CNN style Fashion | Victoria’s Secret is overhauling its image. Is it enough to regain relevance?

British plus-size model Paloma Elsesser has previously modeled for Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty Show, which rose as a challenger to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Less than two years after Victoria’s Secret pulled the plug on its star-studded annual fashion show, known for runway looks that combined strappy lingerie with enormous wings, the brand is retiring its supermodel “Angels” for good.

Taking their place is a new group of seven ambassadors, called the “VS Collective,” who are known for their advocacy work in gender equality and body positivity, and who represent a wider range of body types and sexual and gender identities.

The collective — which includes soccer player Megan Rapinoe, actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas and plus-size model Paloma Elsesser — will work on new product lines and multimedia content, as well as supporting women’s causes for the company, according to a press release.  –read more—

CNN World | New Zealand houseplant sells for $19,200 in online bidding war

Auckland, New Zealand (CNN) – A houseplant with just nine leaves has sold for a record-breaking $19,297 on a New Zealand auction site.

Bids for the “very rare white variegated Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma” closed Sunday night, rising in the last four minutes as bidder “foliage_patch” battled the eventual winner, tagged “meridianlamb.”

Trade Me spokesperson Millie Silvester told CNN that the plant was “the most expensive houseplant ever sold” on the auction site.  —read more—

CNN health | A 95-year-old man just became the oldest organ donor in US history

Cecil Lockhart became the oldest organ donor in the United States at age 95.

(CNN) – A woman who is recovering from a liver transplant not only has a new lifesaving organ, but one that made history.

That’s thanks to Cecil Lockhart from Welch, West Virginia, who died at age 95 on May 4, making him the oldest organ donor in United States history, according the Center for Organ Recovery & Education, which coordinated the recovery of the liver.

The previous record for the oldest donor was a 93-year-old, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing.  —read more—

CNN BUSINESS | Companies are celebrating Juneteenth in unique ways this week

A Nike retail store in New York City is pictured in this undated photo.

CNN health | Here’s why you hate the sound of your own voice

Physiology and psychology may be to blame for why we hate the sound of our own voices.

(The Conversation) – As a surgeon who specializes in treating patients with voice problems, I routinely record my patients speaking. For me, these recordings are incredibly valuable. They allow me to track slight changes in their voices from visit to visit, and it helps confirm whether surgery or voice therapy led to improvements.

Yet I’m surprised by how difficult these sessions can be for my patients. Many become visibly uncomfortable upon hearing their voice played back to them.

“Do I really sound like that?” they wonder, wincing.  —read more—

CNN politics | Senate unanimously passes a bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday

(CNN) – The Senate unanimously passed a resolution on Tuesday establishing June 19 as Juneteenth National Independence Day, a US holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

The legislation has gained momentum since the massive Black Lives Matter protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd last year and the Democrats’ takeover of the White House and Congress.

But Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson blocked the bill in 2020, saying that the day off for federal employees would cost US taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Johnson dropped his objection this week despite his concerns, paving the way for the bill’s passage in the Senate.  —read more—

CNN BUSINESS | JPMorgan is calling for reforms to stop racial bias in housing

 New York (CNN Business) – JPMorgan Chase is throwing its considerable weight behind efforts to root out racial bias in the appraisal of homes in America.

As part of a new bank-wide commitment to fight housing inequality, JPMorgan (JPM) is for the first time outlining specific legislation that can fight appraisal bias, backing the study of innovative ways to value homes and promoting efforts to boost sorely needed diversity in the appraisal industry.

Beyond appraisals, America’s biggest bank is promising to ease obstacles that make it harder for Black and Latinx households to buy homes, build wealth and access affordable housing.  —read more—

CNN BUSINESS | This cannabis stock is a new Reddit favorite

New York (CNN Business) – Cannabis company Tilray, which recently merged with rival Aphria, has seen its stock surge as of late thanks to — you guessed it — love from the Reddit crowd.

As backers tout the growing number of states legalizing recreational and medical marijuana, some investors are holding out for the dream scenario of federal legalization — even though that might be a stretch in the near term.

But are investors going a little crazy? Tilray (TLRY) is now up more than 130% this year. That’s much higher than the gains for rivals Canopy Growth (CGC) and Cronos (CRON), which have the backing of consumer products giants Constellation Brands (STZ) and Altria (MO), respectively.  –read more—

CNN BUSINESS | Exclusive: US businesses warn crumbling infrastructure is hurting the economy

New York (CNN Business)As infrastructure negotiations between the White House and a GOP Senate group broke down this week, business executives are warning that aging infrastructure is holding America back.

Nearly two-thirds (63%) of middle market executives say the nation’s ailing infrastructure is restricting growth of the national economy, according to a new RSM survey shared exclusively with CNN Business. The survey, conducted in partnership with the US Chamber of Commerce, also found that 60% of these executives say the state of infrastructure is hurting local economies as well.

The findings come as President Joe Biden struggles to convince Republicans in Washington to support his $2 trillion American Jobs Plan that would aim to modernize roads, bridges and broadband and invest in clean energy.  —read more—

CNN Sports | Novak Djokovic comes from two sets down to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in thrilling French Open final

Novak Djokovic celebrates after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the French Open final.

(CNN) – Novak Djokovic came back from two sets down in a grand slam final for the first time in his career, as he narrowly got the better of Stefanos Tsitsipas in a thrilling French Open final.

The 22-year-old Greek star, appearing in only his first grand slam final, displayed experience and poise beyond his years to race into a two-set lead, but Djokovic’s grit and determination proved too much, with the world No. 1 eventually prevailing 6-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 in a match that lasted more than four hours.

Victory takes Djokovic to 19 grand slam titles, just one shy of the all-time record jointly held by Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.  —read more—