Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Deadly Colombia quake, Meta AI vision, Trump vaccine order lead
Today's world news had many big stories.
A very strong earthquake shook Colombia, and sadly at least 111 people died and many buildings were damaged.
Rescue workers searched the collapsed buildings for survivors.
The leader of a big technology company called Meta, Mark Zuckerberg, said America should lead the world in making very smart computers, and his company launched a new project called Glimmer.
America's president, Donald Trump, asked states to think again about which vaccines children must get, but doctors say this idea is not based on science and could make people afraid of vaccines.
In Turkey, leaders approved a law that could help around 3,500 fighters who give up their weapons.
In Russia, a court stopped an anti-war political party from running in upcoming elections.
In Italy, police arrested a businessman suspected of planning a bomb attack at a journalist's home.
The American president also said his friendship with Israel's leader is still good, even though they disagree about a plan for Gaza.
America also cancelled more than 175,000 visas.
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia's coffee region and Pacific coast, killing at least 111 people and damaging 1,500 buildings, with rescuers searching collapsed structures for survivors.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg urged the US to lead the global AI race against China, promoting open-weight models as Meta launched Glimmer and boosted AI investment amid intensifying competition with OpenAI, Anthropic and Chinese firms.
President Donald Trump signed an order urging states to review childhood vaccine mandates and calling for separate MMR shots; medical experts criticized the move as unscientific and warned it could fuel vaccine hesitancy amid the US's worst measles outbreak in 35 years.
Turkey's parliament approved a landmark law offering limited amnesty to PKK militants who disarm, a move that could aid around 3,500 detainees but excludes serious offenders and leaves Abdullah Ocalan's fate unresolved.
Russia's Supreme Court barred the anti-war Yabloko party from September's parliamentary elections, and Italian police arrested Valter Lavitola, a former Silvio Berlusconi associate, over an alleged plot to bomb journalist Sigfrido Ranucci's home.
- Who
- Victims and rescue workers in Colombia; Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg; US President Donald Trump; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; Turkey's parliament; Russia's Supreme Court; Italian businessman Valter Lavitola.
- What
- A day of major global developments: a deadly 7.4-magnitude earthquake in Colombia, Meta's push to lead the AI race, a Trump order on childhood vaccines, a Turkish amnesty law for PKK militants, Russia barring the Yabloko party, an arrest in Italy, and US visa revocations.
- When
- Reported in the latest daily world news roundup; Russia's barred party had been set to contest September's parliamentary elections, and Israel faces October elections.
- Where
- Colombia's coffee region and Pacific coast, the United States, Turkey, Russia, Italy, and Gaza/Israel.
- Why
- The earthquake was a natural disaster; Zuckerberg cites competition with China in AI; Trump cites vaccine policy amid the US's worst measles outbreak in 35 years; Turkey seeks to end decades of PKK conflict; Russia restricts anti-war opposition; Lavitola is suspected of masterminding an alleged 2025 bomb plot.
Critics and dissenters
Supporters and officials
Childhood vaccine mandates
Critics and dissenters
Medical experts called the order unscientific and warned it could fuel vaccine hesitancy amid the US's worst measles outbreak in 35 years.
Supporters and officials
President Trump signed the order urging states to review childhood vaccine mandates and to offer separate MMR shots.
US-backed Gaza plan
Critics and dissenters
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the US-backed Gaza plan, amid continued Gaza violence and pressure ahead of October elections.
Supporters and officials
President Trump insisted his relationship with Netanyahu remains 'very good' despite the rejection.
PKK amnesty law
Critics and dissenters
Critics note the law excludes serious offenders and leaves Abdullah Ocalan's fate unresolved.
Supporters and officials
Supporters call it a landmark step towards ending decades of conflict, offering limited amnesty to PKK militants who disarm.
- Earthquake magnitude
- 7.4
- Earthquake death toll
- At least 111 people
- Buildings damaged in quake
- 1,500
- Meta AI project
- Glimmer launched; AI investment boosted
- Trump vaccine order
- States urged to review childhood vaccine mandates; calls for separate MMR shots
- Turkey amnesty law
- Limited amnesty for PKK militants who disarm; could aid about 3,500 detainees
- Russia election ruling
- Yabloko barred from September parliamentary elections
- US visa revocations
- Over 1.75 lakh (175,000) visas cancelled