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Pink confetti was propelled into the clear blue sky and the speakers blasting Britney Spears’ greatest hits cranked up a notch as news filtered through to supporters outside court that her 13-year-long conservatorship was over.

Shrieks filled the air and some even cried tears of joy and relief.

Megan travelled from Chicago to Los Angeles in the hope that the conservatorship would be terminated.

“I’m just so happy, it’s been so long and now she’s finally free, she can live her life,” she said.

Britney Spears supporters gather outside the Stanley Mosk Courthouse on the day of her latest conservatorship case hearing in Los Angeles
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Britney’s conservatorship has been officially terminated

“I had to be here for this.”

Throughout the morning with anticipation building ahead of the pivotal hearing, fans marched along the palm tree lined street outside the Stanley Mosk courthouse, placards held aloft.

“It’s her circus so why isn’t she the ringmaster?” was written on one. “This is a human rights issue, free Britney now!” on another.

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Four women dressed in iconic outfits from some of Spears’ most famous music videos performed a dance routine on a stage erected for the occasion.

Supporters of singer Britney Spears celebrate the termination of her conservatorship, outside the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles, California, U.S. November 12, 2021. REUTERS/Mike Blake
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Fans marched along the street outside the Stanley Mosk courthouse

For the past two and a half years the Free Britney movement has brought energy, colour and a shared sense of outrage to the cause, as they campaigned for their idol to be released from her conservatorship.

“She is being held prisoner,” said one, “she’s not even allowed to go out to get a coffee.”

The most hardcore fans have become experts in the workings of the conservatorship system – an extreme legal arrangement for people deemed unable to make decisions for themselves, usually those with dementia or other mental illness.

It took less than 45 minutes for Judge Brenda Penny to reach her decision that this no longer applied to Britney Spears.

Inside court, the rows were packed with journalists and members of the public. “No phones, no electronic devices” bellowed the court bailiffs, after recordings of previous hearings had been leaked online.

Spears’ lawyer Mathew Rosengart was asked to put his position forward first.

“Ms Spears believes the time has come to terminate this conservatorship,” he said. He read out excerpts from her previous testimony where she told the court, “I just want my life back”.

Stacy Moffatt, of Costa Mesa, California, bottom, and other Britney Spears supporters pictured outside a hearing on the pop singer's conservatorship at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in LA. Pic: AP/Chris Pizzello
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Fans showed their support for Britney outside court


Britney’s father was dialled into the hearing, as was her mother Lynne Spears. Their lawyers also said they agreed the conservatorship should end.

Judge Penny heard no opposition, and determined that the conservatorship of the estate and the person should be terminated, as it was “no longer required”.

A decision that had garnered such international attention, and one that would mean so much to the hundreds of fans gathered outside the court, in the end, felt inevitable.

Britney’s conservatorship was officially terminated.

Only a couple of administrative powers remain for her temporary conservator John Zabel, like transferring the power of attorney to her trust.

Mr Rosengart said outside court that this was not the end of the story, telling Sky News that Spears would now have to decide whether to pursue her father Jamie in the courts.

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Jamie Spears, as the conservator, controlled his daughter’s estate and personal affairs for 13 years and says he only ever had her best interests at heart.

But Spears says he abused his position and she wants access to full financial records for the whole contested period of the conservatorship.

The termination of the conservatorship is a life-changing decision for Spears. Once the dust has settled, she may return to the stage but this time it will be on her terms.

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Burning Man: Dead body found ‘in a pool of blood’ at festival

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Burning Man: Dead body found 'in a pool of blood' at festival

A man has been found dead “in a pool of blood” at the Burning Man festival in Nevada, officials say.

The man’s body, described as a white adult, was found “lying on the ground” after 9pm on Saturday at the art and music festival in the Black Rock Desert, roughly 110 miles north of Reno, the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office said.

They said he was discovered while the festival’s large wooden effigy of a man at the centre of the festival was engulfed in flames – a tradition during the annual event.

Officials said a festival goer flagged down a sheriff’s deputy and reported seeing “a male subject lying in a pool of blood”.

The sheriff’s office set up a perimeter at the scene and has been treating it as a homicide, interviewing several participants.

The body, which has not been identified, was taken to a medical examiner’s office, while the festival continues until 6pm local time on Monday (2am Tuesday UK time).

“Although this act appears to be a singular crime, all participants should always be vigilant of their surroundings and acquaintances,” the sheriff’s office said.

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Officials say the crime scene is being preserved, but that the case is a “complicated investigation” as the makeshift Black Rock City where the event is located will be gone by the middle of the week.

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Burning Man organisers said they were cooperating with law enforcement and asked participants not to interfere with their investigation.

“The safety and well-being of our community are paramount,” their statement said, adding that support services, including a crisis support team, were available and participants had access to free Wi-Fi if they need to communicate with loved ones.

Burning Man is a celebration of self-expression that culminates in the ceremonial burning of its towering 40ft effigy.

Its origins can be traced back to the incineration of an eight-foot wooden “man” on San Francisco’s Baker Beach in 1986, which eventually evolved into an annual gathering in the Black Rock Desert.

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Hollywood star Rupert Everett spotted working behind bar of village pub

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Hollywood star Rupert Everett spotted working behind bar of village pub

Hollywood star Rupert Everett has been working behind the bar of his village pub in a bid to keep the doors open.

Everett, known for his roles in Another Country and My Best Friend’s Wedding, has joined a roster of volunteers working to save The Swan, a local pub in Enford, Wiltshire, that is currently under threat of closure.

The pub is staffed by a rotation of 30 people after it was initially closed when the previous licensee left.

“There has been an amazing effort by our community to keep this pub open,” said the 66-year-old Shrek voice actor.

“Times are hard for rural pubs and this is the heart and hub of the village. I think that it is important to express my support. I have recently joined CAMRA – the Campaign for Real Ale – as I know that real ale is the lifeblood of pubs both locally and nationally.

“Our small local breweries need our help, cask ale must survive – it is almost a uniquely British tradition.”

Steve Stringer, secretary of the Salisbury and South Wiltshire branch of CAMRA and an Enford resident, told local media: “I am excited that Rupert has chosen to support the campaign.

“As a lover of cask ales, it is only natural that he wishes to join us and to see him behind the bar serving the locals, shows his solidarity with the community effort.”

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Coldplay reschedule Wembley Stadium shows over Tube strikes

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Coldplay reschedule Wembley Stadium shows over Tube strikes

Coldplay have rescheduled the final two dates of their 10-show run at Wembley Stadium because of strike action on the London Underground.

Rail, Maritime And Transport (RMT) union walkouts next Sunday and Monday make it impossible for fans to get to and from the venue safely, the band said in a statement.

The completion of their Wembley run will see Coldplay become the first act to play 10 dates at the national football stadium in the same year, knocking current joint record holders Taylor Swift and Take That from the top spot.

Both Swift and Take That have played eight Wembley shows in a single year.

Industrial action on the Tube will take place at different times from 5 September for seven days, impacting Coldplay’s gigs – which are part of the band’s eco-friendly Music Of The Spheres world tour – on 7 and 8 September.

A statement from the band posted on social media read: “We’re sorry to announce that, due to planned industrial action on the London Underground, we’ve been forced to reschedule our final two concerts of the current Wembley Stadium run.

“Without a Tube service, it’s impossible to get 82,000 people to the concert and home again safely, and therefore no event licence can be granted for the nights of 7th and 8th September.

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“To avoid cancelling the shows, our only option is to reschedule.”

They said the show on 7 September would move to 6 September and the show on 8 September would move to 12 September.

The band added: “We’re very sorry for the inevitable disappointment, frustration and inconvenience that this situation causes.”

Coldplay said tickets would remain valid for their rescheduled date, but any fans who are unable to attend their rescheduled show can get a full refund on their ticket from their point of purchase before noon on 2 September.

Returned tickets are to go on general sale at 11am on 3 September via Ticketmaster.

The band confirmed shows on 30 and 31 August, and 3 September and 4 September would go ahead as scheduled.

Some 10% of the band’s proceeds from the Wembley shows will be donated to the Music Venue Trust to help support grassroots UK venues and upcoming artists.

Fronted by Chris Martin, Coldplay formed in 1997, and have gone on to achieve two UK number one singles and 10 UK number one albums. They are best known for songs such as Yellow, Fix You, A Sky Full Of Stars and Viva La Vida.

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