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Unidentified man takes four hostages in Astrakhan college

He reportedly has a bomb

MOSCOW, March 14 (Itar-Tass) – An indentified person took four hostages at the Volgo-Kaspiisky college in Astrakhan, the Investigative Committee /SK/ told Itar-Tass. The hostage-taker reportedly has a bomb, an SK official said.

At 14:00, Moscow time, the man, threatening college personnel with a pistol, locked himself in a classroom with two college staff and two students. Experts from the regional SK department rushed to the scene.

All safety measures are being taken, the SK said.

Talks are underway with the man who demanded food and drinks.

Police sealed off the area and evacuated college personnel, students and tenants in nearby buildings. An operations headquarters was set up at the scene. The hostage-taker has not issued demands yet, according to the police.

Terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall

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Israeli aviation strikes towns in Gaza Strip

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Israeli troops continue raids in West Bank — TV

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G7 leaders to decide on Russian assets use — Italian Deputy PM

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Ukrainian drone damages energy infrastructure in Russia’s Kaluga Region

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US agrees to withdraw troops from Niger — Washington Post

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Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

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Moscow International Film Festival kicks off

MIFF President Nikita Mikhalkov, a celebrated Russian film director, declared the festival open, praising the bravery of foreign cultural figures who are visiting Russia at this time

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Infrastructure is required to implement the investment project, both power transmission lines and the railroad, Andrey Chibis noted

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FACTBOX: Collective Security Treaty Organization

The Collective Security Treaty came into force on April 20, 1994 to herald the emergence what would eventually become the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The six member-countries are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

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North Korea conducts new anti-aircraft missile test — KCNA

A power test of a super-large warhead designed for "Hwasal-1 Ra-3" strategic cruise missile was held as well

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Kiev lacks both troops and equipment near Chasov Yar in DPR, says retired general

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Nearly half of those present in UN Security Council hall walk out before Israel’s address

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Putin signs law on holding World Friendship Games

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West close to sending military to Ukraine, this would 'drag Europe to bottom' — Orban

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China’s Russian oil imports rise by 13% in first quarter of 2024 — customs

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Russian industrial producers’ prices up 2.4% in March — statistics

In chemicals production, prices edged up by 26.8% for ethers, organic peroxides, epoxides, acetals and semiacetals and their derivatives

Air defenses repel Ukrainian drone attack in Russia’s Smolensk Region — governor

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Russian instructors help train over 10,000 Central African troops — CAR president

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Russian military closely monitors all Ukrainian 'novelties' — Kremlin on UAVs

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Russia delivers 34 strikes on Ukrainian military infrastructure over week — top brass

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KazMunayGas, Sibur, Sinopec sign protocol on plant construction in Kazakhstan

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Grossi ignores ‘elephant in the room’ in Zaporozhye nuke plant situation — Russian envoy

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Ukraine’s military loses positions near Avdeyevka, says DPR

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Russian LNG exports to China rise by 2% in first quarter of 2024 — Chinese customs

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