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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

The US president cited the Scotch industry’s relationship with the American bourbon industry and the impact of the royals’ visit to the White House

Donald Trump has said he will remove tariffs on Scottish whisky following a visit from the King and Queen.

The US president cited the Scotch industry’s relationship with the American bourbon industry and the impact of the royals’ visit to the White House. Most Scotch producers source their casks from the US.

President Trump said that while “people have wanted to do this for a long time” the King and Queen “got me to do something that nobody else was able to do”.

The Scottish and UK governments had been lobbying the Republican to end the 10% tariffs on the industry, as the US is the single biggest market for Scotland’s whisky.

Confirming the news, Mr Trump posted on his Truth Social platform: “In honor of the King and Queen of the United Kingdom, who have just left the White House, soon headed back to their wonderful Country, I will be removing the Tariffs and Restrictions on Whiskey having to do with Scotland’s ability to work with the Commonwealth of Kentucky on Whiskey and Bourbon, two very important Industries within Scotland and Kentucky.

“People have wanted to do this for a long time, in that there had been great Inter-Country Trade, especially having to do with the Wooden Barrels used. The King and Queen got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking!

“A wonderful Honor to have them both in the U.S.A. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

Without the intervention, the industry could have seen another 25% in the spring as Mr Trump continues his tariff agenda.

Mr Trump’s previous 25% Scotch tariff between 2019 and 2021 resulted in the sector losing more than £600 million, or £1 million a day, the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) previously said.

The trade body estimates the current 10% tariffs are costing whisky firms £3m in lost exports each week.

In 2025, First Minister John Swinney went to the White House to press the president following discussions during his visit to Scotland.

Mr Swinney hailed the decision as “tremendous news for Scotland”.

He said: “As First Minister, I have made it my mission to do everything possible to lift US tariffs on our whisky.

“People’s jobs were at stake. Millions of pounds were being lost every month from the Scottish economy.

“Yet despite this, and despite months of trade talks, it was obvious to me that the UK Government had done little to raise the issue of Scotch whisky, and the US president was not aware that there was an issue until he came here to Scotland.

“By meeting the president during his visit to Scotland and by going to Washington, to the Oval Office, we made Scotland’s case. We worked directly with the Scotch Whisky Association to get Scotland’s voice heard.

“And, we used every chance to drive our point home, not least the State Banquet hosted by His Majesty The King in London last September.”

Mr Swinney said that “hard work” had “paid off” and expressed his thanks to the president “for listening and acting to lift the tariffs”.

He also said that Scotland was “grateful” to the King for the “key role he played in this tremendous success”.

“Scotland needs a government that is always on Scotland’s side,” he added.

“It needs experienced leadership that is focused on delivering and knows how to get things done at the very highest level.

“That is what we offer and today shows how important it is.”

Russell Findlay, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, accused Mr Swinney’s party of being dishonest.

He said: “The King has secured an agreement from the US president to remove tariffs on Scotch whisky. John Swinney is trying to claim credit. Why are the SNP so dishonest?”

The SWA, the industry’s trade body, welcomed the news.

Chief executive Mark Kent said: “This deal is a significant boost for the Scotch Whisky industry in our most valuable export market. Distillers can breathe a little easier during a period of significant pressure on the sector.

“We are hugely grateful for the sustained efforts on both sides of the Atlantic. For months, many have worked tirelessly to return zero-for-zero tariff trade for whisky and bourbon. The special relationship that the Scotch Whisky and American Whiskey industries share will be reinvigorated by this announcement.

“While challenges in our sector remain, we can now redouble our efforts to boost the benefits our two great industries bring to communities across Scotland and the US.”

Business and trade secretary Peter Kyle said: “This is great news for our Scotch whisky industry, which is worth almost £1 billion in exports and supports thousands of jobs across the UK.

“I have been advocating for lower tariffs on key exports like whisky to protect vital jobs and iconic British brands while strengthening our relationship with the US.”

It is unclear what the future holds for NIE’s meter readers following the announcement from the Economy Minister

Unite the Union, which represents staff at NIE have called for clarity on the future employment for meter readers following the announcement that smart readers are to be rolled out across Northern Ireland.

On Wednesday, Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald announced that smart readers will be installed in homes across NI from 2028.

There are currently 932,000 electricity connections across Northern Ireland. It is estimated that the cost of rolling the meters out across Northern Ireland will be in the region of £500 million.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Instead of financial support or price caps on surging electricity bills, the economy minister is bringing forward the installation of smart meters as a way to reduce household electricity bills.

“Northern Ireland already has the highest levels of fuel poverty – rather than encourage energy rationing we need to see real action to lower or cap costs.”

Unite regional officer, Joanne McWilliams said: “Unite is demanding that NI Electricity management provides protections for the future employment of meter readers.

“We have also sought assurances that all installations will be completed by professional, directly employed NIE staff, not outsourced to contractors. We will continue to work with the company’s management to secure the best interests of our members – the frontline NIE workforce.”

An NIE spokesperson said: “NIE Networks welcome the publication of the Smart Electricity Meters Design Plan. There remains a lot to be decided, and we look forward to working with partners to develop the detailed programme plan, which will provide more confirmation on how the programme will operate and the skills required.”

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