Is Eurozone going to a fiscal union?

After more than a year of turmoil in the Eurozone with extending debt crisis to countries like France, once an engine of the EU, bankers and policymakers consider a deep reform of the currency policy of the Union. Positions still differ, with George Osborne, the UK Chancellor, calling for deeper integration and a certain fiscal union to solve the debt crisis, while Italian counterpart Giulio Tremonti urges the introduction of common euro-area bonds. So far, the French and German leaders have opposed more radical moves, but latest events may change their position.
Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker had long argued in favour of joint euro bonds and he believed the trend was pointing towards closer coordination of fiscal policies.

New NATO losses in Afghanistan

Two French solders have been killed and five wounded in the Tagab valley of Eastern Afghanistan during skirmishes with insurgents. Other two NATO solders were killed in another incident in South Afghanistan.

Increased pressure to stop Assad killing protesters in Syria

Concerted pressure of the USA, Germany and France to determine Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to stop killing protesters were announced by President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy on 05.08.2011.

A meeting of tribal leaders in the Eastern province of Deir al-Zor, Syria, decided to confront any future government army assault.

French aircraft carrier ends Libyan mission

French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet announced the withdrawal of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle from the NATO-led mission over Libya.

The ship will undergo maintenance works in its home port of Toulon starting August 10.