjah Book Authority chair Sheikha Bodour announced the 5th Booksellers Conference for Sep 19-20, bringing booksellers, distributors and e-commerce players from 98 countries to tackle supply chains and the digital shift. Murakami Midnight Launch: Haruki Murakami’s “The Tale of KAHO” hit Japan at midnight with fans lining up; it’s his first full-length novel in three years and his first with a lone woman protagonist, with Shinchosha citing a 250,000-copy first print run. Copyright & Piracy Alarm: After Netflix’s “The Polygamist” surge, copyright groups warn that readers are finding the book via widely shared pirated PDFs and urge people to stop sharing illegal copies. AI vs Authorship: Murakami pushed back on AI writing, saying his process is “completely different,” while separate coverage highlights how AI detection and “humanizing” tools are fueling new classroom headaches and workarounds. Industry Deals & Rights: Nine signed a one-year pilot to let Microsoft Copilot use content from major Australian mastheads, aiming for attribution and new revenue. Publishing & Community: UK indie Buddyhood is building an impact-led children’s catalogue and is shortlisted for the Independent Publishing Awards.