November 18, Wednesday, 2020 (1:30 p.m.) Newsline

  1. A senior U.S. Defense Department official says the United States will reduce the number of troops in Afghanistan and Iraq to about 2,500 each by mid-January. Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller said on Tuesday that the move will implement President Donald Trump’s orders to reposition U.S. forces in the two countries.
  2. Record numbers of patients are entering U.S. hospitals after testing positive for coronavirus. Intensive care units are approaching or over capacity. Healthcare professionals are overwhelmed.
  3. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government plans to raise its coronavirus alert level to the highest of four levels on Thursday. The COVID-19 outbreak is flaring up in the Japanese capital.