To understand the 127 Yard Sale, it helps to start on a back road in rural Ohio, where a 12-foot rooster statue towers before a red barn. Alternatively, route to a two-lane stretch in Tennessee, where a vendor’s sign propped inside an open casket promises a “killer deal.”

For nearly 700 miles — stretching along Highway 127 in southern Michigan down to Lookout Mountain Parkway, Alabama — the nation’s longest yard sale winds through open farmland, mountain bluffs and small towns.

Along the four-day route, tables hold a mix of everyday attic clear-outs and true oddities.

Shoppers sift through classic roadside fare like vintage tools, mid-century furniture, milk glass and car parts, mixed with items you would be hard pressed to find anywhere else. Over the years, vendors have set up everything from Victorian wheelchairs and antique farm machinery to full-sized replica dinosaurs and even a vintage embalming table.

“Every year, people ask me, ‘What is it like?’” Josh Randall, the director of media relations for the 127 Yard Sale, told The Independent. “It’s one of those things where, until you experience it yourself, it’s very hard to put into words because it’s on such a massive scale. People think yard sale, they think the Saturday morning kind of thing. But because it’s so big, it’s like you’re going to an event. You’re not just going to a yard sale.”

The event’s origins trace back to 1987, when Mike Walker, then county executive of Fentress County in Jamestown, Tennessee, hatched a plan to lure vacationers off major interstates. The goal was to redirect tourist traffic onto two-lane back roads, giving small rural communities along Highway 127 a chance to show off their local businesses, parks and regional culture.

The local experiment quickly caught on. Neighboring communities across Kentucky, Ohio and surrounding states wanted to be part of it, eventually expanding the route into the six-state corridor it is today.

“Over the following years, Ohio was added to it, Georgia down into Alabama, and eventually the last portion that was added was into the southern portion of Michigan,” Randall said. Next year, he added, marks the sale’s 40th anniversary.

Spanning nearly 700 miles, the event is so vast that even those who run it struggle to capture its magnitude. With no single entry point or gate count to rely on, organizers estimate that participation climbs into the hundreds of thousands, driven by more than 10,000 vendors spread across all six states.

Navigating the sale requires patience and a willingness to abandon strict schedules. Because traffic slows to a crawl through the heavy vendor clusters, driving Highway 127 means surrendering to the pace of the road.

“You might show up somewhere and think you’re going to be there for ten minutes,” Randall said, “and the next thing you know, you’re talking to a vendor and you’re there for two hours.”

For Randall, that unhurried pace is precisely what gives the sale its staying power. Having traveled the entire 700-mile corridor multiple times, he sees the event as a rare reprieve from an increasingly digital world.

“Today, so much of our lives is digital — we’re on social media, we’re doing email,” he said. “Actually being in person and talking to other human beings face-to-face is becoming more of a unique thing. People spend a lot of time talking, and there’s a real community aspect to it.”

That desire to talk to actual people mirrors a broader trend in the explosion of second-hand shopping and secondhand culture. In recent years, thrifting and vintage hunting have transformed what used to be a weekend hobby into a massive secondary economy, fueled in large part by social media creators, digital resellers and content creators looking for unique pieces.

The 127 Yard Sale Facebook community alone has grown to more than 199,000 members, serving as a year-round online home base where shoppers post wish lists, vendors share photos of incoming merchandise and property owners rent out booth spaces for about $25 per day.

Yet while platforms like TikTok, Instagram and online marketplaces have introduced a younger generation to the thrill of second-hand treasure hunting, Randall notes that digital hype can only take you so far.

The online space helps build anticipation, but it ultimately serves to feed the real-world experience.

Influencers and content creators now travel the route to document their journeys in real time, drawing viewers into a culture centered on tactile discovery — sifting through physical crates, bargaining over old tools or vintage fashion and connecting directly with the seller.

Beyond individual sellers clearing out attics, the event provides an essential economic lift to small towns along the route. One indoor antique mall in Chattanooga, Tennessee, recorded four-day sales totals during the event that eclipsed its entire previous month’s revenue.

Revenue aside, most people come for the simple joy of the drive.

“You get to experience something you wouldn’t normally,” Randall said.

Throughout Love Me Tender, French director Anna Cazenave Cambet’s new film about a mother’s fight for custody of her child, the audience is reminded of the body at the centre of the story – that of Clémence Delcourt (Vicky Krieps). The camera is almost cloyingly close, presenting her body in lingering shots that offer opportunities for the audience to connect with her real, visceral experience.

It is this body that we follow through the story. From the opening shot of Clémence in the pool to the ending on a bike, hers is a body constantly in motion, with a kind of restless energy. It is no wonder that she feels the need to keep moving: Clémence separates from her husband, and leaves him and her son after realising she is attracted to women.

Clémence tells her ex-husband she has started dating women, and he responds that her son no longer wants to see her. The film follows Clémence’s battle for access to her son and the heartbreak it causes. It’s an adaptation of the autofictional novel, Love Me Tender (2020) by Constance Debré.

At the heart of this film is a tension between being yourself and the demands of society, whether that be the roles of mother or the homophobia still present. Clémence is painted by her ex-husband and her son’s school as “ill” and “violent” and her sexuality is linked with incest and paedophilia. This is nothing new in terms of queer experience. By highlighting these attitudes – and the emotional pain they cause – the film suggests that they should be challenged. At the same time, however, the way the film is shot and paced seems to uphold ideas and stereotypes of queer representation in film.

Clémence is often isolated, both literally and figuratively. We follow her swimming and writing, and when she is with others, she often appears disconnected from the group in some way. She is “othered” throughout the film. This perhaps reflects her isolation, but it also singles her out as different.

A misdirect in the opening of the film also establishes the tone: we see the physical experience of queerness and queer sex as she meets and has an encounter with a woman at the swimming pool. Shortly after, we see Clémence outside, video-calling her son with his father. At this point, there is no clarity about what is happening. Viewers may assume she is being unfaithful, and therefore a protagonist who we are not supposed to morally align with. Even so, the performance from Krieps is striking; I found myself drawn into her emotional world and the sense of solitude that pervades the film.

When Clémence does have sexual encounters with other women, they are often low-lit and tightly shot, creating a feeling of something hidden. While it may be a way to simulate intimacy, it also suggests that queer experience is something to be hidden or something shameful.

The distinction between these scenes and the scenes with Clémence’s estranged son are striking. He appears to be the opening up of her world, and the viewer is left with uncertainty as to what is exactly is happening. We are never shown the father’s argument for why he has been coercing his son into not seeing his mother other than assumed homophobia.

Clémence is shown as promiscuous, unstable, constantly moving between housing and partners, and unable to connect to others. While this may reflect some queer experiences, it’s a frustratingly persistent trope in films. It does, however, raise the question of whether art should reflect real life or offer something else. Should queer viewers see themselves and their struggles reflected or look for hope?

Despite Love Me Tender being an adaptation, there would have been ways to film this that didn’t retread old ground in queer imagery. Given that it is a film about a woman trying to do things her own way, to push against expectations, the visuals do not seem to agree. They were, as the film is, impressive, engaging and compelling, but overall, Love Me Tender left me feeling a mix of emotions. What the viewer is left with is a sense of sadness, anger at the unjust situation, and a recognition that queer experience continues to be difficult for many.

This article features references to books that have been included for editorial reasons, and may contain links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something, The Conversation UK may earn a commission.

As the director of hit movies The Odyssey, Dunkirk and Interstellar, Christopher Nolan is well acquainted with telling dramatic stories.

But one little-known episode from his own family’s past was as dramatic as any Hollywood movie script – when his older brother was accused of having been the hitman behind a transcontinental gangland assassination.

In the legal fallout from the case, Christopher himself personally intervened to beg a judge to show his troubled brother mercy, never-before-seen documents reveal.

And in an extraordinary coincidence it was alleged that his ‘hitman’ brother used the codename ‘Oppenheimer‘ – which 15 years later would be the title of the film for which Christopher won an Oscar for Best Picture, the Daily Mail can reveal for the first time.

Details of his heartfelt plea on behalf of his brother have emerged as Christopher is being tipped for numerous Oscars for The Odyssey, his hit adaptation of the epic ancient Greek poem by Homer.

The bizarre case unfolded 16 years ago when Christopher was already one of cinema’s most exciting emerging film talents – and now newly obtained documents shed new light on what happened as well as on the director’s close involvement with his brother’s bizarre legal case.

Matthew, 57, is the eldest of the three Nolan brothers but has led a very different life to Christopher, 56, and Jonathan, 50.

They were all born in London to dad Brendan, an advertising executive from Britain, and their mother Christina, who is American, meaning the brothers are all joint UK and US citizens.

Matthew was wanted for aggravated kidnapping, use of a false document and aggravated homicide, in other words, murder

Christopher pictured at the 96th Annual Academy Awards after winning Best Picture for Oppenheimer

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All three were educated at the elite Haileybury school in Hertfordshire, where fees are now £50,000 a year, but after that Christopher and Jonathan headed for Hollywood.

Christopher has since won two Oscars and a Golden Globe – so far – and has been internationally lauded for his films like Interstellar and his gritty reboot of the Batman franchise.

Jonathan meanwhile is an in-demand producer who has been nominated for an Academy Award for the 2000 movie Memento and helped to create the hit HBO series Westworld.

Matthew took an altogether different route and became a property developer in Chicago. But in the 2000s he ran into financial difficulties and in 2009 filed for bankruptcy, his life starting to fall apart.

What happened next was shocking: in March of that year a judge in Costa Rica signed off on an extradition request for Matthew related to the death of Robert Cohen, 63, a Florida accountant whose body was found in 2005 in the Central American country.

Matthew was wanted for aggravated kidnapping, use of a false document and – incredibly – aggravated homicide, in other words, murder.

According to the Costa Rican police, a wealthy gem trader named Robert Breska had ‘hired Matthew to kidnap and torture Cohen’ over a dispute involving a missing $7million’.

Mr Breska allegedly told Mr Cohen to meet Matthew in San Jose in Costa Rica, claiming he was a ‘multimillionaire’ and a member of the Oppenheimer jewel dynasty.

The allegations from the Costa Rican authorities, as detailed in Judge Mason’s summary, grew even darker from there.

They claimed that, on March 6, 2005, Matthew agreed with Luis Alonso Douglas Mejia, a Costa Rican man who was later convicted over the murder, to ‘execute the plan to kidnap the victim’.

The judge’s memorandum states that, in its extradition request, Costa Rica claimed that Matthew and Mejia carried out the kidnapping by ‘forcing Mr Cohen into Matthew’s car’.

The extradition request stated that Matthew ‘violently’ took Mr Cohen from the parking lot and prepared the plan to keep him ‘hidden in an isolated area of a solitary beach’.

The ‘mission’ was to end Mr Cohen’s life, the document stated.

An extradition request was put in for Matthew, related to the death of Robert Cohen, a Florida accountant, who is pictured with his daughter Alisha Cohen

But Judge Mason refused the extradition request on the charges of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated homicide, calling the evidence of Matthew’s involvement ‘unsupported and unsubstantiated’.

According to Judge Mason’s summary, there was ‘competent evidence’ that Matthew was with Mr Cohen at the moment he was kidnapped, including surveillance camera footage from a hotel where both men were staying.

There was also ‘competent evidence’ that the car Mr Cohen was driven away in was the Toyota 4Runner Matthew had hired.

‘What is lacking is evidence that Breska retained Matthew as a ‘hired killer,’ the judge wrote, ‘that Matthew planned to kidnap and murder Cohen, that Matthew was aware of, let alone ordered, Mejia’s actions, or that Matthew engaged in any violent act.’

The judge did however approve the extradition request based on use of a false document, in this case for using a fake British passport to open a bank account in Costa Rica.

The British embassy in Costa Rica verified that the passport, which was in the name of ‘Matthew Francis McCall’, was fraudulent, the document states.

All of that led to Matthew being arrested while attending a hearing in his personal bankruptcy case, and began the next bizarre chapter in his story: his attempt to break out of prison.

He was indicted in October 2009 on five counts related to materials found in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre (MCC) in Chicago, a troubled and overcrowded skyscraper with a history of complaints about the conditions.

Court documents state that prison guards ‘recovered approximately 31 feet of braided roping material, a similarly braided harness, a metal clip from a pen cap, and a broken piece of a razor blade hidden in the defendant’s bar of soap’.

Officers at the MCC were ‘successful in opening a locked pair of handcuffs with the metal clip,’ the documents stated.

Images of the materials were included in the court file and show a long piece of rope and the metal clip next to a ruler.

The plot appears to have been fanciful: the MCC is a 28-storey skyscraper which has never seen an escape before.

It is located in a busy area of Chicago, meaning any escape through a window would be highly visible, and the windows themselves are narrow slits.

According to court papers, Matthew was accused of using code words to talk to another person about his escape, using terms like ‘beach party’ to describe it.

In one note to the other inmate at the MCC, referred to as ‘Individual B’, Matthew alluded to his extradition in Costa Rica.

Jonathan (right), pictured alongside his brother Christopher (left), is an in-demand producer who has been nominated for an Academy Award for the 2000 movie Memento

He said: ‘You are right about my situation. If they get me down to the Southern Cross, I won’t be coming back.’

In another note to Individual B, Matthew appeared to talk about rappelling out of a window of the MCC and have somebody else pick him up.

He said: ‘My thought was tape the window, crack, mount rope w/ rope sleeve and rope bag . . . rappel to street + friends . . . . trigger man runs the op from parking garage.’

The prosecution filing said that Matthew also bragged about being able to get out of his handcuffs in 15 seconds.

And it was at this point that iconic director Christopher took a direct involvement in his brother’s legal troubles.

The black sheep brother’s lawyers pleaded for leniency and included letters to the court from his wife, children and Christopher, whose hit movie Inception was due to come out a month later.

In his letter, Christopher said that the situation was ‘heartbreaking’ and that missing the death of their father from cancer while in prison had been ‘awful’ for Matthew.

‘I believe that the shame and hardship his incarceration has brought [him] means that his punishment has already been substantial,’ Christopher wrote.

Dated June 28, 2010, Christopher’s letter said it was a ‘mystery and a shock’ why his brother was in such a situation.

He said that during his time at school, having an older brother at the same establishment was ‘no small source of comfort to’ given the ‘Darwinian environment of an English Catholic boarding school’.

Christopher wrote: ‘My brother supported me during this time with a loyalty that I have to believe would still characterise his attitude towards helping those who might need him.

‘He looked out for me without regard for himself, and I believe this suggests the depth of his commitment to family.’

While Matthew was in prison their father ‘lost his battle with cancer’, Christopher wrote.

He said: ‘My older brother was extremely close to our father, and whilst Matt’s situation was a confusing and heartbreaking one for my father to face, his love for his eldest son never wavered.

‘I am convinced that whatever else might be said about the effect of Matt’s imprisonment, his not being able to be present at our father’s death bed, not being able to say goodbye to the father he respected and loved so much, has been an awful punishment for him.’

Christopher said that the whole episode had ‘focused his [Matthew’s] mind on the important realities of his life’, meaning his family.

He wrote: ‘Knowing my brother’s commitment to family, I believe that the shame and hardship his incarceration has brought on them means that his punishment has already been substantial.

‘I believe that he would seize upon a second chance to show that he is a man capable of good on behalf of his wife and children, and good on behalf of society as a whole’.

Matthew eventually pleaded guilty to two counts related to the escape attempt.

He was jailed for 14 months but given he had already been in prison for that time, he was released and given a two-year period of supervised release.

It seems Matthew was quietly released and not extradited to Costa Rica because the only charge against him at the time was the use of a false passport. The other claims of murder and kidnapping were unproven.

A spokesman for Costa Rica’s Public Ministry, which deals with legal matters, said some time later: ‘This evidence that the US judge considered was insufficient to link Mr Nolan with the crimes committed against Mr Cohen, is the same evidence used to condemn Mr Mejia here in Costa Rica.’

Christopher is pictured with wife Emma Thomas while attending The Odyssey photocall at the IET Building in London in July

The following year, apparently so upset by his treatment while in prison, Matthew sued the US government for medical malpractice and sued his guards at MCC.

Both of the cases were dismissed.

Mr Cohen’s family did not respond to requests for comment: they have previously said that they hoped Matthew would face justice.

The Daily Mail also approached Matthew and Christopher Nolan and the authorities in Costa Rica.

Lawyers for Matthew have previously said he was innocent of all the charges against him and that he is sorry for the Cohen family’s loss.

Tom Holland and Zendaya secretly married earlier this year, but they held a ceremony in Surrey this week to celebrate their love with around 250 of their closest friends and family

Tom Holland’s wedding to Zendaya was “full of love” and “charged with emotion” as the actor broke down in tears when he saw his bride walk down the aisle, a source has said.

The couple held a top-secret £500,000 celebration at the Beaverbrook estate in Surrey on Tuesday. The private event saw around 250 close friends and family members gather to celebrate Tom, 30, and Zendaya, 29, on their big day.

Among the big names said to have attended the festivities were Robert Downey Jr., Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner. It is believed that Tom’s brother, Sam Holland, served as the best man. While a strict no-phones policy was in place, a source has now given fans an insight into the nuptials.

According to an insider who spoke to The Sun on Sunday, Tom broke down in tears when Zendaya walked down the aisle. The source said the wedding and the ceremony “were the real deal” and the rumours surrounding other ceremonies only meant to keep people away from the venue so that they could celebrate with their loved ones.

The source claimed that at first, Tom and Zendaya were “annoyed” that Law Roach accidentally broke the news that they secretly married earlier this year, but then “they embraced it.” On March 1, while walking the red carpet at the Actor Awards, Law told Access Hollywood that the wedding “already happened” and that everyone “missed it.”

But then at the late July 2026 premiere events for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Law dismissed speculation about a second, larger public ceremony as “definitely not true.” According to the source, Tom and Zendaya now “laugh about it” – and Law was among the guests at the ceremony, during which “they were all loving life.”

“It was an incredible day full of love and charged with emotion,” the insider added. In an interview in June, Peter Parker star Tom described his partner as “my person” and said he feels “the happiest I ever have been” when he is with her.

He said: “So, for me, I found my person. She’s my best friend, and I’m the happiest I ever have been when I’m with her, but I also have never felt so supported and safe, ever. Period. Maybe when I was young with my parents and my dad was picking me up from school. Not to say that our relationship is like my mum and dad.”

The pair, dubbed Tomdaya, had faced intense scrutiny over their bond from the second they were both announced to be appearing in Spider-Man together. It wasn’t until years later that they confirmed their romance, in November 2021. Despite the intense interest in their romance, they have gone above and beyond to keep details of their relationship behind closed doors.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

The European Union is considering further delaying the full rollout of its entry/exit system (EES) in order to avoid added complications at its borders, according to a report.

The EU finally introduced its new border security system in stages from October last year, replacing the old process of manually stamping passports with the registration of biometric details when travellers arrive in Europe.

But the system has already faced calls to be scrapped after creating bottlenecks at airports, with a fifth of Brits now considering cancelling their European holidays this summer due to the chaos.

Industry sources told The Times that Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the commissioner responsible for negotiations over the EES with non-EU countries, has privately assured the checks will be paused.

Mr Tzitzikostas was said to be pushing to extend a derogation allowing officials to suspend the new checks past the existing deadline of 6 September for the full rollout.

And he was reported to have already made assurances to the UK that an extension is possible, having recently. met with transport secretary Heidi Alexander, according to the newspaper.

The department said last month that Ms Alexander had raised concerns about the EU’s new digital border check system with Mr Tzitzikostas during their meeting on 14 July.

Ms Alexander said in a statement at the time: “We want everyone to have the summer holidays they deserve – and yesterday’s meeting shows everyone is pulling in the same direction.

“I was reassured that the EU commissioner for transport understood the concerns of holidaymakers and recognised the need for us to work together.”

That came amid reports that passengers were missing their flights due to long queues, while Ryanair warned of “queue chaos” from the new system, which it said was not ready for full implementation.

They pointed to several popular airports including Spain’s Alicante, which they said was not ready for the checks due to “insufficient staff, kiosks and system readiness”.

Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández airport is now preparing for a £985 million upgrade including facilities to streamline EES checks.

The EU’s EES only became fully operational in April and applies to all 29 Schengen countries, most of which are EU member states, with further operations expected in the autumn.

The system requires travellers to register their biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo, when they arrive in the EU, replacing the previous system of manually stamping passports.

EES is required for all non-EU passengers entering or exiting Schengen countries.

The British government has announced £20 million in new funding to increase the number of booths for passport checks at the country’s main gateway to Europe, the Port of Dover.

The majority of the new checks will be done in EU member states, but will take place in Britain for those using the ferry through the Port of Dover or taking the train into the EU, the government said.

Every day on Criminal Record we will be bringing you a round-up of the biggest crime stories of the day.

Whether it’s the an update on the death of tragic schoolgirl Minnie Merriman or the latest in the Athens suitcase murder of Elisabeth-Jane Ross – this is the place where you’ll get the low-down.

If you love to read about crime – this is the place to be every day.

Here’s what has been making the news across the country on Sunday.

Family of tragic Minnie Merriman ‘left with nothing’ as they try to ‘rebuild’

The family of tragic Minnie Merriman have been “left with nothing” in the wake of her death, a close friend has told.

The nine-year-old, from West Yorkshire, died at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee after she was found seriously injured at Elliot Industrial Estate in Arbroath in the early hours of Monday August 3. The youngster and her family were camping in the area at the time – with three other members of Minnie’s family also being taken to hospital.

Minnie’s father, Christopher Rice, 35, appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court on Wednesday, where he faced a single charge of murder. He has been remanded in custody.

A fundraiser has now been launched to help the family “rebuild” after their “unimaginable heartbreak”.

READ FULL STORY: Family of tragic Minnie Merriman ‘left with nothing’ as they try to ‘rebuild’

Fake doc accused of conning patients out of thousands of pounds at bogus clinics

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A man has been accused of posing as a doctor, conning dozens of patients out of ­thousands of pounds at bogus clinics.

Robert Becker, 34, is alleged to have duped almost 40 victims including children out of more than £40,000 from consultations while also handing out medication which potentially risked lives.

He is said to have pretended to be a doctor, psychologist and pharmacologist at fake surgeries in Edinburgh and Dalkeith, Midlothian.

Becker now faces 89 charges on a 22-page charge sheet spanning from September 2022 to August 2025.

The case was called for the first time at the High Court in Glasgow last week.

READ FULL STORY: Fake doc accused of conning patients out of thousands of pounds at bogus clinics

Inside Scots gangsters’ fortified drug den “the shop” after cops bust gang

Inside Scots gangsters’ fortified drug den “the shop” after cops bust gang

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A drug dealing mob from Greenock were one of the first Scottish organised crime gangs snared after police cracked the encrypted platform Encrochat.

Five members of the crime gang sold cocaine, heroin and valium pills out of a block of flats known as “the shop” in the Inverclyde town.

Their criminal enterprise was suddenly brought to a halt when cops kicked in the heavily-barricaded door in 2020.

It came after French authorities infiltrated the Encrochat messaging service, favoured by criminals and gangsters. Police Scotland were tipped off to a series of messages on the platform, showing the drugs major drugs operation.

Lee Docherty, 37, Ian Millar, 39, Brendan Gillan, 32, his father Daniel Gillan, 60, and Christopher McKellar, 44, were all arrested.

READ FULL STORY: Inside Scots gangsters’ fortified drug den “the shop” after cops bust gang

Tests into how Scot died amid Athens suitcase murder probe face month-long delay

The test results to establish how a Scottish aid worker died, after her body was found in a suitcase in Greece, could be delayed for another month.

Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, known as Lisa, was found dead by a homeless man in a derelict building in the Kypseli area of Athens on Saturday, July 18, after travelling there from Edinburgh on June 26. Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, has since appeared in court in the Greek capital on suspicion of killing the aid worker, along with weapons offences and robbery charges.

Local police said they were fast-tracking tests as a priority. However, spokesperson Konstantina Dimoglidou has said that the results could take “at least another month”, according to the BBC.

The coroner’s report initially cited an undetermined cause of death, as the body showed no signs of external trauma. Then “asphyxiation was listed as the probable cause of death” following a more detailed investigation, autopsy and post-mortem examination.

READ FULL STORY: Tests into how Scot died amid Athens suitcase murder probe face month-long delay

Why fears of whitewash could see Emma Caldwell public inquiry ‘expanded’

The Emma Caldwell public inquiry could be expanded amid fears an official cover-up which allowed her killer to walk free for over a decade will not be scrutinised.

Active discussions over the terms of reference of the probe are under way, the Sunday Mail has learned, after concerns were raised by several parties including the victim’s family.

Iain Packer was convicted of murder in 2024 – 19 years after Emma’s body was discovered in Limefield Woods, Lanarkshire, in May 2005.

Even after the Sunday Mail published his picture on the front page in 2015 – branding him the “Forgotten Suspect” – Police Scotland launched illegal surveillance operation on our sources rather than pursue the killer.

A huge body of evidence points to a cover-up at the highest level after a botched prosecution of four innocent Turkish men collapsed in 2008.

READ FULL STORY: Why fears of whitewash could see Emma Caldwell public inquiry ‘expanded’

Two pensioners and teen arrested after £50,000 cocaine raid bust in Perth

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Two pensioners and a teenager have been arrested following a £50,000 drugs bust in Perth.

A drugs raid was carried out on a property in Strathtay Road in the city around 9.40am on Friday, August 7. Officers executed a search warrant and recovered cocaine estimated to be worth around £50,700.

Two men, aged 71 and 19, and a woman, aged 69, were arrested and charged in connection. All have been reported to the Procurator Fiscal and are expected to appear at Perth Sheriff Court on Monday, August 10.

Detective Sergeant David Feeney said: “Drugs cause misery in our communities and this recovery highlights our commitment to removing them from our streets.

“Information from the public is vital in helping target those involved in the supply of drugs.

READ FULL STORY: Two pensioners and teen arrested after £50,000 cocaine raid bust in Perth

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Firefighters were called to the scene in the village of Brotherton, south of Sherburn in Elmet, shortly after 2pm on Sunday (August 9).

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said three crews were called to the incident in Old Great Brotherton Road.

The fire service said the crews extinguished the fire and the incident was left with police.

In a statement, the fire service said: “A crew from Selby responded to reports of a fire in the open.

“Crews requested an extra two appliances from Selby and Castleford to assist with 10 vehicles on fire in woodland.

“Crews extinguished the fire and the incident was left with the police.”

Huge queues have been blighting the cobbled streets of Santorini, made up of rowdy tourists waiting to take a snap in front of the ‘perfect’ view.

Dubbed the most Instagrammable location on the Greek island, two-hour-long queues have caused carnage in the quaint alleys of Oia, the famous cliffside village – all in pursuit of the best angle featuring the famous blue-domed Orthodox Greek churches.

Desperate for the perfect shot, there are already dozens of selfie-hunting holidaymakers queuing around the winding corners as early as 7am, rushing to the famous viewpoint that has been touted by influencers on TikTok as the best location for a photo.

Shocking videos on social media posted this summer have revealed the reality of visiting the once-idyllic Aegean isle, which sees more than 2.4million people pass through its airport every year.

Hordes of tourists have often caused problems in the charming villages of the volcanic island, with authorities recently taking to limiting the amount of cruise passengers allowed to visit in a day to manage over-crowding.

But exasperated sunseekers have taken to bashing particularly shameless selfie-hunting tourists who spend hours in a queue that promises the best backdrop.

One holidaymaker even complained that people standing in the queue would try to fight them as they entered their accommodation, because they thought they were jumping the line. 

Despite the rowdy crowds, the iconic photo spot has been endorsed by several influencers in recent months.

The location’s popularity has led to huge queues blighting the cobbled streets of Santorini, made up of rowdy tourists waiting to take a snap in front of the ‘perfect’ view

Dubbed the most Instagrammable location on the Greek island, two-hour long queues have caused carnage for locals in the village

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Luiza Parente, a self-described creative director with 8.4million followers on TikTok, shared a video earlier this month revealing the extensive queues she endured for the ‘perfect’ picture.

In the same clip, the Portuguese influencer then shares the glamorous images of her posing dramatically in front of the iconic white and blue architecture.

But some users have been far from impressed with the viral videos of the queues, with one proclaiming that ‘social media has ruined tourism’.

‘All this so people can show a posed photo to other people, when they know their real memory of it will be queuing for 2 hours at 7am on holiday for this photo,’ one person complained.

Lia Grammatikopoulou wrote under another viral video: ‘There are plenty of stunning spots in Santorini featuring even more spectacular views than this one. It is really a pity that people only visit the viral TikTok spots and not ask locals for recommendations.’

One holidaymaker added: ‘My accommodation was right next to these. The amount of abuse I got, for the four days I was there, because people thought I was “pushing in”. Mate, I just wanted to get to my room and pool with a view.’ 

Another joked: ‘When having a photo to prove you are having an amazing holiday becomes more important than having an amazing holiday!’

‘Have we all collectively lost our minds’, one woman asked.

In another video similarly exposing ‘Instagram vs reality’, one travel influencer said, ‘Nobody talks about the queue behind the perfect Santorini photo. Worth it or not?’

One woman responded: ‘That is sooo sad, it was not like that seven years ago.’

Dozens of selfie-hunting holidaymakers queue around the winding corners first thing in the morning. One woman on social media asked: ‘Have we all collectively lost our minds’

Santorini Yachting Cruises also responded by saying ‘many visitors travel to Santorini looking for the exact same photo they’ve seen on Instagram, which naturally leads everyone to gather in the same two or three famous spots in Oia’.

It added: ‘The irony is that Santorini is full of incredible viewpoints and hidden corners that are often just as beautiful without the crowds.

‘So while the queues can be frustrating, they’re also a result of people following the same trends and expectations.’

Another influencer filmed the steady increase in tourists from when they first arrived at 7am, which already had sizeable crowds, until 10.30am when scores more tourists arrive.

But by this time, ‘photographing becomes difficult and rushed’ so it would be better to arrive early, she advised.

Despite the tips, one user commented on the video that ‘my worst trip of all time was Santorini’, explaining that the ‘place just has nothing, tons of abandoned buildings, nothing to do. It literally just has this picture. Which is also mid.’

Another wrote: ‘A reminder you could have used the time in the line to explore the rest of the island.’

In recent years, the island introduced new rules and measures to manage the influx of tourists, including a tourist tax, restrictions on access and parking, alongside a proposed ‘saturation law’ limiting daily visitor numbers. 

A limit of 8,000 cruise ship passengers per day has also been enforced. 

Furious locals have even threatened to leave the Greek island after a Santorini councillor told them in a since-deleted Facebook post to stay at home and to keep out of tourists’ way in 2024.

One local resident, Onur Killic, 28, said at the time that there are just ‘too many tourists’ coming to Santorini who leave rubbish behind and sometimes even a ‘bad smell’.

‘It’s hard for locals because we live here. The roads are too crowded and the traffic is much worse. It’s bad for the environment and the cost of everything is out of control; locals cannot pay as prices have gone up,’ the hotel worker told the i Paper.

‘They need to find the right balance. They could limit the amount of cruise ships, but the Government is not doing enough – if this continues I will leave the island.’

This week will see a north-south split in the weather

With the weather mainly playing its part in the rip-roaring success of the Belfast Fleadh Cheoil by remaining dry and bright, the outlook for the week ahead seems a little duller – and damp.

Northern Ireland will see low cloud and frequent rain with temperatures hovering at around 15C as showers gather in from the north and northwest. Wind speed will be low at 7mph, however, gusts of 17mph can be expected so be careful if out on your bike or hanging out that washing.

This week will also see a north-south split in the weather as southern parts of England still bake in a heatwave.

The Met Office said: “This weekend will see a north-south split in the weather. Scotland and Northern Ireland are expected to see spells of rain, which might be heavy at times. Further south, England and Wales will remain largely dry, sunny and increasingly warm.”

Deputy Chief Forecaster Mike Silverstone said: “Temperatures will climb through the weekend and, more significantly, through much of next week. After a brief dip on Monday, high pressure will move across the UK before settling to the east, allowing a southerly flow to develop.

“A fairly widespread heatwave is likely across large parts of England and Wales, with hot conditions developing in places. The heat is expected to peak for much of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland on Wednesday, with up to 34C possible in parts of central and southern England and southeast Wales. East Anglia and south-east England, however, could see temperatures even higher on Thursday.

“Humidity levels are also expected to increase through the week, which may make conditions feel more uncomfortable, particularly overnight.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

It’s been 25 years since The Princess Diaries aired, becoming an instant comedy classic and launching its lead Anne Hathaway to stardom. 

Three years later the film spawned a sequel, Royal Engagement, and now two decades on fans are set to receive a conclusion to the storyline with a third film.  

While details of the plot have been kept under wraps, director Adele Lim has promised fans there will be some familiar faces when the franchise returns. 

She revealed: ‘If you were a fan of the original first two movies, I think you can look forward to a lot of fun returns. 

‘We’re going to be able to shoot in Europe and really show the audience Genovia in its full glory.’ 

So what became of the original cast?  

Anne Hathaway – Mia Thermopolis

The Princess Diaries launched Anne into becoming one of the biggest names in Hollywood after she charmed audiences with her role as the unwitting heir to the throne of Genovia

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The Princess Diaries launched Anne into becoming one of the biggest names in Hollywood after she charmed audiences with her role as the unwitting heir to the throne of Genovia.

Just 18 years old at the time, Anne couldn’t have predicted the career that lay ahead of her – with the actress going on to earn an Oscar, become one of Hollywood’s best paid actresses and boast a movie collection that’s grossed $6.8billion worldwide.

Yet with the dizzying highs of fame came the crushing lows, and in the early 2010s Anne suffered from a wave of online hate so vitriolic that it spawned the name ‘Hatha-hate’, resulting in her losing film roles and struggling with her mental health.

The Hollywood star became the subject of vile and toxic trolling, being dubbed ‘fake’, ‘theatrical’ and winning the title of The Most Annoying Celebrity of 2013, according to a poll by The San Francisco Chronicle, in a shock smear campaign. 

Even her Oscar win for Les Miserables in 2013 couldn’t save her, with the opening line of her acceptance speech – ‘it came true’ – going viral after viewers branded her ‘pretentious’.

Now, however, things couldn’t look more different for Anne, who is this summer’s box office queen after lining up a slew of hits – with the actress even tipped for Oscars glory once more.

Earlier this year she revived her role in another Noughties classic, The Devil Wears Prada, while she’s also currently wowing cinemagoers with her role in The Odyssey. 

She received critical acclaim for her role in indie musical Mother Mary, and is soon set to go on the promo trail for sci-fi film The End of Oak Street (out in August) and thriller Verity (out in October) which are both predicted to do well. 

With so many big films under her belt, it looks set to be an exciting 2027 awards season for Anne.

There is also a chance that Anne could compete against herself at the Oscars after the Academy has announced a change to voting rules that will allow actors to be nominated for multiple performances in the same category.

It will be an exciting start to the year for Anne, who will also then be a new mother, having announced in June that she’s expecting her third child with husband Adam Shulman. 

Julie Andrews – Queen Clarisse Renaldi

Julie Andrews was already a well-known star by the time she took on the role of the Queen of Genovia, having won an Oscar for her role in Mary Poppins

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Julie Andrews was already a well-established star when she took on the role of the Queen of Genovia, having won an Oscar for her role in Mary Poppins. 

Yet The Princess Diaries marked a welcome return to the spotlight after taking a slight step back following botched surgery. 

The actress lost her famous four-octave singing voice in 1997 after a routine throat surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York to remove non-cancerous nodules or a cyst. 

The operation left her with permanent scar tissue on her vocal cords, destroying her singing range. 

However, when she sang publicly for the first time since her surgery in the 2004 Princess Diaries sequel, crew members said they cried when she nailed the first take.

In recent years, Julie has slowed down her acting career, sticking to voice roles in hits such as Shrek 2, Despicable Me and Bridgerton.

Last October, the actress reached a major milestone as she celebrated her 90th birthday.

‘I probably feel like in my 50s, honest to God,’ Julie shared during an episode of the Wiser Than Me With Julia Louis-Dreyfus podcast back in 2024. ‘As long as the brain holds out, I’m doing okay,’

The star explained that she now lives a ‘quieter’ life as she has gotten older, but it has been something she has come to enjoy.

‘I don’t go out as much, and I love being home. But I kind of enjoyed that, pulling back a little bit now.’

Julie continued: ‘And of course I’ve got a million thoughts and ideas and hope that I can keep going for a great deal longer. But who knows? And I’m just pleased that I’ve arrived here.’

Héctor Elizondo – Joe

Héctor Elizondo is known for stealing a scene, so it was no surprise he became a fan favourite as bodyguard Joe in The Princess Diaries

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He’s known for stealing a scene, having earned a Golden Globe nomination for just ten minutes of screentime in Pretty Woman. 

So it was no surprise Héctor Elizondo turned bodyguard Joe into a fan favourite in The Princess Diaries. 

After his role in the Noughties romcom he reunited with the director Garry Marshall to work on the likes of New Year’s Eve in 2011 and Mother’s Day in 2016.

In 2008, he joined the cast of the USA Network series Monk as Dr Neven Bell, a role he reprised in 2023 for Mr Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie. 

He also took on the role of Ed Alzate on the Fox comedy Last Man Standing, starring Tim Allen and Nancy Travis.

Proud of his Latino heritage, Héctor has said he does not accept roles that he feels are stereotypical or demeaning in any way. 

He previously revealed he turned down a role in Scarface because: ‘I didn’t want to be associated with Latinos when the association is violence.

‘I didn’t know that in my culture. The violence I experienced was from the non-Latinos.’

Heather Matarazzo – Lilly Moscovitz

Heather Matarazzo made her name in Welcome to the Dollhouse before earning new fans by playing Mia’s eccentric friend, Lilly Moscovitz, in The Princess Diaries

Heather Matarazzo made her name in 1995’s Welcome to the Dollhouse before earning a new legion of fans playing Mia’s eccentric friend, Lilly Moscovitz. 

She continued to land acting roles, notably appearing in the Scream franchise as Martha Meeks, while she also had parts in Sorority Boys, Saved! and Hostel: Part II. 

Three years after The Princess Diaries was released and at the age of 21, Heather came out as a lesbian after telling The Daily News in an interview that she had a girlfriend. 

She is now happily married to writer Heather Turman, whom she met in 2016 on the LA set of Jillian Armenante’s movie Stuck.

The couple moved to Michigan in 2023, where they live with their two cats. 

Heather continues to act, recently playing Judi Spannagel in Wednesday, but in 2022 she revealed she had a career wobble and was considering throwing in the towel.  

‘I have hit my limit with Life today,’ she wrote in a now-deleted tweet. ‘I have hit my limit with whatever games the Universe is playing. I am done. I am tired. I truly feel at a f***ing loss.

‘I feel at a loss because I feel I have done THE WORK, for a long time, with no complaint. 

‘I have taken the disappointments, the rejections, etc., and maintained that rejection is redirection. I have had continual FAITH in the Universe, but today, something broke. I feel cast.

‘I’ve given my life to acting for over 30 years. And am done struggling just to survive,’ she added in another now-deleted tweet.

‘I just need a win. A life-changing win. Cause this ain’t it. F***.’

Mandy Moore – Lana Thomas

The Princess Diaries was Mandy Moore’s first big film role, proving her chops playing mean girl cheerleader Lana Thomas and later going from strength to strength in her career

The Princess Diaries proved to be Mandy Moore’s first big film role, having entered the industry as a singer. 

Yet she proved her chops playing mean girl cheerleader Lana Thomas, quite the departure from her innocent pop career. 

Since then, her career has gone from strength to strength, starring in films such as A Walk to Remember, License to Wed and 47 Meters Down. 

She also voiced Rapunzel in the Disney musical fantasy film, Tangled.

Mandy also famously starred as Rebecca Pearson in the NBC series This Is Us, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award.

She received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 2019. 

Mandy married musician Ryan Adams in 2009 but the couple split six years later citing ‘irreconcilable differences’. 

She later went on to accuse him of psychological abuse when she and several other women accused him of harassment and misconduct while speaking to the New York Times. 

Ryan, who denied the accusations, was said to have offered to advance their musical careers before he allegedly became vengeful and obsessive and pursued the women for sex in return.

The women, who included the singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers and an anonymous woman who was allegedly only 14 at the time that she began corresponding with Ryan, accused him of being verbally and emotionally abusive.

Although Ryan has continued to deny the most serious accusations, he later shared a milquetoast public apology in which he wrote: ‘To anyone I have ever hurt, however unintentionally, I apologize deeply and unreservedly.’

Mandy is now married to musician Taylor Goldsmith, and they share sons Gus, five, and Ozzie, three, and daughter Lou, two.

Caroline Goodall – Helen Thermopolis

Caroline Goodall began her career on the stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company before pivoting to movies and landing the role of Mia’s caring but chaotic mother Helen Thermopolis

English-Australian actress Caroline Goodall began her career on the stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company before pivoting to movies. 

She played Mia’s caring but chaotic mother Helen Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries, reprising her role in the sequel, Royal Engagement. 

Caroline later reunited with Mandy Moore in Chasing Liberty. 

She worked with Steven Spielberg twice in Hook then Schindler’s List and starred alongside Bruce Willis and Henry Cavill in the thriller The Cold Light Of Day. 

Caroline also appeared in The Dressmaker with Kate Winslet and Judy Davis and played the Queen Mother’s friend Lady Doris, in the first season of The Crown.

She has since turned her hand to producing – working on the Brian Cox film The Bay of Silence in 2020.

Robert Schwartzman – Michael Moscovitz

As part of the Coppola dynasty, it was no surprise Robert Schwartzman felt comfortable on a movie set, landing a role as Mia’s love interest Michael Moscovitz

As a member of an acting dynasty, it was no surprise Robert Schwartzman felt comfortable on a movie set, landing a role as Mia’s love interest Michael Moscovitz. 

He also landed roles in Lick the Star and The Virgin Suicides, which were directed by his cousin Sofia Coppola. 

As a member of the Coppola brood, he is the nephew of film-maker Francis Ford Coppola and cousin of actor Nicolas Cage and filmmakers Sofia Coppola, Roman Coppola and Christopher Coppola.

Yet music proved to be Robert’s main love and he founded rock band Rooney that is still performing to this day. 

The group has also toured the nation with acts such as Weezer, The Strokes, Travis, Keane and Queens of the Stone Age.

Robert hasn’t turned his back on movies completely though, most recently directing 2023’s The Good Half which starred Nick Jonas, Brittany Snow and David Arquette. 

He is also the founder of Utopia, an American film production, distribution and sales agency. 

Erik von Detten – Josh Bryant

Erik von Detten played popular highschooler and object of Mia’s affections, Josh Bryant, but the star has stepped away from acting over the past decade

Erik von Detten was the all-American heart-throb that played popular highschooler and object of Mia’s affections, Josh Bryant. 

Along with The Princess Diaries, the California native is best known for roles in Days Of Our Lives, Escape To Witch Mountain, Toy Story, Brink! Meego, Complete Savages and So Weird.

He also voiced Erwin Lawson through the full run of Disney Channel series Recess and its four films. 

Yet Erik stepped away from acting over the past decade, with his last credit being his reprisal of Sid Phillips in 2010’s Toy Story 3.

As of 2018, Erik has worked for a precious metals asset management firm and as a sales manager at a commodities brokerage firm.

He married his wife Angela, a real estate agent, in 2018 and the couple have three children. 

Patrick John Flueger – Jeremiah Hart

The Princess Diaries marked Patrick John Flueger’s film debut, playing Jeremiah Hart, and he went on to land smaller TV roles (pictured right in Chicago PD)

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Patrick John Flueger made his film debut in The Princess Diaries playing Jeremiah Hart, a friend of Mia and Lilly’s and an aspiring magician. 

He went on to land small roles in TV shows such as JAG, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and CSI: Miami. 

Yet it was his role as Shawn Farrell in The 4400 that proved to be his TV breakout. 

While on the show, he landed the role of Rusty in the film The World’s Fastest Indian, which starred Anthony Hopkins and Antony Starr.

After a recurring role in Chicago Fire he landed a main part in the show’s spin-off Chicago PD as rookie officer Adam Ruzek. 

Sean O’Bryan – Mr O’Connell

After starting out in the Nineites, Sean O’Bryan played Patrick O’Connell in The Princess Diaries – Mia’s English teacher who strikes up a relationship with her mum Helen

Sean O’Bryan played Patrick O’Connell, Mia’s English teacher who strikes up a relationship with her mum Helen. 

He began his acting career in the Nineties, appearing in the likes of Roseanne, Six Feet Under, Criminal Minds, The King of Queens and Dexter. 

More recent television credits include CSI, Bones, Melissa & Joey, Hot In Cleveland, The Mentalist and Leverage. 

He also had a recurrent role as Ron Donahue on The Middle.

Sean also has several film credits to his name, most recently the 2024 horror movie, Traumatika.  

Sandra Oh – Vice Principal Gupta

After rising to fame in Canada for her role in Double Happiness, Sandra Oh starred in The Princess Diaries as Geraldine Gupta, the vice principal of Mia’s school

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Sandra Oh starred in The Princess Diaries as Geraldine Gupta, the vice principal of Mia’s school. 

She first came to prominence in her native Canada for her lead performance in the 1994 film Double Happiness, with The Princess Diaries showing her off to a wider audience. 

Yet it was her role as Cristina Yang in Grey’s Anatomy that proved to be her breakthrough. 

After joining in the first season of the hit show, she scooped both a 2005 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Series and a 2006 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series.

In 2009, she received her fifth consecutive Emmy nomination for her work on the series.

Then her role in the 2018 BBC America series Killing Eve landed her global fame.

Sandra won the Best Actress in a TV Drama award at the Golden Globes for the role, becoming the first Asian woman to win in that category in almost 40 years.

Most recently she appeared alongside Seth Rogen and Keanu Reeves in Aziz Ansari’s directorial debut, Good Fortune. 

Larry Miller – Paolo

Larry Miller stole his scenes playing Paolo Puttanesca, Mia’s flamboyant hairdresser and beautician. In 2012 he fell into a coma after falling and hitting his head but has since recovered

Larry Miller stole his scenes playing Paolo Puttanesca, Mia’s flamboyant hairdresser and beautician. 

He first gained mainstream attention for his part as a store clerk in Pretty Woman, which also starred The Princess Diaries’s Héctor Elizondo. 

Larry went on to appear in the likes of The Nutty Professor, 10 Things I Hate About You and Max Keeble’s Big Move. 

In 2009, he reprised his role as Walter Stratford in the television adaptation of 10 Things I Hate About You.

Larry also started his own podcast, This Week with Larry Miller, but was forced to suspend it after he fell and hit his head in 2012. 

He did not reveal the ordeal until the following year, when his agent Michael Hansen revealed Larry had fallen into a coma and was put on life support for one month after the accident.

‘He was hovering between life and death,’ Michael said. ‘It’s a miracle he woke up… He’s lucky to be alive.’

Larry later returned to his podcast, saying: ‘I’m very thankful to have recovered from a traumatic brain injury so quickly.’

He is married to TV writer Eileen Conn and the pair share two children.