Papers put face to Baby P tragedy

The human face of the tragic Baby P case is splashed across most of the front pages.

Two pictures of the 17-month-old, who was tortured to death by his mother and two men, are featured in the Daily Mail.

The first shows the blond boy looking healthy aged 12 months, while in the second, five months later, his head is shaved and his cheeks sunken.

The Independent says the tragedy has come to represent the scandalous failings of a whole system.

'Widespread pattern'

While the story is given fresh momentum by the publication of the photograph, the political storm surrounding the case continues unabated.

The Sun fumes at what it calls the arrogance of officials who think they are a law unto themselves.

The Guardian says research suggests more than 80% of children killed or seriously injured through abuse or neglect are missed by the national child protection register.

It points to what it calls a "widespread pattern of missed opportunities" where the authorities fail to act or even communicate when presented with evidence.

Gigantic mistake

Hillary Clinton's "secret" meeting with US President-elect Barack Obama is pored over by several papers.

A confidante of the former first lady told the Times the news of her possible appointment as secretary of state was leaked deliberately, probably to test the waters.

The source warns that if she does not get it, the Obama camp will have humiliated her again and that would be a gigantic political mistake.

The Daily Telegraph wonders if such an appointment would set up a second power centre in Washington - like the Blair-Brown years in the UK.

'New austerity'

Signs of the gathering global recession are widely reported.

The Financial Times says Canary Wharf is facing the threat of rapidly emptying office blocks as corporate tenants review their needs.

It notes what it calls "the new austerity" where sales of champagne are falling and spam is making a comeback.

Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph reports a surge in the sale of sewing machines, dress patterns and kits to make Christmas cards.