THE WEEKLY STEEP
Leaves turn, lamps glow, and even routines become rituals of balance. This season reminds us that wellness is woven into every meal, mantra, and mindful step. Remember: what we align with nature, we carry forward with strength and grace. 🍂🪔
WHAT’S BREWING
U.S.: NASA flagged a Mars breakthrough, Trump struck a Belarus deal, and the nation mourned Charlie Kirk’s assassination at Utah Valley University. The FTC probed Big Tech’s chatbots, Trump ordered drug ads to list all side effects, and 9/11’s 24th anniversary was marked with solemn vigils.
Mars Breakthrough: NASA found organic-rich Jezero Crater samples, its strongest hint of ancient life. Read More
Diplomatic Thaw: Trump freed 52 prisoners in a Belarus deal, reopening the U.S. embassy. Read More
Campus Tragedy: Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University. Read More
AI in the Crosshairs: FTC opened a probe into chatbot harms to kids, pressing Big Tech. Read More
Drug Ad Crackdown: Trump ordered pharma ads to list all side effects, threatening $10B spend. Read More
9/11 Anniversary: The nation marked 24 years with vigils at Ground Zero and the Pentagon. Read More
The Scene: From Pyre’s festival win to Kumail Nanjiani’s Broadway debut and Karan Aujla’s Fallon set, culture roared. Arundhati Roy launched her memoir tour, NYFW dazzled with Prabal Gurung and Bibhu Mohapatra, Priyanka & Nick claimed “most glamorous couple,” NASA’s Amit Kshatriya rose to the agency’s top civil post, and Texas teen Tejasvi Manoj was named Time’s Kid of the Year. The diaspora’s spark lit bright.
South Asia: Nepal appointed Sushila Karki as its first woman PM after protests toppled Oli, while India backed a two-state UN resolution, issued a China border NOTAM, and readied for Trump’s QUAD visit. South Asian creatives also shone globally, with Anuparna Roy winning at Venice.
Global: From Taiwan’s undersea cable defenses to Albania’s AI minister and Bolsonaro’s conviction, global politics shifted fast. Japan reeled from record floods, while tensions rose with Qatar-Israel, an Iran-IEA nuclear deal, and NATO’s warning to Russia.
Taiwan Defense: Stepped up sea cable patrols against China. Read More
Albania First: AI bot named minister to fight corruption. Read More
Brazil Verdict: Bolsonaro convicted, sentenced to 27 years. Read More
Japan Floods: Record rains crippled Tokyo transport. Read More
Qatar-Israel Rift: Mediation role under strain. Read More
Iran-IAEA Deal: Nuclear inspections set to resume. Read More
NATO Warning: Threatened direct response to Russia. Read More
MONEY MOVES
Inflation: August CPI rose 2.9% YoY (vs 2.7% in July); the hottest since early 2025. Airfares, clothing, and cars drove the spike, while health and recreation cooled.
Markets:
$ORCL ( ▼ 4.36% ): +42% YTD on AI cloud strength.
Gold/Silver: Soared to $3,650/oz and $41+, strongest since 2011.
Brands & Deals
$LEVI ( ▲ 0.83% ) x Alia Bhatt: Bollywood star joins global roster.
Paramount-Warner Bros: $70B Ellison-backed mega-bid in motion.
Tech & Design
$AAPL ( ▼ 0.64% ) iPhone 17 Air: Thinnest iPhone yet, unveiled by designer Abidur Chowdhury.
Policy Watch
Markets price 100% odds of a Sept cut, but Fed signals just 50 bps in 2025. Inflation’s bump complicates the chai.
Market data via Stocktwits. Consult a financial advisor before investing.
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PLAY BY PLAY
Tennis: US Open Finals: Alcaraz topped Sinner 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 while Aryna Sabalenka defended her crown 6-3, 7-6(3) against American Amanda Anisimova, who fought hard on home soil but fell just short.
Chess First: 16-year-old Abhimanyu Mishra beat World Champ Gukesh.
Field Hockey: Asia Cup: India snapped an eight-year drought, beating 4-1 win over South Korea on home turf to lift the title.
F1 (Monza): Verstappen won from pole, beating Norris (McLaren) and teammate Piastri; marking the fastest race in F1 history at an avg. speed over 162 mph.
Cricket: Asia Cup T20: Ind-Pak Sept 14 clash in Dubai carries off-field heat.
RAISING ROOTS: From the Himalayas to the Rockies
Colorado’s ~7,000 Nepali Americans have built more than restaurants and businesses, they’ve created a cultural bridge between Kathmandu and Boulder, from Sherpa House shrines to community festivals like Dashain and Tihar + Weekly Chai Fall Color Recos: Peak to Peak Scenic Byway, Maroon Bells. Read More
LIVING WELL: Ayurveda for Fall Wellness
As the season shifts, Ayurveda says so do we; leftover heat (Pitta) brings fiery digestion, then cold winds (Vata) stir dryness and restlessness. Balance with cooling foods now, grounding soups later, steady routines, and a touch of sesame oil; reminding us that comfort and medicine can be the same cup of chai. Read More
COSMIC CHAI: Weekly Horoscope (Sept 12-19)
The skies this week blend surprise with steadiness. Practical, diplomatic, and a touch unpredictable. Guidance: Use Sept 14-15 shake-ups as a wake-up call. Fix the weak links, embrace flexibility. By week’s end, Mercury in Libra and Venus in Virgo restore balance; words flow, love steadies, and care shows in the details. Full Horoscopes
Sept 14-15: Sun-Uranus square → routines and relationships shake, breakthroughs follow.
Sept 18: Mercury enters Libra → diplomacy and social charm peak.
Sept 19: Venus enters Virgo → devotion in details, service, and sincerity.
EDITOR'S PICK: Season 2 of With Love, Meghan on Netflix
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is back with new episodes filled with cooking, gardening, and entertaining tips. This season features guests including Jay Shetty and Radhi Devlukia-Shetty, blending mindfulness, culture, and food.
Image: Feminegra, via Feminegra.com
Jay Shetty, known globally for his bestselling books and podcast, has become a leading voice on mindfulness and purpose in modern life. Radhi Devlukia-Shetty, an author and plant-based cook, continues to inspire with her Ayurvedic recipes and wellness philosophy that bridges tradition and contemporary living.With Love, Meghan reminds us that hospitality is about the values and stories that come to the table.
UPCOMING WEEK
Sept 12-15: Chicago South Asian Film Festival. Screening 60+ films; spotlight on directors like Ajitpal Singh and Aparna Sen
Sept 14: 77th Primetime Emmys (LA)
Sept 17: Constitution Day & Citizenship Day
Sept 18: International Equal Pay Day