Petrol prices recorded a new five year low last week

The price of petrol in Northern Ireland remains low after reaching its cheapest price in five years last week.

Forecourt fuel pumps were recording an average of 124.2p per litre for petrol last week, the lowest level since May 2021. Prices this week are up very slightly, but remain low at an average of 124.3p per litre.

Petrol prices vary depending on location around Northern Ireland and even between retailers. The price is made up of several factors, including when fuel was purchased by retailers and the volume bought at a given price.

READ MORE: Minister announces above-inflation rise in regional domestic rates as Cost of Living crisis continuesREAD MORE: How to find cheapest petrol near you as Northern Ireland prices reach new five year low

This week, the Consumer Council’s Fuel Price Checker shows Newtownabbey is the cheapest place to fill up at the pumps, for both petrol and diesel. Petrol prices here are an average of 122.4p per litre (1.9p below the regional average). Diesel prices in the area are an average of 128.4p per litre (3.6p below average).

The most expensive place in Northern Ireland for petrol this week is Strabane, where the average is 126.9p per litre (2.6p above the Northern Ireland average). For diesel, Newry has the most expensive prices, with the average price of one litre coming in at 135.9p (3.9p above average).

The highest recorded average prices for fuel were in June 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, at 189.9 per litre for petrol and 197.5 per litre for diesel.

On February 2, the UK Government launched their Fuel Finder Scheme which means that forecourts across the UK must submit their pricing information and notify within 30 minutes of any price change at the pump.

Commenting on the Fuel Finder Scheme, Head of Transport Policy at the Consumer Council, Michelle Kelly, said: “We welcome this open data scheme which is a significant extension of the type of transparency the Consumer Council has sought to create for Northern Ireland consumers through our Fuel Price Checker.”

Want to see more of the stories you love from Belfast Live? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Belfast Live as a preferred source, simply click here.

King Charles removed Andrew from public duties – but a new tell-all book says William has been at odds with his uncle for some time

A blistering new book reveals the truth behind the difficult relationship between Prince William and his uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

‘William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story’ has been wrriten by The Mirror‘s royal editor Russell Myers, drawing on his many years of experience following the royal couple. Set to be published on February 26, it’s the first joint biography of the Prince and Princess of Wales in more a decade.

The book reveals the blistering rows which have taken place behind closed doors as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’s exile from the royal family has been years in the making. Following his ascension to the throne in September 2022, King Charles removed Andrew from public duties and stripped him of his HRH.

In October 2025 he delivered the final blow, evicting his disgraced younger brother and revoking his prince title, before unceremoniously kicking him out under the cover of darkness earlier this month. Now, he’s just a commoner, reports The Mirror.

Given the level of public outrage directed at Andrew through his association with Jeffrey Epstein, Charles was left with little option but to take decisive action. But it’s a decision his eldest son, Prince William, would have taken far earlier.

According to the author, William’s negative view of his uncle long predated his very public fall from grace. The prince saw Andrew as a ‘bit of an ignoramus’ and questioned what he actually did. “But it was more than that.

He’d seen how Andrew behaved in front of staff, ordering people about, the aggressive or dismissive manner, they’d never seen eye to eye,” Myers writes.

But it was the ex-duke’s association with convicted paedophile Epstein that proved insurmountable. William strongly believed that immediate action should be taken following Andrew’s now-infamous Newsnight interview in 2019. While, unbelievably, Andrew believed the interview had ‘gone well’, it was widely seen as a disaster – not just for the then-prince, but for the monarchy at large.

Myers reveals that in the aftermath, William spoke to his father to implore him and the late Queen to take action – fearing not only the public backlash but for his own future. Both William and Kate were angered by Andrew’s failure to apologise for his connection to Epstein, or acknowledge the victims of sexual abuse, the new book reveals. They are both said to be wholly aligned on the subject of Andrew.

A source told the author that William thought Andrew should be removed from the picture immediately ‘before the rot set in further’. “William’s view was that he [Andrew] got himself into the whole mess, so he should be left to his own devices to sort it out away from the family,” they said.

Then, in August 2021, more humiliation came for the monarchy. Virginia Giuffre, a victim of Epstein who died by suicide last year, filed a civil lawsuit against Andrew in New York, alleging sexual assault when she was 17. The case, filed under the Child Victims Act, proceeded despite attempts to dismiss it. As a result, in January 2022, the late Queen stripped her second son of his honorary military titles, royal patronages, and the use of the “His Royal Highness” (HRH) style. The case was ultimately settled out of court the following month, with the Queen, Prince Philip and the then-Prince Charles reportedly loaning Andrew £12million to pay Giuffre off.

Issues once again arose at Christmas time in 2023. The King extended an olive branch to Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and invited them both to Sandringham (it was Sarah’s first invite in 32 years).

Charles’s decision to bring his brother back into the family fold was something William fundamentally disagreed with and he challenged his father directly- however, a source with knowledge of the conversation said that William was “very much put in his place”.

But, as the prince predicted, the harmony was short-lived. The start of 2024 saw renewed and intense scrutiny following the unsealing of US court documents brought in 2015 by Andrew’s accuser Giuffre, against Ghislaine Maxwell, who procured underage girls for Jeffrey Epstein to abuse. It was claimed that then-Duke of York had indulged in ‘daily massages’ during frequent visits to Epstein’s Florida mansion. Allegations that he had taken part in an ‘underage orgy’ also resurfaced.

Outraged, William again implored the King to act, by stripping Andrew of his remaining titles and ‘banishing’ him from the family for good in order to protect the reputation of the institution. Charles, meanwhile, was believed to be attempting to honour the wishes of his late mother, the Queen, who believed that her second son would one day be exonerated. As such, he stopped short of pushing for his banishment. “By contrast, William made it clear that once he became king there would be no such mercy.”

One palace source told Myers: “His view was crystal clear, Andrew shouldn’t be anywhere near the family under any circumstances, not by association, not at family functions, anywhere. Every single time there was a new revelation, which no one knew when it was coming or what the next one would be, it was a stain on all of the family.”

Then, in October 2025, a newly leaked email showed that Andrew told Epstein ‘we are in this together’ after a picture of the royal with his arm around a teenage Virginia Giuffre was first published in 2011. The email appeared to contradict his previous claim on BBC Newsnight that he had ceased contact with the convicted child sex offender by that point.

Days later, Andrew announced he was giving up his titles, including the Duke of York, following “discussion with the King”. In a statement, he said that the “continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family “.

Then, at the end of that same month, came the final blow. Buckingham Palace confirmed that Andrew was losing his ‘Prince’ title, now becoming known as simply Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. The palace also said Andrew has been served formal notice to surrender his lease on Royal Lodge, his 30-room Windsor mansion.

Nevertheless, the ‘Andrew problem’ continues to haunt the royals. While he has now been whisked away to live in Sandringham, away from the public gaze, scandal continues to follow Andrew with the release of the most recent Epstein files. There are now calls for him to give evidence before the US Congress, while police have said they are investigating Andrew over reports he shared confidential reports from his role as the UK’s trade envoy with sex offender Epstein.

On 9 February, William and Kate broke their public silence over Andrew’s involvement in the Epstein files. A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: “I can confirm that the Prince and Princess of Wales have been deeply concerned by the continued revelations. Their thoughts remain focused on the victims.”

A short time later, Charles also issued a statement. “The King has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct,” a Palace spokesman said. “While the specific claims in question are for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to address, if we are approached by Thames Valley Police we stand ready to support them as you would expect.”

It’s clear there is no way back for Andrew, with both the King and his heir now aligned on the matter. The decision to evict him from Royal Lodge under the cover of darkness earlier this month reportedly came after an “urgent meeting” held between Charles and William at Sandringham. The final straw, according to royal sources, was the sight of Andrew trotting around the Windsor estate on his horse, and waving at members of the public.

The disgraced former Prince made his last appearance with the royal family when he attended the funeral of the Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral on 16 September 2025, accompanied by his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson. It was an extraordinary gathering. Andrew, laughing and smiling at times, was seen trying to strike up a conversation with William – to no avail.

Andrew, 65, continues to deny any wrongdoing. He is also said to be in complete denial about his dramatic fall from grace.

Extracted from WILLIAM AND CATHERINE by RUSSELL MYERS, published by Ebury Spotlight on February 26 at £22. Copyright © Russell Myers 2025.

The two separate power cuts were reported just before 9.30pm on the evening of Friday February 13 towards the north of Horwich and in Astley Bridge.

Electricity North West says 55 homes and business have been left without power in Horwich and 13 in Astley Bridge.

The company said: “This power cut has been caused by an unexpected incident with the underground cable that provides electricity to your home or business.

“We didn’t know before your electricity went off that this was going to happen but now we know, rest assured we will get your power back on safely and as quickly as possible.”

“Please note that all our timescales are estimated based on previous experience and may change if new information becomes available while our engineers are fixing the issue.

“With underground power cuts, we may need to dig to repair the cable and this can sometime extend the length of time you are without power.”

On Friday night a member of the public reported that the Green Lane area in Horwich had been in “darkness and unsafe for pedestrians”.

Electricity North West say the expected time for power to be restored at the Astley Bridge properties is around 11.23am on Saturday morning.

In Horwich the expected time is “under receive”.

The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for large parts of the country as Arctic maritime air sweeps across the country, bringing the risk of heavy snow in some regions.

The forecaster has warned of difficult travel conditions and urged people to take “extra care” on the roads.

Met Office warns of heavy snow in UK amid weather warnings

A yellow warning for ice has been issued across Wales and central and southern England.

This alert came into effect at 5pm on Friday and will remain in place until 10am on Saturday.

The Met Office said icy surfaces might lead to difficult travel conditions with potential for “some injuries” from slips and falls.

Parts of the north east of England and northern Scotland are also covered with a warning for snow and ice, which came into force at 4pm on Friday and runs until 10am on Saturday.

A further yellow warning for snow and ice stretching from Derby to Scotland will begin on Saturday evening and continue into Sunday morning.

The Met Office said snow in these areas could be “heavy at times” and cause “some disruption to travel”.

Forecasters said: “Accumulations of 1-3cm (of snow) will be possible at low levels, with 3-7cm possible above about 150m elevation, and perhaps 10-15cm above 400m.”

Rebekah Hicks, chief forecaster at the Met Office, said: “Snow is likely ahead of the rain across northern England and Scotland and could reach lower levels at times on Saturday night into Sunday.

“The snow will gradually turn to rain as the front moves east across the country on Sunday.

“The rain may be heavy at times and it will be windy in coastal areas.

“Additional warnings may be required.

“We encourage the public to keep up to date with the latest forecasts and any warnings that may be issued.”

Meanwhile, the Environment Agency has urged the public to remain “vigilant” amid the ongoing flood risk.

Recommended reading:

There are currently 75 flood warnings and 151 flood alerts in place across the country.

Jonathan Day, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: “With another band of rain on its way, we need the public to remain vigilant to the risk of flooding.

“So far, more than 24,000 homes and business have been protected but sadly around 330 have suffered flooding and our thoughts are with those communities affected.”

Is your area due to be affected by snow this weekend? Let us know in the comments.

Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more

When it comes to makeup, we’ve all pretty much got our routines down, right? We mostly know the products that work best for us.

However, there is one key step that you might be missing that will take your look from everyday to pure glam, and that is blush.

Of course, you’ve got the icons of blushers, such as Benefit’s Benetint, Milk Makeup

Cooling Water Jelly Tint, and Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk Matte Beauty Blush Wand, but if you’re a complete novice to the product, how do you go about finding the right one for you? How do you know if there is a better shade match than the one you have? Blusher can completely transform a look, so we’ve spoken to Professional Makeup Artist for over 30 years, Kate Hughes, to dive into all that there is to know.

‘When it comes to blushers, the goal is to mimic a natural flush. A classic trick is to look at the colour of your cheeks after a workout or a brisk walk.’

‘For fair skin: look for soft pinks, peaches, or light lilacs. Anything too dark can look like a bruise; sheer is your friend. Medium/olive skin tones can handle richer pigments like rosy pinks, warm ambers, and bright corals. Olive undertones look incredible in warm berry shades.

Then, for deeper skin shades, go bold. High pigment terracotta, deep berries, and bright oranges show up beautifully. Don’t be afraid of colours that look scary in the pan, they melt into deep skin tones for a natural glow.’

Advertisement

Merit’s Flush Balms, £26, are one of our top recommended blushers. They come available in over 12 shades, so if you’re following Kate’s advice, you will be able to find a suitable shade for yourself. ‘It’s a great product for beginners to effectively build up coverage without overdoing it. Just swipe and blend with either your finger or a brush.’ It’s also a great size to pop in your bag in case you need a little reapply throughout the day.

Another excellent lightweight option is Saie Dew Blush Liquid Cheek Flush, £22. The brand combines skin-loving ingredients such as evening primrose and mulberry extract with their formulas to create an overall seamless look. This will leave a more dewy, wet-look whilst appearing natural. Follow Kate’s advice and go bold with their Hottie shade.

e.l.f Primer-Infused Matte Blush is an affordable powder alternative. This 2-in-1 long-wear blush is infused with Vitamin E and jojoba seed oil and has a primer formula to minimize shine, leave a smooth, matte finish and works to boost its staying powder. 

When it comes to where to place your blush, Kate suggests ‘To lift, apply to the high points of the cheekbones and blend upward toward your temples. This gives a snatched, fresh look. For a sun-kissed look, apply across the bridge of your nose and the apples of your cheeks. This mimics where the sun naturally hits. If you want fullness, apply directly to the apples (the fleshy part when you smile) for a soft, rounded look.

The golden rule: start with a tiny amount. You can always add more, but it’s much harder to take it off once it’s there.’

‘If you’re a complete novice, start with a cream or liquid formula. They are much more forgiving than powders because you can blend them out with your fingers if you accidentally apply too much. Powders are best for oily skin or a matte finish. It can last a long time, but it can sometimes look chalky on dry skin. 

Whereas creams are best for a dewy, lit-from-within look. Great for dry or mature skin. Then, liquid/gels are very lightweight and usually give a watercolour-like transparency. Stains dry almost instantly, so if you’re confident with placement and blending, they do last all day.’

Kate’s go-to blushers that she loves are ‘My favourite inexpensive option is Collection Cosmetics Duo Blush, as it has both cream and powder blush in seeing double (great for layering), and it’s only £4.99. Whereas a more expensive option I always reach for is Hourglass’s Ambient Lightning Blush in Sublime Flush, which costs £46. It’s such a great colour that suits almost everyone.’

Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Advertisement

Share your views in the comments below

MORE: I’m a blusher aficionado and this liquid version has changed my make-up game

MORE: No7 have just added three new Future Renew products – our beauty expert gives her honest verdict

MORE: We tried Glow Recipe’s newest blusher with a 35,000 waitlist – here are our honest thoughts

Advertisement

Comments


Add as preferred source

Puzzles Newsletter

Get your favourite puzzles when they are ready to play on the website sent directly to you every day and track your daily streak!

Advertisement

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans may be willing to stick with President Donald Trump through almost anything, but his recent push to seize control of Greenland has turned off many in his own party, according to a new AP-NORC poll.

The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that about 7 in 10 U.S. adults disapprove of how Trump is handling the issue of Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark. That’s higher than the share who dislike how he’s handling foreign policy generally, suggesting that Trump’s Greenland approach has created a weak spot for the administration. About 24% of American adults approve of Trump’s Greenland approach.

Even Republicans aren’t thrilled. About half disapprove of his attempt to turn the icebound landmass into American territory, something that Trump has insisted is critical for national security in the Arctic, while about half approve.

The poll was conducted Feb. 5-8, which is after Trump had made the decision to scrap tariffs designed to pressure European countries into supporting U.S. control of Greenland, but after his weekslong push for American intervention over the island.

About half of Republicans disapprove of Trump on Greenland

Trump’s base is normally unwavering behind him, so Greenland stands out as an exception.

The marks represent Trump’s lowest ratings among Republicans on a list of key issues in the poll, including the economy and immigration — where about 8 in 10 approve — and foreign policy generally. About 7 in 10 Republicans approve of his overall foreign policy approach.

Trump has argued that the U.S. needs Greenland to counter threats from Russia and China in the Arctic region, despite America already having a military presence there.

Other recent polls, including a Pew Research Center survey conducted in January, found that Republicans were largely divided on whether the U.S. should take over Greenland, while Americans overall were opposed.

Ayman Amir, a 46-year-old Trump supporter from Houston, Texas, said he agrees that Greenland holds strategic importance for the United States’ military. But that doesn’t mean he thinks Trump should claim it.

“We can’t take it by force. We don’t have a right to do that,” Amir said. “You can’t blame Russia for what they do in Ukraine and then do the same thing. You can’t do this.”

Trump’s overall foreign policy approval remains steady

The president dropped his threats to seize the territory by force late last month after saying a framework for a deal over access to Greenland was reached with help from NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

The clash represents just one of the moves Trump has made to strain relationships with key allies over the last year. Western leaders are focusing on trans-Atlantic tensions this week at the Munich Security Conference.

On Greenland, Trump has few vocal supporters at home or abroad.

Even as Trump made significant moves to obtain control of Greenland, his overall approval on the issue of foreign policy has remained steady. About 4 in 10 U.S. adults approve of Trump’s approach to foreign policy, a measure that’s been unchanged in recent months.

Young Republicans especially disapprove of Greenland approach

Younger Republicans are especially likely to disapprove of how Trump is handling the situation.

About 6 in 10 Republicans under 45 say they disapprove of his leadership on Greenland, compared to about 4 in 10 older Republicans.

That 4 in 10 who approve of Trump’s Greenland actions is much lower than young Republicans’ approval on issues of foreign policy, the economy, or immigration.

Independent voter Aaron Gunnoe, 29, an engineer from Marion, Ohio, was baffled by Trump’s aggressive posture on the NATO ally.

“It’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard,” he said. “It’s owned by somebody else. That should be the end of it.”

___

The AP-NORC poll of 1,156 adults was conducted Feb. 5-8 using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.9 percentage points. The margin of sampling error for Republicans overall is plus or minus 6.1 percentage points.

Multiple popular snack bars have been recalled after it was found that they contain two ingredients that were not included on the label, resulting in a customer’s allergic reaction.

Juniper Granola, LLC, based in Rochester, New York, has recalled its Chocolate Cherry and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Junebars because they may contain undeclared milk and soy, according to a press release shared Thursday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Since the two ingredients aren’t listed on the snacks’ label, customers who are allergic to soy or milk “run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction” if they consume the products, per the press release.

Juniper Granola became aware of the undeclared allergens and opened an investigation after a customer reported having an allergic reaction to milk after consuming one of the bars. During the investigation, the company discovered that the issue was caused by an oversight in the company’s evaluation process, which resulted in a box of non-vegan chocolate chips, containing milk and soy, being used during production.

Junebars, high-fiber snack bars made with whole foods, are usually made with dairy-free and soy-free chocolate chips, prompting the recall immediately after the error was discovered.

open image in gallery

The recall affects Chocolate Cherry and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Junebars that are stamped with the label L1300, L1300A, L1300B, or L1301A.

Recalled bars were available to order on Juniper Granola’s website and distributed to various retailers in January 2026.

Consumers with the snack bars should throw them away immediately or return them to the place of purchase for a refund.

Milk and soy are identified as one of the nine major food allergies in the U.S., along with wheat, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, and sesame, according to the FDA. Allergic reactions to these nine foods vary but can involve “hives and lip swelling to severe, life-threatening symptoms, often called anaphylaxis, that may involve fatal respiratory problems and shock.”

open image in gallery

Many snacks and sweet treats have been pulled from shelves due to serious allergy risks. Last month, thousands of units of M&M’s products were recalled across 20 states because their packaging did not include proper allergen warnings.

The recall was announced by the FDA after it emerged that more than 6,000 units had been repackaged by Beacon Promotions Inc. without advisories that they may contain milk, soy and peanuts.

In December, 50-pound multi-wall bags of cake mixes, distributed by B.C. Williams Bakery Service, were recalled due to an undeclared milk allergen that was not listed on the label. It is not yet known where the mixes were sold or distributed.

However, the recall was recently elevated to Class I by the FDA, meaning there is a serious health risk associated with consuming the products.

Nearly 23,000 pounds of ground beef are being recalled because they may have been contaminated with E. coli O145, a bacterium that could cause a severe foodborne illness.

CS Beef Packers, LLC, based in Kuna, Idaho, announced the recall of approximately 22,912 pounds of its raw ground beef products in a report shared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service Wednesday (February 11).

According to the FSIS announcement, the issue was discovered during routine testing, and results showed the presence of E. coli O145, a “Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.” Customers exposed to that strain of E. coli can get sick within only two to eight days.

The USDA has identified the recall risk level as high or medium (Class I), which is when there is a probability that there can be serious or adverse health consequences, including death, from consuming the products.

The recall affects three different ground beef items, which were all produced on January 14, 2026. One product recalled is eight 10-lb. chubs of “BEEF, COARSE GROUND, 73 L” with the case code 18601.

In addition, four 10-lb. chubs of “FIRE RIVER FARMS CLASSIC BEEF FINE GROUND 73L,” with the case code 19583, and four 10-lb. chubs of “FIRE RIVER FARMS CLASSIC BEEF FINE GROUND 81L,” with the case code 19563, are being recalled.

The packaging of all three beef products has the use/freeze by date of February 4, 2026, and two stickers with time stamps between 07:03 and 08:32, indicating when, on January 14, it was produced.

All the products also bear the establishment number “EST. 630,” printed directly onto the clear packaging of the chub, according to the FSIS announcement.

The recalled items were shipped to distributors in California, Idaho and Oregon “for further distribution to foodservice locations.”

While there haven’t been any reported illnesses due to the consumption of the products, consumers should throw the ground beef away immediately or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.

People who are infected with E. coli O145 can develop symptoms like diarrhea, which is often bloody, and vomiting, per the FSIS report. While some illnesses can be severe and last up to a week, vigorous rehydration and rest are the typical treatments for the infection.

This isn’t the first time that multiple beef products in the U.S. have sparked E. coli concerns. In December, Mountain West Food Group, LLC, recalled approximately 2,855 pounds of raw ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O26, another variation of “Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.”

The recalled raw ground beef was in 16-ounce, vacuum-sealed packages containing the label “FORWARD FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF,” with the “USE OR FREEZE BY 01/13/26 EST 2083” on the side of the packaging. It was also sent to distributors who sold to six states: California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

Other food-borne illnesses were a huge cause of concern last year. In September, Nate’s Fine Foods of Roseville, California, recalled nearly 245,000 pounds of various pasta products after they were linked to a listeria outbreak, which began in August 2024.

The listeria outbreak resulted in six deaths and 27 illnesses across 18 states, as of November 2025.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, listeria is a bacteria that can contaminate many foods, with infections caused by eating food with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. Although symptoms can vary, a listeria infection can “cause invasive illness and intestinal illness.”