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.

Spears is allowed to see children

Pop star Britney Spears has been granted temporary visitation rights to see her sons, her lawyer has confirmed.

"Yes, she has visitation with the children," said Anne Kiley in an e-mail to the Associated Press news agency.

Last week a Los Angeles judge ruled the singer could not see Sean Preston, aged two, and one-year-old Jayden James until she complied with court orders.

Earlier this month Ms Spears' ex-husband Kevin Federline was granted full custody of the two boys.

Last month, the same judge said Ms Spears 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 a "parenting coach" weekly, according to court documents.

The next hearing is scheduled for Friday.

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.

Spears awarded visitation rights

A court in the US state of California has refused to restore custody of her two children to singer Britney Spears.

Instead, Ms Spears was granted rights to visit the children. Her former husband, Kevin Federline, was awarded sole custody earlier this week.

Los Angeles Superior Court commissioner Scott Gordon extended that custody order until another hearing on 26 October to review the situation.

The couple previously shared custody, and no reason was given for the change.

However, a lawyer for Ms Spears, Sorrell Trope, told a US magazine that the judge had acted after the singer was unable to prove she had complied with several court orders.

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

Hit-and-run

The singer, whose career has been hit by a year of frequent erratic behaviour, did not attend court on Wednesday, although Mr Federline did.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Federline's lawyer, Mark Kaplan, said his client believed the ruling giving him custody was "justified".

"Kevin wants to maintain the custody that he has as long as he can," Mr Kaplan added.

The judge was later expected to confirm the details of Ms Spears' visitation rights.

She has already been ordered her to undergo random drug and alcohol tests twice a week and meet weekly with a "parenting coach", according to court documents.

The judge has also ordered Ms Spears and Mr Federline to complete a parenting class.

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

She is accused of hitting a parked car and driving away from a Los Angeles car park 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 following her separation from Mr Federline last November.

She was dropped by her management firm last month following her so-called comeback performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, which was panned by critics.

Her divorce was finalised on 30 July and since then, the estranged couple have shared an equal amount of time with the two boys.

However, Mr Federline had been fighting for greater time and more money.

Spears loses child custody battle

A court in the US state of California has refused to restore custody of her two children to singer Britney Spears.

Instead, Ms Spears was granted rights to visit the children. Her former husband, Kevin Federline, was awarded sole custody earlier this week.

Los Angeles Superior Court commissioner Scott Gordon extended that custody order until another hearing on 26 October to review the situation.

The couple previously shared custody, and no reason was given for the change.

However, a lawyer for Ms Spears, Sorrell Trope, told a US magazine that the judge had acted after the singer was unable to prove she had complied with several court orders.

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

Hit-and-run

The singer, whose career has been hit by a year of frequent erratic behaviour, did not attend court on Wednesday, although Mr Federline did

"Kevin wants to maintain the custody that he has as long as he can," his lawyer, Mark Kaplan, said after the hearing.

The judge was later expected to confirm the details of Ms Spears' visitation rights.

She has already been ordered her to undergo random drug and alcohol tests twice a week and meet weekly with a "parenting coach", according to court documents.

The judge has also ordered Ms Spears and Mr Federline to complete a parenting class.

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

She is accused of hitting a parked car and driving away from a Los Angeles car park 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 following her separation from Mr Federline last November.

She was dropped by her management firm last month following her so-called comeback performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, which was panned by critics.

Her divorce was finalised on 30 July and since then, the estranged couple have shared an equal amount of time with the two boys.

However, Mr Federline had been fighting for greater time and more money.