Australia
Finance
S&P downgrades Queensland credit rating over Olympic spending
The state's long-term issuer grade drops to AA as borrowings head toward $202 billion, with Treasurer David Janetzki ruling out tax rises or construction pauses to repair the budget.
Finance
Australian shares lose $32 billion as oil prices rise
Markets now price a 75 per cent chance of a Reserve Bank rate rise in September after United States bond yields reached their highest level in three years.
News
Families of Australian September 11 victims reject retaliatory wars
New York memorial ceremonies introduced a dedicated silence for toxic-dust victims, while Opposition Leader Angus Taylor warned Islamist extremism remains a threat requiring active opposition.
Finance
Star Entertainment auditors warn the casino group may not remain a going concern
The casino operator recorded a $307.3 million statutory net loss for the financial year and holds $267 million in cash to support more than 7,000 workers across New South Wales and Queensland.
Technology
OpenAI makes self-service ChatGPT advertising available to buyers in 52 countries
The sponsored placements appear only for users on the Free and Go plans, and the company has not published pricing data or conversion benchmarks.
News
Labor moves to fine tech giants $100 million and let users switch off algorithms
Communications Minister Anika Wells will release draft legislation this week forcing social media platforms to offer algorithmic opt-outs and actively prevent illegal content reaching users.
News
Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirms 38 Australians remain missing in the Nepal floods
Searchers have found a second Australian alive as officials remove several people from the unaccounted list who had never entered the disaster zone.
Finance
Three banks now expect a Reserve Bank rate rise on 29 September
NAB, Deutsche Bank and UBS all tip a rise to 4.6 per cent at the Reserve Bank's next meeting, the dollar is back above 72 US cents, and the Treasurer will not say whether he thinks another rise is needed.
Marketing
Most Australian agencies now sell AI search, and only a couple deliver
Bushletter audited 136 Australian agencies and their llms.txt files. Nearly nine in ten now sell AI search. Fewer than one in four say how they measure it.