Jackson loses another friend; gains another lawsuit

You'll remember all the excitement over the teaming up of Michael Jackson and Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, son of the King of Bahrain. How's that working out for Michael, then?

Not well.

Having lavished cash - £4.7million, apparently - and products upon Jackson, the Sheikh was surprised when Jacko then failed to deliver anything resembling an album or an autobiography. (Clearly, he'd not followed Jackson's career that closely; had he known he might not have expected anything.) It's now all going to court - and Jackson is being sued in London.

In his defence, Jacko claims he thought the things he was given were gifts and not upfront payments. Presumably because the value never reached eight figures. That's when the quid-pro-quo kicks in.