Mark Anning

For professional photographers, the latest message from Alamy arrived wrapped in the familiar language of corporate optimism—and with no invitation to negotiate. The stock photography agency called its announcement “Building a Stronger Alamy for the Future”. It spoke of investment, growth, sustainability and a changing marketplace. The new contributor contract, however, was presented as a fait accompli: it will take effect on September 1, 2026. Then photographers reached the commission table.

Nearly three thousand years after Homer’s tales were first sung, The Odyssey is again entertaining the masses. Christopher Nolan’s lavish screen adaptation, starring Matt Damon as the long-suffering Odysseus, opened in July 2026 with a global box-office haul of more than US$264 million. Evidently, audiences are still willing to follow a weary Greek veteran as he battles storms, monsters, seductive women, angry gods and catastrophic navigational decisions on his way home from work.

Randa Abdel-Fattah is seeking compensation and a public apology from the City of Greater Bendigo and La Trobe University, alleging she was discriminated against because of her political beliefs and activities. Palestinian-Australian author and academic Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah has launched legal action against the City of Greater Bendigo and La Trobe University over the controversy that engulfed the 2025 Bendigo Writers Festival.