In brief: Michael Jackson hits London

Michael Jackson (pictured) appeared before cheering and weeping fans at the O2 Arena in London on Thursday to announce a series of 10 concerts at the former Millennium Dome starting July 8. He said they would be his last ever concerts in Britain but did not rule out touring elsewhere in the world. Tickets will range from £50 to £75........... Amy Winehouse, who recently returned from a two-month break in St Lucia, has been charged with common assault. She is said to have lashed out with a punch, hitting dancer Sherene Flash in the arm and the cheek, at the Berkeley Square Ball in September………….. President Barack Obama gave Gordon Brown a collection of 25 classic American films on DVD as his official gift to mark his visit to Washington this week. The Prime Minister’s gifts included an ornamental desk pen holder made from the oak timbers of Victorian anti-slaver HMS Gannet, once named HMS President……….. George W Bush’s mother, Barbara, was resting today after having open heart surgery to replace her aortic valve………... Rock singer Gloria Estefan has disclosed that the CIA once tried to recruit her as a spy. Cuban-born singer Estefan, 52, said she was asked to become an undercover agent because of her language skills…………Chelsea footballer Ashley Cole got off with a £80 fixed penalty fine after being arrested by police in the small hours of Thursday for being drunk and disorderly outside a west London nightclub. But he has now been fined a further £160,000, equivalent to two weeks' wages, by his club, now managed by Dutch disciplinarian Guus Hiddink.......... Actor Matt Damon is training with a local rugby team in South Africa to prepare for his role as Francois Pienaar in Clint Eastwood's film about Nelson Mandela. Morgan Freeman plays the ANC leader........... R&B singer Chris Brown has been charged with assault on his girlfriend, pop star Rihanna, following an incident in Los Angeles last month on the eve of the Grammy awards. Rihanna - real name Robyn Rihanna Fenty - has refused to comment on a leaked photo showing her with facial injuries......... Neil Young has been confirmed as the headliner for this year's Isle of Wight festival.........