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Michael Jackson's latest courtship is kaput.

Fresh off yesterday's news that the entertainer reached a tentative settlement in the ultimately short-lived $7 million breach-of-contract lawsuit brought by a Bahrain royal comes word that a formal resolution has been finalized.

"We are very pleased to announce an amicable settlement has been reached on confidential terms," Sheik Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa's attorney, Bankim Thanki, told London's High Court this morning.

After the announcement, both legal teams briefly conferred in private before releasing a joint statement: "They wish each other well in their own respective endeavors."

The rep for Al-Khalifa, who considered Jackson a "brother," albeit one he had no problem suing, said the terms of their settlement would remain on the down-low.

"They have settled amicably and that's all we have to say."

Al-Khalifa was seeking more than $7 million in repayment from the erstwhile King of Pop for advance payments made toward an unfulfilled recording contract and various living and legal expenses.

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In the end, Michael Jackson once again beat it.

The King of Pop managed to avoid a showdown with a sheik of Bahrain in a London court, reaching a last-minute settlement in a $7 million battle over a music deal gone sour.

"As Mr. Jackson was about to board his plane to London, he was advised by his legal team to postpone his travels since the parties had concluded a settlement in principle," Jackson spokeswoman Celena Aponte said in a statement Sunday. "Therefore, he will not be attending court on Monday."

Terms of the deal, apparently struck just hours before Jackson was set to give testimony, were not announced. There was no immediate comment from the plaintiff, Sheik Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa.

The 33-year-old sheik, a son of the king of Bahrain, claimed he and his "brother" Jackson developed a close relationship after the Gloved One took up residence in the Middle Eastern country after beating his child-molestation rap in 2005.

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Michael Jackson's latest court battle keeps getting weirder. And he hasn't even shown up yet.

Another day of testimony in the case—in which Sheik Abdulla bin Hamad Al-Khalifa maintains the singer reneged on a recording contract, among other money-making music ventures—yielded yet more good-natured remarks about both the superstar and the Bahraini royal, including claims they considered each other "brothers."

This time, the gushing came courtesy of Jackson's former personal assistant, who not only backed her boss' seemingly naive belief that the sheik's $7 million-plus payout was nothing more than a gift, but also revealed the seemingly mind-boggling detail that the erstwhile King of Pop is not currently in possession of a bank account.

Suddenly Jackson's never-ending financial problems make a little more sense.

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AP Photo/Jockel Finck, File

When it comes to his newly launched breach-of-contract trial, Michael Jackson is not only joining it, he's hoping to beat it.

The long-dethroned King of Pop has withdrawn his application to give testimony in his London case via a video link from the U.S. The move comes just days after Jackson made the request, claiming an undisclosed, though seemingly bandage-cured, illness prevented him from making the trip across the pond.

"He has been cleared by his medical advisers to travel in two days' time," his lawyer, Robert Englehart, told London's High Court this morning.

Jackson is expected to fly to the U.K. over the weekend and will begin his testimony in the flesh—at least what's left of it—on Monday afternoon.

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AP Photo/Jockel Finck, File

Michael Jackson is hoping a doctor's note can get him out of his latest lawsuit.

An attorney for the pop star, currently embroiled in a $7 million breach-of-contract trial in London after a Bahrain sheik accused him of failing to make good on the terms of an exclusive recording contract, told the court today Jackson would likely be unable to make it across the pond to offer testimony due to an undisclosed illness.

"On a best-case prognosis, it would be unwise for him to travel, given what he's got now," attorney Robert Englehart said in London's High Court. He refused to elaborate further "for the obvious reasons," but said the singer was waiting on test results.

While Englehart offered that Jackson instead testify via video link from the U.S., attorneys for Sheik Abdulla Bin Hamad Isa Al-Khalifa had another suggestion: Get the star "bandaged up" and get him on a plane.

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ODuran/Fame Pictures

On the down side, Michael Jackson has been sued yet again. On the plus side, the suit has absolutely nothing to do with underage children.

The son of the king of Bahrain, or as his closest friends refer to him, Sheik Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, has filed a $7 million breach-of-contract suit against the pop star, claiming Jackson reneged on an exclusive recording contract.

In his lawsuit, which will be heard in London court later today, the sheik claims he paid Jackson more than $7 million as an advance on two albums, a stage show and a planned autobiography, built him a recording studio and gave him a Rolls-Royce worth roughly $275,000.

However, while Jackson was more than willing to accept the funds, the royal said that when the time came to actually record the promised music, Jackson, well, beat it.

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AP Photo/Lois Bernstein; Pool Photographer/Getty Images

The fairy tale is really over now.

Michael Jackson has turned the deed to his financially plagued Neverland Ranch over to a company that he has a partial stake in, effectively ending his reign as the King of the House That Pop Built.

Then again, one could wonder what took so long. Jackson hasn't spent any time at the Los Olivos, Calif., estate he bought in 1988 since being acquitted of child-molestation charges in 2005—crimes he was accused of committing on his 2,500-acre property, which in its heyday featured a working petting zoo, amusement park and various other kid-friendly attractions.

According to paperwork filed Monday with the Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder's Office, Neverland's new owner is the Sycamore Valley Ranch Co., LLC.

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Hmph, it seemed too kitschtastic to be true.

Michael Jackson continued to dash dreams of pop-royalty rejuvenation by confirming Thursday that he will not be joining Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Tito on a Jackson 5 reunion tour.

"My brothers and sisters have my full love and support, and we've certainly shared many great experiences, but at this time I have no plans to record or tour with them," Jackson said in a statement released by rep Dr. Tohme.

"I am now in the studio developing new and exciting projects that I look forward to sharing with my fans in concert soon."

Somebody tell Jermaine.

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Reunited and it feels so...unconvincing.

Jermaine Jackson has resurrected a rumor that's been plaguing the music world floating around for several years, telling Australian media Wednesday night that a Jackson 5 reunion—complete with big-money Jacksons Michael and Janet—is indeed in the works and that the family will tour sometime next year.

It could be true...or someone may have gone a little overboard with the Jesus Juice.

So, tell us what you think. Do you want them back? Will they actually make it back? And more importantly, will you shell out for concert tickets?

AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

Apparently Detroit didn't want a repeat of Boobgate.

Facing pressure from officials at the Palace of Auburn Hills arena—and not wanting to be a scofflaw—Janet Jackson nixed a racy segment of her oh-so-troubled Rock Witchu tour Tuesday.

Because of a Michigan law that forbids simulated sex acts in a public performing space, the Control diva nixed her usual concert routine of inviting onstage a male audience member, tying him down and pretending to grope him while dancers mime various sex acts around them, including masturbation.

"Janet did not want to disappoint her Detroit-area fans again, so we adhered to Michigan's state ordinance and trimmed the 'Discipline' segment of the show so it would not be canceled," Jackson's manager, Kenneth Crear, says in a statement.

During the encore, Jackson apologized to fans for leaving out the raunchy number, which she's performed on past concert stops, including the Palace, without controversy.

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Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, stopped at a Robertson Boulevard boutique to shop, but for what?

Put your guesses below!

And if you want to know where else Jacko spent his day, read on...

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