A deadly fungal disease called "white nose syndrome" is sweeping across North America, wiping out millions of bats. Dave Malkoff goes underground in North Carolina as scientists race to save these vital creatures.

A fungal disease called White Nose Syndrome is rapidly spreading across North America, resulting in the deaths of millions of bats. Scientists in Highland, North Carolina, are conducting research underground to monitor and protect bat populations, which are essential for controlling crop-destroying insects.

The disease causes bats to wake prematurely from hibernation, leading to starvation due to lack of available food. Researchers are experimenting with a bug-attracting light to help bats build fat reserves before hibernation, aiming to improve their chances of surviving the winter.

"White nose syndrome" killing millions of bats

Tonight, news about an urgent wildlife crisis. A deadly fungal disease called White Nose Syndrome is sweeping across North America, wiping out millions of bats. CBS's Dave Malkoff in Highland, North Carolina went underground as scientists race to save these vital creatures. This is a gold mine from the 1800s. We're only in here because we have permission. 20 feet below the ground, there's a race against time. You could easily get hurt. We are underground. It's a lot of slippery rocks. Things are unstable. North Carolina's tricolored bats are also unstable. That's a bat right there. They're among several species of bats who are quickly dying off in the dark. Oh, there's another one. Wow, look at his little ears coming down, and the wings. They hang from their toes, just like in the cartoons and storybooks of our childhood. Biologists Lindsey Zarecki and Olivia Munzer are trying to save them, mainly because the bats eat the same bugs that kill crops. As bat populations are declining, we see that there's a greater need for use of pesticides. These flying creatures may look scary, but the real monster in this cold and damp death trap is a highly infectious bat flesh decomposing fungus that will gnaw their wings right down to the bone. Today, we're just getting a count to see what is here and how many of them are there. And there's only a handful left, but it's not the fungus that kills them. During the winter hibernation, their white noses start to itch, waking them up when they go out looking for food. Bat is just gonna fly through here. They end up wasting precious calories looking for bugs that aren't in season, and they starve. But up here with bat expert Radha Petrik. This serves as a buffet for bats. Fat bat is a bright, bug-attracting light placed about a tennis court away from the bat cave. How about if we fatten the bats enough right before they go into hibernation that it increases the likelihood of them surviving the winter? These creatures of the dark potentially saved by a 12-volt light. Dave Malkoff, CBS News, Highlands, North Carolina.

President Trump says he has "sort of made up my mind" on whether to take military action in Venezuela. The comments come as America's largest aircraft carrier, the Ford, and other U.S. forces move within striking distance of the country. Charlie D'Agata has new details.

Caracas

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.

Washington

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

The UN climate talks in Brazil are facing increasing disruption from protesters. Thousands joined the "Great People's March" outside the conference venue to demand action on global warming instead of empty promises.

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

Flights begin to get back on track as shutdown ends

The U.S. military is expanding operations in the Caribbean and Puerto Rico amid its deadly boat strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats, while the Trump administration weighs military action against Venezuela.

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.

Chinese astronauts return to earth after spacecraft damaged

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

U.S. President Donald Trump is ducking press questions about newly released emails connecting him to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal activities ahead of an expected vote on releasing all Epstein case files by the U.S. House of Representatives as early as next week.

Trump avoids media’s Epstein email questions

The U.S. government lumbered back to life on Thursday (November 13) after the longest shutdown in U.S. history snarled air traffic, cut food assistance to low-income Americans and forced more than 1 million workers to go unpaid for more than a month. But the deep political divisions that caused the 43-day shutdown in the first place remain unresolved.

U.S. government opens up again but deep political divisions remain

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

As F-35 stealth fighter jets fly missions from a reopened naval base in Puerto Rico and Marines practice beach landings, sources tell CBS News the Pentagon is preparing for possible military action in Venezuela. Charlie D'Agata reports.

Pentagon preparing for possible military action in Venezuela

President Trump's name appears hundreds of times in the newly-released batch of 23,000 pages of records and messages from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, raising questions about their relationship. Mr. Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has called the scandal a "hoax" perpetrated by Democrats.

Trump named hundreds of times in newly released Epstein files

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

Middle East Conflict

Israeli settlers torch mosque in West Bank, residents say

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

Bangkok

Thailand-Cambodia tensions escalate as truce hangs in the balance

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is one step closer to the full release of the Justice Department's documents on Jeffrey Epstein after securing the final signature needed to force a House vote. Scott MacFarlane reports.

House to vote on Epstein files release after bipartisan group push

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.

Indigenous voices demand action at COP30 amid Amazon crisis

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.

Trump signs deal to end record 43-day U.S. shutdown

Venezuela is preparing a 'massive mobilization' of its military as the U.S.’s largest warship arrives in the Caribbean Sea after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a military buildup in the region.

Venezuela readying military as U.S.’s largest warship arrives

After 43 days, Congress passes a bill to reopen the U.S. government—Trump to sign spending legislation into law.

Washington County

U.S. House votes to re-open government, Trump to sign bill

Linda Sun faces trial – Prosecutors allege she secretly advanced China’s interests while serving in New York government.

Breakdown