1.Jose Carreras’s Waterman pen and Cristian Chivu’s football shirt were among the exhibits auctioned at a charity gala at the Parliament Palace in combination with the United Way foundation. The Spanish tenor gave a concert, with celebrities such as Ion Tiriac, TV presenter Mihaela Radulescu and soprano Alexandra Coman in attendance.

2. Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu cut the ribbon at the first flyover on the DN1 road linking Bucharest to Ploiesti, opposite the newly reopened Baneasa airport. Works on the second flyover, on the junction between Blvd Aerogarii and Sos Ionescu Sisesti, should be sped up to be finished by next Spring, when Romania hosts the NATO summit and President Bush, said Tariceanu.

3. President Basescu, Prime Minister Tariceanu and outgoing French Ambassador Herve Bolot joined revellers to celebrate Bastille Day on 14 July in Cismigiu Park, the 19th century romantic public garden built on a French design.

4. Bucharest has lost one of its most high-spirited Ambassadors with the departure of the United Nations’ Soknan Han-Jung, who returns to the UN HQ as senior advisor to the United Nations Development Programme in New York City.

5. Stable coalition: To celebrate 4 July, President Basescu joined US Ambassador Nicholas Taubman and the red ladies of the Embassy Medical Staff for a bumper night of burgers, hot dogs and general American fun.

6. Savage beauty: Fauvist-style landscapes and portraits from early 19th century artist Rodica Maniu are on display at the Kretzulescu rooms, National Museum of Arts, Romania, until 30 September.

7. Celebrating five years of activity locally, Raiffeisen Leasing last month boasted a network in 16 cities in Romania and an active portfolio of 250 million Euro, with over 14,000 ongoing contracts. General manager Mihaela Mateescu (right) said the first half of this year saw a 74 per cent increase on the similar year-ago period, of which 77 per cent is automobile leasing, 18 per cent equipment leasing and five per cent real estate leasing.

8. Hip dip: Romania’s seaside geared up for the Latin touch, as Fiat opened a poolside cafe in Mamaia to help promote the Italian car brand.