Mercury in beauty products: Philippines watchdog BAN Toxics warned shoppers after finding banned skin-lightening cosmetics with dangerous mercury levels still being sold in public markets. Nicotine quitting supplement: Two WSU professors unveiled an essential-oil product aimed at easing nicotine cravings by targeting a nicotine-metabolizing enzyme. Digital payments access: UAE dirham-backed stablecoin DDSC is getting easier retail access after approval to run on Vara-regulated exchange platforms. Solar bill relief: Kerala’s KSEB will refund excess security deposits from solar consumers, with adjustments on upcoming bills or direct bank credits. Data privacy: Woori Bank said 17,551 customers’ personal info was leaked after an external developer retained and uploaded data for an NFT platform. Food safety recalls: Ireland recalled several cooked ham products over possible listeria; Publix recalled frozen GreenWise organic blueberries in multiple states over E. coli fears. Wireless plan shake-up: T-Mobile is retiring older plans, and some longtime customers could see higher monthly bills. Power outage impacts: Storms left tens of thousands without electricity across parts of the US, including Oklahoma and Brooklyn, as utilities worked through restoration timelines. Retail/consumer law: Iowa AG sued Temu under the state’s consumer fraud law, alleging misleading claims and data harvesting concerns. Consumer tech picks: Consumer Reports highlighted top wireless earbuds (including Sony WF-1000XM6/XM5) based on lab testing. Beauty shopping: A beauty editor roundup spotlighted 10 standout new 2026 beauty launches. Trade push: New Zealand’s National Party says it will pursue free trade deals with seven priority markets to win “the next billion customers.”