THE WEEKLY STEEP
Every diya you light, every sweet you share, is a small act of hope. ☕️ Light shines brightest when carried together. 🪔 Wishing you a joyful Karwa Chauth & National Handbag Day plus, explore our Diwali Tracker to light your own diya this season.
🗝️ FESTIVELIGHTS
WHAT’S BREWING
U.S.: Trump’s troop deployments face legal fire, Washington’s shutdown drags into Day 10 with markets betting on weeks more, and hip-hop reckons with Diddy’s 50-month sentencing. Melania Trump delivered a speech on the plight of Ukrainian children. Meanwhile, NY Attorney General Letitia James was indicted on fraud charges.
Global: Israel and Hamas signed a ceasefire, Putin admitted to an Azerbaijani crash, Macron faces another PM shuffle, and Trump praised Putin while dismissing Xi amid China’s rare-earth squeeze. In Japan, Sanae Takaichi’s bid to be the first female PM is in doubt after her coalition split.
South Asia: India will upgrade its Kabul mission to a full embassy, strengthening diplomatic engagement in the region. Deepika Padukone was named India’s first Mental Health Ambassador, underscoring a new focus on wellness. And on the geopolitical front, Prime Minister Modi spoke with President Trump on Gaza and stalled trade talks.
The Scene: From Marina Cornia’s Nobel Prize to Gymkhana Club eyeing Vegas, the week brimmed with milestones. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Diwali into law as California’s newest state holiday starting 2026 and to mark it, we are dropping a California Diwali merch line, check it out here. Food Network’s Megha McSwain spotlighted Tinted Heritage and other South Asian makers in her annual gift guide, Vogue styled Avantika in Anita Dongre, and Team USA swept India 5-0 as Hikaru Nakamura toppled Gukesh Dommaraju and tossed the king into the crowd. In Paris, the verdict was clear: Chanel owned SS26 Fashion Week.
And in our Exclusive Spotlight: The Weekly Chai Diwali Anthem; newsletter-first, and soon (fingers crossed) across all platforms. Love it, share it, and let the light carry.
MONEY MOVES
Tax certainty, historic metals highs, and NVIDIA’s latest mega-bet all defined the week. The thread? Households, investors, and innovators alike are staring at a reshaped financial future.
Trump’s New Tax Brackets: Locked in for good under the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Biggest wins? Upper-middle-income households. Read More
Gold surged past $4,000 and silver topped $50, as shutdown delays, Fed cut bets, and global tensions ignited the biggest metals rally on record.
$NVDA ( ▼ 4.89% ) bets $2B on Musk’s xAI: Part of a $20B round, with GPUs leased back via special-purpose vehicles.
Kadak Chai: TIME named the 25 most iconic inventions of the past 25 years. ChatGPT now links with DoorDash, Expedia, Zillow, and Spotify for “type-to-shop” living. ICE is investing $2B in Polymarket, Google’s Michel Devoret and team won the Nobel for quantum breakthroughs, and NVIDIA will cover $100k per H-1B visa to keep top AI talent onshore.
Market data via Stocktwits. Consult a financial advisor before investing.
PLAY BY PLAY
F1: Singapore GP: George Russell won from pole on Oct. 5 as McLaren clinched its second straight Constructors’ Championship.
Cricket: Ind v. WI: India crushed West Indies in Ahmedabad by an innings and 140 runs (Oct. 2-4), with Jadeja’s 104* and four wickets sealing victory.
Soccer: Cristiano Ronaldo became soccer’s first billionaire, powered by his $400M Al-Nassr deal, Nike lifetime contract, endorsements, and CR7 empire.
RAISING ROOTS:
Between Diya and Diplomacy
Raising Children with Science, Culture, and Care in Fractured Times. In a divided America and a noisy digital world, children absorb more than we realize. Calm conversations and family rituals can anchor them with resilience and hope. Read more
The Secret of the Extra Dollar
Why do envelopes carry $101 instead of $100? The extra dollar isn’t accident or superstition. It is continuity, a seed of fortune, a blessing that refuses to close. In every +1 lies the message: life should flow forward, not finish. At The Weekly Chai, we believe culture is richest in these quiet details. Read more
LIVING WELL: The Lychee Martini Returns
Once a 90s favorite, the lychee martini is back as 2025’s chicest cocktail. No longer syrupy or dated, it’s now fresh, balanced, and global, from saffron-cardamom riffs to chai-bourbon blends. And yes, we’ve got the recipe so you can shake, sip, and share at home. Read more
COSMIC CHAI: Weekly Horoscope (Oct 10-17)
Devotion turns to harmony, and harmony to abundance.
With Venus in Libra (Oct 13) and Pluto direct, love and transformation flow more easily. Ahoi Ashtami (Oct 15) blesses family ties, and Dhanteras (Oct 18) opens the Diwali season with prosperity rituals. Guidance: release what weighs you down, refine your bonds, and step into light with balance and grace. 🪔✨ Full Horoscopes
Oct 13: Venus enters Libra → peak charm + partnership blessings.
Oct 15: Ahoi Ashtami → healing through family and devotion.
Oct 18: Dhanteras → auspicious for wealth + new beginnings.
EDITOR'S PICK: Game Night 🎲
Science says play keeps our brains sharp, lowers stress, and strengthens bonds. It’s not just about rolling dice or stacking tiles, play sparks creativity, strengthens memory, and gives us the joy of shared laughter.
In busy seasons, a game around the table can be the pause that reconnects us. In other words: the perfect excuse for game night.
Here’s our fall lineup:
Scrabble Del Mar Shagreen Edition: classic wordplay, elevated design. Build vocabulary and flex strategy in style. Shop Now
Tumbling Towers (Architecture Edition): stacking, balance, and suspense. Great for kids, better for family laughs. Shop Now
Classic Poker Set: chips, cards, and strategy. Sometimes the best game night is all about bluff, nerve, and luck. Shop Now
Play together. Think sharper. Stress less. 🥤
UPCOMING WEEK
Oct 11: International Day of the Girl Child (UN) · World Egg Day
Oct 13: Columbus Day · Canadian Thanksgiving
Oct 14: National Dessert Day