. >> earlier, ai uchida spoke with the reporter on that story in beijing. >> fascinating report. are there any signs as to why pyongyang is taking these steps? >> reporter: closing the border shows just h worried the government is about covid-19. the move has stopped the flow of goods with the north's largest trading partner, which must be hurting the economy. it has also apparently led to affairs of smuggling, since that could bring the virus as well. >> the ruling workers party is due to hold its eighth congress early next month. do you think that will shed more light on the situation? >> reporter: leader kim jong-un is expected to deliver a speech at the event, when is being held for the first time since 2016. he will likely try measures to limit the pandemic's economic impact. observers will also be watching for statements about the nuclear and missile programs. it may also be a chance for kim to lay out policyies as the u.s biden administration prepares to take power. >>> a long-running court battle over an ancient relic is set to resume in south korea. it centers on a small

i'm ai uchida. >>> we begin with the coronavirus.he tokyo metropolitan department reported 738 new cases in the japanese capital wednesday. the figure is the second highest after last thursday's record of 821. the last time the daily tally surpassed 700 was saturday when 736 infections were confirmed. the total number of cases confirmed in tokyo since the start of the pandemic now stands at 53,130. concern about the spread of a new variant of the virus is causing major disruptions in the united kingdom as some countries have banned passenger flights from britain. japan's government says it will refuse new entries from the uk for the time being. >> translator: the government will continue to protect people's health. our top priority is ensuring everyone is safe and secure over the year-end holidays. we will implement border controls to prevent new coronavirus infections. >> chief cabinet secretary kato katsunoba said japan's stepped-up measures will take effect from thursday. he said japanese and nonjapanese residents who take short b

it is tuesday, december 29th, i'm ai uchida, in tokyo. let's start, right here, in japan, where it has been a bullish day for financial markets. tokyo's benchmark stock index surged to a 30-year closing high, boosted by hopes for a long-awaited u.s. pandemic-relief package. the nikkei 225 ended, tuesday, at 27,568. that's up more than 700 points, or around 2.7%, from monday's close. it's the highest-finishing level, since august, 1990. investors snapped up a wide range of shares, after key indices in new york hit new peaks. >>> now, to the latest on the pandemic. the tokyo metropolitan government reported 856 new coronavirus cases in the japanese capital, on tuesday. that daily tally is the highest for a tuesday, since the pandemic began. the tuesday figure is usually lower, as many medical institutions are closed on weekends. the total number of people who have tested positive for the virus in tokyo now stands at 57,896. >>> the economic impact of the virus is becoming clearer, in japan. a government survey has found nearly 80,000 people

i'm ai uchida. >>> we begin with the coronavirus.he tokyo metropolitan department reported 738 new cases in the japanese capital wednesday. the figure is the second highest after last thursday's record of 821. the last time the daily tally surpassed 700