Courtroom Drama: Suspended Ekurhuleni Deputy Police Chief Julius Mkhwanazi says a “jilted” ex-lover, Witness K, fabricated his role in a R14.9m precious stones theft, as fraud and robbery-with-aggravation charges return to the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court. Justice System History: Ghana’s Fast Track High Court is back in focus, with reporting tracing how a speed-focused reform grew out of a constitutional fight and remains contested for who it serves. Publishing & Reading Culture: Henrico’s bookstore staged a read-in fundraiser to fight book bans, bringing authors and community members together around the freedom to read. Romance on the Shelf: Berkley previews two festive romance releases—Zoe Allison’s The Christmas Competition and Amanda Elliot’s Eight Ways to Say I Love You—aimed at fall TBRs. Crime Fiction Adaptations: Apple TV’s Guilty Creatures adds Lewis Pullman to Julia Garner in a thriller series based on Mikita Brottman’s true-crime book. Tech Meets Books: Cory Doctorow’s new AI-focused novel, The Reverse Centaur’s Guide to Life After AI, reframes human-machine roles as readers debate what comes next.