From Le Monde’s web site:
http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3218,36-999500@51-998691,0.html

Signature de l’accord cr?ant une base militaire fran?aise permanente aux Emirats arabes unis
LEMONDE.FR avec AFP | 15.01.08 | 13h43 ? Mis ? jour le 15.01.08 | 13h43

La France va disposer d’une base militaire permanente aux Emirats arabes unis, en vertu d’un accord sign?, mardi 15 janvier, lors de la visite de Nicolas Sarkozy ? Abou Dhabi, derni?re ?tape de sa tourn?e dans trois pays du Golfe. “En vertu d’un accord de pr?sence de forces fran?aises sur le territoire des Emirats arabes unis”, la France disposera d’une “base interarm?es permanente de 400 ? 500 personnels”, a pr?cis? une source ? l’Elys?e, pr?cisant l’annonce faite vendredi (Le Monde dat? mardi 15 janvier). Ce sera la premi?re base militaire permanente fran?aise dans le Golfe.
L’accord sign? par le chef de la diplomatie ?miratie, Cheikh Abdallah Ben Zayed Al-Nahyane, et le ministre de la d?fense fran?ais, Herv? Morin, constitue un d?veloppement tr?s significatif, les Emirats ?tant notoirement vigilants sur tout ce qui a trait ? leur ind?pendance.

TROISI?ME ACCORD DE COOP?RATION DANS LE NUCL?AIRE CIVIL

Lors de cette visite de moins d’une journ?e du chef de l’Etat fran?ais, les deux pays ont ?galement sign? un accord de coop?ration dans le nucl?aire civil, comme annonc? par l’Elys?e. C’est le troisi?me accord de ce type avec un pays arabe, apr?s ceux conclus en d?cembre 2007 avec l’Alg?rie et la Libye. Dans le cadre de cette coop?ration, le groupe nucl?aire Areva et l’?lectricien Suez ont annonc? lundi leur alliance avec le groupe p?trolier Total pour vendre deux r?acteurs nucl?aires EPR aux Emirats.
M. Sarkozy avait confirm? lundi dans un discours ? Riyad son offre de faire profiter les pays arabes et musulmans de l’expertise fran?aise en mati?re nucl?aire.

Summary for non french-speakers:

-An agreement has been signed today (tuesday 15th january) between France and Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), for a permanent French naval base in this country ( around 400-500 persons)…

-Another agreement of cooperation in civilian nuclear technology has also been signed, it is spoken of selling 2 EPR reactors. It’s the third agreement of this kind, after Algeria an Libya…
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Miyoshi plant (mazda) history

Champagne! 😀

Let’s hope they’ll hold their word, this time… *cross fingers*
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Toyota tz engine

I have my doubts if those pics are genuine or not. But in the case it proved to be true, how much fuel would carry those CFTs ?

After all, they don’t look that large…

Still, I love the pictures, really.
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Yamaha mu-series specifications

They would actually be very useful for naval interdiction missions, e.g. the anti-piracy and counter-terror operations in the Horn of Africa.

You are, in fact, re-inventing of the French Navy’s Aviso colonial concept, used to well… monitor its colonial empire.
It’s basically a small sized vessel (2600 tonnes full load, between a corvette and a Frigate) with a very long range and autonomy (13000 nm), able to sail up large rivers (small draught/draft) and to carry a full Marines company.
They also had a sufficient firepower to support tha aforementioned marines (3x138mm guns, with high RoF) , a limited cargo bay for small transport missions and they could carry naval mines…
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THE HENRY FORD SPECIFICATIONS

Normally I would like to believe, that Eurocopter and Mil (=Euromil) will build a modern
version of the Mil Mi-26.

Out of curiosity, what is the current statut of Euromil ? Still in existence ? I haven’t heard of its activities for years… :confused:
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MONTANA MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Just to say: splendid pictures, thanks for displaying them, if you have more, please post them! 🙂
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Maine marijuana dispensary

Speaking of amphibious ships: The BPC Tonnerre has been admitted into service one 6th aug. (yesterday).

See here (in french).
http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=105282
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Ford model c ten

What bombs use the the Mk83 and Mk84 variants ? 1000 lbs ? 2000 lbs ? :confused: