Beijing says air quality improved in first half of 2016

Tulsa police: Officers fatally shoot ax-wielding man

TOP STORIES: SOUTH CHINA SEA — The Philippines' top diplomat said Tuesday he had rejected a Chinese offer to hold talks "outside of and in disregard" of an international tribunal's ruling last week that debunked Beijing's claim to ownership of virtually the entire South China Sea. By Jim Gomez. SENT: 650 words. AUSTRALIA-BIDEN VISIT —Vice President Joe Biden met with Australia's prime minister and other leaders on Tuesday, amid America's continued push to boost its presence in the Asia-Pacific region. SENT: 300 words, photos. KOREAS-TENSION —North Korea on Tuesday fired three ballistic missiles into its eastern sea in an apparent protest of South Korea's decision to allow the deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system in the country, Seoul officials said. By Kim Tong-yung. SENT: 500 words, photos. INDIA-REBEL ATTACK -- At least 10 Indian paramilitary soldiers were killed in an attack by Maoist rebels in a forest area in eastern India, police said Tuesday. SENT: 280 words. INDONESIA-SANTOSO —Indonesian police say they killed two militants in a shootout in a remote jungle area of Sulawesi and will carry out forensic tests to determine if one of the men is the country's most wanted Islamic radical. By Niniek Karmini. SENT: 270 words. HONG KONG-GERMANY-TRAIN ATTACK -- Hong Kong officials say four members of a family from the semiautonomous southern Chinese city were hurt in an ax and knife attack on a German train. SENT: 200 words. BANGLADESH WAR CRIMES -- A special tribunal in Bangladesh on Monday sentenced three militia members to death for carrying out killings and other serious crimes during the country's independence war against Pakistan 35 years ago. SENT: 250 words. BUSINESS AND FINANCE FINANCIAL MARKETS -- Asian stocks were mostly lower Tuesday as investors stuck to a holding pattern as they awaited more corporate earnings and a European Central Bank policy meeting later in the week. By Kelvin Chan. SENT: 500 words. ___ HOW TO REACH US: The editor in charge at the AP Asia-Pacific Desk in Bangkok is Scott McDonald. Questions and story requests are welcome. The news desk can be reached at (66) 2632-6911 or by email at asia@ap.org. The Asia Photo Desk can be reached at (81-3) 6215-8941. Between 1600 GMT and 0000 GMT, please refer queries to the North America Desk in New York at (1) 212-621-1650. Expanded AP content can be obtained from http://www.apexchange.com. For access to AP Exchange and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport@ap.org or call (1) 877-836-9477.

BC-AS--Asian News Digest, AS