• The Seine River is too polluted for swimming events at the Paris Olympics, city officials said.
• Paris invested $1.5 billion to clean the Seine, but heavy rainfall increased pollution levels.
• The Seine has been off-limits for swimming since 1923 due to severe pollution.

Despite a massive cleanup effort, Paris' Seine River remains too polluted to host swimming events for the upcoming Olympic Games, city officials have said.

Samples taken from the river showed that E. Coli levels were above the recommended limit at four different sites for nearly the entire week of June 10 to June 16, per Le Monde with AFP.

"Samples from the Seine do not meet the standards we will have this summer," Paris region official Marc Guillaume added on Friday.

The Seine was poised to be a centerpiece of the Paris Olympics, featuring prominently in both the opening ceremony and various swimming events.

The city of Paris invested $1.5 billion in cleaning the river ahead of the games, with regular testing of bacterial levels to ensure athletes' safety.

But officials say heavy rainfall has scuppered those plans thus far, leading to high rates of two kinds of fecal bacteria, including E. Coli — which is "the species of coliform bacteria that is the best indicator of fecal pollution," according to the New York State Department of Health.

"Water quality remains degraded due to… rain, high flow, little sunshine (and) temperatures below seasonal norms," a weekly report published by the Paris region and mayor's office said, per Le Monde with AFP.

Paris' 19th-century sewage system can be overwhelmed by bad weather, leading to urban runoff, which carries pollutants to streams and rivers.

The Seine has been off-limits for swimming since 1923 due to high pollution levels.

Last year, triathletes took part in a test event in the Seine, with some airing concerns about their safety.

Norwegian Olympic gold medallist Kristian Blummenfelt said: "I always dive with open mouth. It's not going to be funny if I wake up tomorrow morning with … whatever," per ESPN.

A number of other test events in the river have been canceled due to pollution levels and bad weather.

Nevertheless, Guillaume said he was "confident" that swimming events would go ahead as planned.

"At one point or another, the weather will change, it's going to stop raining and we're going to have sunshine … It is in summer conditions that we must be able to examine swimmability," he said, Axios reported.

The 2024 Olympic Games is set to kick off on July 26.

The overall economic impact of the Olympic Games on the Paris region could range from 6.7 billion euros to 11.1 billion euros, or around $7.1 billion to $11.8 billion, according to a study published by Center for Law and Economics of Sport.

Business Insider contacted the Olympic Games Paris 2024 for comment.

• The National Museum of the US Navy is located in the Washington Navy Yard, an active military base.
• Access is limited and security measures are tight, but it contains fascinating artifacts.
• Exhibits include the USS Constitution mast and part of the submersible that found the Titanic.

Before I could join a dozen others for a tour of the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, DC, I first had to pass through its heavily guarded gate.

Established in 1799, the Washington Navy Yard serves as the Navy's ceremonial and administrative center. It also houses the National Museum of the United States Navy, which opened to the public in 1963 and is the only naval museum to chronicle the Navy's history with artifacts dating from its founding to the present day.

Before we proceeded further, our guide, education specialist Mike Galloway, informed us that we were not allowed to photograph any entrances, service members, or security measures like cameras or police cars. He also emphasized that visitors could not wander around the base unattended and needed to be escorted by a guide at all times.

"I'm responsible for you at this point, and I don't want to tackle anyone today," he said, apparently joking.

The museum is in the early stages of building a more accessible space outside its tightly controlled gates. For now, it remains something of a "secret" destination.

Take a look inside the Washington Navy Yard and its museum's incredible collection of naval history.

Because the National Museum of the United States Navy is housed on an active base, access is limited.

The museum offers free tours on the second and fourth Saturday of every month, but you can't just show up. Tours need to be booked through Eventbrite or by emailing the museum at NHHC_NMUSNNavyMuseum@us.navy.mil.

The base itself felt reminiscent of a college campus with brick buildings, manicured lawns, and signs advertising events.

This was my first visit to a military base, so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. I figured I'd see service members in uniform, but I hadn't anticipated a picnic with a petting zoo for military families or signs advertising karaoke and line dancing.

The National Museum of the United States Military is housed in Building 76, a former naval gun factory.

The National Museum of the United States Navy opened to the public in 1963, but the Washington Navy Yard has had a museum on its campus since 1865.

The museum paid tribute to its past with signage detailing the history of Building 76.

A sign on the museum floor explained the train tracks that once led into the building were used to move manufacturing equipment and guns around the base.

The museum's centerpiece was a fighting top from the mast of the USS Constitution, the world's oldest commissioned warship that's still afloat.

The USS Constitution is docked at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston and is open to the public. Completed in 1797, the ship got the nickname "Old Ironsides" for its use during the War of 1812.

Fighting tops were platforms used by Marine sharpshooters to fire at enemy ships during battle, our tour guide said.

The museum featured artifacts dating back to the establishment of the US Navy.

This Chinese porcelain punch bowl was made for Commodore Thomas Truxtun, who gifted a nearly identical one to his friend George Washington.

Truxtun served as the first captain of the Constellation, one of the six warships authorized by Congress as part of the Naval Act of 1794 establishing a national Navy.

Washington's bowl is on display at his historic Mount Vernon home.

A wooden figurehead from the early 19th century was believed to be modeled after King George IV.

The figurehead, which would have decorated the bow of a ship, is depicted wearing the Order of St. George and the Star of the Order of the Garter, royal traditions that are still observed today.

Modern weaponry on display included items like an atomic bomb casing similar to the one used on Nagasaki in 1945.

The atomic bomb, known as "Fat Man," featured a plutonium core. The casing weighs 10,265 pounds, according to the National Museum of Pacific War.

A Japanese Yokosuka MXY7-K1 Ohka plane used as a kamikaze suicide rocket bomb during World War II was suspended from the ceiling.

The Ohka planes were used by Japan to bomb US Navy warships, damaging the vessels and occasionally sinking them entirely, Galloway said.

The museum also displayed a Corsair fighter plane from World War II.

Armed with bombs and rockets, Corsair fighter planes targeted enemy aircraft during World War II.

The Mark 90 nuclear depth charge, developed by the Navy during the Cold War, was designed to destroy numerous Soviet submarines in one blast.

Nicknamed "Betty," the Mark 90 was part of a series of smaller nuclear weapons the US designed in the 1950s in order to dissuade the Soviet Union from attacking.

This twin-mount 38-caliber gun turret was once used to shoot down planes on the USS Reno.

Decommissioned in 1946, the USS Reno earned three battle stars during World War II, according to the Navy.

There was plenty to see, but much of the space remains under construction until the museum's new permanent home is ready.

Many of the items on display didn't have accompanying plaques explaining their historical significance. During my first lap around the museum, I walked right past the nuclear-weapon exhibits without knowing what they were. I found that touring the museum with a knowledgeable guide and asking them questions was essential for getting the most out of my visit.

The museum included exhibits about other aspects of life in the Navy, such as its connection to baseball.

Baseball has long been beloved by service members. In the 1870s, Navy ships visiting Japanese ports would play against local teams, according to the Department of Defense.

The National Museum of the United States Navy displayed World War II-era baseball paraphernalia, such as a hat and warm-up jacket worn by service members.

The sport remains popular in the US Armed Forces. Former Major League Baseball commissioner and Air Force veteran William Eckert once said, "Wherever soldiers and veterans are, baseball will be," according to a plaque in the exhibit.

In addition to displaying historic artifacts, the National Museum of the United States Navy also functions as a ceremony space.

On the morning I visited, the museum was hosting a retirement ceremony for a service member. The museum also hosts promotion ceremonies.

After we had some time to look around the museum, our tour of the Washington Navy Yard began.

Spanning 63 acres along the Anacostia River, the Washington Navy Yard was once used for the construction of ships and artillery. The river also made it a great place to grow hemp, which was used for lines in sails and other Navy equipment, Galloway said.

Today, it's largely an administrative center.

Along the sidewalk, our guide pointed out a collection of cannons captured during historic battles.

Known as "prize guns" or "trophy guns," artillery pieces captured in battle are engraved with the details of when and where they were taken.

One cannon was captured during a Civil War battle in 1861 when Confederate forces tried to shut down the riverways leading into Washington, DC, by firing cannons from bluffs outside of the capital.

"That's the great thing about guns and cannons," Galloway said. "They can actually tell a human story, as well — it's not just a piece of machinery, and it's not just a dealer of death."

We stopped at a cannon that was captured from the British during the War of 1812.

The gun, dating back to the late 18th century, was likely used by a merchantman or privateer.

An original guardhouse from the 1830s was positioned near the cannon displays.

The structure was temporarily moved to a Navy facility in Indian Head, Maryland, and sat abandoned for decades until it was restored and returned to the Washington Navy Yard.

On the way to our next stop, I took in a stunning view of Latrobe Gate, which was once the main entrance to the Washington Navy Yard.

Latrobe Gate was built by architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe, who also designed the US Capitol Building. The Greek Revival structure survived the War of 1812 and remains the oldest continuously manned Marine sentry post in the US, according to Naval Support Activity Washington. Today, access to the gate is limited to the flag officers who live on base and their invited guests.

I couldn't take photos of the gate from inside the base for security reasons, so this image from the Library of Congress shows the gate as it looked in the 1980s.

Quarters B is likely the oldest building on the base, possibly dating back to the 1790s.

Quarters B housed the second officer of the Washington Navy Yard.

Next to Quarters B, obscured by the trees, was Tingey House, named for the first Commandant of the Washington Navy Yard, Captain Thomas Tingey. Also known as Quarters A or the Commandant's House, it is now the official residence of the Chief of Naval Operations.

Both structures, along with Latrobe Gate, survived the War of 1812, when Tingey commanded US forces to burn the Washington Navy Yard to prevent the British from capturing it.

Outside the historic homes, the anchor from the USS Enterprise was mounted on a platform.

According to the museum, the USS Enterprise was the first nuclear aircraft carrier in the world and took part in numerous missions and battles from 1961 until 2012.

The Enterprise tracked the first American orbital spaceflight as part of Project Mercury in 1962, helped evacuate Saigon during Operation Frequent Wind in 1975, and struck Iraqi targets during Operation Desert Fox in 1998, among others.

This Naval History and Heritage Command headquarters is where Captain Charles McVay was court-martialed after the sinking of the USS Indianapolis.

In 1945, a Japanese submarine fired torpedoes at the Indianapolis as it traveled from Guam to Leyte after delivering the atomic bomb that would later be used on Hiroshima. The ship sank 12 minutes later.

Out of 1,195 crew members, 316 survived, according to the US Naval Institute. Around 200 crew members reportedly died from shark attacks.

The ship became more well-known after its mention in the movie "Jaws," in which the character Quint recounts his experience as a survivor of the Indianapolis wreck and the gruesome shark attacks that followed.

McVay was the only Navy commander to be court-martialed for losing a ship during battle in World War II. He was widely viewed as a scapegoat, leading his conviction to be overturned by Navy Secretary James Forrestal, The New York Times reported. Still, his reputation never truly recovered. He died by suicide in 1968, and over 50 years later, Congress passed a resolution fully exonerating him.

The old Winch House, where ships were removed from the water to be repaired, has been transformed into a coffee shop.

Before steam winch engines hauled ships onto land, hundreds of sailors would manually pull them in.

The Taylor Building once housed a 470-foot wave pool used to test ship hull models.

Ships and submarines are now tested in a 12 million-gallon pool at a Navy facility called Carderock in Maryland.

"The Washington Navy Yard is oftentimes an incubator to various ideas and concepts that will become standard for the US Navy as well as some industries over time," Galloway said. "But once it gets too large for what is relatively a small footprint throughout its history, that's when you start seeing it move to places that you might know today that are better for those activities."

Building 1 is the Navy's oldest active office building.

Built in 1838 and most recently remodeled in 2006, Building 1 serves as the Commandant's Office.

We then walked to Willard Park, which displayed more notable artifacts and pieces of artillery.

Willard Park is named for Adm. Arthur Willard, who served as commandant of the Navy Yard during World War I.

A spare propeller blade from the USS Maine, which sank in Havana Harbor in 1898, paid tribute to the lost ship.

The ship's sinking was a catalyst for the Spanish-American War, during which the US obtained Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines and annexed Hawaii, according to the US Office of the Historian.

One of the coolest artifacts on the tour was the pressure sphere from the Alvin, the submersible that discovered the wreck of the Titanic.

The Titanic was discovered in 1985 — more than 70 years after the sinking — during a secret Navy mission to locate the wrecks of two nuclear submarines. The true nature of the mission only became public in 2008 when oceanographer Robert Ballard published a book about his experience.

The last stop on the tour of the Washington Navy Yard was a parking garage with an unconventional macabre history, our guide explained.

Ulric Dahlgren, a Union colonel during the Civil War and the son of Union Navy Rear Adm. John Dahlgren, was wounded in the leg during the Battle of Hagerstown following the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863.

When amputation became necessary, the leg was interred with full military honors in the cornerstone of a foundry that was under construction in the Washington Navy Yard. The foundry was torn down in 1915 and, several buildings later, a parking garage now occupies the site. Dahlgren's leg was lost somewhere along the way, but a plaque on the parking garage still marks the spot where it would have been.

The National Museum of the United States Navy is absolutely worth visiting, even in its temporary home.

"The Washington Navy Yard still serves as a very important hub for the United States Navy to this day, we're just much smaller now," Galloway said. "And as you can see, the US Navy Museum is shrinking so that we can grow again so that we can better tell the story of the US Navy and the nation."

I'm looking forward to visiting the National Museum of the United States Navy again when its larger, permanent home is eventually established. In the meantime, it's still a fascinating site that pays tribute to the Navy's nearly 250-year history and provides a rare glimpse into the inner workings of a military command center.

• Baltic countries are facing intensifying Russian hybrid warfare threats.
• Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia are strong supporters of Ukraine.
• Officials in these nations have repeatedly raised concerns about Russian hybrid warfare operations.

The three Baltic countries of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have been at the forefront of the conflict between the West and Russia since the latter's invasion of Ukraine.

Staunch supporters of Ukraine, they – along with Denmark – have given the most aid to Kyiv in relation to their GDP and have been pushing for strict sanctions on Moscow.

Although they are members of NATO and the EU, the Baltics are in a precarious position. Bordering Russia or its ally Belarus, they are small and were part of the Soviet Union until its collapse. Furthermore, over 20% of the population of Estonia and Latvia and 5% of Lithuania are ethnically Russian.

All of this has put them in Moscow's crosshairs. Russia seems to be employing unconventional methods against them that blur the line between war and peace and fall into what is called the "gray zone."

In July 2023, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna expressed his concern about the possibility of such Russian attacks. "There are hybrid threats. But we never know what kind of hybrid situation may happen. We have witnessed them before as well," he said.

NATO has also cautioned against intensifying Russian hybrid warfare in the region and in the rest of Europe that could include "disinformation, sabotage, acts of violence, cyber and electronic interference, and other hybrid operations."

Targeting the Baltics

Indeed, a year later in May 2024, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova blamed the Baltics for severing most of their ties with Russia, adding, "We will also respond to the hostile actions of the Baltic states with asymmetrical measures, primarily in the economic and transit spheres."

Moscow is suspected of following through with its threats.

In May, a leaked Russian proposal outlined plans to redraw Russia's territorial waters with Estonia, Lithuania, and Finland. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Petrov said the proposal wasn't politically motivated but implied it was required to ensure Russia's security amid escalating regional tensions.

Although the proposal was deleted a day after it leaked, the following day several buoys demarcating the territorial waters between Russia and Estonia on the Narva River were removed by the Russian coast guard.

Estonian high officials urged calm, but Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis was more pointed: "Another Russian hybrid operation is underway, this time attempting to spread fear, uncertainty and doubt about their intentions in the Baltic Sea," Landsbergis said in response.

Additionally, there has recently been increased jamming of the satellite navigation systems of commercial aircraft in region, which appears to be originating from within Russian territory. Although it is not clear whether the disruption is intentional, Tallinn and Vilnius have accused Moscow.

Russia and Belarus have also been accused by EU officials of pushing migrants towards the border of Lithuania and neighboring Poland and using them as hybrid weapons. Lithuania temporarily closed off some of its border crossings with Belarus in response, and Poland deployed troops to the border. The Baltics and Poland are prepared to close off their borders in the event of a major migrant push from Belarus.

All three Baltic countries have been targeted by influence operations. Estonia has seen a rise in sabotages that included damage to an undersea gas pipeline and telecommunications cables between it and Finland. Espionage, cyber attacks, and election tampering are also a concern, with Estonia having arrested the most Russian agents per capita in the EU.

Destabilization is the point

Hybrid warfare can use various tools – including military, informational, economic, civilian, and others – but it falls short of overt military action.

Its purpose is to destabilize a country's government, institutions, or population while often preventing attribution back to the perpetrator – occasionally, a purposeful and targeted action may even appear to be a random event.

Although hybrid warfare is not a new strategy, nor one employed exclusively by Russia and its allies, it has received increased attention following Russia's 2014 illegal annexation of Crimea as Moscow used a variety of military and non-military tools, which were described as hybrid, to capture the peninsula without meaningful Ukrainian resistance.

The murky nature of hybrid warfare can make it hard to identify and address potential threats. Yet, the Baltic countries are prioritizing hybrid threats and fortifying their institutions in response.

Tellingly, Latvia, in its 2016 National Defense Concept – the country's overarching defense strategy – named hybrid threats and Russia as the main threats to its security for the first time.

And last week, writing alongside his Polish and Czech colleagues, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs expressed "deep concern" over Russian hybrid threats.

"We will act individually and collectively to address these actions, boost our resilience and continue to coordinate closely to ensure that the Alliance and Allies are prepared to deter and defend against hybrid actions or attacks," he said.

• Elon Musk sees universal basic income as a necessary response to automation eliminating human jobs.
• The Tesla chief predicts there will be "universal high income" that will give people more free time.
• Here are Musk's eight best UBI quotes, including that people should spend the cash as they wish.

One of the biggest champions of universal basic income (UBI) is Elon Musk, who expects it to become necessary when robots evict humans from their jobs.

UBI typically refers to making recurring cash payments to all adults in a population, regardless of their wealth or employment status, and with no restrictions on how they spend the money.

Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and owner of X, envisions a world of self-driving vehicles and other artificially intelligent machines replacing humans in work settings and performing virtually all physical and mental labor.

He's suggested that will give people more freedom in how they spend their time and money — and predicted the AI-powered economy will be so productive that everyone will receive not just a basic income but a high one.

Here are Musk's eight best quotes about UBI, lightly edited for length and clarity:

1. "There's a pretty good chance we end up with a universal basic income, or something like that, due to automation. I'm not sure what else one would do. I think that is what would happen. People will have time to do other things, more complex things, more interesting things. Certainly more leisure time." (CNBC, November 4, 2016).
2. "I think we'll end up doing universal basic income. It's going to be necessary. There will be fewer and fewer jobs that a robot cannot do better. I want to be clear: These are not things I wish will happen — these are things I think probably will happen." (World Government Summit in Dubai, February 13, 2017)
3. "Universal income will be necessary over time if AI takes over most human jobs. Also think there should be a universal basic income that doesn't change even if you get a job. Productivity should be rewarded." (X posts, June 15 and June 20, 2018)
4. "I'm in *favor* of universal basic income. Goal of government should be to maximize the happiness of the people. Giving each person money allows them to decide what meets their needs, rather than the blunt tool of legislation, which creates self-serving special interests. If we do a stimulus at all, it should just be direct payments to consumers." (X post, July 24, 2020)
5. "The $1400 is mostly good imo (UBI lite), as the people get to choose how the money is spent, but the rest is mostly net bad for the people as a whole." (Commenting on pandemic stimulus in a X post, March 6, 2021)
6. "What is the economy at its foundation? It is labor. So what happens when there is no shortage of labor? This is why I think long-term, there will need to be universal basic income." (AI Day, August 2021)
7. "There will be universal high income, not basic, in a positive AI future. No scarcity, except that which we define to be scarce. In that scenario, everyone can have whatever goods & services they want. It is less clear how we will find meaning in a world where work is optional. (X post, December 25, 2023)
8. "In a benign scenario, probably none of us will have a job. There would be universal high income. There would be no shortage of goods and services. The question will really be one of meaning: if a computer can do, and the robots can do, everything better than you, does your life have meaning? I do think there's perhaps still a role for humans in that we may give AI meaning." (VivaTech, May 23, 2024).

• My son has been going to summer camp for years now, and is always away for his birthday. 
• It was hard the first time, but he was ready for this independence. 
• I get to see his birthday celebrations through the camp's app. 

Two years ago, I packed bags and bins full of clothing and toiletries, and my son left for his first summer at sleepaway camp. Three weeks later, he celebrated his 11th birthday with his new camp friends, away from home and without family.

At the end of his four-week camp session, when he told me camp was his favorite place on Earth, it sunk in that I'd never be with him on his birthday again. At first, I was heartbroken.

I love celebrating his birthday

I remember his first birthday like it was yesterday. Friends and family gathered in our home as we sang Happy Birthday and indulged in his first birthday cake. Not quite walking yet, I couldn't imagine how his birthdays would change in only a decade — how the toddler in my arms would become the teen driving a go-kart 150 miles away from home.

In the years following that first birthday, we threw many parties. From the bowling alley to the karate dojo to a magician's stage, we celebrated my son on his special day because that's what you do when children turn another year older. Often, he'd awaken to a room filled with balloons. But sometimes, traditions change.

As a mother, it was already hard to let go for the first time. I wanted him nearby so I could ensure he was happy, healthy, and safe. I worried he wouldn't brush his teeth, get sick, or like the food. Even worse, I was concerned he'd miss us during quiet nights as he lay awake in bed.

My son was ready for independence

As I packed his belongings, I remembered my own summers at sleepover camp, and I overwhelmingly recalled being homesick and wanting to go home. The day that stuck out most was my 13th birthday when I snuck to the payphone to call my parents. "Please come get me," I begged, even though I'd independently chosen to go back another summer. My own childhood emotions came rushing back, impeding me from sending my son off with ease.

But he was a different child altogether. He was ready.

My son heard about summer camp from the moment he could communicate. My husband went to the same camp himself and later worked there as a counselor. Stories of late-night firepits, hikes into the wilderness, and ziplining through the trees have been told in our home since my son could talk. My husband remains friends with some staff members, which gives my son a sense of community when he's away. Before he even arrived on day one, camp felt like a second home to him. No wonder he chooses to be away on his birthday each year.

I saw photos of his birthday on an app

That first summer away, I saw pictures from his birthday the following day on the Campanion app — the app where pictures of campers are uploaded daily. I waited anxiously, wanting to know if he'd had a special day because he'd never turn 11 again. It felt surreal to see pictures of my son's birthday celebration — one I didn't plan or attend myself. As pictures began to load, it felt like a piece of me was missing, but his smile made everything seem right.

From a birthday t-shirt to spinning the birthday wheel for a prize to birthday cake for his entire bunk, the day was equally as special as any birthday at home. As I scrolled through pictures, there was no doubt in my mind he was happy. He was celebrated by his counselors, friends, and the entire camp, and that made being away from him on his special day a little easier for me.

For him, it was the best birthday yet.

I've learned to accept that we can celebrate early. Last summer, we threw a surprise party in our yard with his closest friends the week before he left for camp. This summer, we'll celebrate with a sendoff dinner at his favorite restaurant with family.

With a little creative planning, I make his birthday special, even though I'm not there. Each summer, I pack a box with presents to be opened on his birthday and send a celebratory activity for his bunk. For his 11th birthday, they had a water gun fight that spanned across the entire camp and on his 12th birthday, they attended dinner with stick-on mustaches and festive hats. I have my work cut out for me, but I hope to make each camp birthday stand out from the last.

As a mother, it's my job to help my son thrive until he can do so on his own — and right now, that means letting him be away on his birthday every summer. Camp has given him independence, confidence, and friendships for a lifetime, and there's nowhere else he'd rather be on his birthday than his favorite place on Earth.

• Houthi footage appeared to show sea drones attacking a cargo ship.
• A Greek-owned coal carrier attacked by the militant group sank, a UK maritime agency said.
• A British-owned vessel sank earlier this year following another Houthi attack.

Footage released by Yemen's Houthi rebels appears to show the militant group attacking a cargo ship in the Red Sea with sea drones.

In the video, unmanned surface vehicles (USV) can be seen striking a large ship, causing it to tip slightly onto its side and sit low in the water.

Business Insider could not independently verify the video. However, the UK's Maritime Trade Operations Center (UKMTO) later reported that a Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned coal carrier was believed to have sunk.

UKMTO is linked to the UK's Royal Navy.

The UKMTO said on Tuesday: "Military authorities report maritime debris and oil sighted in the last reported location."

"The vessel is believed to have sunk," it added.

The US Navy confirmed that the vessel had been attacked by Iranian-backed Houthis using a USV and that sailors from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group had airlifted the crew to safety on June 15.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Monday that the attack on the cargo carrier killed "a crew member who hailed from the Philippines."

Following the attack, US Central Command announced that its forces had destroyed two Houthi USVs, one uncrewed aerial system launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen, and seven Houthi radars.

"It was determined these systems presented an imminent threat to U.S., coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region. This action was taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels," CENTCOM said in a statement posted to X.

The MV Tutor is the second ship that the Houthis have successfully sunk this year. The British-owned Rubymar sank in the Red Sea after it was struck by a missile fired by the group.

Houthis have been targeting ships in the Red Sea corridor and the Gulf of Aden with missiles and drones as part of a campaign that aims to put pressure on Israel and the West over the war in Gaza.

The attacks have forced shipping vessels to take longer and more costly routes around the southern tip of Africa.

Experts have said that the US Navy is facing its most intense combat since World War II as it battles the Houthi threat in the region.

"This is the most sustained combat that the US Navy has seen since World War II — easily, no question," Bryan Clark, a former Navy submariner and a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, told the Associated Press.

"We're sort of on the verge of the Houthis being able to mount the kinds of attacks that the US can't stop every time, and then we will start to see substantial damage," he added.

Between October 17 and the start of May, the Houthis attacked commercial vessels at least 53 times, according to a Congressional Research Service report.

• USS Constitution is the only remaining US Navy ship to have sunk an enemy warship in battle.
• It is also the oldest commissioned warship in the world that's still afloat, and it's full of history.
• Business Insider embarked on the 226-year-old frigate for a recent underway in the Boston Harbor.

With sea shanties blaring on the loudspeaker and onlookers taking pictures from the shore, USS Constitution slowly pulled away from the pier on a blistering hot day in mid-June.

This US Navy warship, at well over 200 years old, is not like the sea service's other ships, though. It is basically a floating museum, but with a bit of a twist. Unlike others, it hasn't been decommissioned.

The Constitution, known as America's Ship of State, needed a tugboat's assistance for the entirety of an hours-long underway in the Boston Harbor to honor women veterans of the US armed forces. When it sets sail, the tall ship moves slowly, escorted by police boats and the Coast Guard and helicopters circling overhead.

Aboard are hundreds of people — veterans, active-duty personnel, and their family members.

As the warship sailed the harbor, a 21-gun salute — blanks fired from two of the many heavy cannons — rang out, filling the lower deck with smoke that reeked of something like sulfur, an element of gunpowder. People cheered and filmed the celebratory occasion. The Constitution may be old, but it can still put on a show.

The heavy frigate was launched in 1797 shortly after President George Washington authorized the creation of a Navy. During the War of 1812, the Constitution earned the nickname "Old Ironsides" because British cannonballs seemingly could not penetrate the ship's wooden hull.

It is the oldest commissioned warship in the world that's still afloat, and after the much newer guided-missile frigate USS Simpson was decommissioned in 2015, Old Ironsides became the only remaining vessel in the Navy to have sunk an enemy warship in battle — a feat carried over from the War of 1812 against the British.

"Over her 226 years, she's seen a lot," Lt. Cdr. Robert Dreitz, the ship's executive officer, told Business Insider during the underway. "But she is currently, in our fleet, the only ship that has had actual ship-to-ship engagement. Everything else has been over-the-horizon."

A love for history

The Constitution was retired from active service in 1881 after a storied career, but naval officers and crew still serve aboard the ship — now a museum that occasionally sets sail — at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston.

Back in 1812, there were around 450 officers, sailors, and Marines aboard the Constitution. Today, it consists of three officers and around 80 enlisted Navy sailors — a mix of fleet returnees, meaning they've done previous tours, and individuals straight from boot camp.

Col. Taona Enriquez, a commander at nearby Hanscom Air Force Base, where some Constitution crewmembers live, said sailors come to work on the ship because of its historical significance.

"History is what we came from," Enriquez said. "Much like we stand on shoulders of our veterans before us, the new destroyers are standing on the shoulders of the USS Constitution."

The sailors tend to agree with this sentiment, but it's not easy to get here. Dreitz said it's "extremely competitive" for sailors to work on the Constitution. They have to apply, and then they're screened and later interviewed to make sure they're a good fit.

"I do very much so enjoy history, so I thought this would be a great place to continue to grow in my Navy career," said HM Andre Flamini.

Flamini has worked as a medic during his three years with the old warship, but he also does pretty much anything else needed. Tasks can range from training crew members to working the cannons.

He applied to work on the Constitution during the Covid-19 pandemic, when order selection for sea duty wasn't great. He thought this looked like a "cool and interesting" opportunity to pursue.

"I think the history and heritage of the Navy is important to a lot of us here — should be important to every single one of us, actually," Flamini said, adding that "being able to see where we come from, and where the Navy's going, has always interested me and everyone else on board."

Unlike Flamini, who's a fleet returnee, SN Alec Morris applied to join the Constitution right from boot camp. A recruit division commander had told him at the time that if he planned on spending time in the military, the ship was a great place to be.

"It's a huge resume-builder — you're going to learn a lot, you're going to get a lot of mentorship," Morris said, reflecting on what the commander told him over two-and-a-half years ago. "And everything he said was absolutely correct."

Bridging 'the old and the new'

The history and legacy of the Constitution don't just stay confined to the ship. They're reflected in Navy operations today.

Dreitz said the missions that the Constitution performed more than 200 years ago — protecting the freedom of navigation — are similar to those in which the Navy is currently engaged.

His remarks specifically alluded to the turbulent waters of the Middle East, thousands of miles away from Boston, where US ships have spent some eight months defending the shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden from relentless attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Back in its prime, the Constitution defended American shipping in a tense period of at-sea confrontations with France and against the infamous Barbary pirates.

The circumstances and technology are obviously different; the Houthis, for instance, are firing missiles and drones instead of cannons, and the American warships are significantly more modern and advanced than the Constitution.

However, for the Navy, the goal of protecting merchant vessels overseas has remained a constant through the years.

"She bridges the gap between the old and the new," Dreitz said of the Constitution.

• I'm a former TV chef who spends $150 on tasty ingredients and cooking shortcuts at Costco each week.
• The Minsley cooked rice and Bachan's Japanese barbecue sauce can effortlessly upgrade meals.
• I also grab ingredients like Kerrygold butter and Kirkland Signature Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Before the first season of my aspireTV series, "Butter + Brown," I trained with a chef whose husband was a corporate executive at Costco.

In my mind, Costco was for folks who loved pre-seasoned meat, Kirkland Signature-branded alcohol, and birthday cakes. However, I couldn't have been more wrong.

This chef gave me the inside scoop on the best items from the store, and since then, I've joined the nearly 35 million customers who have an executive Costco membership. I use my membership to stock up on ingredients for family dinners and quick meals.

Here are 11 items I always get on a $150 budget at my Los Angeles Costco.

The Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter is perfect for baking and making excellent sauces.

European-made butter in bulk is an instant "yes" for me. The quality of butter I use in baked goods or sauces can change the dish's outcome, so I always pick up two boxes of Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter to keep in my fridge.

European butter is also typically higher in butterfat than its American counterparts, which can make food taste richer and more flavorful.

Costco carries a salted version, which is my favorite. A pack of Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter costs $14.50 at my Costco.

My kids eat the I Heart Hydros hydroponic strawberries at every meal.

I can't speak for everyone else's children, but mine eat fruit like it's going out of style. These hydroponic strawberries, which are grown without soil, have been a mainstay in my cart lately.

One major plus of these berries is their taste, which is sweeter and juicier than many other options I've tried. I can't say if they're better for your health, but they're full of flavor and are a big hit at my house.

The hydroponic strawberries cost $6 per case at my store.

The Sun Fresh green seedless grapes are perfect for lunches and freezing. 

My pantry is stocked with snacks, ranging from veggie chips to cookies and Doritos. However, I also require my daughters to take fruit in their school lunches.

At Costco, I can find a variety of grapes, from black seedless and cotton candy to table varieties. I typically buy one container for the fridge and another for the freezer.

A 3-pound package of grapes costs $8.50 at my location.

I grab precooked rice for when I need a quick meal at home.

Like most people, chefs try to find ways to save time in the kitchen. I focus on figuring out what to feed my family for dinner, and for myself, I keep it simple.

The Minsley organic cooked brown rice is great alongside quickly seared salmon or grilled chicken. For $9, I bought a box containing six bowls of rice.

I like to satisfy my soda cravings with Poppi.

Before Poppi drinks, I hadn't had an orange soda in about five or six years. I was intrigued when I heard about the brand "bringing soda back." And they did, with a vengeance.

Now, I pick up a variety pack with cherry-limeade, orange, and strawberry-lemon flavors. With only 4 to 5 grams of sugar per serving, these sodas pair perfectly with lunch.

I bought a case containing 15 cans of Poppi for $20.

My husband drinks at least four cups of coffee daily, so Horizon Organic half-and-half is necessary.

Years ago, my husband slung espresso cups behind the counter at Peet's Coffee. Though he's moved on from that job, he hasn't left his coffee obsession behind.

This half-gallon carton of Horizon Organic half-and-half ensures we have enough for the coffee enthusiast (and me, the tea girl). At my location, a carton costs $6.90.

We need to have a lot of Peet's Coffee on hand as well.

I also get a bag of Peet's Coffee when I'm at Costco — I choose the Major Dickason's Blend, a dark-roast coffee with a rich flavor. This brew is full-bodied, bold, and not at all bitter.

Though big in flavor, it maintains its smoothness as it goes down. We love Peet's, so it's perfect that Costco sells a giant bag we can grind up ourselves. A 32-ounce package of coffee costs $16.90 at my Costco.

Breakfast with three kids can sometimes be chaotic, but ready-to-go bagels make it easy for everyone. 

My girls love bagels. I'm convinced it's the New Yorker in them, and Costco allows them to get their fix.

My kids have different tastes and preferences, so Costco's two-for-$7 deal on Kirkland Signature bagels is the best way to ensure they each have what they like. I usually pick up everything and plain for the kids, and sometimes, I'll grab a cinnamon-raisin pack for myself.

Simply Orange pulp-free orange juice gets a thumbs up from my daughter.

We're big fans of the Simply juices. I usually opt for either the brand's Simply Lemonade, Simply Limeade, or Simply Peach flavors, but at Costco, we get the Simply Orange juice.

Though I'm not a huge orange-juice drinker, my teenager loves to take a small bottle with her to school. A case of Simply Orange juice is $16 at my location.

Serving pasta once a week means there has to be cheese available. 

There isn't a week that goes by without my kids asking for one of my pasta dishes. Whether it's pesto, a simple Bolognese, or a kale-and-sausage dish, each requires a heaping pile of Kirkland Signature Pecorino Romano or the brand's Parmigiano-Reggiano to make it sing.

In my opinion, Costco has excellent wedges that taste just as good as something from a fancy cheesemonger. I bought a block of Pecorino Romano for $16.90 and Parmigiano-Reggiano for $17.10.

I like to stock up on my favorite condiments at Costco.

I'm a self-proclaimed condiment queen. I love a good hot sauce, an aioli, and a great dressing. Though I prefer to make my own, there are moments when I simply don't have the bandwidth to do so.

Bachan's Japanese barbecue sauce is handy for salmon-teriyaki cravings, and the Don Pancho cilantro-lime-crema everything sauce is great on tacos.

The Japanese barbecue sauce costs $6.80, and the cilantro-lime-crema sauce is $8 at my location.

Click to keep reading Costco diaries like this one.

• Drew and Becky Bidlen are college sweethearts who spent three years traveling the US in a van. 
• After the birth of their daughter, they ditched van life to buy a $150,000 old home in Indianapolis.
• The Bidlens are turning the property, which was abandoned by a hoarder, into their forever home.

A life on the road isn't for everyone, but for a while, it was for Becky and Drew Bidlen.

The couple are college sweethearts from the Midwest who met during college in Ohio. After graduation, the Bidlens, now 29, relocated to South Carolina. It was somewhere new for the pair, which awakened an "adventurous spirit" in both of them, Becky told Business Insider.

"Seeing how well that move went, we felt like there were so many places in the US we'd love to live in," she added.

Between 2020 and 2023, they did just that. After selling two cars, their furniture, and other possessions, they converted a cargo van into a tiny home on wheels and spent three years traveling. They wintered in warmer states like Florida and California and spent summers exploring the serene nature of British Columbia and Alberta in Canada.

Van life was filled with "endless possibilities," but the Bidlens knew it wouldn't last forever. Becky, a travel nurse, and Drew, who works in software, eventually wanted to settle down and have kids.

Like many other millennials, a generation drawn to the adventurous spirit and relative affordability of van life, they saved thousands by working remotely, living frugally, and, importantly, not spending a dime on rent.

In 2023, the couple welcomed their daughter, Aurora Mercy. Twelve days later, they found what they were looking for: a historic house in Indianapolis, close to where most of Becky's family still live.

The price was right: only $150,000. The only catch? It was a fixer-upper in every sense of the word. Take a look inside.

The Bidlens' 3,500-square-foot home was last inhabited by a hoarder who left it abandoned for two years.

When the Bidlens first came across their home, listed at $139,000, toward the end of 2023, they thought it was a steal for its size.

The 3,500-square-foot property has a main house with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a library, a sunroom, a garage, a basement, and an attic. In the backyard, there was an additional guesthouse in bad shape, which Becky said was used by a previous owner and their family while the main house was being renovated.

At the time, the couple wasn't looking for anything massive or needing major work. But when Drew went to see it with a friend who had experience renovating homes, he was sold — even though an owner with a tendency to hoard had abandoned it two years prior.

"They both came back from that walk-through jazzed about it, seeing the potential and seeing the price for it," Becky said. "We took on something a bit bigger than we had anticipated, but still felt like it was something we could do."

Given its size and price, Becky and Drew weren't the only ones keen on the house. To show they were serious, they made a higher offer of $150,000.

On the day they closed on the house, Becky said she initially felt "a little sick" about their choice.

Although she's a "dreamer" who has seen some "ugly stuff" in previous homes, Becky couldn't help feeling some trepidation about how much work they were in for with the house.

On the closing day, she said she felt "a little sick" thinking about whether they made the right choice. "I was like, 'What did we just buy? We don't even know what's under all this,'" she recalled.

According to Becky, there were piles of stuff in every room, filled with everything from trash and furniture to gadgets and books.

"Everything was just all mixed together," she said. "You would have a box with some sweaters and then Inuit-carved arts and china."

They didn't want to pay roughly $10,000 for someone to sort and clear all of the items, so Becky and Drew enlisted the help of family and friends. The weekslong process became somewhat of a treasure hunt, as the couple told their volunteers that if they found something they wanted, they could probably keep it.

"My mom took a Waterpik flosser that was new, and she was really excited about it," Becky said.

Beneath the layers of trash, dirt, and a few found treasures was a real issue: mold.

After the couple cleared out all the unsalvageable items, they were left with a few things of value, including jewelry and collections of coins, stamps, and crystals. They plan to get them appraised and decide whether to sell, donate, or keep them.

There's a more urgent problem: The building wasn't properly "winterized" and sustained significant water damage, leading to mold on the first and second floors, Becky said.

"That mold remediation process has been a whole thing," Becky said, adding that they've done most of it themselves after consulting a professional.

She added that the mold is the reason they're still waiting to move into the property, which they hope to finally do in July.

"Everything related to the air quality has been extremely tedious, especially with the mold," she said.

The couple quickly discovered that their house had also been overrun with raccoons, who left "ankle-deep" droppings in the attic.

There was also a raccoon infestation.

"The primary resident in our attic was raccoons," she said. "We don't even know how much were in there, but they left a lot of droppings, like ankle-deep."

The critters also left their mark by burrowing gaping holes in the floors and ceilings.

The Bidlens had renovated the van they lived out of, so they felt prepared to take on a bigger project.

Renovating a house is a much bigger project than fixing up a vehicle, but Becky said turning their van into a home years before served as great practice.

"That was our first introduction to working on projects together, and it was quite challenging, but it was good to learn plumbing, electrical, woodworking, flooring, and insulation," she said.

Fast-forward to 2024, and Becky said they've made almost all the major changes they want to the hoarder home. They replaced all the plumbing and adjusted a wall and beams between the kitchen and the sunroom to make the cooking area brighter and warmer.

They also spent a lot of time salvaging the hardwood floors, some of which have been damaged by water.

After finding an old fire map of the home, Becky said they discovered it once had a wraparound porch, a feature they intend to restore.

"We want to keep as much of the historic charm as possible," Becky said.

The couple's passion for preservation is inspired by their time living in Charleston.

Before their van-life adventure, Becky and Drew lived in Charleston, a city known for protecting old homes. The city's Rainbow Row is a series of 13 colorful houses originally built in the 1700s, Charleston Magazine reports.

"It's all frozen in time," Becky said. "They are just so beautiful and well-maintained."

Seeing these properties struck a chord with the Bidlens, who would venture into open houses whenever they could.

"That's definitely where this dream about restoring a historic home started, just seeing how an entire neighborhood that's been restored so carefully can look beautiful," Becky said.

In their neighborhood in Indianapolis, there are other old homes, some of which are brightly painted.

Becky and Drew are still mulling over the paint choice for the exterior of their home, which is pale pink, but will likely choose something in line with the rest of their neighborhood and similar to the houses they fell in love with in Charleston.

Buying an old house means accepting its history — which includes a few ghost stories.

In the months after the sale, Becky and Drew heard several stories about paranormal activity at their home.

"We got a few different people telling us that it's haunted and sharing different stories," she said. "That did definitely make me question things and feel quite frightened for a little while, not wanting to work in the house alone."

One of the stories involves a family who lived in the house during World War II and heard the voice of a child. Another tale centered on someone who claimed they saw a hazy, smoky figure on the property.

The house, which had several major fires, had been vacant for two years before the Bidlens bought it.

Nevertheless, the couple hasn't witnessed anything out of the ordinary yet.

Becky also finds it comforting that no two people believe the same ghost story about the house — it makes it less likely that any one myth is true.

"That makes me feel a bit reassured," she added.

The couple doesn't regret leaving van life behind to create a forever home.

While Becky said she and Drew look back fondly at their years on the road, they don't regret making the decision to ditch van life and settle down in Indianapolis.

"Both of us love kids and always wanted to start a family," said Becky, noting that living in a van and constantly going from place to place isn't ideal when you're raising children and want them to have weekly routines and a sense of community.

"People do have a nomadic lifestyle while raising kids," she added. "But we had both always pictured raising our kids with our families nearby, within a day's drive."

Becky hopes the home will be ready and safe for them to move in by July. As apprehensive as she was initially, she has no regrets about the house, even after hearing all the ghost stories.

"We love the house, we love the yard," she said. "There's definitely room to grow."

• This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter.
• You can sign up for Business Insider's daily newsletter here.

Welcome back to our Saturday edition! Kylie Kelce and her husband, y'know, the former Philadelphia Eagles power player Jason Kelce, are outnumbered at home. The couple has three girls and are adamant about not letting fame affect their family.

On the agenda:

• Caitlin Clark has become the face of an American culture war.
• A mom explains why she ditched gentle parenting.
• Scientists are working to make ultra-processed foods healthier.
• People are "quiet vacationing." It's not as good as it sounds.

But first: This, not that, vacation edition.

If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Insider's app here.

This week's dispatch

A hideaway summer

It's no secret overtourism has become a problem. Hot destinations like Venice have implemented fees to visit, while a photo-worthy spot near Mount Fuji erected a barrier to keep tourists from flocking to the area.

If the idea of being shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow tourists gives you summer-vacation dread, don't worry — there's a solution.

There are many hidden-gem destinations perfect for solo travelers looking for peace and quiet, or family-friendly spots that will make everyone feel at home.

If you're looking for an under-the-radar Greecian vacation, why not book a stay in Halkidiki, known for its soft beaches, or Thessaloniki, packed with history?

Have your heart set on a vacation with a European feel? Skip the crowds in Paris and get your French fix in Montreal, Canada.

And if you'd rather stay closer to home, Idaho is a state that often gets overlooked but provides some of the best views, while my home state of Maryland is so much more than crab cakes and football.

Caitlin Clark is a Rorschach test

Clark, a 22-year-old Iowa graduate and women's basketball sensation, has inadvertently become the center of an American culture war.

Clark doesn't talk politics, instead saying she's focused on basketball. But it's getting harder to focus on the game. Some sports commentators are deriding Black players, saying they're bullying Clark. Another compared Clark to Eminem, saying she doesn't get enough credit because she's white.

What it all tells us about the sports-media ecosystem.

No more gentle parenting

This millennial mom always wanted to be the "cool" parent — and gentle parenting seemed to be the way to do it. The method frowns upon punitive tactics, seemingly aligning with what she wanted from motherhood: peacefulness.

But by the time her son approached preschool, it became clear it wasn't working. He was defiant to everyday tasks and struggled to recognize authority. So she gave up gentle parenting.

What she does instead.

Also read:

• Millennials have a favorite parenting style. It isn't working.

Making ultra-processed foods healthy (ish)

Five years ago, nutrition scientist Kevin Hall changed how we view ultra-processed foods. He discovered an ultra-processed diet led to people consuming about an extra 500 calories per day.

His findings kicked off a wave of "clean" eating trends, but Hall wasn't convinced that shunning these convenience foods was the real solution. Now, he's on a mission to develop new recipes for ultra-processed meals in the hopes they'll be healthier.

Inside his latest study.

Work from vacation

There's a new work trend in town that has people working while being out of town. Meet "quiet vacationing" — where people are working while secretly being on full-blown holidays.

It may sound better to answer emails on the beach than at the office. But the idea that people are under so much pressure at work that they can't even tell their boss they're on vacation is a startling reminder of America's broken work culture.

Why "quiet vacationing" is a bad idea.

What we're watching this weekend

• "Tell Them You Love Me": Netflix's new documentary tells the controversial true story of a married white professor and the nonverbal Black student she says she developed a relationship with.
• "Orphan Black: Echoes": The long-awaited spinoff to "Orphan Black" finally premieres this weekend.
• "Taylor Swift vs Scooter Braun: Bad Blood": The new Max docuseries will look at the public dispute between Swift and Braun.

See the full list.

Deals we love

• Beat the heat: We've tested over a dozen portable air conditioner units to find the best ones for keeping cool during this summer's heat waves.

• Don't forget the sunscreen: Combine two steps with these 10 face moisturizers with SPF — and skip burned lips with a good SPF lip balm.
• Keep these bags by your side: We tested over a dozen purses to find the best crossbody bags for every occasion, whether you're traveling the world or running errands.

More of this week's top reads:

• Your guide to running and rucking — and which to add to your fitness routine.
• Eight ways to stay safe while traveling solo.
• To get swole, Michael B. Jordan recommends yoga and meditation.
• The luxury conglomerate behind Cartier is beating LVMH at its own game.
• Review: Eating at Disney World's only Michelin-starred restaurant.
• Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop pizza is actually … pretty good?
• Microplastics have been found in penis muscle for the first time.
• People are paying $17,000 a week for Silversea's luxe new cabin. See inside.
• Fertility clinics are targeting Gen Z — and young women are paying the price.

The Insider Today team: Joi-Marie McKenzie, editor in chief of life, in New York. Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York City. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Grace Lett, associate editor, in Chicago. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York.