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China is becoming the most formidable rival America has faced, and the risk of confrontation with Russia, North Korea or Iran still looms. Authoritarians are rising, the chaotic Afghanistan exit revealed the limits of U.S. power, and the pandemic, climate change and other critical challenges continue to pose grave threats.

World

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Pete Reed died in Ukraine on Thursday, according to a statement from his wife and from Global Response Medicine, the humanitarian aid group he founded.

The big picture: At least seven Americans are known to have died in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began a year ago. 

The U.S. government has discouraged Americans from fighting in Ukraine over concerns that they may be taken hostage by Russian forces.

Driving the news: Reed, 33, was evacuating civilians in Bakhmut and responding to the wounded when the shelling occurred, his wife, Alex Potter, said in a post.

He'd stepped away from his charity last month to work with Global Outreach Doctors on their mission in Ukraine and was killed while rendering aid, according to Global Response Medicine.

What they're saying: "He died doing what he was great at, what gave him life, and what he loved, and apparently by saving a team member with his own body," his wife said.

"This is a stark reminder of the perils rescue and aid workers face in conflict zones as they serve citizens caught in the crossfire," the charity said. 

Former Marine killed in Ukraine while giving aid to wounded

"He died doing what he was great at, what gave him life, and what he loved," Pete Reed's wife said in a tribute post.

Black smoke rises after shelling in Bakhmut on Feb. 3 amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Photo: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine

The top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee said Saturday that the high-altitude balloon flying over the U.S. this week that came from China is "embarrassing" for Beijing. 

The big picture: The Pentagon has accused China of using the balloon to collect information on sensitive military sites. China has denied those allegations and said the balloon is a civilian airship for "mainly meteorological" purposes.

What they're saying: "I think China's very embarrassed by this," Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) said on Fox News. 

Smith said the balloon was not a "particularly effective" spying tool since the U.S. is familiar with the technology and the balloon wouldn't capture something satellites couldn't see.  

"It's never a positive thing to have your spying efforts exposed to the globe. So it's not a positive for China in any way, shape or form," he added. 

Everything we know about the China balloon

Blinken postpones trip to China after balloon discovery

Top Armed Services Democrat: China "embarrassed" by balloon incident

"It's never a positive thing to have your spying efforts exposed to the globe."

Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) speaks during a meeting of the House Committee on Rules at the U.S. Capitol on July 12, 2022. Photo: Oliver Contreras/AFP

China

President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

Politics & Policy

China downplayed Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceling a visit to Beijing in the wake of a suspected spy balloon flying over the U.S., saying that a meeting between the two countries had never been formally announced.

Why it matters: Blinken confirmed Friday that he postponed a planned trip to China after the surveillance balloon was discovered.

His trip would've been the first visit by a top U.S. diplomat in six years.

The big picture: The Chinese balloon — suspected of flying over sensitive areas to collect information — has been flying over the U.S. since Wednesday.

Blinken told Wang Yi, China's top foreign affairs official, that the surveillance balloon in U.S. airspace "is a clear violation of U.S. sovereignty and international law."

He added that it was "an irresponsible act" and "was detrimental to the substantive discussions that [the U.S. and China] were prepared to have.”

China claimed the balloon is a civilian airship for "mainly meteorological" purposes.

What they're saying: “In actuality, the U.S. and China have never announced any visit, the U.S. making any such announcement is their own business, and we respect that,” China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement Saturday morning, per AP. 

Of note: The Pentagon confirmed to Axios that there's a second balloon flying over Latin America. 

“We now assess it is another Chinese surveillance balloon,” Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said.

China downplays Blinken postponing visit over alleged spy balloon

China argued that neither side had formally announced any plan for Blinken to visit Beijing.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks on human rights at the State Department on April 12, 2022, in Washington, D.C. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Tony Blinken

U.S. lawmakers warn of Azerbaijan blockade "catastrophe"

"If this continues, I fear a humanitarian catastrophe," Rep. Linda Sánchez said on the House floor.

Armenians protest Dec. 27 at a Russian peacekeepers' checkpoint outside Stepanakert, in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Photo: Ani Balayan/AFP via Getty Images

Adam Schiff

 Rep. Adam Schiff at the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 25 in Washington, D.C. 

Majid Khan, a detainee at the U.S. detention facility at Guantánamo Bay, has been transferred to Belize after completing his sentence, the Department of Defense announced Thursday.

The big picture: Khan was the first person to publicly testify about the brutal treatment he experienced as part of the U.S. government's interrogation program at CIA black sites. His transfer comes as the Biden administration moves to make good on its promise to close the Guantánamo prison.

Khan, who admitted to his role as an al-Qaeda courier, agreed to a deal with prosecutors in February 2012 and pleaded guilty to charges, including conspiracy, murder and providing material support to terrorists.

He spent roughly three years in CIA black site facilities before he was moved to Guantánamo in 2006 and subsequently cooperated with U.S. authorities in other investigations.

Khan was sentenced to no more than 11 years and received credit for his time in custody since 2012.

What they're saying: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin notified Congress of his intent to transfer Khan to the government of Belize on Dec. 22, and "in consultation with Belize partners, we completed the requirements for responsible transfer," the Department of Defense said in a statement.

"The United States appreciates the willingness of the Government of Belize and other partners to support ongoing U.S. efforts focused on responsibly reducing the detainee population and ultimately closing the Guantanamo Bay facility."

Worth noting: 34 people remain detained at Guantánamo Bay — 20 are eligible for transfer, according to the department.

Guantánamo Bay detainee who testified about CIA abuse transferred to Belize

His transfer comes as the Biden administration moves to make good on its promise to close the Guantánamo prison.

Photo of a guard post with the American flag flying in the front

A guard post at the U.S. Detention Center in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba in 2010. Photo: Paul J. Richards /AFP via Getty Images