🚗 Who's looking up your vehicle data?

Good morning!

We're getting closer to the weekend, and there's plenty happening, from questions about vehicle-data privacy to a new trade deal with New Zealand.

But first, something unusual from space.

A couple running a café in England found a wedding album from 1957 abandoned outside their business. They shared its faded photographs online, hoping someone might recognise the bride and groom.

An amateur historian followed a clue hidden in the handwritten names and eventually traced the couple's son. The album had been stolen from his family's storage unit years earlier.

Imagine getting back photographs of your parents that you thought were lost forever.

Answer at the end!

Your car's number plate is visible to anyone on the road. But should someone be able to use it to find your personal details?

A recent investigation by the Internet Freedom Foundation has raised questions about private access to India's vehicle databases.

An RTI response revealed that private-entity credentials were used for approximately 1.7 crore queries between January 2024 and September 2026.

These government databases, including VAHAN and SARATHI, hold vehicle and driving-licence information.

The government stopped sharing data with private entities from October 1. But questions remain about who accessed the information, how it was used, and whether previously collected records are still being held. Read more

Why it matters

Some vehicle lookup services have reportedly exposed details such as owners' names and addresses.

The 1.7 crore figure represents database queries, not confirmed data leaks involving that many people. Still, it raises concerns about how securely personal information is handled.

In Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang district, life in the mountain villages of Mago and Chuna has long revolved around yak herding and traditional livelihoods.

Last weekend, the villages hosted the Shangri-La Calling Festival, giving visitors a glimpse of their culture and Himalayan way of life.

But the real story is what happens after the festival.

Around 70 residents from seven nearby villages recently trained to become tourist guides, run homestays and manage online bookings.

That could mean a family earning extra income by hosting travellers, a young resident finding work as a local guide, or an artisan selling handmade goods directly to visitors.

And importantly, it gives people more ways to earn a living without having to leave their mountain villages behind.

🌏 Trade: The India–New Zealand free trade agreement took effect on October 20, giving Indian exports duty-free access to New Zealand and opening new opportunities for businesses.

🏅 Sports: India swept the podium in men's F46 shot put at the Asian Para Games. Sachin Khilari won gold, with Mohammed Yasser and Parveen taking silver and bronze.

🍼 Health: India's food regulator has proposed restrictions on added sucrose and fructose in foods for babies under six months. The proposal is not yet a final rule.

💳 Finance: Some major Indian lenders have flagged early signs of repayment stress among gold-loan borrowers, although overall defaults remain relatively low.

🌧️ Weather: The IMD has warned of very heavy rain in parts of Tamil Nadu on October 22, with heavy showers also expected in Kerala and Karnataka.

🧶 Northeast: Guwahati's Shilp Samagam Mela brings together 75 artisans showcasing handlooms and handicrafts, giving regional makers a platform to reach more buyers.

what did i do to deserve this 😭