U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Hong Kong Cuts Base Rate as HKMA Follows U.S. Federal Reserve Move 
Asian Stocks Rally as Tech Rebounds, China Lags on Nvidia Competition Concerns 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
EssilorLuxottica Bets on AI-Powered Smart Glasses as Competition Intensifies 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
Apple App Store Injunction Largely Upheld as Appeals Court Rules on Epic Games Case 
ANZ Faces Legal Battle as Former CEO Shayne Elliott Sues Over A$13.5 Million Bonus Dispute 
Asian Stocks Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Sparks AI Profitability Concerns 
ADB Approves $400 Million Loan to Boost Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines 
BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025 
Brazil Holds Selic Rate at 15% as Inflation Expectations Stay Elevated 
Asian Stocks Slip Ahead of Fed Decision as China Deflation Concerns Deepen 
US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals 
JD.com Pledges 22 Billion Yuan Housing Support for Couriers as China’s Instant Retail Competition Heats Up 
Marks & Spencer has stopped selling its disposable barbecues in the United Kingdom due to fire risks in dry weather. The British retail company said it halted the sales in its stores because it wants to help in reducing the risk of fires as well as protect open spaces in this dry season.
According to BBC News, the London Fire Brigade has called for the ban on the sale of disposable barbecues, and Marks & Spencer is apparently responding to this call when it removed the products from its store shelves. The fire brigade said that his move by the retailer is "good news."
The fire agency’s request came after the country was hit with the hottest weather, where the temperature reached more than 40 degrees Celcius. This extreme heat has happened in the U.K. for the first time.
Many parts of the country experienced temperatures above the recent record of 38.7 degrees Celcius. The fire brigade also reported major incidents due to the surge in blazes.
Subsequently, the fire agency warned the residents against the use of barbecues in grasslands, open spaces, and even on the balcony following the heatwave. Andy Roe, the country’s commissioner Andy Roe also supported the call and asked people to retailers to stop selling disposable barbecues across Britain.
At any rate, the spokesperson of Marks & Spencer told BBC News that its order to stop the sale of the barbecues would be in effect starting this week.
"We had stopped selling disposable barbecues near national parks and in London but given the unusually hot and dry conditions, we have taken the precautionary step of removing them from sale across the UK," the company spokesperson said.
The fire brigade welcomed M&S's decision by saying, "We want to work with retailers to stop the sale of disposable barbecues and reduce the risk of dangerous grass fires."
Jonathan de Mello, a retail analyst, said he expects other major supermarkets to follow suit after Marks & Spencer announced its decision.
"This move by M&S will put pressure on their retail peers to follow suit,” De Mello stated. “With multiple grass fires caused by these barbecues given the unprecedented hot weather we have seen in the past few weeks, M&S have rightly decided to put public safety first."
