Thousands of staff at $60bn Aussie company suddenly stop working

Thousands of staff at $60bn Aussie company suddenly stop working

9News

Thousands of staff at Australia's most valuable technology company have stopped work for an entire week, swapping their usual duties for an intensive artificial intelligence (AI) experiment.

Over 5300 people at multi-billion dollar software giant Canva's global workforce joined the company's second-ever "AI Discovery Week", which kicked off on Monday.

During the optional week-long program, staff ditched meetings and paused all projects to "go deep on AI" and upskill in the rapidly developing technology.

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It involves over 60 talks from speakers at fellow tech behemoths Open AI, Anthropic and Google, workshops and "hackathons".

While it was not a mandatory program, it is understood so many staff at Canva's Sydney headquarters opted in that the office ran out of desk space.

"We see this as an opportunity for folks to tune out of the noise and tune in to what it is they've been wanting to achieve with AI, but haven't been able to crack yet," said Canva's co-founder and chief product officer Cameron Adams.

"The part I'm most excited about this year is the company-wide Hackathon at the end of the week.

"The brief is to build something that would have been impossible without AI. Not faster workflows, but genuinely new ones that didn't exist as a realistic option before."

The first Canva Discovery Week took place in July last year.

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Adams said at the time that the idea was to help upskill Canva employees into an "AI-savvy workforce".

"The potential to get left behind in the AI age is real, and leaders absolutely need to provide clear vision and instruction around where AI fits into their team's daily work," he said.

Canva, which made its Rich List co-founders Melanie Perkins, Cliff Obrecht and Cameron Adams multi-billionaires, has invested heavily in AI over the past few years.

The $60 billion dollar Sydney start-up snapped up two local AI companies last month in an undisclosed deal.

The deal brought the number of Canva's AI acquisitions to eight since 2024, with a reported total of $400 million investment made in the rapidly-growing technology so far.

Canva reached its highest-ever valuation of more than $60 billion last year following an employee share sale in August.

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Court strikes down Donald Trump's 10 per cent tariffs on everyone

Court strikes down Donald Trump's 10 per cent tariffs on everyone

9News

Donald Trump's sweeping 10 per cent tariff on nearly all imports globally has been found to be illegal by a US court.

The Court of International Trade struck down the taxes that the president applied in February.

Trump brought in those tariffs using a provision in a 1974 law that had never before been used for that purpose.

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But the court found that the law was wrongly invoked to apply the tariffs.

The White House is yet to comment on the ruling, which would require the US government to make another massive refund to importers.

The tariffs applied to most countries, including Australia.

The administration argued that when the 1974 law spoke of "balance of payments deficits", it was the same as a "trade deficit".

But the court was unimpressed.

"It is clear that Congress was aware of the differences in the words it chose," the judges wrote.

Trump brought in the 10 per cent blanket tariff in February after the Supreme Court struck down his other tariffs.

The administration is now mired in the bureaucratic headache of refunding more than $180 billion in unlawful taxes.

"I hate to pay people back," a visibly angry Trump said when speaking about that decision earlier this week.

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The administration will now also have to also refund all the tariff money taken in the past three months.

Trump can still appeal today's decision to the Supreme Court.

But in issuing their ruling today, the judges specifically cited February's Supreme Court decision.

Democrats are now using the refund delays as a cudgel against Trump.

"It's been 75 days since the Supreme Court ruled the president's tariff-taxes illegal," Senator John Hickenlooper said. 

"He still refuses to pay you back."

Australia's biggest export to the US is still under an 100 per cent tariff applied under a different law.

Australia exports $1.6 billion in pharmaceutical products.

READ MORE: What do Australians buy from the US, and what do we sell to them?

The bulk of the sector's value comes from one company, CSL, a major producer of blood plasma products based in Melbourne.

"This is the wrong decision by a partner of a successful free trade agreement that has endured for more than 20 years," Health Minister Mark Butler said when it was introduced.

"We want the US administration to think again and to reverse this decision."

The minister reassured that the tariffs will not have an impact on pharmaceutical prices to customers here in Australia.

READ MORE: Trump pushes to take $115m rape case payout to the Supreme Court

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Gold Coast toddler's condition improves after inhaling cake decorating dust

Gold Coast toddler's condition improves after inhaling cake decorating dust

9News

The mother of a Gold Coast toddler who was put in an induced coma after inhaling cake decorating dust has given a hopeful update on his condition.

Speaking outside Queensland Children's Hospital to the Today Show this morning, mum Katie Robinson said her son Dusty Wildman was doing a bit better after spending days in a coma.

"He's improved a little bit, which has been such a relief for all of us," she said. 

"They are looking at taking out his breathing tube sometime today, so we're very much looking forward to that."

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Robinson, who is a professional baker, was making a Bluey cake for a first birthday last Friday when her Dusty found a canister of cake decorating gold. 

"He just, all of a sudden, got into my drawer and within seconds, had breathed in this dust and inhaled it and ingested it at the same time," Robinson said.

"It was just so fast we didn't even know what had happened. He was just coughing, and it got worse and worse by the minute." 

The little boy was rushed to hospital, where Robinson learnt the dust contained copper, which would not dissolve in blood and gathered in Dusty's lungs. 

The label on the cake dust said the product is "for use on removal parts" and that it is non-toxic. 

There is no ingredients list, which meant doctors had to send the container to a lab to discover it contained copper and zinc. 

The supplier has pulled the product from shelves and contacted all stockists. 

Robinson is now calling for better regulation on cake decorating products.

"I just can't believe that these products are being sold alongside similar products that are edible. It's something that shouldn't be happening," she said.

The family is now waiting anxiously to see how Dusty fares after his tube is taken out. 

Robinson said her son had shown he was a fighter.

"He is so strong. He's been fighting so hard. The doctors are so happy with him," she said.

"He is pushing back, and he's saying that he's ready to have that tube taken out." 

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Trump pushes to take $115m rape case payout to the Supreme Court

Trump pushes to take $115m rape case payout to the Supreme Court

9News

Donald Trump wants the Supreme Court to halt a $A115 million payout he owes to E Jean Carroll, a woman a New York jury found he raped in the mid-1990s.

A jury awarded Carroll the immense payout after she successfully sued him for defamation.

But Trump's lawyers have asked the Supreme Court to intervene so he wouldn't have to pay her.

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His lawyers argue that because his remarks about her were made when he was president, he was protected by presidential immunity.

Trump also wants a stay to prevent Carroll giving away the payout to charity, as she has repeatedly said she will do.

"In addition, Carroll has publicly and repeatedly promised to give away any money that she collects from this lawsuit," the court filing read.

"Once grants are distributed and spent by organisations around the country, the funds almost certainly will not be recoverable if the Supreme Court reverses the Panel's decision, as is likely to occur."

The court filing today is specifically asking an appeals court to stay its verdict so the Supreme Court can weigh in.

In a highly unusual move, the Department of Justice has stepped in with the intention of arguing the case before the Supreme Court on behalf of the president.

Carroll's defamation argument hinged on the president's accusation that she wasn't telling the truth when she came forward with her rape allegation.

Because the statute of limitations for a sexual assault charge had passed, Carroll sued him in civil court and won.

In 2019, Trump denied ever knowing Carroll and said she "wasn't his type".

But when presented with a photograph of Trump speaking with Carroll, he mistook her as his former wife Marla Maples.

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A jury found she was telling the truth when she alleged Trump raped her in the dressing room of a New York department store.

"She completely made up a story that I met her at the doors of this crowded New York City Department Store and, within minutes, 'swooned' her," Trump said afterwards.

"It is a Hoax and a lie, just like all the other Hoaxes that have been played on me for the past seven years."

With a 6-3 conservative majority, including three judges the president has appointed himself, Trump is hoping the Supreme Court will be more sympathetic to his argument.

In the past week, the court has made a series of sweeping decisions favouring the conservative point of view, including on abortion and voting rights.

Trump's move to involve the Supreme Court comes a week after the appeals court knocked back his move to substitute the United States as a replacement defendant in the case.

He is hoping the Supreme Court will reverse that decision.

Such a move would lead to the case being dismissed, because the United States cannot be sued for defamation.

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Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

Hugely popular Bluey coins return with new $2 collection

Hugely popular Bluey coins return with new $2 collection

9News

Australia's favourite blue heeler is back at the post office with today's release of a new $2 Bluey coin collection.

Australia Post, in partnership with the Royal Australian Mint and BBC Studios, has officially launched the first-ever $2 Bluey "Dollarbucks". 

The release follows the unprecedented success in 2024 of the Bluey $1 coin collection series, which became one of the most sought after - and controversial - collectibles in Australian history.

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What's in the collection?

The new $2 coins feature Bluey, sister Bingo, dad Bandit and mum Chilli, and were designed in collaboration with Brisbane's own Ludo Studio. 

Fans will recognise scenes from fan-favourite episodes, including Camping and Granny Mobile.

Collectors can snag individual uncirculated coins for $20, or opt for the five-coin tube and folder set for $34. 

For those feeling lucky, the sets offer a one-in-ten chance of containing a special "Sleepytime" coloured coin - a nod to the episode frequently voted by fans as the series' best.

Australia Post Executive General Manager Josh Bannister confirmed that special Bluey and Bingo coloured $2 coins will also be entering circulation through till change at participating Post Offices.

"Bluey is loved by families across Australia and the world," Bannister said. 

"These first-ever $2 coins are a fun way for fans to connect with the characters they love."

Bluey coin theft

While wildly successful, the 2024 launch of the Bluey $1 coins was briefly marred by a bizarre crime that made international headlines.

In July 2024, two men stole 63,000 unreleased Bluey coins - weighing several tonnes - from a warehouse in Sydney's west. 

The men, aged 47 and 44, stole the pallet of coins before they could reach the public, later selling them online to unsuspecting collectors for ten times their face value.

The theft sparked a major Strike Force investigation, eventually leading to arrests and the recovery of some of the loot. 

The rarity of the stolen coins only fuelled the frenzy, with some $1 coins still fetching massive premiums on the secondary market.

The new Bluey $2 Dollarbuck collection is available at participating Post Offices and online from today, May 6.

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'Dangerous tool': Italian prime minister shares deepfake lingerie photo

'Dangerous tool': Italian prime minister shares deepfake lingerie photo

9News

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has slammed the release of AI-generated deepfake images of her, including one depicting her wearing lingerie and sitting on a bed.

Meloni said on social media the images were false and probably circulated by political opponents in an apparent bid to turn voters against her.

Meloni wrote on Facebook on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST): "In recent days, several fake images of me have been circulating, generated using artificial intelligence and passed off as real by some overzealous opponents.

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"I must admit that whoever created them … even improved my appearance quite a bit," she joked.

"But the fact remains that, in order to attack and spread falsehoods, people are now willing to use absolutely anything."

Meloni, Italy's first female prime minister, says she also hopes the release of the fake photos would tackle online critics who fell for the deception and criticised her.

But the Italian leader also addressed the wider use of deepfake images as a "dangerous tool" designed to harm their victims, who without her high profile have little opportunity to respond.

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https://twitter.com/GiorgiaMeloni/status/2051672420440764626?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

"The issue goes beyond me. Deepfakes are a dangerous tool, because they can deceive, manipulate and target anyone. I can defend myself. Many others cannot. For this reason, one rule should always apply: verify before believing, and think before sharing. Because today it happens to me, tomorrow it could happen to anyone," said Meloni.

Meloni has been the target of deepfakes before. The Italian PM was listed as an injured party in the case of a man in Sardinia last year accused of making deepfake pornographic images using her face and posting them online.

She took the unusual step of posting the current images as the European Union investigates technology firms for allowing users to access AI software that generates fake nude images.

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Sydney lord mayor cancels 'globalise the intifada' event

Sydney lord mayor cancels 'globalise the intifada' event

9News

A pro-Palestine forum set to take place in a Sydney council building has been cancelled by Lord Mayor Clover Moore.

The event, called "Why is it right to say Globalise the Intifada", was set to be held at the East Sydney Community Arts Centre tonight, and was organised by the Stop The War on Palestine group.

However, Sydney's lord mayor has issued an eleventh-hour order to the city's chief executive to cancel the event due to fears it could cause unrest in Sydney.

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In a statement, she said events couldn't contribute to "hostility and fear".

"I have long supported the principles of peaceful assembly, protest and freedom of speech. However, these rights must always be balanced with a responsibility to ensure public safety and respect for all members of our diverse community," she said.

She claimed a media campaign has sought to stoke division based on the event, which could lead to heightened tensions, especially as the Royal Commission into Antisemitism begins this week.

"In recent weeks, we have seen a persistent media campaign by the Murdoch press against this event,' she claimed.

"The coverage has exploited trauma, painting complex issues in black and white and, in bad faith, demanded our communities take sides."

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She insisted she supports the right to free protest, mentioning she participated in the pro-Palestine march across Sydney Harbour Bridge last year, and also accepted there had been rises in multiple forms of discrimination against multiple groups.

"The impact of violence in the Middle East has left many hurting and afraid," she said.

"Families have lost loved ones. Antisemitism, lslamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism has risen. Unthinkable evil terrorised Bondi."

She also claimed some media reporting looked to conflate any anti-war protest with being a criticism of Israel, which she denied.

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"Protesting the war is legitimate, and in no way affects my deep sympathy, solidarity and concern for Jewish communities," Moore said.

Pro-Palestine protests have been a source of controversy in Sydney, with several people being arrested by police after a demonstration outside Town Hall in February during the visit of Israel's president, Isaac Herzog.

This came after Premier Chris Minns passed special temporary laws to limit protests in the aftermath of the Bondi shooting and increase police powers to act during protests.

The laws were later ruled unconstitutional by the NSW High Court.

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Four people forced to carry sports icon's wild Met Gala look

Four people forced to carry sports icon's wild Met Gala look

9News

Welcome to nine.com.au's coverage of the 2026 Met Gala – the most compelling and star-studded fashion event of the year.

Millions in path of wintry blast this week

Millions in path of wintry blast this week

9News

A spell of warm and sunny weather across south-eastern Australia is forecast to come to a shuddering halt this week.

Tasmania, Victoria and southern NSW will feel much chillier by Thursday when a blast of cold winds from the deep Southern Ocean rolls in, reports weather data firm Weatherzone.

The weather system will begin its march on Wednesday, and over the following 24 hours, snowfalls can be expected in parts of the NSW Snowy Mountains, the Victorian Alps and the Tasmanian Highlands.

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The latter two could record falls as low as 800 metres, forecasters say.

A second cold front is due to arrive early Friday, extending the plummeting temperatures and gusty winds through the day, while snowfalls will be limited to higher ground.

But skiers and snowboarders shouldn't expect an early start to the winter sports season.

"Snow accumulations across the two days should amount to approximately 10-20cm across the Victorian and New South Wales major resorts and about 3-8cm across the Tasmanian Central Plateau and the higher peaks in south-west Victoria," according to Weatherzone.

"This should be ample snow cover for snow play, snowball fights and maybe a slide on a toboggan."

READ MORE: More signs El Niño is coming to Australia over winter

Residents in south-eastern capital cities should be reaching for the winter woollies by Thursday when the mercury drops markedly.

Canberra is heading for a chilly maximum temperature of 8 degrees, Hobart 11 degrees, Melbourne 12 degrees, while Sydney can expect a far more pleasant 19 degrees.

Anyone heading outdoors should prepare to add an extra layer of clothing, with cold, gusty winds accentuating the chill factor.

The wintry blast is forecast to be brief, with seasonal average temperatures returning by the late weekend.

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Former New York mayor and Trump ally fighting for life in hospital

Former New York mayor and Trump ally fighting for life in hospital

9News

Former New York mayor and close Donald Trump ally Rudy Giuliani is fighting for his life at a hospital in Florida.

The 81-year-old is critical but stable, according to his spokesperson Ted Goodman.

"Mayor Giuliani is a fighter who has faced every challenge in his life with unwavering strength, and he's fighting with that same level of strength as we speak," he said in a statement on Sunday night (Monday morning AEST).

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"We do ask that you join us in prayer for America's Mayor-Rudy Giuliani."

In response, US President Donald Trump labelled him a "true warrior" who was treated "so bad by the Radical Left Lunatics".

"Our fabulous Rudy Giuliani, a True Warrior, and the Best Mayor in the History of New York City, BY FAR, has been hospitalised, and is in critical condition," he said in a Truth Social Post.

"What a tragedy that he was treated so badly by the Radical Left Lunatics, Democrats ALL — AND HE WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING!

"They cheated on the Elections, fabricated hundreds of stories, did anything possible to destroy our Nation, and now, look at Rudy. So sad!"

More to come. 

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