The killing of 12 people at the offices of Charlie Hebdo dominates today's papers.
"War on Freedom" is our splash, "Attack on Freedom" is the Times', while the Mail goes for "The War On Freedom". "Gunmen on the loose after 12 killed in Paris magazine attack" is the FT's headline. "Massacred In Minutes" is the Express' take, "Massacred At Work" is the Star's.
The Sun goes for one word: "Non!" while the Mirror's single-word headline is "Barbaric". The Indy carries an illustration by its cartoonist, Dave Brown, with a single finger rising from a copy of Charlie Hebdo to flick a familiar salute to its attackers, while the i opts for "Dark day for liberté". "An assault on democracy" is the Guardian's headline. "The hooded thugs trained their Kalashnikovs on free speech everywhere" is their leader's verdict.
It's the worst terrorist attack in Europe since Anders Breivik's attacks on Norwegians in Oslo and Utøya, and the reaction of Norway's premier, Jens Stoltenberg, that the response must be "more openness [and] more democracy" is as true in 2015 as it was in 2011.
Our liveblog will update with the latest news about the attack throughout the day.
LOOKING FOR FRIENDS IN THE NORTH
David Cameron and George Osborne will pledge to turn the cities of the North into economic powerhouses comparable with the great American metropolises as they visit Manchester today. Britain must spread its "economic might", the PM will say. But Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson thinks the timing of all this is a tad suspicious. "The fact is that the Tories have got less chance of winning here than I have of finding rocking horse s***," Mr Anderson tells the Guardian, "So you have to ask yourself: is this a serious economic decision, or is there some kind of politics being played here?" He's also said that Labour has been nowhere "near as sharp or as good as we could be at communication". Ed Miliband will take part in a people's Question Time in Nottingham later today.
SHE GIVES AND TAKES AWAYAngela Merkel agrees with David Cameron that it is a "necessity" to tackle "abuses" of Britain's benefits system, and would "very much like" Britain to remain in the EU. But, Frau Merkel added, the principle of free movement cannot be altered "in any way". Steven Swinford and Peter Dominiczak have the story.
A LATE CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR SIMON STEVENS
The PM has hinted that the Conservatives will increase NHS funding in line with Simon Stevens' plans for the future of the Health Service, calling Mr Stevens' plan "the right long-term answer for our health service".KEEP CAM AND CARRY ON
George Parker profiles the PM in the FT. He's non-ideological, wakes up at quarter to six, and tries to be in bed shortly after 10pm, and "doesn't do dark nights of the soul" according to one ally. "There's always a trade-off between delegating and having some sense of overall control," Tim Bale tells the FT, "I'm not sure David Cameron always stays on the right side of the line."GM-OK
Genetically-modified food should be grown in Britain as it is more "eco-friendly", Liz Truss told the Oxford Farming Conferenceyesterday.
WAITING FOR CHILCOT
The PM has expressed frustration that the Chilcot report on the Iraq war is being delayed by the Maxwellisation process - when the people mentioned in the report can respond to the contents - describing the document as "largely finished" during PMQs yesterday.
OH GOD, IS IT MY NOSE?
A Ukip councillor was expelled from the party for allegedly saying she had a problem with "negroes" because there was "something about their faces", Laura Pitel reveals in the Times. Rozanne Duncan was kicked out last month after making what were described as "jaw-dropping" comments, according to the account provided to the party.You can get in touch with me by pressing "reply" or on Twitter. Our cartoon is the work of Christian Adams - a gallery of his work is available here.
LATEST POLLS:
YouGov: Conservatives 32% Labour 33% Liberal Democrat 7% Ukip 15% Green 7%
TOO MANY TWEETS...@sundersays: About 1/12 people in France is Muslim. As were 2 of 12 murder victims, a copper & a copyeditor. Murder, like satire, targets us all.
COMMENT
From the Telegraph
Padraig Reidy - We must stop blaming ourselves for Islamist terror
Peter Oborne - The hypocrites have jumped aboard the Magna Carta bandwagon
From elsewhere
Alex Massie - Je Suis Charlie (Spectator)
Ed Husain - We cannot let the Paris murderers define Islam(Guardian)
AGENDA
0930 BELFAST: Political and Constitutional Reform Committee to question Northern Ireland party leaders on the future of devolution after the Scottish referendum and the Smith Commission agreement.
1200 LONDON: Bank of England decision on interest rates and quantitative easing programme.
1345 NOTTINGHAM: People's Question Time with Ed Miliband.
TODAY IN PARLIAMENT
COMMONS: 0930
Business, Innovation and Skills Questions.
A statement on the future business of the House.
Two backbench business debates: i) Higher education funding ii) Gibraltar.
A short debate on disabled access to historic properties.
Westminster Hall:
1330: A debate on the first report of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee on Winter Floods 2013-14 and the Government response.
LORDS: 1100
Questions.
A debate on the case for early years intervention in breaking the cycle of deprivation and promoting social mobility.
A debate on the future of the NHS.
A debate on reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in the developing world.
