Middle East Energy Shock: The U.S. revoked a temporary Iran oil sanctions waiver after tanker attacks near the Strait of Hormuz, with CENTCOM reporting strikes on 80+ targets and Iran retaliating against U.S. sites in Bahrain and Kuwait—raising crude volatility and petrochemical risk. PFAS & Water Treatment Push: LayerOne completed a management buyout to commercialize graphene-based PFAS removal, targeting higher uptake than activated carbon; meanwhile, regulators and communities keep tightening “forever chemicals” controls. Corporate Dealmaking in Specialty Materials: Solstice Advanced Materials agreed to buy Element Solutions for $14.5B, aiming to expand advanced materials for semiconductors and electronics. Industrial Security & Chemical Risk: Ukrainian drones reportedly hit Russia’s Nizhnekamsk petrochemical complex, while a separate report flags a Russian industrial fire near major refining assets. Regulatory & Public Health Pressure: OEHHA’s CalEnviroScreen 5.0 update expands pollution-burden mapping, including new PFAS and toxic air indicators, as PFAS hotspots drive local action. M&A in Pharma: Torrent Pharmaceuticals completed its amalgamation with J.B. Chemicals after NCLT approval.