Truck Bomb in Colombia | California Redistricting Bill | Hook News Brief

HOOK NEWS BRIEF | 22.08.25

At least 18 Dead after Twin Attacks in Colombia

At least six people have been killed and over 70 have been injured after a truck laden with explosives was detonated near a Colombian air base. The attack took in Colombia's third largest city of Cali. In a separate incident, a police helicopter was shot down using a drone, leaving at least 12 officers dead. The helicopter was part of an anti-narcotics operation, and it was being used to eradicate coca leaf crops. The twin attacks mark Colombia's deadliest day in months. The Colombian government has blamed the attacks on splinter factions of the now-disarmed Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, guerrilla group.

California Passes Congressional Redistricting Bill

Lawmakers in the US state of California have voted to go ahead with the Democratic Party’s plan to change voting districts. A special election will be held in November which will likely lead to the Democrats getting five more seats in the US Congress. The redistricting plan was brought in by the California Democrats to counter a similar move by the Republican Party in the state of Texas. Texas will also change its Congressional districts in a way that’s likely to lead to five more seats for the Republicans. The redistricting, or gerrymandering efforts are taking place ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections. The Republicans and US President Donald Trump are hoping to hold on to their slim Congressional majority in the midterms.

Israeli Military Figures show 83% Civilian Death Rate in Gaza: Report

And a new investigation by the Guardian reveals that Israel’s own military database indicates a civilian death rate of 83% in Gaza. The Guardian and its local partners found that up till May, Israel noted that it had killed 8,900 Hamas fighters and other militants. But by that time, 53,000 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli attacks. So, that means that only 17% of the people Israel had killed were combatants, and 83% were civilians. The IDF claims that the figures presented in the report are “incorrect”, but it has not clarified how.