Romania

The pro-European Union coalition of Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan has collapsed after a 281-4 vote of no confidence. The Social Democrats, Bolojan’s allies, sided with far-right parties to oust the prime minister. The leu, Romania’s currency, fell to a record low against the euro before Tuesday’s vote.

OLLY MURS is taking a leap into the unknown on a brutal 250-mile challenge for Unicef’s Soccer Aid.

In an exclusive chat with Bizarre, the singer revealed he will run, row and cycle from Manchester United’s Old Trafford to West Ham’s London Stadium across five punishing days for Olly Murs: Into The Unknown.

He admitted that a life-changing trip to Romania had given the challenge a whole new meaning.

The Troublemaker star travelled to Eastern Europe to see the charity’s work first-hand, and was moved after meeting mum-of-one Oksana, who escaped Ukraine after Russia invaded and is now living in a Unicef facility in Romania.

“Her baby was only seven months old,” Olly said. “Coming here in the middle of a war on her own, no family, no friends.

“The story was tough to listen to.

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“The fact that eight weeks later, her house (in Ukraine) got bombed, it’s terrifying, isn’t it?

“It kind of puts things into perspective.”

The trip clearly hit home for Olly, who has a daughter, Madison, and baby son, Albert, with wife Amelia.

He explained: “All I want to do is keep my baby safe and keep the (children) healthy and happy, and that’s the same for every parent around the world.”

While the cause is inspiring, the 250 miles sounds absolutely brutal.

In a harsh twist, Olly won’t know exactly what he’ll be facing each day.

He revealed: “It does scare me because it’s really hard when you’re preparing for something when you don’t know the distances.”

Even his birthday is being sacrificed to the cause.

Olly laughed: “The 11th of May is when I start it — my birthday week.

“I’ll be celebrating my birthday whilst running or cycling or rowing somewhere.”

Olly, who has undergone four knee operations, is worried about what impact the arduous challenge will have on his joints.

He added: “I don’t know how my knee’s going to cope. It’s definitely going to have an effect on my body, and my knees.

“But I’m confident that I’m fit enough to do it.”

Away from the graft of preparing for his charity challenge, Olly says his home life has become his priority, with music temporarily on the back burner.

“I’ve really enjoyed just being at home and not singing any more,” he explained.

“I’m just singing and entertaining my kids.

“I posted a video the other day of me singing to my kids some of my songs and Maddie kept saying ‘No.’

“It’s a tough crowd at home.”

Olly is now hoping he’ll have an easier time on the pitch at Soccer Aid on May 31, when he will line up as part of the England squad alongside
Wayne Rooney, Tom Hiddleston, Gk Barry, Jill Scott, Angry Ginge and with SoccerAid founder Robbie Williams as coach.

The Soccer Aid World XI features ex-players Jordi Alba of Spain and Italy’s
Leonardo Bonucci, with the team being coached by Olympian Usain Bolt.

This little-known European country gets a fraction of the visitors of some of its neighbours, but if you’re in the mood to visit somewhere a little different, it’s easily accessed from the UK

Nowadays, travel isn’t exactly cheap. From jet fuel prices to everyday spends, it soon adds up, and many popular beach and city break destinations are getting more costly to visit.

But there are still less expensive destinations to discover, even in Europe, and one of the continent’s cheapest destinations also happens to be one of the least visited. While it’s not on many travellers’ bucket lists, it’s a charming break and something a little different if you’re feeling adventurous.

Many people can’t point Moldova out on a map, and this small Eastern European country is often overlooked. It sits between Romania and Ukraine, with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advising against travel near the border with the latter, and travellers should pay attention to travel advice for Moldova in case the situation changes.

Just over 67,000 tourists visit Moldova each year, and most of them arrive in the capital of Chișinău, which has routes from the UK serviced by Wizz Air and FlyOne. The city is a mixture of historic and Soviet-era architecture, and the compact, walkable centre is broken up with large green spaces.

As a cultural hub, Chișinău has plenty for tourists to do. Visit the ornate Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ’s Nativity and see the grand frescos, or tour the National History Museum of Moldova for a fascinating look at this little-known nation’s past.

Moldova’s rolling green countryside is covered in vineyards, and just outside the city you’ll find the world’s largest wine cellar at Milestii Mici. Over 30 miles of its limestone tunnels are in use, storing an estimated 1.5 million bottles of wine, enough to throw quite a party.

You can take a tour of the tunnels, which have ‘streets’ named after different wine varieties, and of course, you get your own bottle to take home.

Many local restaurants also serve Moldovan wines, and you can often enjoy a bottle in a restaurant for £4-5, while a pint in a bar can easily be found for less than £2, making it a cheap place for a night out compared to many European destinations.

Just south of the capital you can visit the 13th-century cave monastery at Orheiul Vechi. Dug into the cliffs, it has a series of solid stone stairs and tunnels and amazing views across this traditional Moldovan town. You may even spot a few of the monks who still live within its walls. There’s also the archaeological remains of Old Orhei, dating back as far as the 6th-century BC.

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If you’re looking for time away from the city, the Bicaz Gorge near the border with Romania showcases some of the area’s natural beauty and includes the unique Red Lake. This lake is famous for its reddish hue and the remains of tree stumps that poke defiantly from the water, making it a popular place for hiking.

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