• A Los Angeles judge yesterday denied pop star Britney Spears’ request to remove her father Jamie from her conservatorship arrangement – and to bring an end to the arrangement in full. Last week she told the court her father was “abusive”, had forced her to work, and would not allow her to have another child. For his part, Jamie Spears has asked the court to investigate the allegations.

• Andrea Constand, the woman who put disgraced comedian Bill Cosby behind bars, says it’s “not only disappointing but of concern” that his sexual assault conviction was quashed. She worries it could discourage sexual assault survivors from seeking justice. Cosby was released from prison yesterday due to a “process violation” in his case.

• Actor James Franco has agreed to pay a US$2.2 million settlement over sexual misconduct claims. The lawsuit was launched last year by 2 former students from his now-defunct Los Angeles film school. They claim they are victims of fraud and that Franco behaved inappropriately during sex scene classes. Franco has repeatedly denied the allegations.