BetsyRasmussen wrote the easiest solution:
hover the mouse pointer over the ad and click the trash can icon
that indeed keeps the first line of your inbox free from ads for the remainder of the Outlook session
I know, it is a temporary solution, for starting a new Outlook session does (also pressing F5 does) bring up a new ad
but then: one click isn't too much of a hassle, isn't it?
there is - and this is a nasty one - a solution that is quite drastic, but I'm convinced this will keep some companies from posing ads in the future: when we all - BEFORE CLICKING THE TRASH CAN - click the ad repeatedly - let's propose a hundred times - then their costs will increase dramatically. IF WE ALL DO THIS WORLD WIDE, wow, see what happens...
This is because companies are charged for every click on an ad... I know that from a family member that is an employee of a company that advertises on Google.
Be sure, a world wide action like this will bring peace in our inboxes...
shalom !
ruudtes