Mumbai toll climbs as hotel standoffs continue  —  MUMBAI, India (CNN) — Indian police are still battling to release hostages the morning after gunmen carried out brazen attacks across southern Mumbai, killing more than 100 people and taking hostages in multiple locations.

‘Eight Israelis held by terrorists in Mumbai Chabad House’  —  Indian commandos and police were evacuating civilians and cordoning off the area apparently in preparation to storm the Chabad House in Mumbai, India, where a rabbi, his wife and several other Israelis were being held hostage, according to IBN, an Indian news agency.

A Night Out In Mumbai (Updated)  —  This is turning out to be one crazy night.  A friend of mine had an opening of her art exhibition a few hours ago, so we ventured to South Bombay for that.  We attended the exhibition, sipped the litchee juice, nibbled on party snacks, and then six of us headed out for dinner.

Some Hostages Free After Indian Attacks  —  MUMBAI, India — Indian police commandos rescued some hostages on Thursday as standoffs continued against heavily armed militants who a day earlier had swept into Mumbai, India's commercial capital, in a shocking series of coordinated and bloody attacks.

MASSACRE in Mumbai: Amit Varma was there.  I'm glad he's ok.  —  More than 100 people still held hostage.  —  More witnesses reports @ CNN.  —  Map of where the attack took place (Guardian)  —  Big roundup on how the new and the old media were covering, @ The Moderate Voice.  —  Live streaming @ CNN-IBN.

Iraqi Lawmakers Extend Agreement With U.S. Military for 3 Years  —  The Iraqi Parliament on Thursday approved a security pact that charts the way for the U.S. military to end its presence in Iraq eight years after the invasion by a U.S.-led coalition led to the fall of Saddam Hussein.

Iraqi parliament OKs US troops for 3 more years  —  BAGHDAD - Iraq's parliament approved Thursday a security pact with the United States that lets American troops stay in the country for three more years — setting a clear timetable for a U.S. exit for the first time since the 2003 invasion.

We're doing some things just right.  —  Us Mercenary Bastid War Profiteer Contractor Parasites got a break from teaching Iraqi kaydets how to stay alive after slipping the surly bonds of earth at about noon today.  I stopped to chat with two of the Kurdish kaydets in Class 70.