TEHRAN –On Thursday, deputy tourism minister Ali-Asghar Shalbafian inaugurated a boutique hotel in the historical core of Ardabil in northwest Iran.

Covering an area of 1,350, square meters, the fully restored hotel has 21 rooms and 65 beds, CHTN reported.

The four-story hotel has been renovated by private investors in line with a provincial scheme

TEHRAN – Twenty-four percent of foreign students in Iran are studying in state-run universities, the deputy science minister has said.

More than 94,000 foreign students are studying in the country, and 24 percent of them, equaling 27,000, are studying in state-run universities, IRNA quoted Hasham Dadashpour as saying.

Attracting foreign students is

TEHRAN- Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a ceasefire in Ukraine over Orthodox Christmas while expressing Russia's readiness to talks. NATO has rejected the initiatives.

According to the Kremlin, Putin has ordered the country's defense minister to cease fire along the entire line of combat engagement, which has come into effect.

The

TEHRAN - Based on the latest survey, some 86,000 migratory birds are wintering at wetlands in the southwestern Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari province.

The director general of the provincial Department of Environment said the migration season of aquatic and coastal migratory birds to the wetlands and natural habitats of the province started in late October.