Spears defends parenting skills

Pop star Britney Spears has defended her parenting in a US radio interview.

When asked by American Idol host Ryan Seacrest on his Los Angeles show if she was doing all she could for her children, Spears said: "Oh, God yeah."

The singer is currently embroiled in a custody battle over her two young boys with ex-husband Kevin Federline.

"It's sad, how cruel the world can be. At the end of the day, you've just got to know in your heart you're doing the best you can," she said.

"I try not to let it get to me," she added, referring to recent media coverage.

Unsure

Federline has full custody of Sean Preston, aged two, and one-year-old Jayden James but Spears is allowed three monitored visits with them a week.

In Tuesday's ruling, Spears was granted two afternoons and one full night per week with her two sons.

But the pop star seemed unsure when asked by Seacrest how often she would have access to them.

"That's, like, all in the court. Stuff like that, my lawyers know all that stuff," she said.

Spears told Seacrest she did not do anything special to celebrate the release of Blackout, her first studio album in four years.

"We watched movies... had fried chicken," she said.

She said her favourite track on the album was Heaven on Earth.

The short telephone interview on radio station KIIS-FM was ended abruptly when her assistant Alli Sims told Seacrest that Spears had left to have a shower.

Detailed testimony was presented during the latest custody court ruling.

Spears' parenting coach Lisa Hacker concluded in her report that the singer loved her sons and that they were bonded to her.

But the report also criticised Spears, calling the atmosphere at her home "chaotic" and saying she rarely played with or spoke to the boys.

Spears hit-and-run charge dropped

Britney Spears is no longer facing hit-and-run charges after she compensated the other car's driver, a judge in Los Angeles has ruled.

But the 25-year-old singer is still facing a charge of driving without a valid licence.

Ms Spears' lawyer entered a not guilty plea on her behalf, and a further hearing was set for 26 November.

She allegedly crashed into the parked car in full view of photographers, before leaving the scene on 6 August.

The owner of the car filed an accident report on 9 August at a police station in North Hollywood.

Ms Spears' lawyer Michael Flanagan said that the owner of the car that was hit was satisfied with the resolution and did not want to go forward with the hit-and-run charge.

'Satisfied'

Speaking outside the court, Mr Flanagan said assistant city cttorney Michael Amerian had offered the singer a plea deal on the licence charge which would have resulted in her being placed on probation for a year.

But Mr Flanagan said he believed a plea was unnecessary because Ms Spears had rectified the situation by recently getting a California driving licence.

He added that the singer had a licence in Louisiana, but she had not been able to obtain one in California because a camera was not available when she applied for one.

Meanwhile, a court hearing in Ms Spears' custody fight with former husband Kevin Federline over their two young sons is scheduled for Friday.

Judge orders Britney fingerprints

Singer Britney Spears must have her fingerprints and photographs taken before her hit-and-run court case, a California judge has ordered.

The 25-year-old must submit to the procedures at a Los Angeles police station between now and her scheduled appearance on 25 October.

Ms Spears was charged last month for allegedly crashing into a parked car while driving without a valid licence.

She could face up to six months in jail for the 6 August incident.

A conviction will also carry a fine of $1,000 (£490).

Chart success

The pop star was not required to attend the hearing because the charges - which she was informed of by letter last month - are classed as misdemeanours, which carry relatively minor penalties under US law.

The owner of the other vehicle, which was parked in a car park, reported the damage on 9 August.

Ms Spears' career and personal life has recently been beset by a series of incidents.

Last week, a judge refused to restore custody rights to her two sons after ex-husband Kevin Federline was granted sole custody by the courts.

The singer was instead awarded visitation rights to the children.

According to court documents connected to the case, she has been ordered to undergo twice-weekly random drug and alcohol testing.

She was dropped by her management company last month after her comeback performance at the MTV Video Music Awards was largely panned by critics.

But she has enjoyed US chart success with her new single Gimme More, which to date has reached number three in the Billboard Hot 100.

Britney names new album Blackout

Troubled pop star Britney Spears has revealed that her first studio album in four years will be called Blackout.

The title "refers to blocking out negativity and embracing life fully," said the star's record label Jive.

Spears' comeback single, Gimme More, is already number three in the US singles chart - despite the singer's disastrous performance at last month's MTV awards.

The star's erratic behaviour in recent months culminated in her losing custody of her two sons earlier this week.

Her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, was awarded custody after Spears failed to produce her driving licence and missed a test for drugs and alcohol.

She was granted visitation rights - but must be monitored at all times when she is with Sean Preston, two, and Jayden James, one.

'Soap opera'

The singer's latest setback follows a year of unfavourable headlines after her separation from Mr Federline last November.

She has spent several stints in rehab, shaved off her hair in full view of the paparazzi at a Los Angeles tattoo parlour, and separated from her management company.

In September, she was charged with hit-and-run and driving without a valid licence - and could face six months in jail and a $1,000 (£495) fine if convicted.

The singer, 25, is due to release her album on 12 November in the UK and the following day in the US.

Jive Records says Spears will not be making the usual round of promotional appearances ahead of the release.

"It's not Jive's place to fashion a public-relations campaign with respect to Britney's personal issues," label spokesman Allan Mayer told MTV, "but Jive does care about her and does support her.

"There's no question that when you have someone at this level of celebrity, they become like cartoons or soap-opera characters, and we forget that they're human beings.

"People say that's the trade you make - that you have to give up your privacy or the ability to lead a normal life - but sometimes you make that bargain before you realize what it entails and it's too late."

Britney cannot be alone with sons

Singer Britney Spears must be monitored when she visits her two children, a court in Los Angeles has decided.

Her time with her sons will be halted if her behaviour "endangers" the youngsters, according to the ruling.

The star's ex-husband, Kevin Federline, was awarded custody after Spears failed to produce her driving licence and missed a test for drugs and alcohol.

Spears is likely to see her children every other day but must also attend three counselling sessions this month.

Her son Sean Preston is two years old, while his younger brother, Jayden James, is one.

Parenting class

Last month, a judge said Spears, 25, showed "a habitual, frequent and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol".

She was then ordered to complete random drug and alcohol tests twice a week, as well as meeting weekly with a "parenting coach", according to court documents.

The judge told Spears and Federline to complete a parenting class too.

Also last month, Ms Spears was charged with hit-and-run and driving without a valid licence.

She was accused of hitting a parked car and driving away from the scene in Los Angeles on 6 August, a spokesman for the city's attorney's office said.

Ms Spears could face six months in jail and a $1,000 (£495) fine if convicted of the charges.

The singer's latest setback follows a year of unfavourable headlines after her separation from Mr Federline last November.

She was dropped by her management firm last month after her comeback performance at the MTV Video Music Awards was panned by critics.

However, her new single - Gimme More - has topped Billboard's "hot digital songs" chart in the US, and has jumped 60 places to number three on the Billboard singles chart.

Her new album is due to be released on 12 November in the UK and the following day in the US.