US authority is eroding, the CIA director admits.

Bill Burns, CIA Director, has warned that Washington's position as the "big kid on the geopolitical block" is no longer guaranteed. He argued that growing ties between China and Russia will present a "formidable challenge" for his agency for years to come. Burns condemned Russia's military operation in Ukraine and said the CIA has provided "good intelligence" to help the Ukrainians defend themselves. He also noted that Beijing remains the CIA's "biggest long-term priority" and that the risk of a conflict over Taiwan will continue to grow.