Sanchia Berg

When the transparency pilot began in early 2023, we covered a contested adoption case... but there's been little press reporting of such cases since.

‘Much loved’ two-year-old to be adopted following contested court proceedings ‘Tomas’ is a two year old boy who was removed from his parents to live in foster care under an interim care order in January 2025. (None of the parties’ r

Some of the most controversial hearings in Family Court are contested adoption - where parents are trying to keep their child. Here the law professor @juliedoughty.bsky.social follows a case in Cardiff
- which she found 'disturbing' at times. transparencyproject.org.uk/much-loved-t...

Excellent long read on the battle of the Heath Lido cafe:The City of London is pitted against cannabis experts and Benedict Cumberbatch. Who will win?

Watching America Unravel in Minneapolis

Watching America Unravel in Minneapolis www.nytimes.com/2026/01/25/m...

Watching America Unravel in Minneapolis

Superb long read Watching America Unravel in Minneapolis www.nytimes.com/2026/01/25/m...

Great note. And was his French accent most alluring? To Churchill?

@theguardian.com piece argues family court process is too adversarial- praises the “problem solving” Pathfinder approach.

Asked about this by @theguardian.com just now Keir Starmer sidestepped and talked about tariff statements over the weekend…

WhatsApp texts are not contracts, judge rules in £1.5m divorce row Artist fails in her High Court attempt to keep her north London house after messages with her ex-husband were deemed not to constitute signed documents

Unsigned WhatsApp messages are not contracts judge rules in denying divorced wife the house her ex appeared to promise her bit.ly/3LPX89V so creditors get his half and she must move.

Amol Rajan to leave BBC Radio 4’s Today show to start own company Presenter wants to ‘unleash my inner entrepreneur’ in creator economy but will still host University Challenge The presenter Amol Rajan is to leave BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, revealing he will “unleash my inner entrepreneur” by creating a company focusing on the creator economy. In a surprise announcement, he said he would continue to host the BBC’s University Challenge quizshow and make his Radical podcast with the corporation. Continue reading...

Amol Rajan to leave BBC Radio 4’s Today show to start own company

Who needs the Traitors?

I’m sick of avocado toast – I just want to keep my local, untrendy cafe | Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett With its pasties, decent brews and staff who are happy to chat, it’s a vital community space. So why are its days numbered, asks Guardian columnist Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett

Good article that really sums up why so many people are angry that Corp of London decided to hand over the Heath cafes to avocado toast selling chain www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Six Prosecutors Quit Over Push to Investigate ICE Shooting Victim’s Widow

Six Prosecutors Quit Over Push to Investigate ICE Shooting Victim’s Widow www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/u...

The World Tonight - Anger in Minnesota over ICE killing of Renee Good - BBC Sounds Protests take place in the city where a federal officer shot dead the mother of three

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Great interview about Baby Elsa with David McBride- himself a foundling. He only discovered in recent years that - like Elsa- he has two full siblings.

Opinion | Trump’s Attack on Venezuela Is Illegal and Unwise

Trump’s Attack on Venezuela Is Illegal and Unwise www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...

Hampstead Heath cafe where you can buy kids lunch for £5.50. That’s thanks to d’Auria family who’ve run it for 44 years. They also serve great pasta for adults- from about £10. The chain that is due to take over doesn’t offer a kids menu…and charge £5.90 just for a portion of chips.

I had to battle my daughter’s killer boyfriend to care for my grandchild After a legal fight to look after her daughter’s baby, Linda Westcarr is urging ministers to implement Jade’s Law to restrict parental rights after killings

Good Family Court reporting by @thetimes - who obtained Transparency Order to report and to name family. “I had to battle my daughter’s killer boyfriend to care for my grandchild”
www.thetimes.com/uk/law/artic...

City of London kick out independent Heath cafes – and hand them to Daisy Green chain MP Tulip Siddiq says decision must be reversed as decisions sparks instant backlash

www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/city...

Anger as Hampstead Heath cafés handed to Australian-themed chain Four ‘community hubs’ are set to be taken over by Daisy Green in spring, prompting outrage from locals and celebrities

Anger as Hampstead Heath cafés handed to Australian-themed chain

www.thetimes.com/uk/london/ar...

Great that @bigissue.com has highlighted this

Councils told to give care leavers better access to childhood records Thousands who grew up in the care system still can’t access their childhood records. The ICO’s new campaign aims to change that.

www.bigissue.com/news/childho...
It’s hard to overstate how important this is. Care records are someone’s personal history: who their family are, why they were taken into care..what actually happened. Shocking that it can take care leavers years to get these (sometimes incomplete) records.

BBC Two - University Challenge, Christmas 2025, Exeter College, Oxford v Trinity Hall, Cambridge The first round continues as Exeter College, Oxford faces Trinity Hall, Cambridge.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m... And here we go again-

Thinking of all my friends & former colleagues inside the BBC & sharing this from James Landale in Kyiv.

James Landale on X: "Amid all the guff, just this: I am proud to work for BBC News & even prouder to work alongside so many outstanding colleagues. We are not perfect; we must always strive to be better. But in a darkening world, we remain a shaft of light. Worth mulling. All best from Kyiv." / X Amid all the guff, just this: I am proud to work for BBC News & even prouder to work alongside so many outstanding colleagues. We are not perfect; we must always strive to be better. But in a darkening world, we remain a shaft of light. Worth mulling. All best from Kyiv.

x.com/bbcjlandale/...

Charlotte Proudman opens SRA-regulated 'trauma-informed' law firm Alternative business structure will offer a 'one-stop shop' family law service.

Barrister @drproudman.bsky.social opens an SRA-regulated 'trauma-informed' law firm -- in the @lawsocgazette. www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/charlot...

@mediacomgold.bsky.social Looking forward to speaking at Goldsmiths media forum tomorrow.

Mark Urban: How the secret state tried to ban my book on the Troubles Declassified files show that my exposé of SAS tactics against the IRA frayed nerves in Whitehall. But it was an ally’s betrayal that really surprised me

Great piece by Mark Urban on finding the secret file on his 1992 book…How the secret state tried to ban my book on the Troubles

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mark...

Thank you!

we hope @sanchia7.bsky.social will continue her excellent work on reporting family courts

Yesterday was my last day on BBC staff after 32 years’ continuous service. I’ve spent most of the time as a reporter on the Today Programme- but this was my first full time reporting job, as BBC Warsaw Correspondent- 1996! I’ll continue reporting freelance for the BBC and I have other projects too.