Voters in Ecuador head to the polls to decide whether to reverse a constitutional ban and allow foreign military bases back in the country. It's part of President Daniel Noboa’s plan to fight drug trafficking - a $30 billion criminal economy, devastating coastal communities.

Manta

Ecuador is preparing for a national referendum on whether to permit foreign military bases in the country to bolster efforts against drug trafficking. The initiative comes amid a surge in violence in coastal areas like Manta, which have become transit hubs for cocaine shipments to Europe and the United States. President Daniel Novoa has advocated for the measure, arguing that international cooperation is necessary to combat transnational crime.

The proposal has divided public opinion, particularly among fishing communities who feel caught between criminal gangs and government crackdowns. Some residents fear that allowing foreign troops could lead to a repeat of past abuses associated with previous U.S. military presence, while others believe external support is essential to address the escalating drug war.

Ecuador to vote on foreign military presence to combat drug trafficking

Nearly four tons of cocaine seized and four fishermen arrested off the coast of Manta this week. The latest joint operation between Ecuador's Navy and the US Coast Guard. This city on Ecuador's Pacific coast has become a key transit hub for the drug heading to Europe and the United States. International cartels working with local gangs have turned once quiet fishing towns into some of the most violent places in the world. President Daniel Novoa says Ecuador needs more support and is urging voters to lift the constitutional ban on foreign military bases in Sunday's referendum. No one is going to give away Ecuador's sovereignty. I would rather die than give up my country. That will never happen. But we do need cooperation from other countries because crime is transnational. The issue deeply divides Ecuadorians, especially fishermen's families, many too fearful to speak publicly. Our fishermen are not drug traffickers. They are pulled into the trade for a small amount of money, something that might give their families a chance at a better life. Or they are duped by the real criminals. Fishermen from villages like this one say they're paying the highest price in this war, forced to pay extortion to fish, pressured to smuggle drugs and at risk of disappearing if they refuse. And if they're caught by the authorities, they're treated as smugglers, communities now living in fear, caught between the gangs and the government's crackdown. Many believe foreign troops will not fix the root causes driving the violence and fear a return of abuses linked to the previous U.S. presence. Fabricio Santana still mourns his brother who vanished at sea in 2002 with 17 others. There were many abuses. We never knew what really happened to our brother or to his crewmates. The boat simply disappeared. But there is little doubt that the Americans were involved. Honestly, with a new base, instead of feeling protected, we would feel even less protected. Ecuadorians will decide which vision they trust. Our outside help to confront a growing war or the fear that inviting foreign forces back could come at too high a price.

Construction work of a concrete wall continued on the Israeli side of southern border with Lebanon, despite the Lebanese presidency's threat to complain to the U.N. Security Council over the wall's extension into Lebanese territory.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Middle East Conflict

Israel constructs wall along Lebanon border

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro slammed planned joint military exercises by the United States and its ally Trinidad and Tobago as "irresponsible," with Washington increasing its armed presence in the Caribbean.

Caracas

Maduro denounces US military exercises

Despite U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated attempts to kill the effort to release federal files related to Jeffrey Epstein, House Republican leaders are planning to hold a vote this week on legislation to force the issue.

Washington

Claims Epstein emails mentioning Trump were 'selectively leaked'

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Trump says he's "sort of made up my mind" on Venezuela military action

President Trump says he will no longer support onetime close ally and Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene amid the ongoing fallout over the Epstein files. Willie James Inman reports.

Marjorie Taylor Greene 'threatened' by Trump supporters amid Epstein fallout

Flash flood warnings expanded on Saturday as rain hit wide swaths of California amid fears that the atmospheric river will intensify. Andres Gutierrez has the latest details.

Pacific Palisades

Rainstorm pummels California, triggering flash flood warnings

Large-scale protests at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, have drawn attention to environmental concerns and the preservation of the Amazon rainforest. Inside the summit, negotiations have been complicated by the absence of the United States.

Belém

Protesters block entrance to COP30 climate talks in Brazil

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Thousands join protest at COP30 climate talks in Brazil

Air travel and other government services, including SNAP benefits, are returning to normal following the end of the longest shutdown in U.S. history.

Los Angeles International Airport

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Trump administration weighs U.S military action in Venezuela

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced "Operation Southern Spear" in the Western Hemisphere as U.S. strikes continue in the region near Colombia and Venezuela. CBS News' Eleanor Watson reports.

Hegseth announces 'Operation Southern Spear'

The U.S. has approved the sale of $330 million worth of weapons to Taiwan as tensions rise in the region with China. CBS News' Nancy Cordes reports.

Taipei City

U.S. approves massive sale of weapons to Taiwan

Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn rocket on Thursday with NASA twin spacecraft destined for Mars aboard, and in a breakthrough nailed the landing of its booster.

Cape Canaveral

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket deploys Mars satellites

A three-person crew stranded at China’s space station after their spacecraft was apparently hit by space debris are to return Friday using the craft that brought their replacement crew.

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The AI firm Anthropic says Chinese hackers used its artificial intelligence tools to spy on tech companies, financial institutions and government agencies in what it believes is the first documented case of a worldwide cyberattack with minimal human involvement.

Rise of AI

Anthropic says Chinese hackers used its AI chatbot in cyberattack

Senior U.S. military officials have presented President Donald Trump with options for potential military operations inside Venezuela, including strikes on land, sources tell CBS News. Charlie D'Agata reports.

Trump weighs military plans against Venezuela

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Trump avoids media’s Epstein email questions

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China's factory output and retail sales grew at their weakest pace in over a year in October, piling pressure on policymakers to revamp the $19 trillion export-driven economy as mounting supply and demand strains threaten to further curtail growth.

Beijing

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Germany's government plans to bring back military service, to boost troop numbers to deal with the perceived threat from Russia. But voluntary conscription could become compulsory, if not enough recruits come forward.

Berlin

Germany outlines potential shift to compulsory conscription

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Pentagon preparing for possible military action in Venezuela

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A federal judge has ruled that hundreds of people detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement during "Operation Midway Blitz" in the Chicago area must be released. CBS News immigration and politics reporter Camilo Montoya-Galvez has more.

Chicago

Judge finds ICE illegally arrested hundreds of people in Chicago

For the first time in six weeks, the U.S. government is open. President Trump signed a bill last night to fund the government through the end of January.

Trump says he is 'willing to work with anyone' on health care

U.S. forces have killed four people in the latest strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean. CBS News national security coordinating producer James LaPorta has more.

U.S. forces kill four in latest Caribbean drug boat strike

Israeli settlers set fire to a mosque in the West Bank on Thursday (November 13) and sprayed racist slogans on its walls, Palestinian residents said.

Jerusalem

Israeli settlers torch mosque in West Bank, residents say

Thailand-Cambodia border tensions escalate days after a US-backed ceasefire agreement breaks down.

Bangkok

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With the Amazon nearing a tipping point, Indigenous voices are demanding immediate action at COP30, with campaigners saying their protests are a stark reminder that time is running out to stop catastrophic climate change.

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The U.S. government's longest standoff left both parties facing heavy criticism, and neither is likely to claim victory. Millions of Americans felt the impact, from hundreds of thousands of unpaid federal workers to families left without food stamps.

Breakdown