Blogs

CHELSEA fans couldn’t believe just how cold Marc Cucurella was towards soon-to-be team-mate Willian Estevao.

The teenage Palmeiras star came up against his new club early this morning in the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup.

AFP

Estevao Willian came up against his soon-to-be Chelsea team-mates in the Club World Cup quarter-finals[/caption]

AFP

The 18-year-old clashed with Marc Cucurella on multiple occasions[/caption]

But his imminent Blues team-mates didn’t take it easy on him, sticking it on him whenever he had the ball.

Cucurella wasn’t in the mood for any pleasantries during the match and even snubbed Estevao’s offer of a handshake.

Footage of Cucurella’s coldness towards Estevao, who agreed to move to west London in May, went viral and became the talk of Chelsea fans.

One said: “Nah man…that was a bit extreme from Cucu.”

And another said: “Someone should tell Cucurella Estevao plays for Chelsea now.

And another said: “Cucu wahala too much.”

One remarked: “He isn’t Chelsea yet, love that Cucu!”

Another chimed in: “You are not one of us yet, so no brotherly love here, bro. Just be on ur side.”

WATCH EVERY MATCH OF THE CLUB WORLD CUP 2025 LIVE ON DAZN

AFP

Estevao Willian hauled Palmeiras back on level terms with a neat finish[/caption]

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Despite his repeated heated run-ins with Cucurella, Estevao insists there’s no bad blood between himself and the Spaniard.

The 18-year-old said: “He clashed a few times (Cucurella), it’s part of the game, mate.

“I hope it stays on the pitch and I hope he helps me a lot at Chelsea.”

Chelsea ended up running out 2-1 winners thanks to a superb first-half strike from Cole Palmer and an own goal from Agustin Giay.

Estevao, who was named Man of the Match, put Palmeiras back on level terms in the 53rd minute, but his strike ended up mattering little.

He said: “I’m very happy I could score a goal to help my club.

“Unfortunately, this wasn’t the result we wanted, but we gave our best on the pitch and now

“I am moving on and I thank Palmeiras for everything.”

LOVE Island’s sizzling crop of female Casa Amor bombshells have been revealed.

The Sun can exclusively report the identities of the six beauties heading into the ITV2 spin-off villa, after it was teased during last night’s episode.

Instagram / loveisland

Love Island’s Casa Amor female bombshells have been revealed[/caption]

Instagram / yasmin_lauryn

DJ Yasmin Broom is a name in the frame[/caption]

Instagram/@lucyquinnmakeup_

Lucy Quinn will also be heading into the Casa Amor compound[/caption]

It came after we were first to report the Casa Amor start date.

The Love Island newbies were seen strolling into the compound clad in swimwear – with one already having a connection to Harry.

On the show’s official Instagram page it teased: “Amor the merrier… who’s ready for Casa Amor?” and now we can report the full line-up.

LAUREN WOOD

Instagram / _laurenkwood

Lauren Wood is pals with popstar Jesy Nelson’s exes[/caption]

Brunette Lauren posts her lavish lifestyle on Instagram.

She shows off her ripped figure in a series of lingerie snaps, while documenting lavish nights out in Manchester and holidays in Thailand.

She counts Chris Hughes and Chris Clark as friends, who are both Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson’s exes.

LUCY QUINN

Instagram @lucyquinnmakeup_

Lucy Quinn is a glam Liverpool businesswoman[/caption]

Lucy is a Liverpool-based make-up artist, who has only just turned 21.

The bubbly blonde filled her Instagram snaps with stunning images while also promoting her work, offering appointments, shoots and group bookings.

She is also a firm favourite on the influencer scene, recently attending an event by fashion brand missguided.

YASMIN BROOM

Instagram / yasmin_lauryn

Yasmin found fame on The X Factor and now works as a DJ[/caption]

Yasmin has already found fame courtesy of ITV show The X Factor.

She was in girl group Four of Diamonds, who found fame in 2016 and were signed to a record label two years later.

The music-loving brunette is now Manchester-based and works as a “multi genre DJ”, recently playing at the city’s Parklife Festival.

Yaz shows off her glam music nights and DJ events on Instagram, showcasing her sensational style from glam dresses to casual tees and jeans.

ANDRADA POP

Instagram / _andradapop

Andrada Pop won Miss Swimsuit UK in 2025[/caption]

Andrada is no stranger to the big stage, after winning Miss Swimsuit UK in 2025.

She is also Miss Bikini Ireland host.

As well as snaps showing her in hot pink swimsuits, she also fills her feed with images of glam nights out and celeb events.

RHEO PARNELL

TikTok / rheouno

Rheo Parnell is a musician with her own business[/caption]

Rheo started her personal Instagram account afresh prior to her stint in the Mallorca villa.

Yet the musician and band member is also a founder of Drip Beauty UK.

The Sun can also report how the brunette already has a Love Island connection.

She is pals with Messy Mitch’s girlfriend, South African TikTok-er Hayley Griffin.

EMMA MUNRO

Instagram / emmamunr0

Emma Munro stunned Harry as she entered the villa[/caption]

Love Island 2025 OG Harry was left stunned when his ex Emma entered the compound last night.

Upon seeing them, Harry could be heard saying: “Oh my god, it’s my ex.”

It comes as The Sun revealed the identity of Harry’s ex-girlfriend – after fans spotted a secret tribute to her.

The Sun uncovered that the woman is named Emma, after viewers noticed Harry’s wrist tattoo of the letter “E” and began digging for clues online.

Emma previously shared a sunset selfie to Instagram, where she was seen cosying up to Harry in matching baseball caps, hers bearing an “E” and, his, an “H”.

The image, which has since been deleted, was dated 18 April 2022.

Emma also bears a striking resemblance to one of Harry’s co-stars, sparking comparisons from fans who claim she looks “more like Shakira than Helena.”

An ITV spokesperson said: ‘Any islander suggestions for Casa Amor are speculation.

“The line up will be announced in due course.’

SAM SARGEANT does not relish shooting drills against Sligo Rovers hotshot Owen Elding — but loves watching him test rival keepers.

Elding, 19, has burst on to the scene this year, becoming a Bit O’Red regular and scoring eight goals — including some eye-catching long-range efforts.

Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Seb Daly/Sportsfile

And Sligo stopper Sargeant admitted thunderbolts like last week’s goal in a 1-1 draw at Bohemians do not surprise him.

He smiled: “You know when you’re in a finishing drill with Owen and he’s gearing up to take a shot that you are going to do well to save it.

“He’s a great kid, a great player and as much as you get frustrated when he scores past you in training, that’s what you want him to be doing for the team.

“He’s got a bright future ahead of him.”

Elding’s rockets will be on show again tonight as Sligo Rovers host top-of-the-table Shamrock Rovers.

The English-born frontman’s form has even led to the FAI contacting him about playing for Ireland as he moved here aged seven when his father Anthony joined the Bit O’Red.

And Showgrounds assistant manager Ryan Casey admitted that plenty of overseas clubs have also made calls.

He revealed: “There is going to be a lot of interest in him. He’s a young kid, he’s doing well, he’s scoring great goals, his all-round performances this year have been brilliant.

“He’s playing with a maturity and he works unbelievably hard for the team as well. But his goals are catching everyone’s eye at the moment.

“He was around the team last year, he’s been training with us full-time for a long time and we always knew how talented he was.

“We could see how talented he was last year but he’s had a real breakout year.

“Physically, his body has changed, he’s a man out there now, whereas last year you could see the teenager in him.

“His confidence has gone through the roof, we always knew he had the technical ability, all those things combined have made him really stand out this year.”

And after a tricky start to the season that saw Sligo Rovers bottom of the table, they have hit form since the summer break. Sargeant added: “We’ve come a long way where we’re pleased with the result but disappointed not to take more.

“We’ve come a long way to be disappointed taking seven points from four games and we know on our day we can beat anyone and start climbing the table.”

The hosts have Gareth McElroy available after he suffered a concussion against Drogheda last month, though Oskar van Hattum and Ronan Manning have hamstring injuries.

New loan arrivals James McManus and Ryan O’Kane, as well as permanent signings Paddy McClean and Seb Quirk, are available following the opening of the transfer window on Tuesday. But Sligo face a Hoops side that are riding high at the top having won nine of their last 11 games.

They will be without Adam Matthews, Aaron Greene and Trevor Clarke who are expected to return for the FAI Cup tie with Wexford in two weeks.

ODDS: Sligo Rovers 6-1, Shamrock Rovers 4-11, Draw 16–5.

VERDICT:    Shamrock Rovers

TV star Noel Edmonds is getting married for a fifth time, after popping the question to his wife in a hot tub. 

Noel now lives in New Zealand where he and wife Liz have been based since 2018 after he quit the UK. 

Shutterstock Editorial

TV star Noel Edmonds is getting married for a fifth time, after popping the question to his wife in a hot tub[/caption]

PA

The Deal or No Deal star, 76, is keen to get married again in their new Kiwi home[/caption]

And for the first time he will be putting his new life in the spotlight in the ITV1 show, Noel Edmonds’ Kiwi Adventure. 

This could well include showing his fifth wedding to wife Liz Davies, after he popped the question yet again. 

And the Deal or No Deal star, 76, is keen to get married again in their new Kiwi home. 

He told the Mirror of the proposal: “We’ve been married a lot. We got married in a civil ceremony in the Cotswolds, then we went to our home in France and an Anglican minister who I knew very well came over and he was going to bless us and he did the whole thing again. 

“So this became a bit of a joke with our friends. Oh yeah, we were filming on a cruise ship and the captain married us again. 

“We’ve done four. But we want a Kiwi one. And there’s a compelling reason why we should get married again, in New Zealand. We own a chapel. So why wouldn’t we?”

After two previous marriages he wed Liz Davies in 2009 after three years together.

The couple met in 2006 when she was a stand-in make-up artist on his show, Deal or No Deal.

Speaking at his wedding about how they met, Noel said: “To start with it was all very professional, but there was a look in both our eyes.”

They were married in a civil ceremony in the drawing room of Lower Slaughter Manor, a 17th century country house in the Cotswolds.

Noel continued: “I have a chapel. I acquired a chapel with the farm and as you can see, it is in desperate need of restoration. It’s a fly and wasp cemetery. 

“But my project, starting early next year, is to restore it completely and then Liz and I will get married for the fifth time.”

It comes as the quirky host insisted that his new ITV1 show is nothing like Clarkson’s Farm — because he’s not as funny as the former Top Gear star. 

Noel exclusively told The Sun: “When we were filming our show, some people who knew about Clarkson’s Farm said to me, ‘Oh, is it like Clarkson’s Farm?’ 

“And I said, ‘No, it couldn’t be more different.’ First of all, I’m not like Jeremy in many ways, though I wish I were.

“He’s brilliant. He can articulate an argument beautifully and deliver a sharp, humorous line like no one else.” 

Noel, 76, went on to crack a joke about his years in the showbiz wilderness.

His last big gig was on I’m A Celebrity in 2018, when he was voted out after only nine days. 

Noel laughed: “People still ask, ‘Noel Edmonds? Didn’t he die? Is he still around?’ 

“Yes, I’m still here — and living life to the full.” 

PA

For the first time, Noel will be putting his new life in New Zealand in the spotlight[/caption]

Rex Features

SLAP on the sun cream as Met Eireann reckons temperatures will hit 23C in Ireland today.

Forecasters said high pressure will also “influence our weather” over the coming days.

Sunshine is on the cards for most areas today but there will be a few scattered showers.

Met Eireann said: “Breezy today with a mix of cloud and some sunny spells.

“While patchy outbreaks of rain will occur, there will be a lot of dry weather too with parts of the country staying fully dry.

“Highest temperatures will range from 15C in the Northwest and to a warm 23C in the Southeast.

“Westerly winds will be moderate to fresh in strength. Later this evening scattered falls of showery rain will occur.”

And a warm day is also on the cards for tomorrow with mercury hitting 20C.

A forecaster said: “Cloudy at first on Sunday morning with outbreaks of showery rain.

“Brightening up through the afternoon and evening with sunny spells and well scattered showers.

“Breezy with a moderate to fresh and gusty northwesterly wind.

“Highest temperatures ranging from 14C in the Northwest to 20C in the Southeast.”

Monday is set to be a cloudier day but it will remain mild.

They continued: “There’ll be a few showers on Monday, but most places will stay dry. It’ll be rather cloudy with just occasional sunny spells.

“Highest temperatures ranging from 13C in the northwest to 19 degrees in the south and southeast, in a moderate and occasionally fresh northwesterly wind.

“Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and clear spells on Monday night.

“The best of the clear spells will be further east. Lowest temperatures of 7 to 12C with a light northwest wind.

“Cloudy conditions with spells of light patchy rain and drizzle will spread over the western half of the country through Tuesday.

“Elsewhere should remain dry with sunny spells.

“Highest temperatures of 16 to 21C with a light to moderate west to northwest breeze.”

SANTIAGO CITY — A 63-year-old woman who was buried in a rockslide and mudflow in the village of Bocos in the town of Banaue, Ifugao province, last June 27 was interred at the town’s public cemetery on Friday, July 4, police said. Major Harrison Humiwat, Banaue police chief, said in a statement Saturday that the

ARGOS is selling the perfect furniture set for balconies or smaller gardens if you’re tight for space.

The furniture pieces are ideal for soaking up the sun and can be easily stored away during colder months.

Argos

Argos Home 2 Seater Rattan Effect Garden Bistro Set is retailing for £60[/caption]

With the weather blessing the country with sunshine and warmth, many Brits will want to spend more time outdoors.

With Argos’ Garden Bistro Set, you can enjoy your meals, snacks or drinks while making the most out of the summer.

The set comes with two chairs and is compact enough to fit into a balcony, patio or small garden.

Argos shoppers can pick up the set for just £60 – a steal compared to M&S version which sells for £400.

The chairs feature a hand-woven rattan effect which gives them a stylish touch.

The table sports a frosted glass top which makes it sturdy for outdoor use and ideal for UK weather.

The chairs can be stacked and put away during winter while the table has removable legs for easier storage.

The bistro set comes in two colours, brown and grey, which will fit right in with most interiors.

Rave reviews

Argos shoppers awarded the set of chairs a rating of 4.6 stars out of five.

One customer wrote: “Good sturdy furniture.”

Another one added: “This is easily put together, looks nice and doesn’t take up too much room on my small patio. All items are sturdy and the glass table is heavy enough not to blow over. Love this item.”

A third person said: “Seats are really comfy, table easy to put together, very smart looking.”

More garden buys

You can also turn up a stunning boho escape with Aldi’s £25 middle aisle bargain.

And you can add a fun summer touch to your garden this summer season.

The retailer also has a £10 garden essential that’s perfect for lazing in the sun.

And the Sun has tried and tested a variety of camping gear so you don’t have to.

Plus, a breakdown of the best deals for festival gear this summer.

CLARE HEHIR rejects the notion that the Banner’s ­perceived lack of experience at Croke Park is a stumbling block.

Clare face Waterford in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship quarter-final this afternoon.

Most of the Déise side are used to the big stage, having made it all the way to the O’Duffy Cup decider in 2023.

But ahead of today’s televised clash, Banner full-back Hehir insists her crew have also enjoyed memorable moments at GAA HQ.

Sinéad O’Keeffe, Niamh Mulqueen, Caoimhe Cahill, Jennifer Daly, Ellen Casey, Cliodhna Queally and Grace Carmody were involved when the juniors won the All-Ireland just two years ago.

Last December, Truagh Clonlara were the first Clare team to reach an All-Ireland senior club final. And while Galway’s Sarsfields were too strong, it was an invaluable experience for Áine O’Loughlin, Róisín Begley and Michelle Powell ahead of today’s outing.

Hehir’s memories are from further back — 13 years ago.

The Inagh-Kilnamona defender revealed: “Myself and Andrea O’Keefe would have played in a Féile final there when we were 14.

“We played De La Salle of Waterford. So it’s funny to be meeting them again.”

Waterford forward Beth Carton and goalkeeper Brianna O’Regan lined out that day and will take the field again this afternoon.

Clare’s last quarter-final appearance was a 2021 trip to Cork, which they lost 0-21 to 1-9.

And Hehir warned that her team-mates must not let the occasion — they are playing in front of the cameras in the curtain-raiser to a sold-out All-Ireland SHC semi-final at Croker — get to them.

She said: “It’s not like no one has ever touched the grass there before and that’s a help.

“It’s just about not letting the occasion get to you, as much as you do want to enjoy it as well, because not everyone gets to play there.”

Having been relegated from Division 1A of the Very League last season — when Hehir was absent after taking a year out to go travelling — Clare showed signs of improvement, reaching this year’s Division 1B final, which they lost to Antrim.

Hehir believes that making the All-Ireland last six is another signal that things are getting better for the Banner.

She said: “The league was good, a lot of girls got a lot of game time.

“Two championship wins was great. You saw a lot of girls stepping up to the plate who would be leaders on the team this year. There was a lot of learnings from the league final. There would have been a lot of us who wouldn’t make finals too often with Clare camogie.

“And maybe that occasion might have got to us or we didn’t turn up on the day.

“So that’s something we want to rectify and we want to put in a good performance.”

With Waterford standing in the way of a last-four berth, Hehir, 27, says the Clare squad will be giving it their best shot.

She added: “We definitely won’t be sitting back and admiring them.

“Their improvement over the last few years is something we would obviously have liked to have done ourselves.

“And I suppose that this could be the day to start that.”

Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

IN the sun-scorched high desert of Northern Nevada lies a tiny self-declared country with its very own dictator and armed forces.

Welcome to Molossia – an 11-acre empire with its own timezone, cookie dough currency, banned catfish, lawless sports, and a kayak-based navy patrolling distant lakes.

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Bizarre micronation Molossia has its own currency, dictator and armed forces[/caption]

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The Republic of Molossia is a micronation located in Nevada, USA, claiming sovereignty over a small plot of land near Dayton[/caption]

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It was founded by Kevin Baugh in 1977 and functions as a hobby turned territorial entity, complete with its own currency, laws, and government[/caption]

And standing proudly over his micronation is Kevin Baugh, who declared himself the president, founder, dictator and creator of the Republic of Molossia.

Molossia (not to be confused with any real-world state) has stood – albeit somewhat unofficially – since May 26, 1977.

It is so small that it equals to a tenth of the size of Vatican City, the world’s smallest country.

Inspired by the satirical Cold War film The Mouse that Roared, teenage Kevin and his friend James created their own fictional country.

He told The Sun: “Back then, Molossia was known as the Grand Republic of Vuldstein.

“King James was the king, and I was prime minister.”

While James moved on, Kevin stayed on the course.

In 1988, upon acquiring land in Nevada, Molossia found a physical home.

Since then, the desert realm has been steadily growing, one eccentric decree at a time.

A sovereign state – with cookie dough currency

Molossia has all the trappings of nationhood – a flag, passports, a national garden, and even a unique currency called the Valora, based on cookie dough.

“People kind of see this as a joke, but then they come here and see the customs station and cookie-dough money, and they start to go, ‘Hey, this is kind of a real place,’” Baugh said.

The nation has a total population of 38 – 37 humans and one dog – and citizenship is strictly limited to Baugh’s family, whether by blood or marrying in.

Molossia even has its own timezone, known as Molossian Standard Time, separate from the US and observed only within its tight borders.

“We like to be unique and unusual,” Baugh explained.

And customs? Yes, there’s even a checkpoint.

“There’s a variety of things you can’t bring into Molossia… like walruses or catfish,” the dictator said.

Why catfish?

“We got bumped from a magazine article in favor of one about noodling catfish with your bare hands.

“So I banned catfish. Easy to ban something you don’t actually have.”

Molossia welcomes daily visitors between April and October, and some famous faces have stopped by to check the tiny nation out.

Baugh revealed: “Jack Black visited in 2015 as a part of a micronation movie that he was planning to make at that time.  He visited with a rather a large entourage, all related to the movie.

“The movie was to be roughly based on Molossia, of which he had been aware for over 10 years prior.  

“It was a great visit, and he is a fun guy. It appears now that probably the movie won’t be made but again it was wonderful having him visit Molossia.”

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President Baugh pictured with Hollywood star Jack Black[/caption]

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The dictator rules the micronation from his government office[/caption]

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The country has its own post office and souvenir shop[/caption]

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It also has a constabulary and jail for unwelcome visitors[/caption]

Dryland regattas, broom ball, and burning the Guy

Despite living under a dictatorship, residents of Molossia enjoy traditions that are more whimsical rather than oppressive.

Take the Misfit Regatta, a dry land boat race every two years where cardboard “boats” race across a dry lakeboard.

Or broom ball, a lawless national sport featuring brooms, chaos ,a nd minimal structure.

Baugh explained: “It’s a sport with no rules… sword fights with broomsticks if you want.

“Games last 10 minutes because it’s so exhausting.”

And then there’s Guy Fawkes Night, the British tradition of burning an effigy of the infamous rebel.

Why celebrate it? Baugh explained: “Well, because it’s fun.

“Most Molossians are provided their own Guy… we have knockoff English food and burn the Guy in a bonfire.”

There’s also Moon Pie Day in September, a sugary twist on the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival.

“Instead of the moon festival, it’s the moon pie festival – and we eat those,” said the Molossian leader.

“We have no problem culturally appropriating, especially if it involves food.”

Supplied

MOLOSSIA DICTATOR, The Republic of Molossia is a micronation located in Nevada, USA, claiming sovereignty over a small plot of land near Dayton. It was founded by Kevin Baugh in 1977 and functions as a hobby turned territorial entity, complete with its own currency, laws, and government. While not recognized by any UN member states, […][/caption]

Supplied

MOLOSSIA DICTATOR, The Republic of Molossia is a micronation located in Nevada, USA, claiming sovereignty over a small plot of land near Dayton. It was founded by Kevin Baugh in 1977 and functions as a hobby turned territorial entity, complete with its own currency, laws, and government. While not recognized by any UN member states, […][/caption]

At war with a country that no longer exists

Molossia is, bizarrely, at war with East Germany.

Yes, the country that hasn’t officially existed since 1990. But Baugh insists the conflict is unresolved.

“I declared war on East Germany in the early 1980s when I was stationed in West Germany with the US Army. Got tired of being woken up for drills at 2 am,” he said.

Years later, Baugh rediscovered the declaration in a box.

He explained: “Turns out East Germany still exists… sort of.

“There’s a tiny island off Cuba that was East German territory, never addressed during reunification.

“It’s uninhabited – just marine iguanas – but technically, the war continues.”

On Molossia’s official website, you can even find war bonds to support the war against East Germany in the value of 10 valora.

But don’t worry if you’re short on cookie dough as the website accepts PayPal.

The lake navy & space agency

Molossia’s military might lies not in an army, but in its unlikely Navy.

“We tried having an Army, but the US Olympic Committee used it against us. We tried having an Air Force, but the plane never flew, and anyway it was too small to fit anyone inside,” Baugh wrote on his website.

Instead, the landlocked nation fields a naval force made up of five boats, primarily kayaks, tasked with exploring lakes and reservoirs across the western desert.

“Our goal with the Molossian Navy is to explore those watery places that dot the western landscape like gems in the sand,” the official website states.

Despite its desert location, Baugh insists the Navy is ready to defend Molossia “whenever necessary, through the means of our valiant Naval Infantry.”

Molossia also has its own air and space agency.

Founded in 1999, it has launched several rockets from its Alphonse Simms Memorial Cosmodrome – also known as the national broomball field. 

Its most notable innovation is Rocket Mail, a postal system using rockets to deliver letters across the micronation.

In 2018, teams successfully launched the P-1 Postal Rocket four times.

The agency also tested the Skylofter, a payload rocket used to study flight dynamics, ultimately launching the Molossian flag into the sky for the first time. 

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Molossia’s fortified navy[/caption]

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A Molossian one-man-show

Despite calling himself a dictator, Baugh said he is quite benevolent.

“I don’t really get involved in the day-to-day decisions of our citizens’ lives,” he explained.

“They kind of just go along with what we’re doing. And nobody really wants this job – it’s a lot of work.”

Still, there may be “rigged elections” in Molossia’s future.

“You either vote for me or… you vote for me,” he joked.

“Maybe 300 or 400 votes from a population of 38 – dictatorships are known for that.”

Any real coups or uprisings?  “No. Again, nobody wants this job. It’s just me answering emails, maintaining buildings in Red Square – that’s our town square – and running the country.”

Baugh walks around his country draped in full military uniform, ready to show off his many medals while posing in front of Molossia’s monuments.

When asked where the condecorations come from, he said: “Some of the medals that I wear were awarded to me by me for doing great things for the nation.

“This is in keeping with the look that most dictators have.

“However, most of the medals that I wear, as well as as many, many more that I do not wear, were awarded to me by other nations for contributions to their nation or the micronational world in general.”

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Molossia is bizarrely at war with East Germany, which ceased to exist in 1990 – but the conflict is unresolved[/caption]

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MOLOSSIA DICTATOR, The Republic of Molossia is a micronation located in Nevada, USA, claiming sovereignty over a small plot of land near Dayton. It was founded by Kevin Baugh in 1977 and functions as a hobby turned territorial entity, complete with its own currency, laws, and government. While not recognized by any UN member states, […][/caption]

Funding a nation on a shoestring

Operating on a “third-world budget,” Molossia does need to break away from the cookie dough and spend real world money to make the country run.

The country only spends around $2,000 to $3,000 a year, mostly funded through tourism and merchandise.

“We try to be imaginative instead of throwing money at things,” Baugh says.

Their passports, for instance, are made from cardstock and pocket calendar sleeves – designed to look like 1930s documents so they aren’t mistaken for real ones at airports.

Future plans for the desert empire

Molossia may be small, but its ambitions are… moderately bigger. There’s talk of acquiring land across the road, which would double its territory, and dreams of building a tourist railroad.

“A small one, like the kind you see in parks. But that’s a bit beyond our budget right now.”

Despite its quirky tone, Baugh insists Molossia is more than a parody.

“This is something I’ve put my blood, sweat, and tears into. It’s a serious project with a sense of humor.”

And for anyone wondering how the U.S. government feels about this tiny nation in its midst?

“Nothing official. We did get a Christmas card from President Barack Obama once – four months late, but who’s counting.”

So whether it’s banning catfish, waging eternal war against long-defunct nations, or ruling by cheerful decree, Molossia continues to thrive – one moon pie and broomstick sword fight at a time. 

TWISTED Putin’s brainwashing programme has plunged to new depths with a dystopian propaganda cartoon aimed at toddlers.

The animated kids’ show uses toddler versions of world leaders to plant pro-Putin and anti-Western sentiments before kids can even walk or talk.

Telegram

Sandpit features animated versions of Putin, Trump, Macron, Musk, Erdogan and Kim (top left to bottom right)[/caption]

Telegram

A gentle, wide-eyed Putin with a bear and a ship symbolising the Black Sea Fleet[/caption]

Alamy

Putin’s chief propagandist, Vladimir Solovyov, spearheaded the new show called Sandpit.

The producers say its aim is to “instil patriotism from an early age” and teach Russian infants to “discuss geopolitics”.

A 30-second trailer posted on Solovyov’s Telegram account shows toddler versions of Putin, Trump, Macron, Musk, Erdogan and Kim Jong-un chatting on a video call.

At one point, Kim tells Macron he shouldn’t be allowed to hang out with the others because “you’re always with your grandma” – a jibe at the French president’s wife, Brigitte, who is 24 years his senior.

When Trump asks why their call is taking place on a Russian video app, Putin fires back with a jab at Western technology: “Because your Skype cut out, that’s why.”

Speaking to The Sun, Dr Alasdair McCallum, a Russian propaganda expert at Australia’s Monash University, says: “The Sandpit cartoon is taking things to new extremes.

“You have these quite bizarre AI-generated cartoons aimed at toddlers.

“The aim is to indoctrinate from as early as possible – before they can even walk.”

Dr McCallum thinks the message in the trailer couldn’t be more obvious.

He explains: “The idea is that Russia is strong and the West is weak, so Trump, Macron and Musk are depicted as goofy and incapable of making strong decisions, whereas the little toddler version of Putin is very strong and composed.”

Putin, whose face appears kind and calm, is shown wearing a crisp white judo uniform.

Next to the Russian president sit a teddy bear, a symbol of national identity, and a black toy ship, representing the Russian Navy’s Black Sea Fleet.

Meanwhile Kim, who is currently sending troops and weapons to back Putin’s war in Ukraine, comes across as missile-mad, gripping a toy rocket tightly with both hands.

Towering missiles also loom in the background of the dictator’s room – which, with its lack of windows, resembles a bunker.

And to drive the point home further, Kim’s email address – BigBadaBoom@pyongyang.kp – is a blatant nod to explosions, paired with the mock domain of North Korea’s capital.

Erdogan, whose email address is LuxuryTurkey@booking.com, is also portrayed in a wildly exaggerated style.

Wearing the traditional fez, the Turkish president appears against an ornate, Ottoman-inspired backdrop.

While presidents like Erdogan and Macron show cracks of anxiety, Trump and Musk grin smugly.

The businessman-turned-president sits in a gaudy room, while the Tesla CEO appears fixated on his toy car.

The cartoons even have their own avatars: Putin is a bear with a red star, Kim is a mushroom cloud and Trump is the pope blessing worshippers.

Many of the references will sail right over kids’ heads, Dr McCallum admits, but he says they serve the additional aim of shocking the rest of the world.

He explains: “A lot of Russian propaganda has a kind of shock element to it.

“This is why you often see extreme messages about the amount of nukes they could drop on Britain.”

He believes the timing of the show’s launch is far from a coincidence.

UK intelligence revealed in early June that Russia has suffered huge war losses, with about one million of its own soldiers either killed or wounded in the war in Ukraine since February 2022.

Telegram

Sandpit aims to ‘instil patriotism from an early age’, according to its producers[/caption]

Telegram

A missile-mad Kim Jong-un is shown holding a toy rocket[/caption]

Telegram

A distressed Macron is teased over his older wife Brigitte, who is called his ‘grandma’[/caption]

AP

Putin has ramped up propaganda aimed at children[/caption]

“They need to replenish that manpower, they have to try to indoctrinate them early,” says Dr McCallum.

But he finds it hard to imagine any of Solovyov’s eight privileged, Western-educated kids – born to three different women – dying on the front line in Donetsk.

“It’s always the lower echelons of society that get fed into this propaganda mill and then go to fight and die,” he adds.

Sandpit comes as the Kremlin ramps up efforts to target children – both Russian and Ukrainian – with state propaganda.

At Russia’s Victory Day parades, prams are turned into cardboard tanks and babies are dressed in tiny army uniforms.

Youth groups like Yunarmiya, along with school visits featuring war veterans, actively expose kids – even as young as preschool age – to the world of weaponry and military culture.

While boys are targeted with militaristic messaging, girls are fed pro-natalist narratives, pushing them toward motherhood and care-giving roles, says Dr McCallum.

Teenage girls are reportedly paid as much as £1,000 to have babies in more than 10 regions across Russia, including Oryol and Yaroslavl in the west, and Kemerovo in Siberia.

A TV show previously called ‘Pregnant at 16’ – intended to discourage teenage pregnancies – was rebranded as ‘Mama at 16’ in January.

Each episode now opens with the more optimistic phrase “I’m expecting a child” instead of the former “I’m pregnant”.

The channel that airs ‘Mama at 16’ also broadcasts similarly themed shows like ‘Supermum’, ‘Maternity Ward Days’, ‘Call Me Mum’ and ‘Mama at 45’.

Its website reads: “Yu is a reality show network about the most important things for a young woman: family, children, mother-in-laws, mums, friends and, of course, love.”

East2West

Russian President Vladimir Putin and leading TV propagandist Vladimir Solovyov[/caption]

At school, children face mandatory weekly lessons called “Conversations about Important Things”, where patriotism is drilled in and dying for the Motherland is glorified.

The course was introduced in September 2022 – eight months after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In September 2023, new history textbooks were distributed across Russian schools that glorify Russia, omit criticism of Stalin and portray the West as aggressors.

Children are taught that Ukraine is a “Nazi state” and that Russia’s invasion is justified – no different to Putin’s claim that it’s “a question of life and death, the question of our historic future as a people”.

Dr McCallum explains: “A central element of Russian propaganda is that Russia and ethnic Russians were the sole victors over Nazism and that Ukraine is an artificial Nazi state.

“But this doesn’t gel with the reality of a Jewish president [Zelensky] and support from European countries.”

Reuters

Russian children enrolled in the Youth Army are seen trying on gas masks[/caption]

Reuters

The Kremlin is trying to boost support for its military among children[/caption]

East2West

More Russians are rejecting Putin’s propaganda

Contrary to popular belief, the majority of Russians do not rely solely on state-controlled TV.

Dependence on state TV dropped sharply from around 90 percent to just over 60 percent from 2013 to 2021, according to the Atlantic Council.

Meanwhile, over 85 percent of Russians are said to have internet access.

Despite increased Kremlin censorship, independent platforms like YouTube and Telegram remain accessible in Russia.

Many people also use virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass restrictions.

The majority of Russians still back the war in Ukraine, according to the latest 2025 surveys from Levada Center, Statista, and VCIOM.

But the data reveals a growing appetite for peace talks.

Younger generations, in particular, show lower support for the conflict compared to their elders.

However, experts warn that public surveys on Russian support for the war should be taken with a pinch of salt, as censorship and fear of repercussions can dictate people’s responses.

Over 500 Russian teenagers have been arrested at anti-war rallies since 2022, according to human rights group OVD-Info.

One of them, Arseny Turbin, was just 15 when he was arrested and accused of joining the Freedom of Russia Legion – a group made up of Russian citizens fighting alongside Ukraine.

He was also charged with distributing leaflets critical of Vladimir Putin and the war.

Arseny was sentenced to five years in a youth detention centre in November last year – where he remains to this day.

AFP

A Russian military officer accepts flowers from a girl during Victory Day parade[/caption]