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Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Iran leaps seven spots in latest FIFA rankings
Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - ©2004 IranMania.com
Tehran, March 17 (IranMania) -- According to Iran's State News Agency (IRNA) Iran moved up seven places in the latest rankings issued by the world soccer`s governing body, FIFA, Wednesday.
The high jump sent Iran to the 24th spot, the best ranking in its history.
Iran leapfrogged Japan on 658 points while South Korea took the top place in the Asian zone on 668 points and Japan and Saudi Arabia tied at No. 2 of the continent on 653 points.
The world`s top teams (February's position in brackets):
1. (1) Brazil 842 points
2. (2) France 826
3. (3) Spain 791
4. (4) Netherlands 747
5. (5) Mexico 740
6. (8) Czech Republic 735
6. (7) England 735
6. (6) Argentina 735
9. (9) Turkey 733
10. (12) Germany 729
11. (10) Italy 726
12. (11) United States 725
13. (13) Cameroon 718
14. (14) Denmark 711
15. (15) Ireland 705
16. (16) Belgium 688
17. (17) Portugal 676
18. (18) Costa Rica 674
19. (21) Nigeria 672
20. (20) Sweden 669
Note: FIFA's standings are based on a statistical analysis of countries' results over eight years, weighted according to how recently the matches were played, the strength of the opponents and the importance of each match.
Tehran, March 17 (IranMania) -- According to Iran's State News Agency (IRNA) Iran moved up seven places in the latest rankings issued by the world soccer`s governing body, FIFA, Wednesday.
The high jump sent Iran to the 24th spot, the best ranking in its history.
Iran leapfrogged Japan on 658 points while South Korea took the top place in the Asian zone on 668 points and Japan and Saudi Arabia tied at No. 2 of the continent on 653 points.
The world`s top teams (February's position in brackets):
1. (1) Brazil 842 points
2. (2) France 826
3. (3) Spain 791
4. (4) Netherlands 747
5. (5) Mexico 740
6. (8) Czech Republic 735
6. (7) England 735
6. (6) Argentina 735
9. (9) Turkey 733
10. (12) Germany 729
11. (10) Italy 726
12. (11) United States 725
13. (13) Cameroon 718
14. (14) Denmark 711
15. (15) Ireland 705
16. (16) Belgium 688
17. (17) Portugal 676
18. (18) Costa Rica 674
19. (21) Nigeria 672
20. (20) Sweden 669
Note: FIFA's standings are based on a statistical analysis of countries' results over eight years, weighted according to how recently the matches were played, the strength of the opponents and the importance of each match.
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
IranKhodro-made ECU registered internationally
Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - ©2004 IranMania.com
TEHRAN, March 15 (Iran Daily) --A senior official with the giant automaker Iran Khodro said here on Monday that the design and production of the electronic engine control unit (ECU) has cost the company some 10 billion rials.
"It also took us three and a half years to have it designed and registered internationally," said Mohammad Zali, the managing director of the Iran Khodro Engine Research, Design and Production Company, stressing that the Iran Khodro brand of the ECU, which was registered two months ago, operates on a double-fueled system.
The official stressed that the ECU controls engines using both gasoline and natural gas and the experimental application of the device on some Iranassembled vehicles has produced the desired results.
He further said that the use of ECU will be quite economical in Iran given the country's huge natural gas reserves, adding that the Iran-made ECU is compatible with the engines of virtually all domestically assembled vehicles.
The ECU is environmentally friendly as it 'meets Euro-II standards', he said, stressing that the device will help reduce the ever-increasing fuel consumption in the country. Iran holds nearly 10% of the global oil and gas reserves, whereas the country has to import gasoline every year due to its unrestrained consumption pattern.
The country will reportedly have to import US$1bln worth of petrol in the next Iranian year, beginning March 20.
TEHRAN, March 15 (Iran Daily) --A senior official with the giant automaker Iran Khodro said here on Monday that the design and production of the electronic engine control unit (ECU) has cost the company some 10 billion rials.
"It also took us three and a half years to have it designed and registered internationally," said Mohammad Zali, the managing director of the Iran Khodro Engine Research, Design and Production Company, stressing that the Iran Khodro brand of the ECU, which was registered two months ago, operates on a double-fueled system.
The official stressed that the ECU controls engines using both gasoline and natural gas and the experimental application of the device on some Iranassembled vehicles has produced the desired results.
He further said that the use of ECU will be quite economical in Iran given the country's huge natural gas reserves, adding that the Iran-made ECU is compatible with the engines of virtually all domestically assembled vehicles.
The ECU is environmentally friendly as it 'meets Euro-II standards', he said, stressing that the device will help reduce the ever-increasing fuel consumption in the country. Iran holds nearly 10% of the global oil and gas reserves, whereas the country has to import gasoline every year due to its unrestrained consumption pattern.
The country will reportedly have to import US$1bln worth of petrol in the next Iranian year, beginning March 20.
Iran conservatives approve "pagan" fire celebration
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
TEHRAN, March 16 (AFP) -- Tehran's conservative authorities have officially allowed the city's youth to celebrate the annual "pagan" fire festival, breaking a hard line going back years but at the same time ensuring better control.
"The Municipality has decided to make 40 city squares available for the celebrations," deputy mayor Mohammad Javad Mohammadizadeh, a member of the conservative council elected in February last year, was quoted Tuesday as saying.
"Firefighters will be fully mobilised and deployed in those squares to avoid any incidents," he added.
For centuries Iranians have jumped over bonfires to purify themselves and chase away evil spirits on the last Tuesday night before the New Year celebrations at around the spring equinox.
The rite marking the end of winter and including the setting off of fireworks dates back to pre-Islamic Zoroastrian times and Muslim clerics have tried in vain to prevent it each year.
But they are confronted by an expanding young generation eager for amusement and opportunities for meeting each other, and the Islamic republic's authorities have ended up tolerating the practice.
Even so, every year sees arrests and clashes with police out on the streets in force, as the celebrants compete with each other in the manufacture of bigger and louder fireworks.
These mini-bombs include gas canisters which are blown up at crossroads.
Last year, according to press reports, 28 people, mainly teenagers, were injured and around 100 arrested.
However Tehran police this year also took a conciliatory tone.
"We have nothing against celebrations and merry-making," police chief Morteza Talaie was quoted as saying, "as long as the limits are not exceeded."
Police have been told not to prevent the sale of fireworks as long as they are not dangerous.
The official attitude to the festival known as "chaharshanbeh suri" is in line with the image of pragmatism coupled with proper respect for Islamic values that the new conservative authorities have tried to foster since taking over from a reformist municipality that collapsed amid infighting.
This policy is also being pushed by conservatives who took control of parliament in controversial elections last month after hundreds of reformist candidates were disqualified by a conservative watchdog body.
But some hardliners are not happy.
Conservative cleric Ayatollah Safi Gholpayegani condemned the fire festival as "unworthy of the Iranian Muslim people".
"Those who take part are ignoramuses," he was quoted as saying in the press, accusing "pseudo-intellectuals, liberal journalists and foreign propaganda organs" of supporting the event in order to harm Islamic culture.
The ayatollah stormed at "attempts to make this feast official", particularly as this year it falls during the Shiite mourning month and coincides with Wednesday's commemoration of the martyrdom of Zeinolabedin, one of the 12 imams revered by Shiites.
Calling on his "brothers and sisters in belief", the ayatollah said, "Muslims and Shiites expect you to remember the martyrdom of this distinguished man, indicate your hatred for obscurantist culture and take part in magnificent ceremonies to destroy our enemies."
TEHRAN, March 16 (AFP) -- Tehran's conservative authorities have officially allowed the city's youth to celebrate the annual "pagan" fire festival, breaking a hard line going back years but at the same time ensuring better control.
"The Municipality has decided to make 40 city squares available for the celebrations," deputy mayor Mohammad Javad Mohammadizadeh, a member of the conservative council elected in February last year, was quoted Tuesday as saying.
"Firefighters will be fully mobilised and deployed in those squares to avoid any incidents," he added.
For centuries Iranians have jumped over bonfires to purify themselves and chase away evil spirits on the last Tuesday night before the New Year celebrations at around the spring equinox.
The rite marking the end of winter and including the setting off of fireworks dates back to pre-Islamic Zoroastrian times and Muslim clerics have tried in vain to prevent it each year.
But they are confronted by an expanding young generation eager for amusement and opportunities for meeting each other, and the Islamic republic's authorities have ended up tolerating the practice.
Even so, every year sees arrests and clashes with police out on the streets in force, as the celebrants compete with each other in the manufacture of bigger and louder fireworks.
These mini-bombs include gas canisters which are blown up at crossroads.
Last year, according to press reports, 28 people, mainly teenagers, were injured and around 100 arrested.
However Tehran police this year also took a conciliatory tone.
"We have nothing against celebrations and merry-making," police chief Morteza Talaie was quoted as saying, "as long as the limits are not exceeded."
Police have been told not to prevent the sale of fireworks as long as they are not dangerous.
The official attitude to the festival known as "chaharshanbeh suri" is in line with the image of pragmatism coupled with proper respect for Islamic values that the new conservative authorities have tried to foster since taking over from a reformist municipality that collapsed amid infighting.
This policy is also being pushed by conservatives who took control of parliament in controversial elections last month after hundreds of reformist candidates were disqualified by a conservative watchdog body.
But some hardliners are not happy.
Conservative cleric Ayatollah Safi Gholpayegani condemned the fire festival as "unworthy of the Iranian Muslim people".
"Those who take part are ignoramuses," he was quoted as saying in the press, accusing "pseudo-intellectuals, liberal journalists and foreign propaganda organs" of supporting the event in order to harm Islamic culture.
The ayatollah stormed at "attempts to make this feast official", particularly as this year it falls during the Shiite mourning month and coincides with Wednesday's commemoration of the martyrdom of Zeinolabedin, one of the 12 imams revered by Shiites.
Calling on his "brothers and sisters in belief", the ayatollah said, "Muslims and Shiites expect you to remember the martyrdom of this distinguished man, indicate your hatred for obscurantist culture and take part in magnificent ceremonies to destroy our enemies."
