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.

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 – Iran and Belarus discussed ways to expand technological cooperation in the field of water management.

In a meeting between Dmitry Koltsov, the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Belarus to Iran, and Vahid Haddadi-Asl, the Iranian deputy science minister for international affairs, the two sides also emphasized the need to