Responsibility: The terror group al Qaeda in Yemen has claimed responsibility for the Paris attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine that left 12 people dead. A statement by the group says the target was chosen by the al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri. The statement referred to the brothers who carried out the attack as “two heroes of Islam.” If it’s true, the claim is an admission that al Qaeda had a sleeper cell in France and the implication is that there could be more not there but other countries in Europe.

Oh, That Charlie!: The cover of this week’s Charlie Hebdo magazine published in Paris has riled new turmoil over free speech and religious respect with its depiction of the Prophet Muhammed. One prominent Egyptian cleric described it as an “act of war” that would be punishable by death in a court of strict Muslim sharia law. Muslims consider any image of Muhammed to be blasphemous. The one million copies of the issue appear to have sold out nearly immediately. The cover art features a caricature of Muhammed holding a sign that says “Je Suis Charlie.” Over his head, in French, are the words “All is forgiven.” Muhammed has a tear coming down his cheek. Renald Luzier, the cartoonist who drew the cover, told reporters at a news conference, “We have confidence in people’s intelligence, and we have confidence in humor. The people who did this attack, they have no sense of humor.”

Orthodox News: In its coverage of Sunday’s anti-terror march in Paris, an Israeli Orthodox newspaper removed the images of women from its front-page picture of world leaders walking arm in arm. Germany’s Angela Merkel was there right next to the president of France, but she was a no-show in the newspaper HaMevaser. The orthodox avoid pictures of women as a matter if modesty, but critics have taken glee in pointing out that the newspaper’s coverage of a march against religious intolerance was edited to reflect its own religious intolerance.

AirAsia: Searchers say they have found the fuselage of AirAsia 8501 that went down in the Java Sea. Investigators believe the bodies of many passengers may still be inside.

Nation: A measles outbreak that took root at “The Happiest Place on Earth” has now grown to 26 cases. Two visitors who got sick after visiting Disneyland got on airplanes and appear to have infected other people. Health officials are monitoring 350 people across the country who may have been exposed.

⇒Two men who’ve spent more than two weeks free climbing the nearly impossible Dawn Wall on Yosemite’s El Capitan are getting close to the top and may even summit today.

Money, Money: Stocks dropped sharply this morning on news of disappointing retail sales in December. Falling gas prices and rising employment failed to spur shopping.

Mixology: A former bartender at House Speaker John Boehner’s Ohio country club has been charged by federal prosecutors with threatening to shoot the speaker and poison his drinks. The Bartender, Michael Hoyt, has a history of mental illness and told investigators he is Jesus. According to prosecutors, “Hoyt stated that no one checks the drinks he poured for Boehner, and it would have been very easy to slip something into his drink.” Most days it appears there already is something in Speaker Boehner’s drink.

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