Xinhua Asia-Pacific News Summary at 1600GMT, Jan. 8

An Indian magistrate's court in Mumbai on Thursday rejected the bail application of software engineer Anees Ansari who was arrested for allegedly conspiring to blow up U.S. establishments in the city, said Press Trust of India.

Earlier, the sessions court had rejected his bail application on Dec. 22, 2014.

In the present application, Ansari argued that as the murder charge was not applicable, the police should have filed the charge sheet within 60 days, which they did not, according to the report. (India-Blow Plan-Bail)

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ISLAMABAD -- At least seven militants were killed in a search operation conducted by police in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi on Thursday, officials said.

Senior Superintendent Police Rao Anwar said that some 500 policemen participated in the search operation on an intelligence tip-off of the presence of suspected militants in Sohrab Goth area of Karachi, the capital city of Sindh province.(Pakistan-Operation- Militants)

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COLOMBO -- High voter turnouts were recorded during Sri Lanka's hotly contested presidential elections on Thursday with election officials recording a largely peaceful poll.

Voter turnouts in many parts of the country, including the former war-torn northern and eastern provinces, were high with people turning out to vote early. Long lines were observed at most of the polling centers scattered around the country.(Sri Lanka- Election-Peace)

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TIRIN KOT, Afghanistan -- One policeman was killed and two others wounded in a bomb attack in southern Afghanistan Uruzgan province on Thursday, police said.

The blast took place after a police vehicle running along a road in Mehar Abad locality of provincial capital Tirin Khot was struck by a roadside planted bomb, deputy provincial police chief Mohammad Islam Kochai told Xinhua. (Afghanistan-Attack-Casualties) Endi