🗞️ Can't block ads if there are no ads

Good morning. YouTube users are reporting that the site is serving blank ads or black screens before a video when it detects an ad-blocker extension.

The recent change will now make users wait for their content, partially defeating the purpose of using an ad blocker.

With ads now directly inserted into the main YouTube video feed, ad blockers are having difficulty detecting any ads.

All the headlines and more below...

PARIS OLYMPICS 2024

Your goal for today. Be as cool as Gabriel

• Kaylee McKeown won Gold in the 100 metre Backstroke Final.

• Mens 4x200 metre freestyle relay team won Bronze.

• Australian Women's Sevens team lost Bronze after being beaten by Canada in the Semi-finals.

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

New Sydney Metro line opening delayed amid wait for national rail safety regulator sign-off

• The opening of the $21.6B Chatswood to Sydenham Sydney Metro line has been delayed due to pending safety approvals, days before its scheduled start date. LINK

• Australian companies are expected to post a steeper profit decline this year, with profits likely to drop 3.5% in FY24. LINK

• Many companies are unprepared against harassment, lacking clear policies and training. LINK

• Brisbane's rapid property price growth is expected to slow, while Perth's housing boom continues strong. LINK

• The ACCC proposed changes to FX calculators, requiring banks to subtract fees to ensure transparency. LINK

• Melbourne penthouse prices are expected to double to $60,000 per square metre due to high demand from wealthy downsizers. LINK

• Revenue from advertising on streaming and catch-up services is set to match free-to-air television within 4 years. LINK

• New data shows increased office attendance as the job market tightens, with employees opting to work in the office more frequently. LINK

• Australia will struggle to meet its National Housing target of 1.2 million new homes if building approvals continue to decline, with June recording a 6.5% drop in approvals. LINK

• The removal of tariffs on Australian wine by China has boosted exports to a 3-year high, but the Chinese market has shrunken. LINK

GLOBAL NEWS

Deadpool & Wolverine shatters box office records in opening weekend

• Deadpool & Wolverine dominated the box office during its opening weekend, the highest debut weekend since Barbie. LINK

• Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal at the Olympics in their 60th ever clash. LINK

• A new study suggests that eating carrots increases skin carotenoids, which can enhance immune function and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. LINK

• The luxury industry faces a broader decline in consumption. LINK

COMPANY NEWS

US burger chain Carl’s Jr has lurched into administration in Australia

• Carl's Jr franchisees are in talks with the US parent company to directly licence its brand after the local master licensee and 24 restaurants entered voluntary administration. LINK

• YouTube is serving blank ads or black screens before a video when users are found to be using an ad-blocker extension. LINK

• Meta announced AI Studio, a new tool for users to create and share personalised AI chatbots, with Instagram creators able to use AI characters to handle common questions and replies. LINK

• McDonald's reported a surprise drop in global sales, its first decline in 13 quarters, as consumers opted for cheaper food options amid persistent inflation. LINK

• Apple used chips designed by Google instead of Nvidia for its AI software infrastructure. LINK

• TikTok is discussing a plan to launch a data centre in Australia to support its growth in the Asia Pacific region. LINK

• Air New Zealand abandoned its 2030 emissions reduction target due to delays in fuel-efficient aircraft delivery and high green fuel prices. LINK

• SpaceX is in talks with US and Australian officials to land and recover a Starship rocket off Australia's coast. LINK

• Canva has announced its intention to acquire Leonardo.Ai, a text-to-image AI platform used by 19 million people. LINK

• Pinterest, TikTok and LinkedIn are partnering with news outlets and publishers to sell ads on their platforms. LINK

• Neo-Nazis and white supremacists are using TikTok to share propaganda and recruit members, with the algorithm promoting extremist content to new users. LINK

• Regional Express (REX Airlines) stopped selling seats as it considers help to restructure and return to its regional flying roots. LINK

• Credit Corp slashed its final dividend after a 44% drop in FY24 profit and rising delinquencies. LINK

• Toyota's global production tumbled 12.9% in June, the 5th consecutive month of decline, impacted by a certification scandal in Japan and a price war in China. LINK

CHART OF THE DAY

2024 Year-to-date year-on-year smartphone unit sales by maker

• Global smartphone sales in June 2024 reached 97.3 million units, showing a 6.2% year-on-year increase.

• Android brands like Samsung, Xiaomi and Vivo led the sales growth, while iPhone sales began stabilising with a slight increase of 1.2% year-on-year.

• Samsung's Galaxy S24 series performed well, selling 2.8 million units in June and 9.7 million units in Q2 2024.

TRIVIA

It’s Game Time

Trivia: On this day in 1954, K2 was summited for the first time by Achille Compagnoni and Lino Lacedelli.

For today’s trivia, can you arrange the top 5 highest mountains in order of height from tallest to smallest: K2, Makalu, Lhotse, Mt Everest and Kangchenjunga?

Answers below

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

The Aussie Corporate

Your go-to for insights into corporate Australia sourced from our AusCorp community and delivered to you without the red tape and corporate fluff 🔥 Just dropped: Your monthly caffeinated dose of AusCorp.

Looking for a collab? Shoot us an email here.

ANSWERS

1. Mount Everest: 8,848 metres
2. K2: 8,611 metres
3. Kangchenjunga: 8,586 metres
4. Lhotse: 8,516 metres
5. Makalu: 8,485 metres