NEW YORK -- U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping kicked off their first virtual summit on Monday evening U.S. time (Tuesday morning Asia time).

SINGAPORE -- Singapore state investor Temasek is holding off on new investment in Chinese tech companies for the time being due to uncertainty over Beijing's crackdown on the sector.

BANGKOK -- Thai Airways International's rehabilitation program has hit a roadblock as the national flag carrier experiences difficulty in finalizing loans to finance it through its time-consuming overhaul process.

KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia's island resort bubble for foreign tourists opened on a subdued note Monday, with hoteliers seeing little pent-up demand.

TOKYO -- Japan next year will start subsidizing companies and schools working together to set up educational programs, Nikkei has learned.

BANGKOK/YANGON -- U.S. journalist Danny Fenster, who was sentenced on Friday to 11 years in prison in Myanmar, was released on Monday, two sources with knowledge of the situation told Nikkei Asia.

MANILA -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has abandoned plans to retire from politics by filing his candidacy for senator in next year's elections.

TOKYO -- Japan's Murata Manufacturing, a key iPhone parts maker, said on Monday that it will make "strategic investments" worth 230 billion yen ($2.02 billion) over the next three years as part of efforts to climb the value chain in the smartphone and internet-of-things markets.

NEW DELHI -- Ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India for an annual summit with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi next month, Russia has begun supplying S-400 Triumf missile systems to India, giving a boost to New Delhi's air defense capabilities along its volatile borders with China and Pakistan.

NEW YORK -- Vincent Lin and his friends opened the Blue Willow in midtown Manhattan to give Chinese cuisine in New York a modern twist. The Hunan-style restaurant is proud of its authentic flavors and atmosphere.