The Japanese government plans to seek an early conclusion to talks with the administration of president-elect Joe Biden on its share of the cost of stationing US forces in the country. Biden is set to take office next month.

The two countries have not reached an agreement in working-level talks which started last month. It is unusual for the discussions to stretch to the following year.

Japan's health ministry says it plans to approve antigen tests kits on Wednesday that can quickly screen for the new coronavirus.

The test is similar to those used for the flu, where fluid is swabbed from the back of a patient's nostril and placed onto the kit.