THE WEEKLY STEEP
From lifted hills to lifted flags, every act of protection is an act of freedom. ☕ Remember: the bonds you honor are the borders you erase.
WHAT’S BREWING
Global
Trump-Putin Face-Off in Alaska: At an Arctic military base, two power players step into the world’s frostiest showdown, high-stakes Ukraine peace gamble, global egos, and the chance to redraw the post-Cold War map. Read more
Air Canada Grounded: 10k flight attendants set to strike Aug 16, threatening a travel meltdown for 130k passengers a day. Read more
U.S.
Federal Takeover of D.C. Police: AG Bondi orders DEA to run D.C.’s police, sparking local-federal clashes, faith leader criticism, and homeless camp clearances near key landmarks. Read more
Melania Threatens $1B Suit Against Hunter Biden: First Lady demands retraction of Epstein-linked claims; Biden refuses, calling them salacious but standing by his remarks. Read more
Swift’s Showgirl & MeidasTouch Rise: Taylor Swift unveils The Life of a Showgirl with release details and personal notes, as anti-Trump podcast MeidasTouch surges to rival Joe Rogan. Read more
South Asia
Independence Day Highlights: India & Pakistan: India marked its 79th Independence Day with Modi’s Red Fort address, new jobs program, and water conservation push, while Pakistan’s 79th featured national tributes, awards, and cross-border ceremonies.
Flash Floods Devastate Himalayan Village: ~60 dead, 80 missing after a cloudburst in Kashmir’s Kishtwar sweeps away pilgrims; over 477 killed across the region this monsoon season as climate-linked rains intensify. Read more
Air Routes Shuffle: Air India drops Delhi-DC flights Sept 1 over fleet and airspace issues, while India-China routes may restart after a 5-year pause.
MONEY MOVES
CPI Steady, PPI Jumps in July: PPI rose 0.9% vs. 0.2% forecast, trimming odds of a Sept Fed rate cut, while CPI held at 2.7% y/y with core at 3.1%.
U.S. Eyes $INTC ( ▼ 3.66% ) Stake: Washington may take a direct stake to speed Ohio chip plants and boost tech security. Read more
Berkshire Bets on $UNH ( ▲ 1.47% ) : Buffett’s firm buys 5M shares, signaling long-term confidence despite profit cuts and investigations. Read more
Gold Stays Tariff-Free: White House confirms U.S. will keep gold imports exempt from tariffs. Read more
Perplexity Bids $34.5B for Chrome: AI startup’s surprise cash offer targets Google’s browser amid antitrust pressure; a sale looks unlikely. Read more
Markets face a high-stakes week as inflation data, big earnings, and Powell’s Jackson Hole speech converge to set the tone for the rest of 2025.
Market data via Stocktwits. Consult a financial advisor before investing.
PLAY BY PLAY
Baseball: Jen Pawol became the first woman to umpire behind home plate in an MLB regular-season game on Aug 10 (Marlins-Braves).
MMA: UFC to stage first-ever White House fight in 2026 and signs a seven-year, $7.7B media deal with Paramount.
Upcoming Events:
Aug 15: Premier League, Ligue 1 kick off; LIV Golf Indianapolis.
Aug 17: La Liga season starts; World Games 2025 finals in Chengdu.
Aug 22: Bundesliga season kicks off.
RAISING ROOTS: Makhan, Mischief, and Growing up
From butter heists in Gokul to lifting mountains for a village, Krishna’s stories are more than mythology, they’re blueprints for raising the next generation with courage, curiosity, and compassion.
This Janmashtami, we trace how tales of divine play and daring acts still echo in the way we nurture children today. Read more
LIVING WELL:
Freedom Beyond Borders
Seventy-eight years after two midnights redrew the map of South Asia, what does independence mean for those of us who inherited it from oceans away? From the hurried lines of Partition to the quiet borders we still carry in our hearts, we explore how freedom shifts from a date in history to a daily practice, one rooted in strength, compassion, and the courage to live without limits.
Happy Day of Freedom
From Nehru’s midnight promise to Jinnah’s call for unity, two speeches in August 1947 set India and Pakistan on their first steps as independent nations. Seventy-eight years later, their words still carry the weight of hope, courage, and responsibility, a reminder that freedom is never just won, it’s lived.
📜 Did You Know: From Raj to Rebrand: The East India Company once ruled India. Today, an Indian runs it. Dissolved in 1874, the colonial giant was reborn in 2005 when Mumbai-born entrepreneur Sanjiv Mehta bought the historic name and turned it into a luxury brand now spanning 17 countries.
COSMIC CHAI: Weekly Horoscope (Aug 15-22)
Mood: Transition mode with a purpose. Leo season’s sparkle is still in the air, but Virgo season is waiting in the wings (Aug 22) with a clipboard and a checklist. This week blends celebration with preparation, polishing your glow while setting up systems for what’s next.
Cosmic Weather:
Aug 16-18: Creative sparks and heart-led collaborations
Aug 17-18: Luck in clearing debts, refining work goals, or securing support
Aug 21-22: Sun enters Virgo. Reset routines, focus on renewal
Ongoing: Venus in Cancer (connection + care), Mars in Libra (teamwork over lone-wolfing), Uranus in play (expect twists)
Vibe Check: End one chapter with joy, start the next with intention. The more grounded your vision, the easier it is to flex when Uranus throws a curveball. Full Horoscopes
⛰️ Earth Signs: Steady, visible, and ready to fine-tune.
🌊 Water Signs: Emotionally rich, creatively charged, open to shifts.
🔥 Fire Signs: Energized, reflective, and shifting gears.
🌬 Air Signs: Clear-headed, socially magnetic, and quietly strategic.
EDITOR'S PICK: Skater Girl (Netflix)
A true hidden gem from Indian American director Manjari Makijany, Skater Girl follows a rural Indian teen whose world changes when she discovers skateboarding.
It’s a story of possibility rolling in on four wheels, daring, joyful, and quietly revolutionary.
In a week that celebrates Janmashtami’s playful courage and the many faces of independence, it’s the perfect reminder that freedom often begins with a single, brave push forward.
MERCH: 3 Collections, All 🤍
UPCOMING WEEK
Aug 17: National Senior Citizens Day: Wisdom, with a side of stories.
Aug 19: National Aviation Day: Sky high since 1903.
Aug 19: World Humanitarian Day: Humanity, first.
Aug 22: National Tooth Fairy Day: Magic under your pillow.
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