George Michael’s home sold for £3.4 million

London: Legendary singer George Michael’s home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire has sold been sold for £3.4 million to a local couple. The 16th century property was sold last month, according to Land Registry documents obtained by Mirror.co.uk. Michael passed away in the residence on Christmas Day in 2016, and the place has since become a popular spot for his fans to visit and pay tributes. Many of his followers had appealed to turn the building into a museum dedicated to Michael’s life and legacy. This was a place that he loved, not least for the privacy that it afforded him. Michael bought the property in 2001. PTI

CNN backs Cuomo after caught-on-video confrontation

New York: CNN says it completely supports anchor Chris Cuomo after he was seen on video threatening to push a man down some stairs during a confrontation after the man apparently called him “Fredo,” in a seeming reference to the “Godfather” movies. The video doesn’t show the “Fredo” reference but depicts Cuomo’s profanity-laced reaction as he characterises the comment as an anti-Italian slur. The man says he thought “Fredo” was Cuomo’s name. CNN spokesman Matt Dornic said Cuomo “defended himself” after being slurred. President Trump added his voice to the fray, tweeting: “I thought Chris was Fredo also. The truth hurts. Totally lost it! Low ratings @CNN.” AP 

Next Guatemala leader seeks better US migrant deal

GUATEMALA CITY: Guatemala’s President-elect Alejandro Giammattei has vowed to seek better terms for his country from an unpopular migration deal agreed with Washington last month. Preliminary results from Sunday’s election gave Giammattei, a conservative, a runoff victory with 58% of the vote, well ahead of his center-left opponent, former first lady Sandra Torres, on 42%. Giammattei will not take office until January, by which time Guatemala may be under severe pressure from the deal, which effectively turns the country into a buffer zone by forcing migrants to apply for asylum there rather than in the US. Reuters

Gabbard leaves campaign for US Army training in Indonesia 

Washington: Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu member of the US Congress and a Democratic presidential hopeful, has announced that she will leave the campaign trail for two weeks of training exercises in Indonesia that include counter-terrorism. Gabbard, who has deployed to the Middle East twice in her time in the Army National Guard, heads to active-duty training during a crucial time in her 2020 presidential campaign. Gabbard is the first ever Hindu lawmaker in the US Congress. She is also the first ever Hindu to run for presidential elections. A practising Hindu, Gabbard is of Asian, Polynesian, and Caucasian descent. PTI