Joshua Rozenberg

CBS News is breaking an exclusive story over in the United States. It seems that Anwar al-Awlaki did indeed direct the abortive Christmas day attack by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. Here’s what CBS are reporting:

Please excuse me: I have to disappear for a while as we have a family emergency afoot. Back as soon as possible.

It’s one of those times when only Bach will do, so here is the late, incomparable Lorraine Hunt Lieberson in an aria from Cantata No.33. 

The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales expressed concern today about a proposal that would allow a prosecutor to drop a case if it was not “a proportionate response to the specific offending”.