HONG KONG -- Hong Kong shares ended higher Wednesday, with the benchmark Hang Seng Index edging up after falling for five consecutive days.

The index recovered by 0.14 percent to end at 24,685.5 points, led by a 3.01-percent charge of Chinese online shopping platform Meituan.

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, a benchmark that reflects the overall performance of the Chinese mainland securities listed in Hong Kong, lost 0.37 percent to end at 8,794.82 points. (Hong Kong-Stocks-Hang Seng)

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NEW DELHI -- A top Indian health expert has said there was no need of COVID-19 booster doses in India at the moment.

Randeep Guleria, director of India's premier health institute All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, said the focus needs to be switched to increasing vaccine coverage. (India-COVID-19-Booster Dose)

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ISLAMABAD -- Two policemen were killed in a firing in Pakistan's northwestern Peshawar city, police said on Wednesday.

Police officers in the area told local media that security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in the wee hours of Wednesday to arrest suspects in Hayatabad area of Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The area was cordoned off following the incident and a hunt was on to nab the assailants. (Pakistan-Policemen-Firing)

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TALUQAN -- One person lost his life and another sustained injury as a blast struck a car in Warsaj district of the northern Takhar province on Tuesday, a provincial government official Ainudin Mutmahin said Wednesday.

The blast, according to the official, took place on Tuesday evening on a road in Warsaj district killing one person and injuring another. Both the victims are service members of district administration. (Afghanistan-Blast)