Britney Spears has been charged with driving under the influence after she was arrested on 4 March in Ventura County, California, for allegedly driving erratically on the U.S. 101 highway near her home

Advertisement

Britney Spears was charged in California on Thursday with driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, according to officials.

The 44 year old pop icon faces a single misdemeanour count of driving under the combined influence of alcohol and at least one drug, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office confirmed.

A request for comment sent to a representative for Spears received no immediate reply. The criminal complaint does not specify what type of alcohol or drugs, nor the quantity, Spears is alleged to have consumed.

Spears, who has since entered substance abuse treatment, was arrested on 4th March after being pulled over for driving her black BMW at speed and erratically on U.S. 101 near her home, according to the California Highway Patrol.

She was deemed to appear impaired, underwent a series of field sobriety tests, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of a combination of alcohol and drugs, and was subsequently taken to a Ventura County jail, the CHP reported.

Advertisement

She was released on bail the following day. Police concluded their investigation and passed it to prosecutors on 23rd March. A representative at the time described Spears’ behaviour as “completely inexcusable” and suggested it should ideally be “the first step in long overdue change that needs to occur in Britney’s life.”

Spears voluntarily admitted herself to a substance abuse treatment facility just over a month following the arrest, her representative confirmed. Spears’ arraignment is scheduled for Monday. As it is a misdemeanour charge, she will not be required, reports the Daily Star.

Prosecutors have stated that the case will be handled in line with their standard procedure for defendants with no previous drink driving convictions, no road accidents or injuries, and a low blood-alcohol reading.

At Monday’s court appearance, Spears will be presented with what is commonly known as a “wet reckless,” which permits a defendant to enter a guilty plea and receive 12 months of probation, credit for any time served, a mandatory drink driving class, and state-imposed fines and fees, according to prosecutors.

This arrangement is especially typical for defendants who have proactively shown a commitment to tackling their problems and pursuing treatment, the district attorney’s office said.

The former teen pop sensation and “Mickey Mouse Club” alumna rose to become an iconic superstar of the 1990s and 2000s with chart-toppers such as “Toxic,

“Gimme More” and “I’m a Slave 4 U.” The vast majority of Spears’ albums have achieved platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America, including two diamond-certified releases: 1999’s ” – Baby One More Time” and 2000’s “Oops! – I Did It Again.”

Spears became a tabloid fixture in the early 2000s, facing intense public scrutiny as she battled mental health challenges while paparazzi chronicled the intimate details of her personal life. In 2008, Spears was placed under a court-ordered conservatorship, largely overseen by her father and his legal team, which governed both her personal and financial affairs for more than a decade before being dissolved in 2021.

Since then, she has wed and separated, and published a hugely successful, candid memoir, “The Woman in Me.”

In recent years, she has largely stepped back from her music career, putting out only a small number of collaborative singles since her last studio album in 2016.

A Race Across The World duo sparked reaction from viewers just moments into the race

Advertisement

Race Across The World viewers have pointed out a significant concern.

Fans of the BBC hit show are convinced that the real reason Margo, 59, and brother-in-law Mark, 66, may lose the race is because Margo is treating the competition like a “holiday”.

The pair are among several teams taking on the challenge of racing one another across more than 12,000km through Europe and Asia. They must complete the gruelling journey on a tight budget, with the hope of winning £20,000.

During Thursday’s (April 30) instalment, the teams reached the halfway point of the race and now face the longest leg of their journey, travelling through Kazakhstan — the world’s largest landlocked country — and into Uzbekistan.

Margo and Mark got off to a promising start, securing a free lift to the train station from a local resident, however time was against them with only a few hours to spare before their train departed, reports the Mirror.

It became apparent that Margo wasn’t about to let the time pressure prevent her from taking in the sights, as she agreed to make a detour to the Caspian Sea along the way.

READ MORE: ‘Brutal but rewarding’ period drama is a must-watch for The Other Bennet Sister fansREAD MORE: ‘Delightful’ BBC period drama filmed in the North East is free to watch

Covering an area comparable in size to Japan, the Caspian Sea is the world’s largest lake, with five nations — Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran and Kazakhstan — sharing its vast shoreline.

Their driver suggested: “Should we go Caspian Sea before the train station?” Mark was unenthusiastic, responding: “No, we want the station.”

Margo interjected: “I think he wants to show us the Caspian Sea. We’re getting a bit of a tour here.” Mark appeared unimpressed as he responded: “I’m not sure about this, Margo.” Eager to visit the local landmark, Margo retorted: “This is what we like – adventure. The adventure of a lifetime. Kazakhstan.”

They chose to pause and admire the scenery but it had its repercussions as they missed their train and had to wait until morning for the subsequent one. After their detour, the pair managed to reach their 8.30am train and Margo wasted no time mingling with the locals.

Despite the early hour, Margo opted to sample some vodka with her newfound travelling companions. Addressing Mark, Margo remarked: “Blokes over there are having a vodka with their breakfast. Do you think we should get some Vodka with our breakfast?”

Mark answered: “I am not having vodka with my breakfast…” Margo interjected: “It must be tradition, a Kazakhstan tradition Mark. Oh let’s have vodka.” Margo departed from Mark and joined the gentlemen at their table, consuming several shots.

Viewers watching from home claimed that Margo is approaching the race as though it were a holiday as they suggested she deserves her own programme.

One audience member stated: “#raceacrosstheworld they still don’t realise ITS A RACE.” Another commented: “They should’ve come back and looked at the Caspian Sea on a separate holiday. You’re there to race not to sightsee #raceacrosstheworld.”

A third remarked: “Margo is a vodka drinker – things are about to get chaotic #RaceAcrossTheWorld.” While another quipped: “I’d say Margo getting p***** on vodka would screw up their race. But 29 hours on the train is long enough to sober up.”

One devoted viewer gushed: “Honestly Margo’s confidence and positivity is amazing! #RaceAcrossTheWorld.” Meanwhile, another enthusiastic fan declared: “Margot needs her own travel show after this, she’s brilliant.”

Race Across the World is available to stream on BBC iPlayer

Two months into the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz is still mostly shut. Vessel traffic is running at a fraction of pre-war levels, with the patchwork of ceasefires, blockades and re-closures since February 28 not restoring confidence on the bridge of any tanker.

Hormuz has long been understood as one of the world’s central trade chokepoints. It normally carries around 20 million barrels of crude and oil products each day, as well as roughly a fifth of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. A third of the world’s helium and a similar amount of the urea that ends up as fertiliser also pass through the strait.

Plans and projects to diversify away from Hormuz have been on drawing boards for decades, and those workarounds are now being stress-tested as never before. The bypass infrastructure is doing roughly what architects had hoped, providing around 3.5 million barrels to 5.5 million barrels a day of crude capacity.

But this is still nowhere near enough.

Hormuz workarounds

The most important pipeline on the planet right now runs across Saudi Arabia. The East-West Pipeline – also known as Petroline – was built in the 1980s during the original Tanker war, when Iran and Iraq attacked merchant vessels in the Gulf as part of their wider conflict.

The pipeline’s capacity was expanded to a 7 million barrel emergency ceiling in 2019. However, the loading terminals in the city of Yanbu on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast were never designed to carry this much oil this fast, and analysts tracking tanker traffic estimate that less oil is currently flowing through the pipeline than its theoretical ceiling.

From Yanbu, oil bound for Europe still has to cross Egypt via the Sumed pipeline, which has a capacity of just 2.5 million barrels per day. Although oil flows through this pipeline have surged by 150% since the start of the war, its comparatively small capacity remains a binding constraint on European supply.

Iran noticed the geoeconomic importance of Petroline and has targeted it accordingly. An Iranian drone strike on a pumping station in April knocked 700,000 barrels a day offline. Saudi Aramco, the operator, had the line back at full capacity within three days. While the repair time is reassuring, the fact of the strike is not.

The other half of the Gulf bypass story runs through the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline (Adcop) goes from Habshan to Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman side of the country. With a capacity of just under 2 million barrels per day, Adcop is the only major bypass that exits the Gulf directly into the Indian Ocean.

But as with Petroline, it has been targeted during the war. Iranian drone strikes on Fujairah on March 3, 14 and 16 set storage tanks on fire and suspended loadings. While Adcop offers some diversification for the UAE, it does not solve the targeting problem.

The situation is worse for the Gulf region’s other big oil producers. Iraq’s 3.4 million barrels per day of pre-war crude exports went almost entirely through the southern port city of Basra and the Strait of Hormuz.

There is one northern pipeline, connecting oil fields in Kirkuk to Ceyhan in Turkey. This pipeline was reopened in September 2025 after a two-and-a-half-year halt, with flows ramped up to 250,000 barrels a day in March. But this volume pales in comparison to what Iraq has lost.

Kuwait has it worse still. Pre-war crude exports ran at around 2 million barrels per day, with every barrel exiting through Hormuz. Kuwait has no pipeline alternative. Kuwait Petroleum Corporation declared force majeure in March, temporarily allowing it to suspend its obligations to meet delivery contracts.

This was extended on April 20, with the oil company saying it could not meet contractual obligations even if Hormuz reopened. Overcoming the damage that has been inflicted on Kuwait’s production base – and then ramping up production – will take months.

Qatar’s vulnerability is a different shape. Its pre-war crude exports were smaller than its Gulf neigbours, at around 0.6 million barrels per day. These exports all left Qatar via the strait. For Qatar, the story is gas. Its 77 million tonne LNG capacity at Ras Laffan is the largest in the world, supplying about 19% of global LNG trade. There is no alternative to shipping this gas through Hormuz.

Iran itself has built a Hormuz bypass: a 1,000-kilometre pipeline from Goreh at the head of the Gulf to a terminal at Jask on the Gulf of Oman. It is designed for 1 million barrels per day. But in practice, sanctions and unfinished terminal infrastructure have kept actual throughput at a fraction of design.

The US Energy Information Administration estimated that, in summer 2024, under 70,000 barrels per day were flowing through the pipeline. Loadings stopped altogether that September. According to Kpler, which provides real-time data on global shipping movements, only a single tanker – around two million barrels – has loaded at Jask in the war so far.

A call for more pipes in the Gulf, as there have been since the war began, is understandable. But it is no answer. Replicating Hormuz in pipelines would cost hundreds of billions of US dollars and a decade of construction. And at the end of it, new pipelines and terminals at Yanbu, Fujairah and wherever else would be no harder to reach with a drone than the old ones.

After two trials, the former Spandau Ballet singer was remanded in custody, with Judge John Dodd KC ordering a report in February to assess the danger Davidson would pose in the future, setting his sentencing date as Thursday, April 30.

This morning, the 37-year-old appeared at Wood Green Crown Court in London, where he received his sentence.

In a statement shared with Metro, Shikha Verma, senior Crown prosecutor in CPS London, said: “Ross Davidson is a predatory sex offender who targeted multiple victims over a number of years.

A former frontman of Spandau Ballet who carried out a string of rapes and sexual assaults has been jailed for 14 years. Ross Davidson from Aberdeen – who was part of the 80s group in 2018 and 2019 – attacked six women over several years.

— LBC News Scotland (@LBCNewsScot) April 30, 2026

“Several of these offences were committed against women while they were asleep.

“I want to pay tribute to the victims for their immense courage in supporting the prosecution, and Davidson has now been held accountable for his horrific crimes.

“We understand the courage it takes for victims to come forward and would like to reassure any victims that the CPS will continue to work tirelessly with partners across the criminal justice system to ensure sexual abusers face the full extent of the law.”

Davidston insisted that his contact with the women, whom he met on the Tinder dating app, was always consensual and described himself as ‘sex positive’.

He told the court earlier this year that this was about “open dialogue, open-mindedness about people’s predilections, just an openness to trying different sexual appetites”.

This could include bondage, restraint, and group sex, and he had “once or twice” attended a sex party.

In contrast, the court heard that he carried out the assaults because he felt he could get “sex on demand” if he wasn’t “given what he thought he deserved”.

Prosecutor Richard Hearnden said Davidson had been thought of as “a bit of a sex symbol”.

Two of the victims said he had a “much darker side”.

One woman told the jury that Davidson attacked her while she was asleep in his bed and recalled feeling “helpless” and “scared to react”.

Before assaulting her, Davidson “mentioned he liked the idea of having sex with a mannequin, a person in a helpless state, someone not moving”.

‘You should remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity’

Police Scotland has issued a ‘be alert’ warning after the UK terror level raised to “severe”.

The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, which makes independent assessments as part of the MI5, announced the decision on Thursday noting a terror attack on the UK is “highly likely”. However, Police Scotland have now said that there is nothing to suggest a specific threat to Scotland.

The force has warned Scots to be alert, not alarmed, remain vigilant and report anything suspicious. Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston, Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism, said: “Today the Home Secretary announced an increase in the UK’s Terrorism Threat Level to Severe, meaning an attack is now highly likely.

“This decision has been made in response to a series of recent attacks on Jewish communities and a terror attack declared in north London yesterday (29 April). I want to stress that there is no intelligence to suggest any specific threat to Scotland.

“However, I do want to take this opportunity to urge the public to remain alert but not alarmed. You should remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to Police Scotland.”

Police Scotland can be contacted on 101 or in an emergency you should always dial 999.

This comes after the day following two Jewish men were stabbed in north London and in the wake of a spate of attacks in Jewish neighbourhoods in recent weeks. Police confirmed the suspect in Wednesday’s attack had previously been reported to Prevent, the Government’s anti-extremism programme.

The 45-year-old British national was born in Somalia and came to the UK legally as a child in the 1990s, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the suspect was referred to Prevent in 2020 but the case was closed the same year.

Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE

The Wimpole Estate is allowing visitors to get up close with its baby animals

A National Trust site on the Cambridgeshire border is offering visitors ther chance to meet its newest arrivals on the farm. Up until Sunday, May 10, if you are taking a trip to the Wimpole Estate, you will be able to see a range of baby animals at Home Farm.

Whilst walking around the farm, you will spot piglets, goat kids, calves, and chicks that were born throughout the spring. You might see a few of the animals taking their first steps, exploring their surroundings, and visitors can learn more about each animal and why it is important to preserve heritage livestock.

The activity might a great choice if you are looking for things to do to keep younger children occupied over the long bank holiday weekend. After taking a look at the cute animals, you could explore the rest of the Wimpole Estate, which has plenty of other family-friendly things to do.

Found close to Home Farm, children can let off some steam at the farm playground, which is surrounded by the countryside. The play area has a range of features including climbing frames and an adventure trail. There are also a few small farm play items as well as lots of picnic benches for parents to sit and watch their children. You could pick up a hot drink, snack or light lunch from the Farm Café to enjoy while relaxing.

Advertisement

If you are looking for something more active, you can take a walk around the acres of parkland surrounding the Wimpole Estate. The walled garden has high brick walls and gates making it feel hidden away from the rest of the world with a glasshouse for children to peak into.

You could also follow the many pathways around the countryside and visit the Gothic Tower or take a look around the lake to see if you can find any swans and ducks. You might prefer to cross over the Chinese Bridge and walk to the top of the hill to enjoy the views of the area.

After taking a walk around the countryside and watching the farm animals, you might want to grab a bite to eat. The Old Rectory could be the ideal spot for some lunch with its terrace that overlooks the garden.

The Old Rectory offers both hot and cold drinks as well as hot meals, lunches, homemade cakes, and cream teas. Many of the dishes available are made using “seasonal produce from Wimpole’s own gardens”.

Entry to Wimpole’s gardens and estate costs £21 for adults and £10.50 for children aged between five and 17. If you just want to visit the gardens and parkland, entry costs £11 for adults and £5.50 for children.

The Wimpole Estate can be found on the A603 just outside of Arrington, which is a 21-minute drive away from Cambridge. There is a free car park onsite for guests to use.

Here are the five roads closed in and around the town that you should know about this Friday:

Bull Wynd

The road is closed from from April 27 until July 3.

The restrictions are set to remain in place for carriageway works.

Royal Oak Yard

Royal Oak Yard is shut from April 13 to May 17.

The restrictions are set to remain in place for carriageway works.

Auckland Oval

A road closure is expected from April 29 to May 1 for utility asset works.

The restrictions are set to remain in place for lining works to the sewer.

Harrowgate Village

A road closure is scheduled from March 31, 2025, to July 31 for highway improvement works.

The restrictions are set to remain in place for footway, carriageway, and verge works.

Beaumont Hill

A road closure is also scheduled from March 31, 2025, to July 31 for highway improvement works.

Restrictions are set to remain in place for footway, carriageway, and verge works.

This is Moroccan-inspired and very good with roast lamb or spicy barbecued mackerel. If you want to have it on its own, yogurt or labneh are good alongside and, of course, flatbread or couscous. It might seem like a hassle to roast the fennel and tomatoes separately but it does make things easier when you assemble the salad. Each element stays intact.

You can use coriander or mint instead of parsley in the dressing, and extend the salad by adding fresh leaves (rocket, watercress or baby spinach). Just note that if you add leaves you’ll need to make more dressing.

A note allegedly written by Jeffrey Epstein in prison, said to contain the chilling words “time to say goodbye”, has reportedly been locked in a New York courthouse vault since 2019 as the New York Times petitions a judge to unseal it

A suicide note penned by Jeffrey Epstein while in custody has reportedly remained under wraps for almost seven years.

The disgraced financier’s letter is understood to have been locked away in a vault at a New York courthouse.

A cellmate claimed he came across the note in July 2019, following an incident in which Epstein was discovered unresponsive with a strip of cloth tied round his neck. Epstein survived that episode, but weeks later was found dead in his cell.

On Thursday, The New York Times petitioned the judge to unseal the note, which said it was “time to say goodbye”, cellmate Nicholas Tartaglione claimed. The note had been sealed by a federal judge as part of the cellmate’s own criminal case, according to documents and interviews.

This meant that investigators looking into Epstein’s high-profile death were denied access to what might have been a crucial piece of evidence. A two-page document within the records reportedly outlines how the scrawled message became embroiled in Tartaglione’s legal proceedings, reports the Mirror.

It was said that Tartaglione’s lawyers authenticated the note, though there is no explanation of how this was done.

Tartaglione did mention the note on a podcast last year, yet the contents of the message were never disclosed, despite widespread demands for openness surrounding the investigation. Since December, the Justice Department has released millions of pages of documents related to Epstein.

Tartaglione, a former police officer, is currently imprisoned serving four consecutive life sentences for the murder of four individuals. Prison records reveal that a week after Epstein accused his cellmate of assaulting him in July 2019, he subsequently changed his account and claimed they “never had any issues”.

A Justice Department spokeswoman informed the New York Times that the agency hadn’t received it and that the department “underwent an exhaustive effort to collect all records in its possession,” including those from the Bureau of Prisons and the Office of the Inspector General.

Tartaglione claimed he discovered the note hidden inside a graphic novel after Epstein was transferred to a separate section of the facility. The note allegedly stated that investigators “found nothing” from their inquiries into the sex offender, Tartaglione recounted.

He maintained the message stated: “What do you want me to do, bust out crying? Time to say goodbye.”

Epstein was discovered dead in his cell at a federal detention centre in Manhattan, New York, in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was determined to be suicide.