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.

London's Metropolitan Police has reversed its longstanding position on grooming gangs in the capital, acknowledging for the first time that it has multiple active investigations into group-based child sexual exploitation. The shift came after an investigation by MyLondon and The Daily Express challenged official statements from both police leadership and Mayor Sadiq Khan, who had consistently maintained there were "no reports" or "no indication" of Rochdale or Rotherham-style rape gangs operating in London.

The investigation uncovered evidence from four separate His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services reports spanning 2016 to 2025 that documented at least six potential victims of grooming gang abuse. These case studies, which the Mayor of London personally responded to according to public statements, described children as young as 13 being exploited by groups of predatory men. The reports detailed how girls were plied with drugs and alcohol, raped in hotels by multiple perpetrators, and subjected to life-threatening situations.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley revealed to Assembly Members at City Hall that the force now acknowledges a "steady flow" of live multi-offender child sexual exploitation investigations and a "very significant" number of historic cases requiring reinvestigation. The commissioner estimated these reviews would cost "millions of pounds a year, for several years" to properly investigate, contradicting previous assertions that the force had "not seen" such cases in London.

Political figures including Reform UK MP Lee Anderson and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp have criticized the mayor's handling of the situation, with Anderson stating there is "real, credible evidence that grooming gangs exist in London" and Philp alleging that Khan is "facilitating a cover-up." A spokesman for the mayor maintained that Khan has "always been clear that the safety of Londoners is his top priority" and remains "committed to doing all he can to protect children in London."