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5 Things to Know Today: Oil Tops $108, CPI Day, and the Investment Summit Kicks Off

  Monday, September 14, 2026 A busy Monday for your wallet: oil has punched through $108 a barrel on a second Middle East supply shock, Statistics Canada's August inflation report lands this morning, and Toronto is hosting the country's first-ever Investment Summit. Here's what's moving and what it means for you. 1. Oil jumps to a 4-month high after Saudi pipeline shutdown Brent crude touched roughly $108 a barrel and WTI neared $103 on Monday after Saudi Arabia shut down its East-West pipeline — a 7-million-barrel-a-day route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz — following drone strikes near Medina. A planned Oman meeting between Iran and Gulf states to de-escalate Hormuz shipping tensions was also postponed over the weekend, removing a near-term path to calm. Both benchmarks are now up roughly 9% over the past week alone, and some bank forecasts flag $120 oil as back on the table if disruptions persist. What it means for you: Pump prices, which had been easing thanks ...

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Cancer-Causing Chemical Detected in Acne Treatments: Brands Under Scrutiny

 


In a recent alarming discovery, independent U.S. laboratory Valisure has detected high levels of the cancer-causing chemical benzene in certain acne treatments. Brands affected include:

  1. Clinique (Estee Lauder)
  2. Clearasil (Reckitt Benckiser-owned)
  3. Proactiv
  4. Target Corp.'s Up & Up
  5. PanOxyl
  6. Walgreens’ acne soap bar
  7. Walmart’s Equate Beauty acne cream

Benzene, a known carcinogen, was found not only in the acne products themselves but also in the air around incubated products, suggesting a potential inhalation risk. Valisure has filed a petition with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urging product recalls, investigations, and revised industry guidance. The situation is substantially different from previous cases where benzene impurities came from contaminated ingredients. Here, benzene originates directly from the benzoyl peroxide itself, forming at unacceptably high levels.

Consumers are advised to stay informed as regulatory responses unfold. The FDA’s reaction to Valisure’s petition remains pending. Companies implicated in this issue, including Estee Lauder, have yet to respond to media inquiries.

As we await further developments, it’s crucial to prioritize safety and informed choices when it comes to skincare products. 









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