According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is planning to make its upcoming iPadOS 19 overhaul “more like macOS.” This comes after many, many years of complaints about the capability of the iPad’s operating system. This will accompany other large overhauls across Apple’s ecosystem, including a massive iPhone redesign with iOS 19, as well as the Mac’s first design overhaul in half a decade. Here’s how Gurman describes the iPadOS 19 upgrade: I’m told that this year’s upgrade will focus on productivity, multitasking and app window management — with an eye on the device operating more like a Mac. It’s been a long time coming, with iPad power users pleading with Apple to make the tablet more powerful. Developing… My favorite Apple accessories on Amazon: Follow Michael: X/Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Coca CholeraApr 13, 7:30 AM EDT / by Victor TangermannBottles of "Holy Water" Contaminated With Cholera Send European Tourists to the ICUDefinitely not the "unparalleled spiritual experience" they bargained for.Apr 13, 7:30 AM EDT / Victor TangermannImage by Getty / FuturismDevelopmentsResearchers are warning that bottles of "holy water" from a well in Ethiopia could be laced with dangerous bacteria that could cause cholera.As detailed in a new report published in the journal Eurosurveillance and spotted by Ars Technica, three German and four British tourists developed a nasty case of cholera, a bacterial disease spread through contaminated water and food, after drinking or splashing their face with holy water from plastic bottles they had brought back to Europe after visiting the Quara district of Ethiopia.The bottles of holy water were absolutely teeming with the bacteria Vibrio cholerae, per the report, with an estimated 100,000 to 100 million "colony forming units," which allowed the bacteria to remain "viable at ambient temperature during the flight and in Europe."Two of the tourists required intensive care, but all eventually recovered from the unfortunate ordeal.Per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cholera can cause severe diarrhea, dehydration, and in extreme cases death, if it goes untreated. Infection can be prevented by washing hands with soap, drinking treated water, and getting vaccinated against cholera.The water was taken from a "holy well" called "Bermel Giorgis," near the border between Ethiopia and Sudan. The local Orthodox church claims the well is a revered holy site that "offers an unparalleled spiritual experience where visitors often gain clarity, healing, and a deeper connection to faith," according to a travel website.But considering the nasty bacterial infection the tourists experienced, drinking the well's water appears to have some less-than-angelic side effects as well.And according to a bulletin by the CDC published last month, more visitors could be at risk."Travellers to Ethiopia intending to visit the well, as well as friends and family who may be gifted bottles of water from the well, remain at risk until the source of contamination has been addressed," the bulletin reads.Complicating matters is an ongoing armed conflict in the area, which could render "interventions to address the source of contamination currently challenging," per the CDC.Worse yet, cholera deaths are back on the rise, according to the World Health Organization. The number of reported cases increased by 13 percent and deaths by 71 percent in 2023 compared to 2022. Over 4,000 people died from the disease in 2023, despite the widespread availability of highly effective treatments.And the Trump administration's massive cuts to USAID have already made it more difficult for vulnerable people worldwide to access treatment for cholera.As Al Jazeera reported this week, eight people, including five children, died in South Sudan after walking for three hours in extreme heat to seek treatment for the disease. Their local USAID health facilities were forced to close due to the agency's budget cuts.More on cholera: “Zombie” Deer Disease Could Spread to Humans, Experts WarnShare This ArticleImage by Getty / FuturismRead This Next

Here's how you can avoid this scheme and protect your life savings.

Bungie finally shows off Marathon - here's everything you need to know "Bungie brings its best-in-class, first person multiplayer action to the forefront." Image credit: Bungie News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on April 13, 2025 Marathon - the upcoming reimagined PvP extraction shooter from the Sony-owned Bungie - will release on 23rd September, 2025, with a closed Alpha test kicking off on April 23. Bungie finally revealed Marathon's release date in a number of lengthy teasers, all embedded below, showing off its gameplay and cinematics over the weekend. Marathon | Gameplay Overview Trailer.Watch on YouTube "Marathon is a team-based extraction shooter set around the mysterious and cutthroat world of Tau Ceti IV," the voiceover teases. "You are a Runner, a cybernetic mercenary who's given up their human form for a biosynethic shell with unique abilities and stats, capable of both tactical and fast-paced combat. "Here, you'll fight in a crew of up to three players across a variety of zones and points of interest. You'll face rival Runners in zones of up to 18 players, countless security forces, and otherworldly threats. To scavenge the remains of a lost colony for glory and fortune." There are six classes, although only four were revealed; stealthy Void, tanky Glitch, as well as Locus and Blackbird. All four will be available in the upcoming alpha test, and there's no need to race to lock in your favourite as you ready up - your team can play as three Voids if you want, as there's no limit. Marathon | Reveal Cinematic Short.Watch on YouTube It goes on to describe the scavengable environments of Tau Ceti IV - they're "filled with weapons, materials, and equipment" - with sponsorship from factions able to help replenish your armoury. It also stresses that Marathon has been designed to play as fireteams, with contextual pings, shared objectives, and down-but-not-out mechanics, although there is the ability to opt out of crew queues if you're a lone wolf wanting to "take all the glory for yourself as a solo Runner". "Before deploying, you'll strategically build your loadout and select a Runner to ensure you're equipped for the run ahead. Your objective is simple: get in, gather as much loot as you can, and make it out alive. Die, and all your gear will be up for grabs. Survive, and your loot can be taken into future runs as you grow in power and fill your vault." That said, death is, apparently, "inevitable, but it's never the end". Marathon | Creator Alpha Gameplay Highlights.Watch on YouTube "Bungie brings its best in class, first-person person multiplayer action to the forefront. Dynamic and tactile gunplay. Runners with unique playstyles and customisable builds create highly dynamic and strategic team fights." Because of its timed matches, dynamic events, variable weather, and unpredictable players, Bungie reckons no two matches will be the same. There'll also be endgame challenges, ranked play, secrets, seasonal storytelling, community events, "and more" in season one. Unfortunately for me, Bungie also warns that no matter how geared up you are, "players with skill and strategy will always have the edge". Marathon is coming to PC via Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S with full cross-play and cross-save. In case you were wondering, no, you won't need a PlayStation Network account to play Marathon on PC or Xbox. In response to a comment shared on Marathon's Discord channel in which one user said they were a tad "spooked" by the idea of having to use a PSN login to play, the Marathon team replied with a clear cut and straight to the point message: "Marathon will not require a PlayStation Account for players on PC and Xbox." Marathon | Gameplay Reveal Trailer.Watch on YouTube

The building is a former mansion, the Hôtel de Bonneval, located near the Musée Picasso in Paris’s Marais district. Over the years, portions of the hôtel had been destroyed before it was bought by a developer in the late 1970s who was only able to preserve the façade facing the building’s rear courtyard. “You enter through this grandiose entrance, cross a space with a monumental staircase and a crazy painted ceiling, and then you reach the building’s common areas, which are straight out of the 1970s. The boxy apartments have ceilings that are just a little over eight feet tall, but they have lots of windows. A great plus of contemporary buildings is the ability to have so many more windows,” says Clément Lesnoff-Rocard, founder of the eponymous agency.For the architect, this combination of a building with a very 1970s DNA set amid the Marais’s historic mansions was a dynamic he was excited to explore. He also wanted to showcase the use of concrete and period building elements in a light-filled and airy home, emphasized by the white monochrome design. The owner is a collector of Asian art, which created some other requirements. She wanted a space that could accommodate part of her collection and that had a certain flexibility to the design allowing for different, evolving displays.The minimalist apartment feels like it’s floating in the sky. The living room features a variety of textures in the form of a herringbone parquet floor, a glazed concrete ceiling, white curtains, and a Slow Family sofa upholstered in linen. The Straight Back armchair is a Jean-Michel Frank design from 1932. The sconce is a 1950s vintage design. The architect had a large and mostly open 1,435-square-foot space to work with and two elements that had to be preserved: a load-bearing concrete wall that divides the apartment in two and, to the right of the entrance, a shaft that houses mechanical systems. The central dividing wall is clad in mirrors allowing it to blend into the background, while the mechanical shaft is sculpted into a curved, concave shape. It becomes an architectural object and helps to create the apartment’s gallery-like atmosphere. Above is a concrete ceiling, a graphically powerful element that bears witness to the building’s history.“There’s a very panoramic aspect to this project. The apartment is like a raft on the sea and above it is the sky in the form of this concrete ceiling,” Lesnoff-Rocard says. “To keep with this theme of using different shades of white, we chose a white mineral stain instead of paint to lighten the concrete a little. Paint would have created a solid film and some of the depth of the material would have been lost.”The owner typically is in the apartment by herself or with only her partner, which allowed for a completely open, loft-like design. Each space flows into the next without any need for internal doors. This design also emphasizes the transparent appearance of the mirrored load-bearing wall. In the same vein, the bathroom opens onto the bedroom with another loft-like touch that, for the architect, conveys a certain holiday-like atmosphere. “The metaphor of sea and sky continues with the dining room carpet, which is like a kind of island set on this ocean and, suspended above the table, there’s a light fixture in the shape of a moonset on a beach.” Behind it, a curtain evokes a wall of rain.In the dining room, around an Italian glass and brass table from the 1960s (Marché Paul Bert-Serpette), Norman Cherner’s Side Chairs in walnut from 1958. The Moonset hanging lamp is an original creation by the designer in galvanized steel. On the wall, the painting by André Saraiva and Aki Kuroda was created for the apartment. Objects, decor, and furniture reflect the building’s eclecticism with items from the 1960s, 1970s, and more contemporary pieces, including ones by Diama David, a Pierre Chareau hanging lamp in the kitchen, and timeless sconces from the 1950s. The owner’s collection of artworks includes a painting by André Saraiva in the dining room, another by Aki Kuroda, and a vase by Gaetano Pesce. In the bright white bathroom, a Louis XIV mirror engages with a sleek bathtub. “These small contrasting effects create a form of abstraction that gives rise to a sense of timelessness that sometimes feels almost anachronistic. This apartment might be from the 1970s or it could be from the 2040s. I like to explore that ambiguity.”The color white, in a variety of shades, plays a key role in Lesnoff-Rocard’s design. The home celebrates natural light and also the textures that receive it. The light can be an intense white at the height of the day but at other times, when it is softer, the apartment’s surfaces reveal a richness and diversity of materials, textures, and an almost enveloping sense of subtle continuity. “From the entrance to the living room, we can see many different shades of white: the resin on the parquet, the glazed concrete ceiling, the marble, the curtains, the white of the lacquered radiator behind, and the cabinet on the right. It’s a very rich mix, and it creates a certain form of abstraction, it’s not just a flat white.”From the entrance, concave curves turn a shaft housing the apartment’s mechanical systems into an architectural element. These curves echo those of the low bookcases that run along the mirrored wall. On the left, in the kitchen, the Boule light fixture is by Pierre Chareau. Oak, with a light walnut stain, creates a strong contrast with the white palette, providing a Scandinavian or even Japanese dimension to the design. The wood element greets visitors as soon as they enter the home. It’s a warm note that then leads to a white envelope of concrete, marble, and mirrors. The wood element is picked up again in the bedroom, with its headboard that is paired with a small bedside table by Eileen Gray and an antique portrait. “The wood creates a more residential feeling, because here we’re not in the art gallery portion of the apartment but in the sleeping area, which the owner wanted to be more peaceful and wood provides a reassuring warmth.” The vertical wood panels introduce a Brazilian element that is also echoed in the dining room chairs. Lesnoff-Rocard acknowledges this influence: “The contemporary woodwork, the carpet, the dining room chairs, and all the green plants adorning the large, mirrored bookcase are touches that give a slightly tropical dimension to the overall design.”A full-height marble door frame complements the large, vertically slatted mirrored elements of the living room. “It was very important that this element of the circulation, from one room to the next, be clearly defined with a strip of material. One aspect of this project that interests me are all the floor-to-ceiling elements, and this door frame creates a sense of grandeur, giving the illusion of a marble element that has been pierced by this opening.”A large white sheer curtain elegantly separates the dining room from the mirrored kitchen. The concave angles of the low bookcase along the mirrored wall are another element that adds to the apartment’s play of shapes. They echo the curves found on the sculptural mechanical shaft and the kitchen island (made of Estremoz marble, the same marble used throughout the apartment). This architectural gesture is a regular feature of Lesnoff-Rocard’s projects. “These concave curves provide rich and welcoming touches. In fact, throughout Paris’s Marais district, you’ll see these small concave shapes used on the facades of historic mansions. There is something very inviting about them.”A final note about the floors: Lesnoff-Rocard opted to use new parquet, replacing the old floors that had been poorly laid out. Its small dimensions create a different frame of reference compared to the effect that would have been created with a parquet on a larger scale. The floors feel more textural, and they take on a slightly patinated or aged look, harking back to the earlier era of the original mansion. It’s a way of circling back to the beginning of the story of this home.This minimalist apartment in Paris was originally published in AD France.The elegant elements of the kitchen’s sleek design include chevron patterned floors painted with a white resin, a mirrored credenza and cabinets, a glazed concrete ceiling and, at the center of the room, an Estremoz marble island with concave angles, a signature element of Lesnoff-Rocard designs. From the wood-paneled entrance, a low cabinet with concave corners and a wall of mirrored panels conceal the apartment’s only load-bearing wall. On the living room side, mirrored panels and a low, open bookcase punctuate the wall, which is accented by green plants and picture rails. In the foreground, the Straight Back armchair was designed by Jean-Michel Frank in 1932. Photo: James NelsonIn a corner of the living room, bathed in white light, an India Mahdavi Bishop stool and a corner section of a Bed and Philosophy Slow Family modular sofa. In front of a full-height Estremoz marble door frame, an Adjustable Table by Eileen Gray. To the rear of the photo, a large old-fashioned portrait and, reflected in the mirrored wall, a vintage 1950s sconce. The principal bedroom is beyond the Estremoz marble doorframe and the mirror-paneled wall. The room’s wood paneling provides a sense of calm and warmth to the more intimate sleeping area, even without a door separating it from the rest of the apartment. On the wall, a Mouche sconce by Pierre Chareau from Galerie MCDE. The simplicity of white and walnut-stained wood creates a warm canvas punctuated by a 24 Karat Blau T table lamp from 2022 (Ingo Maurer) and a Mouche wall lamp by Pierre Chareau (Galerie MCDE). On a round bedside table sits an Indian Summer XL vase by Gaetano Pesce. On the wall, above a bathtub with simple lines, a Louis XIV mirror. The bathroom opens on to the bedroom, in an L-shape. On the wall, blown-glass Petite Friture coat hooks.

Take a look.In case you didn't already know, the Nintendo Switch Online service will carry over to the Switch 2 when it launches this June.If you are wondering what the menu UI might look like when it eventually shows up on the new hybrid system, Nintendo's official Japanese website has now shared a sneak peek. As you can see, there'll be a huge "welcome" banner with Mario and the gang on bootup and the usual options lined up down the side.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

ZDNET's key takeaways The Vivobook S 15, Asus' first Copilot+ PC, normally retails for over $1,000, but it's currently on sale at Walmart for $668.It's sleek and lightweight with a gorgeous OLED, 120Hz display, great battery life, and snappy performance.However, because of the nature of Windows on ARM laptops, some apps might still not be optimized. View now at Walmart At Walmart, Asus' Vivobook S 15 is currently marked down to $713, which is roughly $90 off. The configuration on sale features a 3K OLED 120Hz display with an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and 16GB of RAM.Asus' first Copilot+ PC with the Snapdragon X Elite chip last year was the Vivobook S 15, a sleek and lightweight 15-inch laptop with a gorgeous display and ultra-snappy performance. The chassis' minimalist, all-metal design is lightweight and airy, and it feels more premium than last year's Vivobook S 14. It's only 0.58 inches at its thinnest point, and it weighs just 3.13 pounds, making it particularly well-suited for hybrid or remote workers who want a powerful laptop with a nice display that doesn't weigh a ton. Also: This ultraportable Windows laptop can seriously replace my MacBook Air - and it's even lighterLike all of the new Windows on ARM laptops released last summer, the Vivobook S 15 is fast and responsive with nice battery life, and came with new technology that wasn't fully optimized for all apps at the time of its release, but should be mostly optimized for apps by this point. For the average consumer, however, this is the epitome of a laptop that looks and feels good right out of the box, and it starts with the brilliant 3K OLED display. details View at Walmart With an 89% screen-to-body ratio and ultra-thin bezels, the screen is brilliant and high-contrast, rocking a max 600-nit brightness and 120Hz refresh rate for some silky-smooth and crisp image quality. Also: Why I recommend this budget Lenovo ThinkPad over laptops that cost twice as muchThe display's 16:9 resolution gives it that premium widescreen feel, lending itself well to both watching and editing media, but it might not be for everyone. Most 15-inch laptops come with a 16:10 resolution, which might feel more "natural" for some, but ultimately the distinction is subtle.  Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETWith 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, Asus is able to keep costs close to that $1,000 price point with just the right amount of hardware on this machine. And it feels even better in tandem with the snappy, responsive performance the Snapdragon X Elite processor provides. The Vivobook S 15 features the 12-core, 3.4GHz chip with a 45 TOPS NPU, the same one found in the HP Omnibook X 14, but slightly below the 3.8GHz chip found in the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge. The benchmarking scores in Cinebench reflect that same hierarchy, with numbers above the Omnibook and just below the Galaxy Book4 Edge. In testing the CPU's performance, I got a single-core score of 106 and a multi-core score of 969. In Geekbench, I got a single-core of 2447 and a multi-core of 14384. Remember that these scores were recorded while the device was plugged into power. While on battery, I got scores about 30% lower -- somewhat more of a difference than I expected. This is in comparison to the HP Omnibook X 14, which had a much narrower gap in scores in my testing, something I noted as I was reviewing it. Also: The Lenovo ThinkPad I recommend to most remote works has an impressive spec sheetThis paints a picture of a laptop that has somewhat variable battery life, depending on what you're doing and what kind of mode you have the laptop in. There's no escaping the power this display requires, and if you're someone who typically ignores battery setting profiles and keeps your machine blasting at "Best Performance," you may want to adjust the power modes in either the MyAsus software or in Windows (or both) because you'll see a drastic difference. That being said, the Vivobook S 15's 70Wh battery performance is good, but the user must manage it to maximize its efficiency. During the battery test that ZDNET runs on all laptops, I got about 10 and a half hours before it died, but that number fluctuated in subsequent tests with different power mode settings. Also: How to clear the cache on your Windows 11 PC (and why it makes such a big difference)Optimization is the theme here, and this also extends to its performance. The Windows on ARM architecture provides fantastic up-front performance in ways that are immediately apparent to most users. But when you start looking closely at more specialized tasks, things have the potential to get tricky. For example, the Vivobook S 15's aforementioned 16:9 resolution OLED screen seems perfect for editing video. While the integrated Qualcomm Adreno GPU is up to the task, its interaction with different apps and their performance in Windows (via Prism) is still a work in progress.  Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETDuring my testing, I ran DaVinci Resolve for Windows on ARM, and it worked mostly fine, but the performance is still not 100% optimized. There was some lag, graphic stuttering, and quirkiness, especially with 4K video. Adobe Photoshop, however, ran smoothly, with local AI-generative tasks popping off seamlessly with help from the NPU on board the Snapdragon. I expect performance to continue improving as Windows improves and developers improve their products for the platform.The other elephant in the room is gaming, which is not entirely up to speed with Windows on ARM. Yes, technically, you can game on this laptop, but many titles still don't run, and the ones that do are not well-optimized. Although the Vivobook S 15 looks like something you might want to game on, I wouldn't recommend it as a dedicated gaming laptop. At least not yet. Also: The best Windows laptops you can buy: Expert testedInstead, I see the Vivobook S 15 as a primary driver for remote workers or digital nomads who are already integrating AI into their workflows and appreciate an aesthetic laptop with a brilliant display that handles media well. Supporting that use case, it has a generous selection of ports: two USB-A ports on the right-hand side, two USB-C on the left, an HDMI port, a MicroSD slot, and a headphone jack. It also has a "full" keyboard (the number pad on the right side has slightly smaller keys, as typical for sub-16-inch machines), which is satisfying and responsive to typing on. The keyboard has colorful LED backlighting that can be configured in many different lights and effects. Still, again, this is not something that I would consider high on the priority list when optimizing battery life.  ZDNET's buying adviceThe Asus Vivobook S 15 is a sleek and lightweight laptop with a gorgeous OLED display and solid battery life -- as long as you're mindful of your power usage. I'd recommend it to forward-thinking digital nomads who want a performant, AI-ready laptop with a blazing-fast Snapdragon X Elite processor. It's a solid investment for people who regularly swap between creative work, productivity software, and media. All things considered, the sale price of $713 is very competitive for this laptop, particularly for the display alone. Featured reviews

Just because you’re capable doesn’t mean you’re responsible for everything caregiving. getty If you’re in your 40s or 50s, chances are you’re already there. No one hands you a membership card, and there’s no official onboarding session. But one day, you’re helping your mom move into assisted living, booking your kid’s dental appointment, managing your partner’s latest depressive episode — and wondering when the last time someone asked how you were doing. Welcome to the sandwich generation: the invisible middle, where caregivers hold together three generations of care. You are not alone, even though you may feel it. Roughly 23% of U.S. adults are part of this generation, supporting an aging parent while also raising a child. But that’s not the entire picture. In reality, caregiving has become multidirectional. It’s not just parents and kids anymore. It’s also spouses. Partners. Sometimes, siblings or close friends. The trifecta of care is becoming the norm — and the toll is enormous. Most sandwich-generation caregivers are between ages 40 and 59. That happens to coincide with the phase of life when many people first confront serious health issues themselves — hypertension, autoimmune diseases, breast or prostate cancer, anxiety and depression. And yet, they often put their own well-being last. Everyone Needs A Solid Healthcare Foundation — Not Just The Person In Crisis When a father receives a serious diagnosis, attention naturally centers on him. But who’s checking on Mom? Does she have a primary care provider? How’s her mental health holding up under the strain? The caregiving spotlight often shines on one individual, leaving others in the dark, unsupported and at risk. Are caregivers skipping their own checkups because they’re too busy managing someone else’s? Are they ignoring warning signs in their partners because they have no bandwidth left? The result? Delayed diagnoses, unmanaged conditions and a growing silent crisis in caregiver health. Women often carry the heaviest burden. According to AARP, more than 60% of caregivers in the U.S. are female, and women in their 40s and 50s are not only more likely to be primary caregivers, they’re also more likely to suffer from the physical and emotional toll of it. During this same window of life, many women are also navigating perimenopause and menopause, a complex and under-supported health transition that can affect mood, energy, sleep and more. In my work as a healthcare advisor, I see this pattern every day. High-functioning adults, juggling demanding careers and family logistics, suddenly become caregivers without even realizing it. One week, it’s helping their mom manage a new heart medication. Then, it’s researching skilled nursing facilities. Then, it's locating and coordinating a college psychiatrist across state lines for a child away at school. Meanwhile, their spouse is quietly battling substance use. And still, they never miss a Zoom call. Families fall apart this way — not because people don’t care, but because there’s too much care to manage alone. This isn’t a lack of love. It’s a lack of infrastructure. The reality is caregiving is not a side gig. It’s a job. One that you never applied for. And it’s one of the most demanding jobs — especially when it’s invisible and unpaid. According to a 2023 New York Life Wealth Watch survey, nearly half of sandwich-generation adults say caregiving expenses have prevented them from meeting essential household costs in the past year. That doesn’t account for the emotional cost or the time pulled away from work, sleep or health. According to a recent McKinsey Health Institute report, women live longer than men, but they spend 25% more of that time in poor health.Even for high-net-worth individuals, the challenge persists. Even when finances aren’t an issue, the time pressure from caregiving can be relentless and overwhelming. The existence of resources doesn’t guarantee the existence of a plan. Why Caregiving Transitions Are The Breaking Point Transitions are often where this balancing act collapses. Your mom is moving to Florida. Who is her new doctor? Who will manage her care if she ends up in the ER? Your child moves away for college — can their psychiatrist still see them across state lines? If not, who picks up the thread? And how will they know what the last provider did? Your spouse finally agrees to go to rehabilitation for an addiction — who manages everything else while you're coordinating care? These moments often happen all at once. Your mother enters assisted living the same month your son leaves for college. At the same time, you’re Googling “how to find a good oncologist” or “what is palliative care.” Suddenly, you're making decisions you never trained for — navigating insurance, hiring a home health aide and interpreting medical jargon in a matter of days. Families don’t realize how fragile the infrastructure of care is until it breaks under pressure. And when it breaks, the consequences are personal. It’s not just a failure of logistics. We don’t talk about spousal caregiving nearly enough. It’s hard to admit when a partner needs help. There’s stigma, privacy, pride. But when that support becomes unsustainable, the impact ripples outward. It affects children, work, finances and — most critically — you, the caregiver. So, how do you spot the signs of strain? They’re usually subtle at first: ● Fatigue or changes in sleep ● Mood swings, anxiety or irritability ● Neglecting personal health ● Withdrawal from friends or support systems ● Feelings of hopelessness or resentment ● Escalating use of alcohol or medication Many caregivers normalize these. They say, “It’s just a busy season.” But seasons aren’t supposed to last years. There’s A Smarter Way To Carry The Load For Caregivers There are ways to make this more manageable. Not easy, but better. Start early. Don’t wait for a crisis. Put a plan in place before one is needed. That includes medical contacts, financial documents, emergency protocols and backup care options. While your parents are still healthy, talk to them about their wishes should they need additional care, go with them to visit retirement communities and work with them to make arrangements while they’re still able to be involved. Don’t do it all yourself. Lean on siblings, hire support and delegate when you can. Just because you’re capable doesn’t mean you’re responsible for everything. Talk about transitions before they happen. If a parent is moving states, get their medical records transferred. If a child is going away to school, coordinate with mental health providers in advance. Build continuity into the plan. Set boundaries — financial, emotional and time — because not every crisis is yours to solve. Learn to say no — or not right now. And when the time comes to bring in outside help, finding the right caregiver can make all the difference. A strong caregiver isn’t just kind — they’re competent, communicative and clinically aware. They need to fit your loved one’s medical and emotional needs but also mesh with the broader care team. This isn’t a role to fill in a panic — it’s one to plan for with the same care you’d give to hiring a financial advisor or attorney. The right caregiver doesn’t just protect the patient — they give the entire family a chance to breathe.

In brief: The Defense Department, which manages an $850 billion annual budget and employs two million people, is the largest federal agency – and it has long faced scrutiny over wasteful spending and dark budgets. A new reallocation plan seeks to reduce dependence on outside contractors and shift resources toward in-house operations. United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has cut $5.1 billion in defense contracts for consulting and nonessential services. The move targets redundant agreements, with plans to shift much of the work to in-house personnel. The cuts include a range of consulting deals with major firms like Accenture, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Deloitte, which have been providing services to the Defense Health Agency. Hegseth noted in a video posted to X that these terminations alone will save $1.8 billion. Other notable reductions include a $500 million US Navy contract for business process consulting and a $1.4 billion cloud software reseller agreement. Hegseth also cut a $500 million DARPA contract for IT help-desk services, calling it "completely duplicative." Additional terminations target contracts supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, climate initiatives, and coronavirus response efforts – areas Hegseth described as peripheral to core defense operations. In an internal Pentagon memo, Hegseth said the Defense Department's civilian workforce could take over many consulting services currently outsourced to third-party firms. For example, he identified the Air Force's contract with Accenture to resell enterprise cloud IT services as a need that existing government procurement resources could directly fulfill. In addition to terminating contracts, Hegseth directed the Pentagon's chief information officer to work with Musk's task force over the next 30 days on a plan to insource IT consulting and management services across the department. The memo also called for negotiating more favorable rates on cloud computing. The Defense Department is redirecting the funds saved from contract terminations to enhance military readiness, advance cutting-edge technologies, and strengthen national security infrastructure. Key areas receiving increased funding include missile defense systems, hypersonic weapons, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. // Related Stories