CNN style Arts | Picasso artworks displayed in a Las Vegas restaurant could fetch over $100M

Eleven Pablo Picasso artworks that were on display at a Las Vegas restaurant for over 20 years will hit the auction block this October, just two days before what would have been the artist’s 140th birthday.

Part of MGM Resorts’ sizable art collection, the pieces had long been a fixture at Picasso, a Michelin-starred French and Spanish eatery in the Bellagio that is inspired by its namesake’s life and work.

The collection — which includes paintings, works on paper and one ceramic work — has a combined top estimate of $104.2 million, according to Sotheby’s auction house, which is organizing the sale.  —read more—

CNN HEROES | This restaurant owner spends his free time fixing old cars and donating them to people in need

Eliot Middleton is a mechanic-turned-restaurateur in rural South Carolina.

(CNN) – When Eliot Middleton was a little boy, he followed his father around everywhere, watching the talented mechanic carefully fix car after car.

Less than a year after his death, Middleton, 38, now a restaurant owner, is honoring his father’s legacy by fixing junk cars and donating them to people throughout rural South Carolina, where public transportation is sparse.

To get the cars, he trades a plate of ribs from his restaurant, Middleton’s Village BBQ, to anyone willing to part with a broken-down vehicle.

Middleton also launched an online fundraising campaign to support the project.  —read more—

HGTV | The 70 Most Beautiful Places in the World

The planet’s leading travel experts reveal the most beautiful places they’ve ever seen.  —see more—

The planet’s leading travel experts reveal the most beautiful places they’ve ever seen.  —see more—

CNN World | They fell in love during World War II. 75 years later, they reunited (2019)

(CNN) – Armed with only a name and a picture from 1944, journalists helped a 97-year-old World War II veteran find and reunite with his long-lost love.  ––watch video—

CNN Sports | Allyson Felix becomes most decorated US track and field athlete in Olympics history

Allyson Felix reacts after winning the gold medal in the women’ s 4 x 400m relay final at Tokyo 2020.

(CNN) – Allyson Felix became the most decorated US track and field athlete in Olympics history after helping Team USA win the women’s 400m sprint relay on Saturday.

It was Felix’s 11th Olympic medal and her seventh gold, overtaking sprint legend Carl Lewis’ haul of 10 medals. She remains one short of Finland’s Paavo Nurmi all-time track and field record of 12 medals.

The US team of Felix, Sydney McLaughlin, Dalilah Muhammad and Athing Mu stormed away to the win, with Poland taking home the silver with a national record and Jamaica securing the bronze.  —read more—

Team USA celebrates the relay win at Tokyo 2020.

CNN style Arts | Bryan Adams photographs Rita Ora, Cher and Iggy Pop for star-studded Pirelli calendar

The days of stadium concerts may feel like a distant memory, but singer-turned-photographer Bryan Adams is recreating the touring lifestyle with the likes of Iggy Pop, Jennifer Hudson and Grimes for this year’s Pirelli calendar.

The 2022 edition of the star-studded calendar, themed “On the Road,” will see the Canadian rock star reimagining backstage moments with a cast of celebrity musicians.

Although the final images will not be unveiled until November, new behind-the-scenes photographs show Rita Ora kicking her legs up in a bathtub and Cher dragging red lipstick across a bright dressing room mirror.  —read more—

CNN BUSINESS | GM’s Chevy Bolt recall comes with a huge price tag

New York (CNN Business)General Motors’ very expensive Chevy Bolt recall highlights one big risk of building electric vehicles.

GM (GM) is preparing to spend $800 million to fix — or possibly replace — the batteries in nearly 70,000 Bolts due to a fire risk. That comes out to about $11,650 per vehicle, making it one of the most expensive recalls ever on a per-car basis.

Meanwhile, Hyundai (HYMTF) is spending $874 million to replace the batteries in 82,000 of its own EVs (also for a fire risk, though these are different battery models. That comes to just under $11,000 per vehicle.)

These costs are staggering — and exponentially higher than the average price tag of an auto recall over the last 10 years, which was only about $500 per vehicle, according to Mike Held, director of the automotive and industrial practice at consulting firm AlixPartners.  —read more—

CNN BUSINESS | Why you could see subtle changes to your smartphone’s design

(CNN) – Smartphone season is underway, and the headlines will almost certainly be the same as always: thinner, sleeker, faster models are coming to consumer pockets.

But if a new push from the US government succeeds, future smartphones may also have to be designed for something extra — the ability to be repaired, however a device owner chooses. It could also push the companies to be innovative in other ways to encourage upgrade devices.

President Joe Biden last month urged the Federal Trade Commission to set rules preventing manufacturers from imposing restrictions on independent device repair shops and DIY repairs, a principle known as “right to repair.” A week later, the FTC vowed to “root out” illegal repair restrictions on various products, including phones. (This push has also gained traction among regulators in Europe.)  —read more—

CNN BUSINESS | Rihanna is now officially a billionaire

New York (CNN) – Robyn “Rihanna” Fenty is officially a billionaire, according to Forbes.

The business magazine, which tracks and publishes data on the world’s wealthiest individuals, on Wednesday reported the 33-year-old pop star’s estimated net worth to be $1.7 billion, making her the wealthiest female musician and the second-richest woman in entertainment behind Oprah Winfrey.

It’s been five years since the “bad gal” from Barbados dropped a new album — her 2016 instant classic “Anti” spent 63 weeks on the Billboard charts. Instead she’s dedicated her time to building her business empire through her Fenty Beauty makeup line and her Savage x Fenty lingerie line.  —read more—

CNN US | Hospitalizations hit new peak in Florida

Coronavirus-related hospitalizations are up 13% from Florida’s previous peak on July 23, 2020, according to the Florida Hospital Association. FHA said they expect 60% of hospitals in the state to face a “critical staffing shortage” in the next 7 days.

According to a press release Tuesday, there are currently 11,515 patients hospitalized with Covid-19 in the Sunshine State. FHA reports 84% of all in patients beds and 86.5% of ICU beds are currently occupied.

According to FHA, of those hospitalized with Covid-19, 21% are in the ICU and 13% are on ventilators.  —read more—