The Grangemouth refinery, Scotland's last remaining oil refinery, has officially ceased processing crude oil, marking the end of an era for the industrial site that has been operational since 1924. Petroineos, the owner of the refinery, confirmed the transition to an import terminal for finished fuels, a move announced in September last year with operations expected to cease by 2025. The company has invested £50 million in transforming the site into a modern import and distribution terminal, ensuring the continued supply of transport fuels to Scotland.

The closure of the refinery has raised concerns over employment in the Grangemouth area, with hundreds of workers accepting voluntary redundancy and others facing compulsory job losses. Discussions between Petroineos and the governments in Edinburgh and London have focused on the future of the site, including potential investments in low-carbon energy projects. However, the transition has been met with criticism, with some describing it as 'industrial vandalism' and calling for more support for the affected workforce.

Petroineos has defended its decision, citing the refinery's daily losses of £380,000 and the unsustainable nature of its operations. The company has also dismissed suggestions that the site could easily transition into a hub for sustainable aviation fuel production. Despite the challenges, Petroineos has praised the resilience and professionalism of its workforce during the transition period, ensuring the security of fuel supply across Scotland.

The UK Government has pledged £200 million to support the Grangemouth area, with hopes of attracting additional private investment. However, calls have been made for greater transparency and urgency in deploying these funds, particularly in light of the Acorn Carbon Capture project's delayed progress. As Grangemouth embarks on its new chapter as an import terminal, the focus remains on securing a sustainable future for the site and its surrounding community.

Families of the 29 victims killed in the 1994 Chinook helicopter crash are escalating their decades-long fight for answers, preparing to deliver a petition with more than 47,000 signatures to Downing Street demanding a public inquiry. The Chinook Justice Campaign has published 110 "critical questions" they want answered about the tragedy that claimed the lives of 25 intelligence experts and four special forces crew members when the aircraft crashed on the Mull of Kintyre on June 2, 1994.

The campaign comes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer rejected calls for a judge-led inquiry into the incident, prompting families to declare they will "see the UK government in court." Among those delivering the petition on Tuesday are brothers Andy and Matt Tobias from Watford, whose father John Tobias was killed in the crash. The petition delivery will be accompanied by an attempt to deliver a letter directly to the Ministry of Defence.

Central to the families' concerns are questions about mission authorization, aircraft selection, and whether those on board were properly warned of risks. The campaign has gained momentum amid revelations that key documents related to the crash have been sealed until 2094—a century after the incident occurred. David Hill, technical expert for the Chinook Justice Campaign, characterized the government's position as "a betrayal by the state of them and their loved ones."

The crash investigation has followed a contentious path over the past three decades. Initial findings blamed pilot error for the tragedy, but this conclusion was overturned in 2011. The continuing secrecy surrounding the incident has drawn criticism from campaigners who argue it "undermines trust not only in the MoD but in the government itself." As families prepare to confront the government directly, the case represents one of Britain's longest-running military accountability battles.