8 bagged bodies found with note in narco-trafficking hotspot
The discovery comes in the midst of a U.S.-backed military crackdown on the organized crime gangs in Ecuador.
Ecuador
Judge shot dead while heading to gym without her bodyguards
Lady Pachar was shot that day while traveling by car to a gym in the southwestern city of Machala.
Ecuador to extradite notorious drug gang leader to U.S.
Dario Penafiel, known as "Topo," allegedly worked closely with one of Ecuador's most powerful drug lords, Adolfo Macias, alias "Fito."
Exclusive
U.S. commandos in Ecuador for mission targeting alleged narco-terrorists
American commandos joined Ecuadorian troops in a joint mission aimed at dismantling a suspected criminal hub along the country's coast.
Alleged Hezbollah member on U.S. terror list is arrested in Ecuador
The Syrian man has been identified as a terrorist threat by the U.S. for belonging to Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
Fugitive wanted in killing of Ecuadorian candidate arrested in Mexico
Ángel Esteban Aguilar Morales is one of the alleged ringleaders of the Ecuadorian criminal gang "Los Lobos" and one of the country's most-wanted fugitives.
Ecuador launches U.S.-backed anti-drug operations: "We're at war"
The operation marks the latest joint show of force against drug cartels in the South American country.
U.S., Ecuador carry out joint anti-drug strikes, video shows
U.S. and Ecuadoran forces conducted "lethal kinetic operations" inside Ecuador to combat drug trafficking in the South American country, SOUTHCOM said.
Strike on alleged drug boat kills 6 in Eastern Pacific, U.S. military says
The U.S. military says it has killed six men in a strike on an alleged drug-smuggling vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean as part of the Trump administration's campaign against alleged traffickers.
Ecuador sinks "narco sub" as nation works with U.S. to fight organized crime
Ecuador and the U.S. began joint military operations on Tuesday, the U.S. Southern Command said on social media.
Human heads displayed at Ecuador tourist beach in warning to gangs
Images on social media showed five heads tied with ropes on two wooden posts at a popular whale watching destination in Ecuador's southwest.
Soccer star Mario Pineida shot and killed in Ecuador
Guayaquil has become a hotspot for gang violence linked to drug trafficking and several soccer players in Ecuador have been targeted in recent months.
13 inmates found dead after explosion at prison in Ecuador
The deaths occurred Sunday at a prison in the coastal city of Machala, Ecuador, after "the detonation of an explosive device" outside, officials said.
Leader of gang targeted by U.S. captured years after faking his death
Wilmer Chavarriais is believed to be the leader of Los Lobos, a drug trafficking syndicate that was recently designated a terrorist organization by the U.S.
U.S. reaches trade frameworks with Argentina, Guatemala, El Salvador and Ecuador
The agreements will likely affect the prices of things like cocoa, bananas and coffee.
31 dead after Ecuador prison riot, officials say
At least 27 inmates were found dead from asphyxiation at a prison in Ecuador where a riot broke out that left four others dead earlier in the day, officials said.
16-year-old soccer player killed by stray bullet in Ecuador
Since 2021, Ecuador has experienced growing criminal violence by gangs operating in coordination with Colombian and Mexican cartels involved in drug trafficking.
Half of uncontacted tribes could be wiped out in 10 years, report says
Loggers were killed after entering Mashco Piro territory in Peru's Amazon, with Indigenous leaders warning that such clashes are inevitable when frontier zones go unpoliced.
Ecuador releases survivor of U.S. strike on alleged "narco sub"
Ecuador released a man who survived a U.S. strike on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel after finding no evidence that he had committed a crime, officials said.
Boat strike survivors return to home countries
The Department of Defense has released footage from Friday's deadly strike on an alleged drug-carrying vessel in the Caribbean Sea. CBS News Pentagon reporter and producer Eleanor Watson has the details.
Judge shot dead while walking his kids to school in Ecuador
Police said the Los Lobos gang -- designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. -- was suspected of the attack on the judge.
14 people killed, with victims showing "signs of torture" in Ecuador
Four men and four women had "signs of torture" with their hands tied together and "their heads covered in black bags," according to a police report.
17 killed in Ecuador prison riot days after deadly jailbreak
Clashes between drug gangs claimed at least 17 lives at an Ecuadoran prison, with rampaging inmates beheading and maiming rivals, officials said.
14 killed in prison clashes in Ecuador as some inmates escape
Ecuador has seen violence spiral in recent years as enemy gangs with ties to Mexican and Colombian cartels vie for control.
Prehistoric insects trapped in amber give glimpse into ancient life
Scientists have discovered prehistoric insects preserved in amber in South America for the first time.
Exclusive
Journalist in Iran's Evin Prison pleads for medical help for U.S. captives
CBS News has obtained a voice memo recorded by Iranian American journalist Reza Valizadeh, who has been detained in Evin Prison for over a year.
Homan defends conditions at N.J. ICE detention center: "The spaghetti was good"
In a CBS News interview, White House border czar Tom Homan defended conditions at the Delaney Hall ICE detention center, amid intense protests over the New Jersey facility. "
Live
Israel-Hezbollah fighting casts cloud over prospects for U.S.-Iran peace deal
It remains unclear how close the U.S. and Iran are to striking a deal to end the Iran war amid continued hostilities between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Trump says he wants Pulte to "start the process" of shrinking intel office
President Trump told the Wall Street Journal he may even want to terminate the Office of the Director of National Intelligence altogether.
Employers added 172,000 jobs in May, topping expectations
The labor market continues to show strength despite rising inflation and concerns about slowing economic growth.
Senate passes reconciliation bill to fund ICE for 3 years, without DOJ fund ban
Senate Republicans passed funding for the Department of Homeland Security's immigration enforcement agencies following a "vote-a-rama." The measure didn't ban the administration's "anti-weaponization" fund.
Anthony Head, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Ted Lasso" star, dies at 72
Anthony Head played librarian and mentor Rupert Giles in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and recently appeared in "Ted Lasso."
Space station crew briefly moves to "safe haven" amid concerns over leak
Out of an abundance of caution, NASA briefly directed five of the seven crew members aboard the International Space Station to wait inside the docked SpaceX Crew Dragon "Freedom" spacecraft.
Exclusive
Coast Guard seizes dinghy Lynette Hooker allegedly "bounced off" in Bahamas
The eight-foot dinghy that Brian Hooker says he and his wife, Lynette Hooker, were aboard when she disappeared in early April was seized by U.S. Coast Guard investigators.
U.S.
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Trump says he wants Pulte to "start the process" of shrinking intel office
President Trump told the Wall Street Journal he may even want to terminate the Office of the Director of National Intelligence altogether.
Judge blocks Trump policies that halted many legal immigration cases
A federal judge blocked a series of measures that have prevented officials from granting asylum, green cards and other legal immigration benefits to many immigrants.
Anthony Head, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Ted Lasso" star, dies at 72
Anthony Head played librarian and mentor Rupert Giles in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and recently appeared in "Ted Lasso."
Man gets life in prison for double murder scheme in affair with au pair
Brendan Banfield, a former IRS law enforcement officer, claimed he shot Joseph Ryan after he came across Ryan attacking his wife.
Senate fails to extend key surveillance program as deadline nears
A procedural vote failed in the Senate early Friday, and a provision of the spy powers law is set to expire June 12.
MoneyWatch
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Second Facebook privacy settlement payment is coming soon
The additional payouts come from uncashed settlement funds and will be issued to eligible claimants beginning on June 9.
Employers added 172,000 jobs in May, surging past expectations
The labor market continues to show strength despite rising inflation and concerns about slowing economic growth.
Meta is selling $3.99 monthly subscriptions for Instagram Plus
The new paid tier adds features like longer stories and deeper metrics as Meta looks to diversify revenue beyond advertising.
The U.S. is minting more millionaires than ever. Here's why.
A stock market boom is elevating more Americans into the ranks of the nation's millionaires, a new study finds.
Dow soars nearly 900 points as Wall Street bets on Iran peace deal
Despite flare-ups in Middle East violence, investors remain optimistic that the U.S. and Iran will soon end the war.
Politics
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Judge orders detention of ex-CIA official found with $40 million in gold bars
Former CIA official David Rush was arrested in May after FBI agents found gold bars worth about $40 million at his home while probing whether he had lied about his educational and military background, according to court records.
Trump says he wants Pulte to "start the process" of shrinking intel office
President Trump told the Wall Street Journal he may even want to terminate the Office of the Director of National Intelligence altogether.
Judge blocks Trump policies that halted many legal immigration cases
A federal judge blocked a series of measures that have prevented officials from granting asylum, green cards and other legal immigration benefits to many immigrants.
Senate fails to extend key surveillance program as deadline nears
A procedural vote failed in the Senate early Friday, and a provision of the spy powers law is set to expire June 12.
Homan defends conditions at N.J. ICE detention center: "The spaghetti was good"
In a CBS News interview, White House border czar Tom Homan defended conditions at the Delaney Hall ICE detention center, amid intense protests over the New Jersey facility. "
HealthWatch
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In Congo, doctors face Ebola with little protection: "We live with fear"
Travel bans and conflict have disrupted supply chains in the Democratic Republic of Congo, leaving health workers without Ebola tests and protective gear needed to contain the outbreak.
FDA moves ahead with safety study of abortion pill mifepristone
The FDA is moving ahead with a safety study of the abortion pill mifepristone, a senior FDA official confirmed to CBS News, a step that could create a path for the Trump administration to restrict access to the medication.
Upcoming billing change could make pregnancy pricier
Come January, pregnancy care physician billing codes will change from a bundled system to an à la carte one.
Possible flesh-eating screwworm case in Texas, USDA says
A possible case of the flesh-eating New World screwworm is being investigated in Texas, the USDA reported Wednesday.
WHO massively scales back number of suspected Ebola cases in Congo
While 330 Ebola infections are confirmed in central Africa and huge challenges remain, hundreds more suspected cases "have been cleared out," the WHO says.
World
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Putin sees "no point" in meeting with Zelenskyy to discuss ending war
President Zelenskyy chided Putin in his first public message to the Russian leader, who called it "boorish" on Friday.
Mom of American missing in Japan says they argued over ChatGPT
James "Weston" Higginbotham went missing one week ago while on a family vacation in Japan.
Rare Roman-era gold ring found by metal detectorist
The Ilminster Ring was originally found by an amateur metal detectorist in 2018 and bought this week for more than $100,000.
Thieves who stole 2,500-year-old gold relics from museum sentenced
A Netherlands court said the three men warranted a custodial sentence "because of the nature and gravity" of their crime.
Live
Israel-Hezbollah fighting casts cloud over prospects for U.S.-Iran peace deal
It remains unclear how close the U.S. and Iran are to striking a deal to end the Iran war amid continued hostilities between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Entertainment
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Anthony Head, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Ted Lasso" star, dies at 72
Anthony Head played librarian and mentor Rupert Giles in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and recently appeared in "Ted Lasso."
What to expect ahead of the 2026 Tony Awards
The 2026 Tony Awards are taking place at New York City's Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 7, at 8 p.m. ET. Tony Award-winning actress Laura Benanti joins with her take on Broadway's biggest night.
Nick Jonas talks new movie "Power Ballad"
Nick Jonas speaks with "CBS Mornings" about starring in the new film "Power Ballad." He explains how he reflected on his own life for the movie, why it's relatable and what it was like working with Paul Rudd. Jonas also reveals what's next for him.
Pope Leo XIV is visiting Spain
Pope Leo XIV is visiting Spain during the same time that musician Bad Bunny is expected to be there. CBS News' Chris Livesay has more on a potential meeting.
Laverne Cox on career, trauma and healing
Laverne Cox made history as the first openly transgender actress nominated for a primetime Emmy for her role in "Orange is the New Black" - but before her award-winning career she almost quit Hollywood. She speaks to "CBS Mornings" about confronting her childhood trauma, her healing journey and more.
Technology
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Technology
Anthropic on global pause on AI development
Anthropic is urging a pause in AI development amid growing concerns about future risks, though some experts question the company's motives. Vicky Ge Huang, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, joins CBS News with more details.
Alarm over computer "worms" created with AI
Experts are warning about computer "worms" created with AI that can infect devices and harm users without restraint. University of Toronto professor Nicolas Papernot joins with more.
How AI powered robots are helping small farms
From labor shortages to environmental impacts, farmers are looking to AI to help revolutionize the agriculture industry. One California startup, Farm-ng, is tapping into the power of AI and robotics to perform a wide range of tasks, including seeding, weeding and harvesting.
New details on SpaceX IPO plans
SpaceX is going public this month, and it could be the largest-ever stock market debut. As it plans this move, SpaceX has amended the language in its IPO filing to address the company's growing need for water, particularly to expand its data centers. CBS News' Kelly O'Grady reports, and University of California, Riverside, associate professor Shaolei Ren joins to discuss.
Meta is selling $3.99 monthly subscriptions for Instagram Plus
The new paid tier adds features like longer stories and deeper metrics as Meta looks to diversify revenue beyond advertising.
Science
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El Niño could bring more widespread coral bleaching, NOAA warns
The expected arrival of El Niño this summer could trigger another mass coral bleaching event, which would be the fifth on record, researchers said.
Scientists find yeast in frozen mummy's guts, use it to make bread
More than 5,300 years ago, Oetzi the Iceman was strolling through the Alps on the border of Austria and Italy when he was killed by an arrow in the back.
Meteor lights up southern Michigan
Days after a meteor exploded over New England, another fireball was spotted, visible in the Midwest to the Northeast. Rob Marciano has more.
Ancient coin, mysterious markings found under Notre Dame cathedral
A team of archaeologists at the iconic cathedral is digging straight down and back in time, to Roman Paris 2,000 years ago.
NASA taps 2 companies to develop buggies for its moon base program
The FLEX Rover will be equipped to carry two astronauts and traverse hundreds of miles of lunar terrain.
Crime
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Judge orders detention of ex-CIA official found with $40 million in gold bars
Former CIA official David Rush was arrested in May after FBI agents found gold bars worth about $40 million at his home while probing whether he had lied about his educational and military background, according to court records.
Man attacks 21-year-old over lake access
Steven Dana, 70, is facing multiple charges, including attempted murder, after a video emerged of him attacking a 21-year-old man who was riding a jet ski in Massachusetts' Lake Maspenock with friends. CBS News Boston's Anna Meiler reports.
Man gets life in prison for double murder scheme in affair with au pair
Brendan Banfield, a former IRS law enforcement officer, claimed he shot Joseph Ryan after he came across Ryan attacking his wife.
Thieves who stole 2,500-year-old gold relics from museum sentenced
A Netherlands court said the three men warranted a custodial sentence "because of the nature and gravity" of their crime.
Actor James Handy fatally stabbed, police say
Actor James Handy, famous for his roles in "Top Gun: Maverick" and "Jumanji," was stabbed to death at a home in the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles on Wednesday, officials say. His girlfriend's son, Michael Gledhill, was arrested on suspicion of murder. CBS News' Adam Yamaguchi reports.
Space
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Space station crew briefly moves to "safe haven" amid concerns over leaks
Out of an abundance of caution, NASA briefly directed five of the seven crew members aboard the International Space Station to wait inside the docked SpaceX Crew Dragon "Freedom" spacecraft.
Sun erupts with 3 solar flares, raising chances of northern lights for U.S.
Three solar flares burst from the sun this week, raising the chances of seeing the northern lights for people across the United States.
NASA reluctantly gives up on lost orbiter: "Best Mars mission ever"
NASA officials said the $582 million MAVEN orbiter could not be recovered after a problem on the far side of Mars late last year, and that its extraordinarily successful mission was at an end.
Blue Origin vows to resume New Glenn launches despite explosion
Damage to Blue Origin's lone launch pad in the wake of last week's spectacular explosion was not as severe as initially feared, the company said.
NASA taps 2 companies to develop buggies for its moon base program
The FLEX Rover will be equipped to carry two astronauts and traverse hundreds of miles of lunar terrain.
Latest Galleries
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A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
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Summer is the time to enjoy live music, indoors and out. Scroll through our gallery of some of 2026's leading musical acts, featuring images by CBS News photojournalist Jake Barlow and photographers Ed Spinelli and Kirstine Walton.
Evidence in the Barbara Kendhammer case
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Who is Alix Tichelman?
Meet the tattooed beauty charged in the death of Google executive Forrest Hayes.
Latest CBS News Videos
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Latest CBS News Videos
Man attacks 21-year-old over lake access
Steven Dana, 70, is facing multiple charges, including attempted murder, after a video emerged of him attacking a 21-year-old man who was riding a jet ski in Massachusetts' Lake Maspenock with friends. CBS News Boston's Anna Meiler reports.
CENTCOM disputes Iran claims on warnings
The U.S. military is disputing Iran's claims that it fired missiles and drones to warn U.S. warships to retreat. CBS News' Charlie D'Agata reports.
Meet "The Baklava Guy" at the Knicks games
Jacob Komarow, known as Roy Donk or "The Baklava Guy" giving out sweet treats outside Knicks games in New York City, joins CBS News with more on his mission to unite basketball fans with the popular pastry.
Remembering the legendary 1973 Belmont Stakes
The 2026 Belmont Stakes are taking place on Saturday in New York. CBS News' Jon LaPook recalls the legendary 1973 Belmont Stakes, where Secretariat took the Triple Crown and made sports history.
Trump admin. reacts to latest jobs report
The Trump administration is touting the latest jobs report, claiming it shows the president's economic policies are working. CBS News' Nancy Cordes reports.