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It was a family affair at London’s Cineworld in Leicester Square tonight as Noel and Liam Gallagher were joined by their children at the premiere of Oasis: Don’t Look Back In Anger.

The once-feuding brothers continued to prove their era of estrangement is over for good as they put on a brotherly display on the star-studded red carpet.

Posing with their arms wrapped around each other, the rocker siblings were joined by their supportive brood, including Liam’s sons Gene, 25, and Lennon, 26, and Noel’s model-daughter Anais, 26.

The brotherly appearance was a far cry from the days of their 15-year public spat, when they fell out after numerous backstage bust-ups, walk-outs and booze-fuelled arguments.

It all came to a head when a dressing room feud in Paris tore the band apart for good in 2009… or so fans thought.

Back together for tonight’s star-studded red carpet event, Noel channelled the nineties in a double denim look, teamed with a £1,890 Mr Porter suede jacket, while Liam wore his trademark parka from the height of the band’s Britpop days.

Sienna Miller was the most high-profile star to join the duo on the red carpet as she oozed elegance in a black midi-dress.

The documentary, which launches September 9 in cinemas and on Disney Plus, chronicles their famous 15-year feud, reconciliation and follows the band on their reunion tour which grossed each brother £100million.

Liam and Noel’s nepo baby brood united on the red carpet to support their fathers (Lennon, Donovan, Anais, Molly, Sonny and Gene Gallagher pictured L-R)

The siblings were joined by their supportive nepo baby brood, with Liam and Noel letting bygones be bygones by sharing a sweet embrace

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Noel has two sons, Sonny, 15, and Donovan, 18, with his ex-wife Sara MacDonald, and model daughter Anais, 26, with first wife Meg Mathews.

Liam shares Lennon, 26, with his first wife, actress Patsy Kensit; Gene, 25, from his marriage to All Saints‘ Nicole Appleton, and Molly, 28, from a brief relationship with singer-songwriter Lisa Moorish in the late 1990s, who all went on tour. He also has love child Gemma, 13, who lives in New York.

Gene is hoping to follow in his father’s footsteps after playing with his band Villanelle at Reading and Leeds Festival last month. Meanwhile Lennon also sings and plays guitar in his band Automotion, while both sons and Molly have also turned their hand to modelling. 

The documentary will include the first joint interviews with Noel and Liam in more than 20 years, following their 2009 break-up. 

The filmmakers admitted that the Gallaghers were not really on speaking terms when filming began during rehearsals for the tour. 

They travelled separately and the tour promoters unusually only paid them once they had completed all 41 dates because they had such a history of conflict.

As the tour goes on, their relationship improved and their children met each other for the first time in many years.

Rumours of a follow-up to the band’s 2025 reunion tour have been rife in recent weeks, but no dates or venues have been formally announced.

Noel’s eldest daughter Anais put on a racy display in a backless cut-out gown as she held up a peace sign on her arrival.

Lennon and Gene looked the spitting image of their famous fathers wearing dark-rimmed sunglasses. 

Liam and Noel’s tumultuous relationship famously saw Oasis break up 17 years ago as a result of backstage bust-ups, walk-outs and numerous booze-fuelled arguments.

After working through countless bickers since they shot to stardom in the 1990s, fans were left devastated when a dressing room feud in Paris tore the band apart in 2009.

Noel issued a statement at the time, saying: ‘It’s with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I quit Oasis tonight. People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer.’

In another statement a few days later, titled Tales From The Middle Of Nowhere, Noel added: ‘I feel you have the right to know that the level of verbal and violent intimidation towards me, my family, friends and comrades has become intolerable.

‘And the lack of support and understanding from my management and band mates has left me with no other option than to get me cape and seek pastures new.’

In the years that have followed, a feud and bitter fighting has ensued with the brothers trading insults back and forth in interviews and on social media.

Ahead of the documentary release, Oasis have ‘expressed concerns’ ahead of an unheard archive of their recordings going up for sale.

The recordings, which encompass 63 live shows, as well as soundchecks and more than 100 hours of rehearsal from the brothers in the 1990s, are set to be auctioned next month.

The once-feuding brothers continued to prove their era of estrangement is over for good as they put on a brotherly display on the star-studded red carpet 

Sienna Miller, 44, oozed elegance in a black mididress as she led the star-studded guests in attendance 

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Noel channelled the nineties in a double denim look complemented with a £1,890 Mr Porter suede jacket, while Liam wore his trademark parka from the height of the pair’s Britpop days

The documentary, which launches September 9 in cinemas and on Disney Plus, chronicles their famous 15-year feud, reconciliation and follows the band on their reunion tour which grossed each brother £100million

Liam put on an animated display in his iconic look while posing for the cameras

The brothers couldn’t wipe the smiles off their faces

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Noel’s eldest daughter Anais put on a racy display in a backless cut-out gown as she held up a peace sign on her arrival

Lennon (L) and Gene (R) looked the spitting image of their famous fathers wearing dark-rimmed sunglasses

The actress was joined by her boyfriend Oli Green and friends Jake Chapman, Serena Rees, Dave Gardner, Rosemary Ferguson, Jessica Clark (L-R)

Guitarist Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs, who co-founded Oasis, looked in great spirits at the premiere

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Paul (L), Andy Bell (C) and Gem Archer complete the lineup for the historic Oasis reunion tour 

Footballer Jack Grealish was joined by his stunning partner Sasha Attwood, who wore a ruched black gown

Elizabeth Day wore Oasis merchandise to the star-studded premiere

Radio presenter Emma B appeared in great spirits as she waved to fans

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Lauren Laverne cut a sophisticated figure in a black blazer over a chic white shirt

Christine Mary Biller and Gem Archer 

Bonehead was joined by his wife Kate 

David Gilmour and Polly Samson looked more than loved-up on the red carpet

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Oasis superfan Vernon Kay couldn’t wipe the smile off his face as he arrived

Comedians Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe cut casually cool figures

Vicky McClure and her husband Jonny Owen enjoyed a date night at the premiere

Ellie Rowsell and Joel Amey from Wolf Alice made an appearance

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Actor Matt Smith snapped selfies with fans on the sidelines

Last One Laughing star Roisin Conaty looked chic in a floral blouse

They were collected by the Oasis’ sound engineer Huw Richards, who worked with the band from the release of their debut album Definitely, Maybe in 1994, until 2001.

However, Littleton Auctions, who have called the sale a ‘once-in-a-generation opportunity for fans and collectors alike’, has confirmed the band does not support the sale.

The auction house’s managing director Ben Homer said in a statement: ‘The Oasis camp is aware of the auction and has expressed concerns, which is entirely understandable given the scale and significance of the material.

‘We’re handling everything with full transparency and proper legal process.

‘Our focus is simply on presenting these items responsibly, with verified provenance, and allowing collectors and institutions to engage with an important part of British music history.’

The tapes, which are part of the wider collection dubbed The Desk Tapes, were recorded by Richards himself, who served as the front-of-house sound engineer for Oasis during the height of their career in the mid-1990s.

After joining Oasis’s crew in 1995, he worked with them on some of their biggest concerts, including the Knebworth shows in August 1996.

He recorded the tapes directly from the desk, with Littleton Auctions calling the tapes in its sale ‘the only master archive of its kind in existence’.

The recordings are being brought to sale by Huw’s son Owain Richards, with other items including internal tour itineraries, original setlists, a band-played Epiphone guitar and an original Kangol Oasis Tour parka.

Richards said: ‘Dad labelled everything, recorded everything and backed it all up to cassette, over and over. I grew up listening to these recordings. Oasis were part of the family as much as they were part of the culture.’

He explained that after the tapes had ‘been in my care’ over the past 20 years, it now ‘feels like the right time to pass them on to people who’ll understand exactly what they are’.

The auction house has singled out ‘standout items’ including a pair of Adidas Kegler Super Ostrich trainers, one of only 100 pairs ever made and given to Noel.

The Oasis ‘Live in 25’ reunion tour grossed each of the Gallagher brothers around £100million, and is set to be followed by another tour next year

Oasis: Don’t Look Back In Anger will launch at Imax screens and in cinemas on September 9

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The Daily Mail exclusively announced last month the band set to take to the stage again following the extraordinary success of their sell-out comeback shows (pictured 2008) 

They were produced in 2000 to mark the 100th birthday of Adidas founder Adi Dassler and only issued to friends and family of the brand.

Littleton Auctions added: ‘Taken together, the tapes and memorabilia are a rare record of one of the defining bands of their generation at the peak of their powers – the imperfections and the energy of a band working at the very top, caught as it happened. For those who were there, and for those who wish they had been, it is a chance to hold on to a piece of that moment.’

Homer added the level of interest they were ‘already seeing’ reflected Oasis’s popularity as ‘one of the most beloved and closely followed bands in British music history’.

‘Alongside the memorabilia and recordings of other legendary artists in the collection, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for fans and collectors alike,’ he said.

The Times has reported that any buyer would not be able to commercialise the archive without the co-operation of the band as Oasis retain the intellectual property rights.

The Oasis auction will take place online and in person on Saturday, October 3.

Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann’s 15-year-old son will likely endure ‘close, close monitoring’ if he’s granted bond after being taken into custody last month over sexual assault allegations made by a female classmate. 

Kroy Jr, known as KJ, remains behind bars over the alleged incident, with the teen last week indicted by a grand jury in Georgia on seven charges: aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, aggravated sexual battery, three counts of aggravated sexual battery against a child under 16 and false imprisonment. 

KJ has denied all the allegations against him. 

Lindsay Richards, a sexual assault case expert and former prosecutor, gave her insight into KJ’s bid to get out of jail, saying: ‘I think there’s a likelihood he’ll be released and he will have a lot of conditions of his release.

‘I think he’ll be on a GPS. He’ll probably be on house arrest, having to do school at home’, she told Page Six.

She also said the ‘unbelievably serious’ charges could land the teen in prison for decades if convicted.

Richards, who is not involved in his case, said KJ may have to enroll in therapy and educational courses before he goes on trial.

Kroy Jr., known as KJ, remains behind bars over the alleged incident, with the teen last week indicted by a grand jury in Georgia on seven charges: aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, aggravated sexual battery, three counts of aggravated sexual battery against a child under 16 and false imprisonment- pictured with Zolciak

Kroy Biermann and Zolciak share six children together – they split in 2023 after a 12 year marriage – pictured 2022

Richards noted that the fact KJ remains in custody suggests the seriousness of the situation. 

‘Not releasing him into the custody of his parents with electronic monitoring of some kind, that surprises me for this young of a kid,’ Richards continued.

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Zolciak, Biermann and KJ’s attorney for further comment. 

KJ was arrested in Alpharetta, Georgia, last month for the alleged April 23 offense. 

According to Fulton County Georgia Juvenile court papers obtained by the Daily Mail, the alleged victim said she was at the gym when she saw KJ, and alleged he suggested they go into a co-ed sauna.

Per the documents, to get to the sauna, they had to walk through a family changing room, which is where the alleged incident happened.

The girl claimed KJ began to touch her and she said no. She then alleged he forced her to perform oral sex on him and allegedly attempted ‘multiple times to have sexual intercourse with her by trying to pull down her pants.’ She alleged that when she ‘finally managed to get away from him … he pulled up his pants and left.’

Zolciak branded the allegations ‘reckless and deeply troubling’ in a statement to The Daily Mail, saying: ‘He categorically denies ever being involved with this woman or engaging in the conduct she has alleged.

‘My son voluntarily took a polygraph examination regarding these allegations and passed,’ she claimed.

‘Additionally, an examination was conducted, and no DNA belonging to my son was found.’

‘We remain confident that the facts and evidence will establish the truth, and we ask that people allow the proper process to take its course rather than spreading unproven allegations.’

Per documents, an officer was dispatched to North Fulton Hospital on April 24, 2026, for a reported sexual assault.

Police said the alleged victim and her father claimed the incident occurred the day prior inside a nearby gym.

Kroy Jr. seen in a mugshot released in August

The alleged victim was examined at the North Fulton Hospital in Georgia on April 24 and, per the report, no evidence of male DNA was found in her mouth or vagina.

Police opened an investigation and an officer says he began attempting to contact Kroy Sr on May 14.

The officer says he spoke with him on May 18, and Kroy Sr said he would ‘discuss the matter with Kim.’

KJ is being held without bond at the Juvenile Court of Fulton County. 

His attorney tried to get the teenager released on bond on Wednesday afternoon.

His lawyers submitted documents arguing that the teenager isn’t a flight risk and that his strong academic and athletic record is proof of his good character.

The attorney said that Biermann Jr is ‘a high school student in good standing who has demonstrated strong academic achievement,’ on top of receiving scholarships for his athletic prowess.

They also point out that Biermann Jr never fled the state despite knowing about the charges against him back in April, and that he also submitted to polygraph testing.

The attorney is also asking to keep the proceedings confidential due to both Biermann Jr and his alleged victim being juveniles, as well as the public interest in the case due to Zolciak’s fame as a reality TV star.

KJ’s attorney Jason Sheffield told The Daily Mail last month: ‘My client is 100% innocent and tried to present evidence to the arresting officer, including a passed Polygraph by a notable and respected sex offender Polygrapher.

‘The fact that he’s been arrested and is being held without Bond is a tragedy. He is not only presumed innocent, but is in fact, innocent.

The couple are pictured with their children before their split

‘I will work tirelessly to demonstrate to the District Attorney’s office the mean spirited nature of these false allegations and to bring a close to this matter as quickly as possible. I’m asking the Public not to presume the truth of these allegations and to give the families on both sides their space and privacy.’

In May, Zolciak, 48, who has been embroiled in a bitter child custody row and split from Biermann, 40, celebrated KJ’s 15th birthday.

Zolciak shared multiple family photos from over the years, including snaps with KJ’s older sisters, Brielle, 29, and Ariana, 24, along with several photos that highlighted the striking resemblance he had to his younger brothers, Kash, 14, and 12-year-old Kane.

Zolciak and Biermann also welcomed daughter Kaia, 12, who is Kane’s twin.

The former Atlanta Falcons linebacker adopted Brielle and Ariana after tying the knot with his estranged wife in 2011.

The reality TV couple parted ways in 2023, and had a series of breakups and reconciliations before splitting for good.

In March, Biermann asked the court to grant him full custody of their minor children, and he accused his ex of ‘blatant mismanagement of basic parenting responsibilities’ in a court filing.

In June, a judge granted Biermann primary physical custody of their four minor children after he alleged that Zolciak was ‘unstable and unfit.’

Zolciak and Biermann will continue to share joint legal custody of the children.  

Shoppers can save up to £1.60 on individual items, with the cuts covering everything from fruit and vegetables to meat, dairy and store-cupboard essentials.

The biggest cash saving is on organic balsamic vinegar, which has fallen from £6 to £4.40, giving shoppers £1.60 off.

Other reductions include organic honey granola, down from £5.20 to £4, while organic lamb mince has dropped from £7.50 to £6.40.

One of the biggest percentage reductions is on organic crop potatoes, which have fallen from £2.65 to £1.70 – a cut of almost 36 per cent.

M&S Organic Breakfast Tea has been reduced from £2.75 to £1.90, while organic carrots are now 90p and organic garlic starts from 70p.

The price cuts form part of a £4 million investment by M&S aimed at making its organic range more affordable as the retailer looks to compete more aggressively with Britain’s supermarkets.

Selected organic carrots, lamb, pasta and potatoes are also joining the M&S Remarksable Value range.

M&S makes major price change to more than 50 products across UK stores (Image: Jam Press/M&S)

Prices in the Remarksable Value range are benchmarked against rival supermarkets, while M&S says the products continue to meet its usual quality and sourcing standards.

Alex Freudmann, managing director of M&S Food, said: “We’re on a journey at M&S Food to become a true shopping list retailer, giving customers more reasons to shop with us more often and for more of what they need each week.

“Organic is a category with huge potential.

“That’s why we’re investing over £4 million to lower prices on more than 50 organic staples, bringing together trusted M&S quality, accredited organic sourcing at great value.

“It’s another important step in making M&S accessible to more customers while supporting our ambition to grow the food business.”

Organic grocery items from M&S (Image: Jam Press/M&S)

Full list of M&S price cuts

• Organic Plain White Flour – £2.60 to £2.05
• Organic Red Kidney Beans – £1.35 to £1.25
• Organic Honey Granola – £5.20 to £4
• Organic Coconut Oil – £4 to £3.85
• Organic Breakfast Tea 50 – £2.75 to £1.90
• Organic Baked Beans – £1.10 to £1
• Organic Chopped Tomatoes – £1.30 to £1.25
• Organic Self Raising White Flour – £2.60 to £2.05
• Organic British Butter – £3.30 to £3.20
• 1pt Organic English Semi-skimmed Milk – £1.25 to £1.20
• Organic Honey – £3.70 to £3.35
• Organic Carrot Bag – £1.25 to 90p
• Organic Green Lentils – £2.70 to £2.30
• Organic Couscous – £2.30 to £2
• Red Lentils – £2.40 to £2.30
• Organic Fusilli – £2.30 to £1.90
• Organic Crop Potatoes – £2.65 to £1.70
• Organic Strong White Bread Flour – £2.60 to £2.05
• Organic Pink Lady Apples – £3.25 to £3
• Organic Strong Wholemeal Flour – £2.60 to £2.05
• Organic Raisins – £3 to £2.80
• Full Fat Organic Milk – £2.40 to £2
• Organic Sultanas – £3 to £2.80
• Organic Gala Apples – £2.40 to £2.20
• Organic Cucumber – £1.65 to £1.30
• Organic Unwaxed Lemon – £2.25 to £2
• Organic Blueberries – £3 to £2.90
• Organic Chestnut Mushrooms – £2.50 to £2.25
• Organic Mixed Pack Pepper – £2.25 to £1.75
• Organic Mature Cheddar – £5 to £4.50
• Organic Courgettes – £2.60 to £2.45
• Organic Rosa Tomatoes 375g – £2.50 to £2.25
• Organic Gem Lettuce – £1.80 to £1.60
• Organic Carrots – £2.10 to £1.60
• Organic Lamb Mince – £7.50 to £6.40
• Organic Eggs Medium x6 – £3 to £2.60
• Organic Celery – £1.50 to £1.40
• Organic Eggs Large x6 – £3.65 to £3.30
• Organic Cooked Prawns – £5.50 to £4.95
• Organic Dates – £3.60 to £3.50
• Organic Soft Prunes – £3.60 to £3.50
• Organic Spinach 200g – £2.25 to £2
• Organic Soft Apricots – £4.25 to £4.20
• Organic Cauliflower – £2.30 to £2
• Organic Balsamic Vinegar – £6 to £4.40
• Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil – £7.25 to £6.75
• 300ml Organic Cream – £2 to £1.70
• Organic Sweet Gem Lettuce x2 – £2 to £1.70
• Organic Baby Rocket Salad 80g – £2.40 to £2
• Organic Rocket 80g – £2.40 to £2
• Organic Avocados – £2.75 to £2.60
• Organic Mixed Eggs x12 – £5.50 to £5.40
• Organic Leeks – £2.20 to £2.10
• Organic Cabbage – £1.50 to £1.35
• Organic Salad Pots – £2.25 to £2
• Organic Brown Onion – £1.75 to £1.65
• Organic Butternut Squash – £2 to £1.90
• Organic Red Onions – £1.50 to £1.45

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The retailer is aiming to double its share of Britain’s organic food market, which is worth almost £2 billion.

According to Worldpanel figures supplied by M&S, the organic market grew by 4.4 per cent over the past year, while more than a third of M&S customers say they buy more organic food than they did five years ago.

M&S is also introducing dedicated organic sections at larger and newer Foodhalls, bringing frozen, chilled and store-cupboard organic products together.

Two businesses are now under investigation

Two Cambridgeshire businesses were allegedly caught selling age-restricted products to children. Trading Standards officers conducted a series of test purchasing operations across the county.

The exercises were conducted over the summer by Cambridgeshire County Council’s Trading Standards team, working alongside Volunteer Police Cadets in Cambridgeshire, aged between 14 and 16, and licensing teams from the city and district councils.

The cadets attempted to purchase age-restricted products, including alcohol, vapes and tobacco, from 26 premises. The businesses involved were selected following complaints and intelligence suggesting they may have been selling age-restricted goods to underage individuals.

Most businesses demonstrated good practice, with staff challenging the cadets about their age and refusing sales where appropriate. However, two premises sold age-restricted products to an underage cadet and are now under investigation, according to Cambridgeshire County Council.

The activity forms part of Trading Standards’ ongoing work to tackle the illegal sale of age-restricted products to children and young people. Peter Gell, Head of Trading Standards at Cambridgeshire County Council, said that “it is vital that businesses remain vigilant” with changes to legislation coming into force in the future.

He said: “Selling these products to children can have serious impacts on their health and wellbeing. Young people may not fully understand the long-term risks associated with using products such as tobacco and vapes at an early age.

“Our work with partners to identify and take action against businesses that break the law will continue. These exercises play an important role in protecting young people and ensuring retailers meet their legal responsibilities.

“With changes to legislation relating to tobacco and vape sales coming into force in the future, it is vital that businesses remain vigilant. Retailers should ensure staff receive appropriate training, along with regular refresher training, and that robust procedures are in place to prevent underage sales.”

Inspector Hayley Thind, from Prevention, Custody and Partnerships at Cambridgeshire Constabulary, said: “The Volunteer Police Cadets promote good citizenship and have done a fantastic job in assisting our Trading Standards colleagues with this operation.

“The cadets’ on-going support of operations such as this is testament to their resilience and ability to work under pressure, so well done to them. I am glad to see that the vast majority of local businesses complied with legislation and kept the young people in our communities safe.”

The work is funded by Cambridgeshire County Council’s Public Health team, helping Trading Standards and its partners to protect young people from the harms associated with alcohol, tobacco and vaping products.

Trading Standards is encouraging retailers to review their age-verification policies and ensure staff consistently challenge anyone who appears under the age of 25. A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire County Council said: “If you have concerns about young people accessing alcohol in your local area, please report these to Cambridgeshire Police online.

“Information about shops selling vapes or tobacco products to children under the age of 18 can be reported to Trading Standards advice partner, Citizens Advice Consumer Service, on 0808 223 1133 Monday to Friday or via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service online form over the weekend. You can remain anonymous if you wish.”

‘I hope you’re ready for the best sandwich you’ve ever had in your life’

Slabz Sandwiches has announced that it is set to open its fifth location very soon.

They took to social media to let their followers know that they will be opening in Portrush, calling it a “North Coast takeover”.

Slabz opened in the North Coast town of Portstewart in 2024 and quickly became a big hit for its American deli-style sandwiches, attracting large queues out the door.

They then went on to open a location in Belfast City Centre, Coleraine and Castlerock soon after.

OPINION

In the post on Instagram, they said, “someone told us the Port needed better sandwiches. So today we got the key for our next location. Portush let’s be having ya.”

They added, “Portrush, I hope you’re ready for the best sandwich you’ve ever had in your life.”

There is no set opening date, but they have said the new store is “coming very soon”.

Customers can get their hands on sandwiches and loaded fries in the store and they have even been teasing the return of their famous Christmas sandwich.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our What’s On newsletter here

It’s a habit 60 percent of us undertake at least once a week. 

Many see mouthwash as an essential part of oral hygiene, killing bacteria in the mouth to banish bad breath and help prevent tooth decay.

But dentists are now warning that, for most people, the habit is unnecessary – and may even be doing more harm than good.

Dr David Conway, from the University of Glasgow Dental School, previously said: ‘I would not advise routine use of mouthwash, full stop.

‘It isn’t needed as part of general oral hygiene.’

Researchers warn that there is no good evidence that mouthwash is more effective than tooth brushing in preventing cavities or solving bad breath.

At the same time, some small studies have warned that it could raise blood pressure – or even put users at a higher risk of cancer. 

So, should you really keep using mouthwash regularly?

To maintain mouth health, doctors recommend brushing teeth at least twice a day using a toothbrush and toothpaste that contains sodium fluoride, which strengthens enamel and prevents cavities.

The mechanical action of the toothbrush removes bacteria that could cause cavities and any food they could colonize, raising the risk of tooth decay. The foam formed during brushing also helps fluoride adhere better than if it were in mouthwash.

There are two main types of mouthwash: Therapeutic mouthwashes, which contain active ingredients that kill bacteria and help with common dental issues such as bad breath, gum disease and tooth decay, and cosmetic mouthwashes, which temporarily mask bad breath and leave a pleasant taste but do little more. 

While cosmetic mouthwashes simply mask a problem such as bad breath, experts warn that therapeutic ones could do damage to your health because of the disruption to the mouth microbiome.

The mouth is home to billions of bacteria that help boost oral health. But when a mouthwash is used, both the ‘bad’ and ‘good’ bacteria are swept away, raising the risk of complications. 

According to Dr Joanna L’Heureux, a public health expert in the UK, one of the main roles of bacteria in the mouth is to create chemicals to help manage blood pressure, with high blood pressure being one of the most common health conditions in the US.

Bacteria at the back of the tongue convert nitrate in our food, from sources such as leafy greens, into nitrite. The body absorbs this and converts it into nitric oxide, a compound that is essential for helping blood vessels dilate to lower blood pressure.

One small trial published in 2020 tracked 36 healthy adults in Britain who rinsed their mouths twice a day for seven days with a placebo mouthwash, and then did the same with a therapeutic mouthwash.

It found there was a ‘major shift in the salivary microbiome’ of the mouth and a major drop in the population of bacteria needed to maintain healthy blood pressure.

Many use mouthwash to help reduce their risk of dental cavities 

Another small study of 19 healthy volunteers found that adults who used mouthwash for seven days saw a small increase in blood pressure and reduced levels of nitrite. 

In another trial involving 15 adults who already had high blood pressure, three days of using mouthwash was found to further increase blood pressure. 

In these studies, the mouthwashes used contained chlorhexidine, a strong antiseptic available via prescription in the US that is only recommended for short-term use in people with gum disease or other dental problems. 

Some experts have warned this may also raise the risk of heart disease because high blood pressure is known to cause more damage to blood vessels, raising the risk of suffering from heart problems. 

There is also evidence to suggest that using a mouthwash may raise your risk of cancer.

Many mouthwashes contain up to 27 percent alcohol, which helps to kill off bacteria but is also a known carcinogen – linked to cancers of the mouth, throat and larynx.

A study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer in 2014 linked mouthwash to oral cancer, although only among people who used it more than three times a day.

When it comes to treating bad breath, experts also warn there is particular concern over using mouthwash to do this. 

Dr Praveen Sharma, a dentist in the UK and adviser to the British Dental Association, said: ‘Bad breath may be caused by gum disease, in which case using mouthwash is effectively just blasting it with air freshener – it’s masking the symptom without treating the cause.’

So, how often is it safe to use mouthwash? 

Dr Purnima Kumar, an oral medicine expert at the University of Michigan, previously told the New York Times that if someone uses mouthwash occasionally, such as once a week or once a month, it is unlikely to do damage to their oral health.

But she warned that using mouthwash daily for months or years on end could lead to various complications.

She said: ‘Do I have a bottle of mouthwash next to my toothbrush? Absolutely. But do I use it every day? Certainly not.’

NEW YORK (AP) — Mirra Andreeva remembers looking up to Anastasia Potapova well before they became rivals on the court.

So when Potapova fell and was injured late in their fourth-round match Monday at the U.S. Open, Andreeva put aside the tennis and went to assist.

The French Open champion helped Potapova up so she could get treatment, then finished off a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory that sent her to the quarterfinals in Flushing Meadows for the first time.

“It’s not the perfect end to the match,” Andreeva said.

Andreeva led 5-3 in the final set when Potapova lunged to hit a running forehand and went down holding her left knee. As Potapova sat on the court in pain, the 19-year-old Russian came from the other side of the net and rested her hand on the 25-year-old’s shoulder.

She helped the No. 24 seed up and Potapova was able to limp to her bench, where Andreeva asked if someone could bring her ice. Potapova was treated and eventually able to continue with her knee bandaged, though with limited movement she didn’t win another point and didn’t even attempt to get Andreeva’s final shot.

Potapova appeared to be tearing up as Andreeva came around the net for a long embrace after the final point.

Potapova now represents Austria, but she was born in Russia and still played under that flag when she won the junior Wimbledon championship in 2016.

“For me, Nastya, she was always like a prodigy,” Andreeva said. “She came on tour early. She also had a lot of wins. I also remember we were all watching and cheering for her when she won juniors Wimbledon title. I remember watching that match. For me, she was always, like, a little star that I was kind of always looking at.”

Potapova won their first meeting on tour in 2022 but Andreeva has won the last four. This one prevented Potapova from reaching her first Grand Slam quarterfinal.

“First, she just beat me. So after, I just kind of knew that she’s a tough player to play, but at the same time, she was so nice,” Andreeva said.

“Then since then we would practice together, and just like that, the more you see each other, the more you spend time together, then you just talk about everything, discuss everything. Then just like that, I feel like we have a good connection off the court.”

___

See AP’s full tennis coverage here

By QUENTIN LETTS, PARLIAMENTARY SKETCHWRITER

Published: 21:40 BST, 7 September 2026 | Updated: 21:53 BST, 7 September 2026

John Healey, our new Chancellor, gave a speech designed to soothe the financial markets. Soothe or sedate? Mr Healey probably sent them to sleep faster than a doxepin bap.

He ambled to the lectern mid-morning at the Manufacturing Technology Centre, Coventry. Strong coffee beforehand. It was soon evident why. They should have issued cattle prongs, to prod audience members who started snoring.

The Healey voice whirrs. You sense it is there yet you remain unsure in which corner of the room it has settled. There is just this bucolic bombilation. It is not quite a buzz, more an amiable susurration as it dawdles in the dahlias. You find your eyelids becoming heavy. Your pulse slows. The chin droops.

Give that person a prod!

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He is not the first Chancellor to be a boring orator. Geoffrey Howe was humdingingly dull. John Major‘s speeches had the colour and texture of whipped egg white. I used to keep myself awake by staring at his hairy hands and imagining what horrors they committed in that bath with Edwina.

Alistair Darling was charming but his Budgets would leave the Commons in various states of narcolepsy, some MPs with heads back, mouths like sinkholes, others having slumped against colleagues’ shoulders. And yet those Chancellors were not entirely without their merits, so a comatose tone may not intrinsically be a bad thing. It may indicate fiscal caution.

Mr Healey’s speech, sadly, merely exuded continuity. His words were little different from those Rachel Reeves used to utter. He desired growth but would not promise the spending and tax cuts that could create it. He claimed to ‘want to leave a sense of real urgency and imperative’ but there was no concomitant undertaking actually to do anything. One week before the TUC conference, and three before Labour’s, he was probably never going to say anything radical.

He is less obviously a bluffer than Reeves. The eyes do not dart so much – Rachel used to look like a shoplifter – and Mr Healey comes across as more experienced and calm. But the cliches were terrible. We had ‘win-win’, ‘brightest and the best’, ‘let me be clear’, ‘acting at pace’ and ‘defining mission’. These were typed in his script. Why does no special adviser edit such atrocities? Do political aides not understand how language can kill interest?

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The Healey voice whirrs. You sense it is there yet you remain unsure in which corner of the room it has settled. There is just this bucolic bombilation, writes Quentin Letts

Meanwhile, Angela Rayner made a triumphant return to the Commons front bench, mispronouncing Worcester as ‘Whirrchester’

Mr Healey has a slender face, long chin and a forehead that often wrinkles. His upper lip lifts at the left, baring larky teeth. Had he a little more hair, the effect would be vintage Leonard Rossiter. If he leaned backwards and put his hands on his hips he would basically be a bald Reggie Perrin.

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He began by praising his ‘brilliant Treasury team – James, Dan, Lucy.’ Pause. Then: ‘Torsten’. Fancy that: almost forgetting Torsten Bell. The speech’s buzz-phrase was ‘growth in every postcode’. He blamed the Tories for lack of growth in those postal codes: ‘Cameron’s austerity, Johnson’s hard Brexit, Liz Truss’, plus Thatcher-era deindustrialisation. 

Even as he spoke, just down the road, Jaguar Land Rover was axing 4,000 jobs. Maybe Labour’s high energy and employment costs had something to do with that. As for Ms Truss, Labour has now zoomed past her record on gilt costs.

Having complained about Brexit, Mr Healey boasted about the trade deals that, er, Brexit made possible. He claimed the credit for interest rate cuts. When a reporter mentioned the possibility interest rates could soon rocket, that was attributed to global factors.

The venue by this point resembled the day room of an old people’s home, the audience in various stages of poleaxed slumber.

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Which leaves room briefly to report that Angela Rayner made a triumphant return to the Commons front bench, mispronouncing Worcester. It popped out as ‘Whirrchester’. John Prescott used to beam when he mangled words. Ditto Mrs Rayner. Beside her sat Matthew Pennycook, her deputy. For a few precious months he thought he had escaped Big Ange. Now she is back.

Poor old Pennycock’s expression was unbearably tragic.

Chief Constable Victoria Fuller and Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey have written to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to ask for an increase of £20m of funding per year. 

They say that “longstanding and systematic funding inequalities” has left the region “disproportionately underfunded for many years”. 

It comes in the wake of the devastating A66 crash on August 22 where PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough died in the line of duty. 

Police at the scene of the crash on the A66. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The letter, backed by a string of civic leaders across the region including mayors and council leaders, has laid bare how there are no police force areas with higher levels of crime than the region that receive less funding than Cleveland Police.

There are approximately 40 per cent more crimes per police officer in Cleveland than the national average, and despite this level of demand, Cleveland receives around 35 per cent less funding per crime than the average police force. 

Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The letter also reveals that bringing officer workloads closer to the national average would require around 500 extra officers.

It comes just days after Ms Mahmood announced that the force would get an £2 million to tackle serious and organised crime following the tragic A66 incident and Grangetown house blaze.

Shabana Mahmood announced an extra £2m in funding would be given to Cleveland Police to help tackle organised crime. (Image: House of Commons/PA Wire)

But the letter argues that, despite the boost, the force has a funding model that “fails to reflect the reality of policing one of the most crime-affected areas in the country”.

“These are not simply statistics. They are stark facts that have a significant impact on our workforce,” the letter states. 

“They represent heavier workloads, growing pressure on workforce wellbeing, victims waiting longer for justice, communities requiring greater protection and public services operating under increasing strain.

Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey (Image: Supplied)

“The consequences are felt far beyond policing, placing significant pressure on our fire service, local authorities, health and mental health services, children’s services, housing providers, schools, community organisations and the voluntary sector.” 

Ms Fuller and Mr Storey argue that a recurring uplift of at least £20 million per year would enable police to recruit, train and retain approximately 200 additional police officers. 

They said: “The evidence is clear, the challenges are longstanding and the need for action is urgent. What is now required is a funding settlement that reflects the reality of the demands facing our force and the communities we serve. Our communities are looking for action. 

PC Matthew Blades (left) and PC Tom Clough (right) (Image: CLEVELAND POLICE/CARMEL COLLEGE)

“While we recognise the Government’s commitment to police reform, Cleveland cannot afford to wait for future reviews, reforms or changes to funding formulas. 

“The challenges we face exist today, and they require action today.” 

The letter has been signed in support by the following people:

• Graham Harrison, leader of Hartlepool Borough Council 
• Matt Wilton, chief executive of Hartlepool Borough Council 
• Chris Cooke, Mayor of Middlesbrough Council
• Erik Scollay, chief executive of Middlesbrough Council 
• Alec Brown, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council
• Brian Archer, chief executive of Redcar and Cleveland Council
• Lisa Evans, leader of Stockton Borough Council 
• Mike Greene, chief executive of Stockton Borough Council
• Lord Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor 
• Tom Bryant, chief executive of the Tees Valley Combined Authority
• David Coupe, chair of Cleveland Fire Authority 
• Simon Weastell, interim chief fire officer, Cleveland Fire Brigade 
• Alison Smith, chief executive of Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust 

• Stacey Hunter, chief executive of the University Hospitals Tees Group 
• Matt Forrest, chief executive officer, Thirteen Housing Group 
• Rosemary Du Rose, chief executive, Beyond Housing 
• Mark Davis, on behalf of Tees Valley Infrastructure Partnership