A Chinese aircraft carrier in the East China Sea. Photo: AFP via Getty Images
After a decade of discussing a potential military hotline to avoid escalation in the East China Sea, Tokyo and Beijing have agreed to establish one, Reuters reports.
The big picture: Tensions in the Sino-Japanese relationship have been simmering down, with the two countries working more closely together amid mounting uncertainty around U.S. foreign policy and a potential trade war.
Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
Seven states set new highs last week for coronavirus infections recorded in a single day, according to the COVID Tracking Project and state health departments. Wisconsin and Nebraska surpassed records set the previous week.
Why it matters: Problem spots are sticking in the Midwest, although the U.S. is moving in the right direction overall after massive infection spikes this summer.
Photo: Greg Nash/Pool/Getty Images
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said in a statement Sunday that she opposes holding a Senate confirmation vote on President Trump's nomination to replace Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before the election.
Why it matters: Murkowski joins Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) as one of two Republican senators who have thus far said that they do not support rushing through a confirmation vote before November. Two more defections would likely force Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to resort to holding a vote in the lame-duck session, which neither Murkowski nor Collins have addressed.