Srinagar, Oct 31: Filing of nominations for the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections comes to an end today.

Polling will be held on November 17 in 10 constituencies. The date of scrutiny is November 1 and last date for withdrawal of candidature is November 3.

Meanwhile, the Centre has dispatched 70 companies of para-military forces for ensuring security during the seven-phase elections in the State.

Security officials said that the Centre has so far sent 70 out of 425 sanctioned companies for ensuring security for polls during first phase of polling on November 17.

New Delhi, Oct 31 : Indian opener Gautam Gambhir was banned for one Test match after he was found guilty of elbowing Australia all-rounder Shane Watson during the ongoing third Test in Delhi.

International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee Chris Broad today charged Gambhir with a level-two offence of not conducting play "within the spirit of the game as well as within the laws of cricket".

Meanwhile, the BCCI is going to appeal to ICC to relax the punishment on Gambhir.

New Delhi, Oct 31 : External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will begin his three-day visit to Iran from today to discuss ways to push the proposed trilateral gas pipeline project.

During his visit, Mukherjee will attend the Joint Commission meeting during which the two sides are expected to discuss various other initiatives to enhance their ties.

The two sides will also hold talks on several issues, including trade and business to enhance the bilateral ties.

New Delhi, Oct 31 : UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon will meet Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh here today.

He is expected to hold talks on the current global financial crisis and climate change with Indian leaders.

Issues like the situation in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal will also be considered during the meeting between the two sides.

The Secretary General is also scheduled to meet President Pratibha Patil, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition LK Advani.

New Delhi, Oct 31 : The Home Secretary-level talks between India and Nepal will be held here today.

The Indian delegation will be led by Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta and Nepalese delegation by their Home Secretary Govinda Prasad Kusum.

The two sides will discuss a broad range of issues relating, inter-alia, to security, border management, and training and capacity-building of officials or police in Nepal.

Effective cooperation for combating terrorist activities and trans-border crimes will be high on the agenda.

The two sides will also review the progress in implementing the decisions arrived at the last Secretary-level talks held on September 25 in Kathmandu.

Jammu, Oct 30 : At least six persons were killed and 29 others injured today in a tragic road accident in Doda District of Jammu and Kashmir.

The accident occurred about six kilometers from Doda town when a passenger bus plunged down a 250 foot deep ravine on the bank of river Chenab on its way to Doda.

The overcrowded private bus had left Kishtawar for Doda at around 2 p. m. and veered off the highway while approaching Doda.

Six persons were reportedly killed on the spot, while 29 others were injured, 10 of them critically.