5 THINGS FIRST PM Modi to launch corporate social responsibility portal and hold a town hall with IT professionals; Rahul Gandhi on a two-day poll campaign in Rajasthan; Amit Shah in Lucknow for a BJP meet; India play South Korea in Asian Champions(Hockey) Trophy; United Nations Day

1. SC comes up with cracker of a timetable, will India follow it? This Diwali: The Supreme Court has permitted the sale and use of 'green' firecrackers. On Diwali, crackers can be burst only for two hours, between 8 pm and 10 pm. On Christmas and New Year, firecrackers can be burst between 11:55 pm and 12:30 am. In what may later become a template for the rest of the country, SC said that only community fire-cracking will be allowed in Delhi NCR in designated places demarcated by government authorities. What are green crackers? Firecrackers are made of chemicals and metallic agents many of which are toxic for people and the environment. Crackers that do not contain toxic chemicals like antimony, lithium, mercury, arsenic and lead are less polluting. Scientists are working on finding eco-friendly fireworks; replacing aluminium with magnesium as the combustible material in fireworks, for instance, can help bring down pollution levels. The trend of 'quiet fireworks' especially around residential areas is becoming more common in some European countries. Green Diwali then? The next Diwali promises to be greener than this one. Implementing the 'green crackers only' rule, as specified by the Supreme Court, would be a task next to impossible this Diwali as more than 80% of the consignments have been dispatched from Sivakasi, the fireworks capital in Tamil Nadu, and government agencies are ill-equipped to inspect and monitor them in the absence of clear norms. Can you control crackers? While specified timings for bursting firecrackers is a first for India, some countries have adopted such measures. In Germany, for instance, local authorities are allowed to regulate the use of fireworks. Singapore bars firecracker but special permits from police are given from time to time for specific events if safety precautions are in place. In the Netherlands, they can only be bought (and used) during a few allocated days. In England, fireworks can be purchased only a few days before specified events. Sweden allows some smaller firecrackers (that generate noise below 50 decibels) and rocket type crackers that burst at some distance above the ground level. Vietnam allows firecrackers only at events organised on behalf of the government. Read the story here

2. How will CBI vs CBI drama end... if it ends? CBI vs CBI: India's top investigating agency is busy investigating and raiding its own officers on corruption charges. The matter has reached court that has asked the agency not to 'disturb the equilibrium'. But that was after CBI heaped more embarrassment upon itself by alleging that its special director was running an extortion racket in the garb of investigation. Lead characters: CBI officer number 1, its chief Alok Verma, and the number 2 (unofficial), Rakesh Asthana. Verma is an outsider who became CBI chief (he hadn't worked in CBI before taking over its chief) and Asthana is the insider who's been part of many investigations including some high-profile ones. Story so far: Number 1 didn't want the number 2 to become number 2 but he was overruled. The rift grew first over appointments then over authority and then the complaints became official (after they landed at the Central Vigilance Commission). Number 2 complained against the chief and the chief complained against his deputy. Both called each other corrupt and have tried to malign each other. Number 1 launched a probe against number 2 and got another officer who had worked with him on a case arrested. The case has gone to court, and also forced their boss, the PM, to take notice. The climax? Scenario 1: CBI's boss, the PM (Department of Personnel and Training which has administrative control over CBI reports to the PMO) steps in (unofficially, as officially the CBI is supposed to be 'independent') to tell the two to calm down (and shake hands?). Scenario 2: Controversy blows over after CBI chief retires and a new one takes over. The current chief's term ends in January next year and among the names doing the rounds for the next one is a Gujarat-cadre officer like the current number 2. If court hearings delay the outcome, this could be a possibility. Scenario 3: It's left to the PM's office to decide. He may let the 'law take its own course'. Some reports say CBI has not sought permission to act against its number 2 officer, as is required in such cases. That technicality may allow PMO to step in. Scenario 4: One of them is asked to go. At least one reportsays that the number 2 officer may be asked to go because the PMO thinks his position is 'untenable now'. Meanwhile, Vijay Mallya would be watching the unfolding drama in CBI with glee. CBI special director Rakesh Asthana's role as representative of the CBI at his extradition trial in London and the future of that trial could lie in jeopardy. The judgment in the trial is due to be pronounced on December 10.

3. Abracadabra and the Aravallis vanished... hill by hill Ramayana redux: Coming down heavily on the Rajasthan government for the depletion of the Aravalli range, where 31 hills have been erased from the 115.34-hectare area in the state, a two-judge bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta asked the state's counsel if people have been imbued with the powers of Lord Hanuman that they are able to lift hills and run away. A report by the central empowered committee (CEC) said that out of 128 samples taken by the forest survey of India (FSI), as many as 31 hills or hillocks have vanished, prompting the apex court to order a halt to illegal mining activities within 48 hours. Waiting to inhale: Directing the Rajasthan chief secretary to file an affidavit regarding compliance of its order within this week, before its next hearing on October 29, the judges lambasted the state for focussing only earning the royalty that it gets through mining, amounting to Rs 5,000 crore. "You (state) want royalty. You will get it but health expenses for people of Delhi will be 10 times of your royalty," the bench noted, adding that removal of the hills, which act as a natural barrier against dust storms from the north-west, has increased pollution levels in Delhi NCR. India's disappearing hills: But the hills of Aravallis are not alone — the hills of Visakhapatnam and Navi Mumbai too have fallen victim to indiscriminate quarrying and mining activities. The Aravalli Notification of 1992 prohibits the cutting of trees and other kinds of destruction in the areas listed as Gair Mumkin Pahar (uncultivable land), without the permission of the Union environment ministry.

4. Khashoggi murder: Turkey's Erdogan takes aim at Saudi prince Catch them: Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dug his heels into the scandalous murder of journalist and US resident Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, revealing more proof that shows the murder was planned well ahead and, more importantly, asking for the 15 accused Saudi officials — some of them close associates of Crown prince Mohammed bin Salman — to be tried in Turkey. But don't get caught: Erdogan, however, displayed some smart diplomatic manoeuvers during his presentation: he spoke of the "sincerity" of Saudi King Salman (Salman bin Abdulaziz) but made no mention of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (King's son and de facto ruler) in an attempt to maintain the ties even as he goes hard on the subject — Saudi is a trade partner. What does he have: Erdogan did not release the audio and video recordings of the murder but he knows the world believes him (some have got access to it) and thus is avoiding the admittance of bugging the Saudi consulate (or a spy?) by not publicising them. But he said a team of three had arrived from Riyadh the day before Khashoggi's murder and was spotted scouting forest regions in Istanbul, implicating they were looking for a place to discard the body. The Saudi act: Under pressure, Saudi has arrested the 'mastermind of the murder': Saud al-Qahtani, a top aide of the prince, who even oversaw the murder from Riyadh through a Skype video call (Turkey's audio clip has his voice too). Saudi says he acted on his own. But Qahtani is seen as prince's whip in Saudi and was the man who abducted the Prime Minister of Lebanon in a bizarre and over-the-top arm-twisting by Saudi in 2017. Could he have done something of this sort without the prince's direct approval? Turkish play: By asking for a trial in Turkey, Erdogan is seeking control of the narrative. The Khasshogi episode has given him a chance to show his 'democratic credentials' as against the monarchy of Saudi (though he is no paragon), and also try to put Saudi on the back foot as he tries to project himself as the leader of the Muslim world (he had previously said Turkey is the only nation that can be).

NEWS IN CLUES 5. Which auto major began as an aircraft engine maker? Clue 1: The first car to roll out of its stable was called the 'Dixi'. Clue 2: Its headquarters, designed by an Austrian architect professor, is in the shape and design of its famous four-cylinder engines. Clue 3: Automobiles aside, it has also designed the interiors of airplanes and trains. Scroll below for answer

6. Why Kenya's got the best athletes The nominations for the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) awards for the Athlete of the Year are out. And among the 20 nominations (10 each for men and women), a fifth are from Kenya. They are: Beatrice Chepkoech (in pic) World steeplechase record by 8 seconds, backed up by the 3rd quickest mark of all time Winner of 7 out of 8 steeplechase finals including the Continental Cup, African Championships and Diamond League Commonwealth Games silver in 1500m Timothy Cheruiyot World No. 1 at both 1500m and one mile, with 9 out of 11 wins across those distances Diamond League champion Silvers at the Commonwealth Games and African Championships Eliud Kipchoge London Marathon champion Berlin Marathon champion with the biggest improvement on a men's marathon world record since 1967 Emmanuel Korir World No. 1 and the world's fastest at 800m, since 2012 Diamond League champion, Continental Cup winner and African Championships silver World No. 6 at 400m Research says the Great Rift Valley in Kenya, due to its altitude (high), infrastructure (poor) and weather (mild), has caused people there to develop better lean muscles and higher VO2 max, which aid long-distance running. There is also a network effect in play here: As more athletes arrive from the region and earn global plaudits, others are encouraged to take up middle- and long-distance running. Both USA and South Africa boast two each among the 20 IAAF nominations, while Sweden, South Africa, France, Qatar, New Zealand, Great Britain, The Netherlands, Colombia, Bahrain, Croatia, Belgium and Poland have one each. There’s also an authorised neutral athlete.

7. Railways and locomotive to 'consciously uncouple' Train, yes. Locomotive no: Integral Coach Factory of the Indian Railways has developed India's first indigenous locomotive-less train, or the so-called 'engine-less train' — the train does not need a separate locomotive to be coupled for it to be dragged along, instead have its engine built within, like in a metro train. More power: Innovation isn't limited to the power source. The 18-coach train set — 16 regular AC coaches and 2 executive class — has a maximum speed of 220 kmph, which would make it the fastest on Indian rails when inducted. For now, the trial runs, to be held on Moradabad-Bareilly and Kota-Sawai Madhopur route, will look to achieve a speed of 160 kmph. Better view: The train that is expected to run on intra-day routes such as Mumbai-Ahmedabad, Delhi-Bhopal or Chennai-Bengaluru is also equipped with better seats; in executive class they can be turned 360 degrees, making it possible to face the window. 6 CCTV cameras are installed in each coach.

8. Mexico frets as 6,000 migrants head to the US Who: An estimated 6,000 migrants from Central American nations such as Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala (all affected by violence) have entered Mexico as they head to the US. Most who have entered have refused to seek asylum in Mexico, as that would make them stay there until the process is completed. Mexico is worried as the caravan of migrants has caught Trump's attention. He has called on Mexico to stop them before they reach the US-Mexico border — last year Mexico had to delicately control the migration situation but the size of the caravan (the largest ever) has put them on the back foot. Should they detain 6,000 people and risk a humanitarian crisis or should stand back and risk Trump's ire? Only recently did Mexico sign a crucial trade deal with the US. Trump is excited: The episode has proved fuel to Trump's anti-immigration politics. And it comes just days ahead of the mid-term elections to the states in the US. By highlighting the oncoming "alien crisis" — using the term Americans prefer for migrants — Trump hopes to energise Republicans to go to the booth and vote. Previous surveys show Democratic Party has seen a surge in registration on the back of campaign against Trump.

YOU SHARE YOUR B'DAY WITH... Source: Various

X-PLAINED 9. The world's longest sea bridge The world's longest sea bridge, which will bring China closer to Hong Kong, was inaugurated on Tuesday by President Xi Jinping. It's part of his plan to link the so-called Greater Bay Area in southern Guangdong province into a high-tech megalopolis (think California's Silicon Valley). It also envisions a stronger union between China's industrial might and its one-party state and the liberal, capitalist cities of Hong Kong and Macau. With the bridge opening for traffic today at 9 a.m. local time, here’s a look at what went into its making (with a little context). Cities linked: Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau Construction started: 2009 Cost: $15 billion or nearly one-sixth of Delhi's GDP Length: 55 km or 20 times the length of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge The breakup: 13.9 km (Zhuhai Link Road); 22.9 km (Main bridge); 6.7 km (Tunnel); 12 km (Hong Kong Link Road) Amount of steel required: 400,000 metric tonnes or 55 Eiffel Towers Reduction in travel time: From three hours to 30 mins Daily traffic expected: 29,000 cars & trucks Can resist impact of: Magnitude-8 earthquake, super typhoon or 300,000-tonne cargo vessel

10. Why Yarchagumba gives better returns than gold A turn on: Caterpillar fungus aka yarchagumba aka Ophiocordyceps sinensis or, to use the popular name, the Himalayan Viagra is an aphrodisiac to kill for — some in China and Nepal believe that it cures everything from impotence to cancer, and several have even been killed in clashes over the rare plant. Quite dear: The fungus has seen its price skyrocket due to its increasing scarcity following climate change, and sells for three times the price of gold in China — spot price for gold was around $39,808 in China on Tuesday. In India as well, collectors have reported sky-rocketing prices for the fungus — from Rs 100 apiece three years ago to Rs 500 per piece today. That, however, is a double-edged sword as decreasing availability of the fungus will have adverse economic consequences on the local communities, who depend on collecting and selling it to sustain themselves. Deadly genesis: The fungus is found only at an elevation above 9,800 feet and is formed when the parasitic fungus lodges itself in a caterpillar, slowly killing it. People consume it by boiling it in water to make tea or stew. Read the full story here

PLUS Now, Google search to find missing parents Gone boy: He went missing as a child and returned as an adult. Bhagyaban Rath, now 20, of Odisha's Kendrapada district went missing 14 years back but was reunited with his parents, thanks to a little bit of luck and a little bit of Google. Flashback: Bhagyaban got separated from his father while returning from a visit to his uncle's house in a neighbouring district's village. He was later rescued by a good samaritan and sheltered in a local orphanage; Bhagyaban went on to complete a diploma in mechanical engineering this year, thanks to the help received from the orphanage's in-charge. Homecoming: A faint childhood memory of the Hanuman temple where his uncle worked as a priest prompted Bhagyaban to search for the place on Google — he successfully located the village, Dasmantpur, then travelled there and was able to locate his uncle, who in turn helped him reunite with his parents.

KEEPING TRACK Uplift: In a bid to stay afloat, Jet Airways has asked banks to give a moratorium and restructure its loan, while seeking fresh funds to meet working capital requirement. The struggling airline has debt of over Rs 7,300 crore on June 30. Escalate: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan hit out at BJP and RSS for a "planned and deliberate attempt" to create tension in the state over Sabarimala. Meanwhile, Union minister Smriti Irani said right to pray did not mean right to desecrate. Space lift: NASA engineers have figured out how to bring the ailing Hubble Space Telescope back online after troubleshooting an instrument that wasn't working properly. The observatory, currently in orbit around Earth, has been in safe mode since October 5th when a crucial piece of steering hardware failed.

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Answer To NEWS IN CLUES BMW. Due to problems with a glycol coolant, the carmaker on Tuesday said it needed to recall more than 1 million additional diesel vehicles globally, making it one of the Munich-based company's largest safety recalls ever. Back in August this year, BMW issued a note saying that it was recalling 100,000 cars in South Korea on fears the vehicles may catch fire. Only a few days later, another 300,000 cars in Europe were added to the tally.