What We're Following This Morning

A hostage situation in Mali: Gunmen have killed at least three people and taken 170 guests and staff members hostage at a luxury hotel in the capital city of Bamako. According to early reports, there have been no claims of responsibility yet, however, some guests who were able to prove their Muslim faith were released. An operation by special forces is said to be underway. Mali has been in a protracted battle against terrorism since 2012 when the northern part of the country was taken over by Islamist insurgents. French troops eventually won back the territory.

Jonathan Pollard sees daylight: After serving thirty years in prison, the American spy was released from jail on Friday. His imprisonment was long a cause célèbre in Israel, the country that Pollard was convicted of passing along classified material to while serving in an intelligence analyst for the Navy.

Paris aftermath: As investigations continue into last week’s attacks, a planned anti-terrorism rally outside the Grand Mosque in the French capital has been canceled. According to one official at the mosque, “security conditions necessary for the holding of a public gathering are not good enough.”