New Delhi, Oct 15 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 9 pm: TOP STORIES DEL28 PM-LD DEFENCE More trust in defence sector now than ever before: PM after unveiling of 7 defence firms New Delhi: There is more transparency, trust and technology-driven approach in India"s defence sector now than ever before and major reforms are taking place for the first time since Independence while discarding stagnant policies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday. DEL9 VIRUS-LD CASES Active COVID-19 cases in country lowest in 216 days New Delhi: India logged 16,862 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,40,37,592, while the active cases declined to 2,03,678, the lowest in 216 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. DEL61 GOVT-2NDLD HUNGER INDEX Dip in India"s rank in Global Hunger Index "shocking", methodology used is "unscientific": Govt New Delhi: The Centre on Friday said it was shocking that India"s rank was lowered on the Global Hunger Index and it termed the methodology used for rankings "unscientific". DEL40 DEF-NEW-COMPANIES Will provide financial support to 7 new defence companies if required: Rajnath New Delhi: Seven new defence public sector undertakings, carved out of the erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), were on Friday dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of a major reform initiative to boost India"s defence production. DEL52 HR-FARMERS- 3RD LD LYNCH Man lynched at Singhu border for "desecrating" holy book, hand chopped off Singhu border/Chandigarh: A man was lynched, his hand chopped off and the body bearing over 10 wounds caused by sharp-edged weapons tied to a barricade at a farmers" protest site at Kundli near the Delhi-Haryana border, a gruesome incident being blamed on a group of Nihangs. DEL55 FARMER-LYNCH-BJP Need to expose "anarchists" behind farmers" protest: BJP on lynching at protest site New Delhi: Hitting out at farmer leaders over lynching of a man near a protest site in Kundli, the BJP on Friday said "anarchists" behind these protests need to be exposed as they are doing a great disservice to the nation. DEL32 CONG-HR-FARMERS-LYNCH No place for violence, govt"s responsibility to investigate: Cong on Haryana incident New Delhi: Asserting that there is no place for violence anywhere, the Congress on Friday said it is the government"s responsibility to investigate the incident in which the body of a man has been found near a farmers" protest site in Haryana, and that the law should take its course. DEL50 DL-KISAN-MORCHA-LYNCH SKM leaders smell conspiracy behind lynching of man at farmers" protest venue New Delhi: The Samyukta Kisan Morcha on Friday condemned the lynching of a man at a farmers" protest venue at Kundli near the Delhi-Haryana border and claimed that there could be a conspiracy behind the incident. DEL58 RAHUL-BHUTAN-CHINA-PACT Govt"s foreign policy -- how to lose friends, influence nobody: Rahul"s dig at Centre New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday took a dig at the Centre over Bhutan and China signing a pact on border talks, saying the government"s foreign policy is about how to lose friends and influence nobody. DEL43 CONG-CHINA-VIDEO Cong questions govt silence on veracity of "Galwan video", says PM must ensure China is held accountable New Delhi: The Congress on Friday questioned the silence of the government on the veracity of a video which purportedly shows injured Indian soldiers in captivity of the Chinese and said if it is genuine, then Prime Minister Narendra Modi must ensure that China is held globally accountable for indulging in war crimes. DEL30 JK-LD ENCOUNTER Two army personnel killed in encounter in J-K"s Poonch district Jammu: Two army personnel were killed in an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir"s Poonch district, officials said on Friday. DEL53 JK-LD GUNBATTLE Militant involved in civilian killings in Srinagar gunned down in encounter in Pulwama Srinagar: A militant involved in the recent civilian killings in Srinagar was gunned down in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, police said. DEL41 JEE-2NDLD ADVANCED JEE-Advanced 2021: Mridul Agarwal from Delhi zone bags top rank; Kavya Chopra topper among females New Delhi: Mridul Agarwal from Delhi zone has topped the JEE-Advanced this year by scoring the highest marks ever in the IIT entrance exam, results for which were announced on Friday. DEL54 UP-2NDLD ACCIDENT 11 killed after tractor-trolley overturns in UP"s Jhansi Jhansi (UP): At least 11 people, including four children, were killed here on Friday after a tractor-trolley in which they were travelling overturned when the driver suddenly applied the brakes to avoid hitting an animal, police said. FOREIGN FGN44 ISRAEL-LD INDIA India is ‘strategic partner and very close friend’: Israeli official says ahead of EAM"s visit Jerusalem: Ahead of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar"s important visit to Israel, a top Israeli Foreign Ministry official on Friday said that India is “a strategic partner and a very close friend” as he extended warm greetings to the people on Dussehra. Harinder Mishra PTI KJ