The Weekender: Sean Paul, supermodels, Americans in Europe
An interview with Sean Paul. Also: how tourists can blend in with European locals, and why a new debate over beauty standards has ignited.
Times editors have handpicked 11 stories for you to enjoy. Welcome to The Weekender.
_____
The ‘World’s Happiest Man’ Shares His Three Rules for Life
Matthieu Ricard is an ordained Buddhist monk and an internationally best-selling author of books about altruism, animal rights, happiness and wisdom.
_____
Iced Coffee and Flip-Flops as Europe Broils? Not So Fast, Americans.
As large numbers of American tourists visit Europe during a record-hot summer, their efforts to stay cool are running up against cultural norms.
_____
‘Forever Chemicals’ Are Everywhere. What Are They Doing to Us?
PFAS lurk in so much of what we consume and use. Scientists are only beginning to understand how they affect health — and what to do about them.
_____
She Was Brazil’s Barbie. Now She’s Saying Sorry.
Xuxa was once Brazil’s biggest television star. Now, many are wondering whether a thin, blond white woman was the right idol for such a diverse country.
_____
Sentenced to Life as Boys, They Made Their Case for Release
At 17, Donnell Drinks was one of many young men in Philadelphia who went to prison for life without parole. Then came a ruling that could change things for hundreds like him.
_____
How a Rare Portrait of an Enslaved Child Arrived at the Met
For more than 100 years, a painting of three white children held a secret: The figure of an enslaved child had been painted out. But who was he? And why was he erased?
_____
Nobody Knows Why the New Weight Loss Drugs Work
Much about Ozempic, Wegovy and other drugs remains shrouded in mystery, but they could change how society thinks about obesity.
_____
Sean Paul Is Still Busy
For more than 20 years, he has taught generations to let loose on the dance floor. He’s not stopping anytime soon.
_____
Do Supermodels Age, or Just Get Airbrushed?
The cover of Vogue’s September issue has ignited a new debate about beauty standards.
_____
The Instagram Account That Shattered a California High School
It had barely a dozen followers, but the discovery of its racist posts turned a Bay Area community against itself — and changed students’ lives forever.
_____
36 Hours in Palermo, Italy
Street food and medieval churches meet natural wine bars and compelling new museums in Sicily’s capital.
_____
Thanks for reading.
This edition of The Weekender was edited by Jaclyn Reiss.