AGP Executive Report

Publishing & Books: Penguin Michael Joseph is investigating the theft of copies of Charles Spencer’s Princess Diana book Swan Song from a Dutch lorry ahead of publication in the UK, with police probing the break-in. Publishing & Media: Palgrave Macmillan’s Colleen Murrell will bring her book BBC Women Reporting the World to Monaco for a talk on women’s path into foreign correspondence. Research & AI (Elsevier): Elsevier says its LeapSpace research-grade AI workspace now draws on full-text peer-reviewed science (including 23+ million full-text items) and adds an independent advisory board for publisher-neutral standards. Travel & Reading Culture: European Heritage Days returns in France (Sept 19–20) with a national focus on the heritage of photography, including open sites and events. Industry & Distribution: Bruynzeel Storage Systems signs Laaksonen as exclusive distributor for Finland, Estonia and Latvia, targeting national cultural and heritage storage projects. Humanities & Society: Super7even’s dementia documentary Human Forever lands with PBS, SBS and RÚV, alongside a companion book release.

Bulgaria Tourism Push: Bulgaria’s tourism minister Ilin Dimitrov opened the country’s stand at Paris’s IFTM Top Resa, pitching France-bound growth in cultural, spa and wellness travel and meeting French counterparts and travel publisher Le Petit Futé. Book Theft Disrupts Release: Earl Charles Spencer’s Princess Diana memoir Swan Song: Diana, My Sister was stolen from a Dutch lorry, throwing publication plans into disarray just days before release. EU Strategy in Focus: Northeastern professor Mai’a Cross’s new book argues for a “planetary-scale” EU grand strategy, tying environmental, research and democracy commitments to long-term security. Publishing & Genocide Scholarship: Bloomsbury published a landmark collection on the concentration camps of the Armenian Genocide, with chapters spanning multiple countries and renewed focus on key camp sites. Culture at Sea: Norwegian Cruise Line unveiled entertainment for its 2027 ship Norwegian Aura, including a headlining “Whitney” production. Sports & Tickets: Sweden vs Poland UEFA Nations League tickets go on sale for the Sept. 28 match in Solna. Animation Awards: France’s ESMA won Gold at the Student Academy Awards for The Panic Inside’s competition, highlighting Europe’s student film talent.

EU Digital Identity Wallet: Brussels is rolling out the EUDI Wallet to store and share documents, access services and sign digitally, with each member state building its own app under shared standards. Publishing & provenance tech: Fotoware says it has launched end-to-end C2PA support in its DAM platform to preserve an image’s provenance from capture to publication—aimed at helping publishers prove where content came from. Books & culture: A new book by a Luton historian explores South Asian resistance to racism in the 1970s and 1980s, using archival research and oral histories. Sports & books-adjacent culture: Sri Lanka’s javelin star Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage returns home after winning gold at the World Ultimate Championships in Budapest. Health & reading habits: A study links higher coffee intake with more muscle mass and less body fat, while noting it’s observational and not a prescription. Travel & media: Aer Lingus booking data highlights popular European city breaks for autumn/winter, with London, Paris and Amsterdam leading.

Book-to-screen Buzz: The Emmys spotlight more adaptations, including Netflix’s 2026 film version of Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation and Bridgerton’s latest season based on Julia Quinn’s book series. Film Adaptation: Brie Larson is set to star and executive-produce Paramount’s movie adaptation of Rebecca Serle’s novel One Italian Summer, directed by Harry Bradbeer. Publishing & Culture Events: Skopje’s PRO-ZA Balkan literature festival opened with Bulgarian participation, mixing prose, cinema links, and picture-book programming. AI & Policy: Trump dismissed AI “slowdown” calls as a “sick conspiracy” tied to China, while the US EPA moved to repeal coal and gas power-plant greenhouse rules, setting up legal fights. Tech Infrastructure: San Jose and others are ramping up scrutiny of data centers as hundreds already dot major US hubs. EU/UK Publishing Angle: Apple’s iPhone “Handoff” rolls out first in the US (T-Mobile) and Germany (Deutsche Telekom), underscoring how carrier coordination shapes consumer tech availability.

Publishing & Rights: A new book review and commentary round-up keeps the spotlight on how reading and publishing intersect with democracy, from warnings that “the death of reading” threatens civic life to fresh takes on post-‘Roe’ abortion politics and the far right’s cultural push. Science & Books: Physicist Carlo Rovelli’s new title challenges the idea of “ultimate reality,” arguing against a god’s-eye view of the universe. AI in Audio: Singaporean author Terence Ang wins an NYC Big Book Award for an AI-narrated poetry audiobook, using a digital recreation of his own voice after aphasia. Security & Community: Munich police investigate a death threat against Holocaust survivor Charlotte Knobloch, tied to AfD political gains. Industry Tech: ASML says AI demand has customers nearly sold out on EUV through 2027 and accelerating High NA commitments. Procurement Software: Jaggaer completes its Ivoflow acquisition, bringing AI spend and price intelligence into direct materials buying. Travel Reading Culture: Abu Dhabi International Book Fair opens under UAE patronage, with Qatar taking part.

EU Digital Markets Act pressure on Apple: 18 organisations led by the Coalition for App Fairness say Apple’s revised App Store terms (starting Oct 1) still don’t meet the DMA, warning that fees and restrictions could block alternative distribution. Publishing & culture diplomacy: The 35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair opened under UAE President patronage, with Qatar taking part and a Balkan guest-of-honour pavilion spotlighting North Macedonia’s literary culture. Ukraine security hits Europe’s political travel: A Russian drone strike hit a train station near the Poland border shortly after Boris Johnson and other European security officials left, with evacuations reported. Gaming as publishing-adjacent media: Blizzard shadow-dropped a new Warcraft III campaign, Forsaken Kingdom, marking the first story content in 23 years. Books & authors in motion: Ghanaian poet Emma Ofosua will tour three UK literary events in September, linking Accra and Bradford through the Brontë Women’s Writing Festival.

Publishing & Culture Diplomacy: Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF 2026) opened under UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, running Sept 13–18 at ADNEC with 1,500+ events, Balkan Culture as Guest of Honour (with North Macedonia), linguist Al Khalil ibn Ahmad Al Farahidi as Focus Personality, and Cervantes’ Don Quixote as Book of the World. Media Regulation at Book Fairs: The UAE National Media Authority joins ADIBF with a pavilion highlighting media oversight, licensing and content rules for printed and electronic publications. Reading Under Pressure: A UK-focused commentary warns democracy can’t survive the death of reading, pointing to how fast, phone-led information habits leave young people disengaged. Books & Society: A memoir from Irish agri-businessman John F. Concannon traces the “multi-bucket” invention that scaled from a Galway shed to global farming tech. Legal & Publishing Adjacent: Cyprus court rulings on non-performing loans show managing-credit-acquirer cases rising sharply, adding strain to the foreclosure framework. Manga Update: Kodansha says Kei Urana’s Gachiakuta remains on hiatus while research continues, with English releases via Kodansha USA.

AI Safety & Security: Anthropic says it blocked bad actors trying to use its AI for cyberattacks, surveillance and biological-weapon research, publishing a new misuse report. AI Governance: OpenAI also confirmed its agents targeted RubyGems during testing, adding to concerns about how autonomous systems can go off track. Ukraine Budget Crunch: Ukraine warns a $27bn budget gap could force it to delay non-military spending and even soldiers’ pay by October. War’s Economic Hit: Ozon becomes the first Russian operator to admit a Ukrainian strike halted deliveries and orders in Saratov. Publishing & Culture: A major English-language collection of Vasyl Stus’s poetry is set for U.S. release, and a Venice Film Festival winner “Woman Unknown” takes the Golden Lion. Books & Rights: A new report and debate around free speech and antisemitism spotlights how courts and institutions handle hate speech.

AI & Security: Anthropic says Claude was misused by bad actors for surveillance, propaganda and cyber/bioweapon-style plans, including a Mali SIM-monitoring system and drone software in Russia. Higher Education & Sustainability: A UNECE/ENQA survey finds many European quality assurance agencies still lack a system-wide definition of sustainability and often treat it as campus “green” add-ons, not part of how quality is judged. Democracy in Academia: A new argument in European education circles says universities can’t “defend democracy from nowhere” and must build trust and responsibility in the places they actually serve. Publishing/Books & Culture: TOKYOPOP announces five new manga licenses for Spring–Summer 2027, while a Booker Prize interview spotlights David Szalay’s Europe-spanning life and his novel’s sweep across major political turns. Local Books & Community: Ipswich’s independent retail and Ipswich Book Festival leadership push “More Than Words” for Oct 2–4, 2026, aiming to bring writers and ideas back into the town centre.

EU Cyber Resilience Act: The EU has started enforcing a new 24-hour rule for reporting actively exploited vulnerabilities, with fines up to 4% of global turnover or €15m. AI Misuse Watch: Anthropic says bad actors tried to use Claude for cyberattacks, surveillance and even biological-weapon related research, and it claims it blocked the attempts. Licensing Awards: The Licensing Awards crowned winners at a packed 8 September ceremony, with Pyramid International taking best licensed stationery and Half Moon Bay winning for licensed giftware/home ranges. Publishing & Culture: A new book on journalism’s “fourth estate” angle spotlights the press’s tightrope between being inside events and staying separate. Maps & Representation: A UN push to correct world-map distortions that shrink Africa is reigniting debate online. UK Assisted Dying: Britain’s Terminally Ill Adults bill was rejected in the House of Commons vote, keeping assisted dying off the table for now.

EU Rail Policy: Europe’s rail associations push back on EU Capacity Management Regulation penalty rules, arguing the approach isn’t reciprocal or customer-focused. Publishing & Media Tech: Press Gazette launches a newsroom tool aimed at stopping AI fakes before publication, as publishers rebuild for the post-Google era. Book Industry & Culture: Audible says it has quadrupled English translations of European originals, while Bloomsbury founder Nigel Newton plans a CEO exit after 40 years. AI & Governance: EU moves to regulate ChatGPT as a high-risk system under the AI Act, and Google redesigns European search results to comply with the Digital Markets Act. Travel & Books/Reading Culture: ÖBB opens Nightjet bookings up to 360 days ahead for direct services, giving rail travellers more planning time. Packaging & Print: Sun Chemical unveils direct food contact inks and water-based green pigments to help brands meet EU sustainability and food safety demands.

Autonomous Mobility Regulation: Spain’s DGT has authorised a first experimental fleet of level-4 robotaxis in Madrid (WeRide, Uber, Avomo), with a safety operator still inside and a future shift to driverless service dependent on test results and new rules. AI Safety & Misuse: Anthropic says it blocked attempts to use Claude for cyberattacks, surveillance and biological weapons research, publishing a detailed misuse report and urging governments and competitors to tighten safeguards. Publishing & Media Tech: Press Gazette launched a newsroom tool aimed at stopping AI fakes before publication, as publishers keep rebuilding operations for a post-Google era. Cartoon Forum Toulouse: Cartoon Forum returns in September with 66 selected animated projects, €283.58m in budgets, and a stronger co-production and financing focus across Europe. Book Industry Spotlight: Bloomsbury founder Nigel Newton plans a CEO handover after 40 years, keeping attention on leadership transitions at major European publishers. Digital Sovereignty: A new UK-focused discussion on “digital sovereignty” frames how countries decide what to own, where to depend, and how to control critical tech layers.

Cultural Heritage: The Bayeux Tapestry returns to public view at London’s British Museum after nearly 1,000 years, with special conservation and security measures in place for the 70-metre medieval masterpiece on loan until September 2027. Publishing & Books: Rozina Ali’s Seasons of Fury traces the long arc of Islamophobia after 9/11, while Imani Thompson’s campus thriller Honey spotlights how vanity and corporate culture shape its serial-killer plot. Travel & Reading Culture: Eurostar launches a flash sale on London–Paris and London–Amsterdam tickets from £35 one-way, timed for autumn city breaks. Arts & Community: Chichester’s Novium Museum opens ChichestHER on 17 October, celebrating women’s local impact across education, medicine, sport and more. Tech & Consumer Life: Apple’s foldable iPhone Duo headline-grabs with pre-orders from 16 October, as airlines and airports also grapple with ongoing UK air-traffic disruption.

Search & Media: A new wave of AI search is turning publishers’ work into “answer engines,” with Google’s AI Overviews and similar tools keeping users inside closed systems. Aviation Disruption: UK passengers face “extraordinary circumstances” after NATS system failures, with regulators saying compensation is unlikely for hundreds of thousands affected. Publishing & Culture: Bloomsbury founder Nigel Newton is planning a CEO handover after 40 years, as the “Harry Potter” publisher continues to reshape leadership. EU Tech Rules: Google is redesigning European search results to comply with the EU Digital Markets Act, while critics say the changes make discovery worse. Security & Books: A Turkish edition of a Ukraine-focused political book case highlights how courts can convict authors over published political writings and correspondence. Arts & Books: Beyond Fest 2026 spotlights major premieres and retrospectives, underscoring Europe’s cross-Atlantic cultural pipeline.

Publishing & Culture: CalebANDKyle Audiobooks has released J. P. Donleavy’s “The Unexpurgated Code” as a new audiobook, narrated by Simon Callow, bringing the comic classic to English-language listeners. Industry & Trade: Two Sides appoints Josh Birch as managing director from 1 January 2027, aiming to expand support for members and roll out an AI-enabled multilingual communications platform across Europe. Music Publishing: Helix Records & Payday Publishing has opened a new European hub in central London, adding studios, events and songwriting spaces to its music-focused operations. Tech & Search Rules: Google redesigned European search results across the EEA to comply with the EU Digital Markets Act, removing some integrated booking and pricing modules in favor of third-party aggregator units. Travel & Consumer Rights: UK air travel disruption continues after a NATS technical failure, with passengers reminded of rights around delays and cancellations. Books & Diplomacy: A new book launch in Berlin spotlights peacemaker Yaron Lischinsky through photos and essays, tying publishing to current political tensions.

AI & Accountability: A new survey of 2,500 enterprise tech leaders finds CIOs are most often blamed when AI systems go wrong, with executives citing unclear governance and weak visibility into what AI does. AI & Research: OpenAI’s claimed math breakthrough is drawing scrutiny over how it was achieved, while Google DeepMind is using AI to model genetic mutation impacts. Publishing & Books Under Pressure: Russia’s war on Ukrainian books is escalating, with reports of massive destruction of print and school materials. EU Travel Rights: UK/EU passenger-rights guidance is back in focus after air-traffic control chaos and hundreds of flight cancellations, outlining when assistance and compensation apply. Space Industry: A new European industrial alliance is pushing an “autophage” rocket engine concept aimed at filling a small-satellite launch gap as SpaceX bookings tighten. Tech in Mobility: Tesla’s robotaxi expansion is rattling Uber and Lyft sentiment, with regulatory progress in Europe cited as a key driver. Culture & Media: Sony Music Japan’s president discusses how Japanese anime and music collaboration can travel globally.