An independent report gives a new timeline of how January's devastating wildfires in California broke out. CBS News correspondent Carter Evans has more from Pacific Palisades, California.

Los Angeles

An independent review conducted by the Fire Safety Research Institute has released a detailed timeline of the Pacific Palisades and Eaton wildfires that occurred in California in January. The report, commissioned by the governor's office, highlights that emergency alerts for the Eaton fire were not sent until more than six hours after the initial fires were observed moving toward West Altadena, a delay not previously documented.

The first phase of the report does not analyze the actions taken during the fires but focuses on the sequence of events. Recovery efforts in affected communities remain slow, with residents facing lengthy waits for building permits and difficulties with insurance claims, especially for homes that survived but suffered smoke damage.

Independent report released on Pacific Palisades, Eaton fires

An independent report is giving us a new timeline of how January's devastating wildfires in California broke out. The independent review was commissioned by the governor's office, focusing on the Pacific Palisades and Eaton fires. More than 30 people lost their lives and thousands of homes, businesses, and other structures were destroyed. CBS News correspondent Carter Evans joins us now from Pacific Palisades, California. So Carter, what new information did this report reveal? So there have been a lot of investigations into the cause of these fires, Liz, but this one gives a lot of detail. This is the Fire Safety Research Institute. It's the same organization that did the report on the Lahaina fire in Maui. And basically, this is the first phase of their investigation, and that is an extremely detailed timeline of how this fire occurred. What we don't see in this first phase of the report, though, is any analysis of the actions that were taken during the fire. But for example, we did learn more about the timeline in the Eaton fire, and that emergency alerts didn't go out until more than six hours after the first fires were spotted moving towards West Altadena. So that detail in the timeline, that's something we haven't had before. We've also had a lot of information that's been reported recently since these after-action reports by the LA Times, citing text messages between firefighters and a battalion chief telling the battalion chief that the fire area that they were on that had occurred before the Palisades fire was still hot and it was still smoldering, yet they were told to roll up their hoses anyway. So when we get phase two of this report, I'll be very curious to see if there's any detail about that. Yeah, what more questions do you have about that lag between the fire breaking out in the messaging system, and also where do the recovery efforts stand today? So we're in Palisades right now, and you can still see some of the destruction behind me. Almost all of the fire debris has been cleaned up, but I'll tell you, I live here and construction is extremely slow. I've talked with my neighbors, I've talked with people in the community. In some cases, it's taking them three, four, five months to obtain building permits. And in some cases, this is to build the exact same house that was there before. So while there is construction going on here right now, relative to the number of homes that were lost, it is simply not that much. Now, also, people whose homes survived the fire but got smoke damage inside, all these contaminants, Tesla batteries burning, that sort of thing, they are still having trouble with insurance. And most of the homes that survived the fires have not been cleaned up yet or remediated for smoke damage, when right down the street, you've got a new home that's almost completed. It's a very odd situation here. Carter Evans, we know you'll stay on top of it. Thank you.

President Trump approved a 28-point plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war, a senior White House official confirms to CBS News. Ramy Inocencio has the latest.

Washington

Ukraine Invasion

Trump approved 28-point plan to end Russia-Ukraine war

There are reports that the U.S. and Russia have drafted a plan that would end the war in Ukraine, but it proposes that Kyiv give up territory and some weapons.

Kyiv

Ukraine expected to give up land, some arms under U.S. peace plan

All 267 people on board a South Korean passenger ferry that ran aground off the southwestern tip of the Korean peninsula on Wednesday (November 19) have been rescued, in an incident that revived memories of the major ferry disaster in 2014 in which 300 people died.

Mokpo-si

Ferry runs aground off South Korea, crew negligence suspected

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed the bill that forces the Justice Department to release the files from its investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The bill was passed by the U.S. House and Senate on Tuesday.

Trump signs bill to release Epstein files

U.S. officials are now in Kyiv for the Trump administration's renewed push to end the Russia-Ukraine war. CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent and "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan has the details.

U.S. officials in Ukraine to push for renewed peace talks

Harvard University is opening a new inquiry into faculty connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Cam Srivastava, college administration reporter for The Harvard Crimson, joins CBS News with more.

Cambridge

Harvard announces new probe into faculty ties to Jeffrey Epstein

U.S. President Donald Trump has authorized a plan for the CIA in Venezuela, according to a New York Times report. CBS News' Charlie D'Agata has more details.

Trump authorizes plans for CIA covert operation in Venezuela: report

An Israeli strike on the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon killed 13 people and wounded several others, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Wednesday. The Israeli military said it struck Hamas militants who it said were operating in a training compound there.

Beirut

Middle East Conflict

Israeli strike on Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon kills 13

The Epstein files bill is expected to reach President Donald Trump's desk for his signature on Wednesday (November 19). CBS News' Taurean Small reports.

Trump set to sign bill to release Epstein files

Microsoft and Nvidia plan to invest a combined $15 billion into Anthropic. Bloomberg Intelligence's Mandeep Singh discusses why two of the biggest backers of OpenAI are putting money into its rival.

San Francisco

Microsoft, Nvidia to invest up to $15 billion in Anthropic

Hamas rejects the US-drafted UN resolution for a Gaza ceasefire and international stabilisation force.

New York

UN Security Council vote: Hamas rejects Gaza 'peace resolution'

President Trump welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to the White House on Tuesday. The two leaders announced a boost in Saudi Arabia's planned investment in the U.S., from $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion.

Trump, MBS announce boost in Saudi investment to U.S.

President Donald Trump hosted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House on Tuesday, with the Saudi de facto ruler seeking to further rehabilitate his global image after the 2018 killing of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi and deepen ties with Washington.

Trump hosts Saudi crown prince for pomp-filled, deal-making visit

The Senate, through the process of unanimous consent, agreed to send the bill to President Trump's desk for his signature without any amendments once it's received from the House.

Senate to send Epstein files bill to Trump's desk for signature

The House has approved a bill that would require the Justice Department to release files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The bill, which received bipartisan support, now awaits consideration in the Senate.

House passes bill that would force release of Jeffrey Epstein files

Hopes for a strong G20 declaration on climate and debt relief are slim as South Africa readies to host the summit from Saturday (November 22). Global tensions and a boycott by the United States threaten to overshadow the gathering.

Johannesburg

South Africa readies for G20 despite U.S. boycott

At least one person is dead and three others were injured after an attack in the West Bank, Israeli forces said. Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council backed the U.S. plan for Gaza. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio has the latest.

Jerusalem

Tensions escalate as U.N. Security Council backs Trump's plan for Gaza

U.S. President Donald Trump will host Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House, his first visit since Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in 2018. The crown prince has denied any involvement.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visiting White House

The sale of the fighter jets is one of several major deals between the two countries expected to be announced during the visit.

Trump says he will sell F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia

The U.K. government has proposed a major overhaul of its asylum rules, making it easier to deport people and quadruple the amount of time it takes to become a permanent resident.

London

U.K. introduces tougher laws for asylum seekers

In a blistering opinion, a federal judge in Virginia accused Justice Department prosecutor Lindsay Halligan of misconduct, saying there was a "disturbing pattern of profound investigative missteps."

Virginia

DOJ accused of 'profound investigative missteps' in Comey case

The United Nations Security Council has voted to adopt a U.S. resolution outlining President Trump's peace plan for post-war Gaza. CBS News senior foreign correspondent Holly Williams has the details.

U.N. Security Council adopts U.S. resolution on Gaza plan

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford has arrived in the Caribbean, giving the United States the ability to strike inside Venezuela if President Trump gives the order. The U.S. has also sent thousands of troops to the region.

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President Trump now says Republicans should vote to release all of the files related to the federal investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. CBS News' Olivia Rinaldi and Nikole Killion have the latest on what could happen next.

Trump's Epstein files reversal comes amid pressure from allies

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called an explosion on a railway line “an unprecedented act of sabotage.” Donald Tusk did not say who he believed had carried out the attack, but a government minister said "foreign intelligence agencies" were responsible.

Warsaw

Railway line blast in Poland ‘unprecedented act of sabotage’

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy signed a landmark deal in Paris on Monday to buy 100 Rafale jets, drones, and air defense systems from France.

Paris

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The Federal Aviation Administration ended mandated cuts in domestic flights at 40 major U.S. airports, easing restrictions that had been imposed over air traffic control concerns during the federal shutdown.

FAA ends mandated cuts in domestic U.S. flights

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to oppose any attempt to establish a Palestinian state, a day before the UN Security Council will vote on a U.S.-drafted resolution on Gaza that leaves the door open to Palestinian independence.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Netanyahu insists there can be no Palestinian state ahead of UN vote

A Bangladesh court sentenced ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity on Monday (November 17), concluding a months-long trial that found her guilty of ordering a deadly crackdown on a student-led uprising last year.

Dhaka

Bangladesh's ousted PM sentenced to death for protest crackdown

President Donald Trump now appears to support the release of all Jeffrey Epstein files as the House of Representatives readies for a vote on the matter. CBS News' Natalie Brand reports.

Breakdown