Foreign
Senator Ousted After Crashing DHS Secretary’s Conference
California Gov. Newsom calls incident ‘dictatorial’ while blaming Trump administration for Padilla’s detention
A California senator was quickly rushed away from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after allegedly “lunging” at her during a press conference addressing the Los Angeles anti-ICE riots.
After loudly speaking over Noem and approaching the podium where she was standing, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., was pushed out of the room by authorities as they ordered him to put his hands up.
The incident happened shortly after Noem said the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was “staying here to liberate this city from the socialist and the burdensome leadership that this governor and this mayor have placed on this country and what they have tried to insert into this city.”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Padilla did not initially identify himself as a senator, and was not wearing his Senate security pin.
However, footage captured by Fox News shows him saying, “I’m Senator Alex Padilla, I have questions for the secretary,” as he was escorted out of the room.
Noem told The Story’s Martha MacCallum that Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) personnel began handcuffing the senator in the hallway, at which point he identified himself, and they ceased action.
“Senator Alex Padilla was detained by members of the U.S. Secret Service assigned to Secretary Noem’s detail when he became disruptive while formal remarks were being delivered,” an FBI spokesperson told Fox News. “Secret Service Agents were assisted by FBI Police who are in Los Angeles at this time. Senator Padilla did not identify himself and was not wearing his senate security pin. Senator Padilla was subsequently positively identified and released.”
‘Completely inappropriate’: Kristi Noem opens up after Democratic senator removed from eventVideo
Noem said the pair later met in a private room, where they spoke privately for about 15 minutes and exchanged phone numbers.
She said the senator had concerns about ICE operations, and they opened up a line of communication, noting things were OK between the two of them.
However, Padilla later spoke to the media, claiming he was “forced to the ground.”
“If this is how this administration responds to a senator with a question, if this is how the Department of Homeland Security responds to a senator with a question, you can only imagine what they’re doing to farm workers, to cooks, to day laborers out in the Los Angeles community and throughout California,” he told reported. “We will hold this administration accountable.”
A DHS spokesperson said Padilla was told “repeatedly” to back away, and “did not comply” with officers’ commands.
“[Secret Service] thought he was an attacker and officers acted appropriately,” the spokesperson said.
Sen. Alex Padilla escorted
U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla is pushed out of the room as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem holds a news conference regarding the recent protests in Los Angeles on Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Noem fired back after Padilla’s public remarks, calling his statement “absolutely ridiculous.”
“This man burst into a room, started advancing toward the podium, interrupting an opening statement, elevating his voice, [and] shouting questions. People tried to stop him from interrupting the press conference. He refused and continued to lunge towards the podium,” Noem said. “That is when he was removed from the room. The way that he acted was completely inappropriate.”
She added Padilla’s behavior was not becoming of a senator or public official.
“Perhaps he wanted the scene … but I think the American people are sick of this kind of action,” Noem said. “I think the American people are tired of this. They just want the truth, and they just want to know what’s happening, and that’s what we were trying to provide.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom took to X to comment on Padilla’s outburst, placing blame on the Trump administration for his temporary detainment.
“@SenAlexPadilla is one of the most decent people I know,” Newsom wrote in the post. “This is outrageous, dictatorial, and shameful. Trump and his shock troops are out of control. This must end now.”
Less than 24 hours prior to the incident, Padilla was pulled out of the Congressional Baseball Game in Washington, D.C. Wednesday night to fly home to Los Angeles because of the riots.
He was slated to start at first base.
Foxnews.com
Mali’s Defence Minister, Sadio Camara, has been killed following a wave of coordinated attacks targeting military installations across the country.
Camara reportedly died from injuries sustained during an attack on his residence in Kati, a key military garrison town located about 15 kilometres from Bamako.
The assault, which occurred barely 24 hours before his death, involved a suicide car bomb and formed part of a broader offensive across the country.
The attacks were reportedly carried out by fighters linked to Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, an al-Qaeda-affiliated group, alongside Tuareg rebels from the Liberation Front of Azawad.
According to Al Jazeera, the attackers were able to breach Kati, considered one of the most secure military locations in Mali.
Camara, a key figure in Mali’s military leadership, rose to prominence after playing a central role in the coups of 2020 and 2021 that brought the current junta to power.
Al Jazeera’s Nicolas Haque described his death as significant.
“He was one of the most influential figures within the ruling military leadership… His death is a major blow to the country’s armed forces,” he said.
The coordinated offensive extended beyond Kati, with gunmen attacking several locations including Bamako, Gao, Kidal and Sevare.
“As we speak, people in the garrison town of Kidal can still hear heavy gunfire and loud explosions,” Haque said, adding that the operation remained ongoing more than 24 hours after it began.
The attacks have intensified pressure on Mali’s interim leadership, with analysts suggesting that security forces were overwhelmed by the scale and coordination of the violence.
However, Interim President, Assimi Goita, was reportedly moved to safety and remains in control of the military.
International bodies, including the African Union, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the United States Bureau of African Affairs, have condemned the attacks and called for urgent measures to restore stability.
President Bola Tinubu has declared Nigeria’s support for countries in the Gulf region following rising tension linked to the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
Naija News reports that he made this known in Abuja during a formal ceremony where he received letters of credence from several foreign diplomats. The event had representatives from countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia, alongside envoys from Lebanon, Sudan, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, Argentina, and Congo.
During the meeting, the president assured the visiting diplomats that Nigeria stands with nations in the Gulf, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Jordan. He praised their calm approach in handling the situation and stressed the need for peace across the region.
Tinubu described the diplomatic gathering as an important step in strengthening Nigeria’s relationship with other countries. He encouraged the envoys to build stronger partnerships with Nigeria that would benefit both sides.
He also spoke about his government’s economic direction, saying efforts are being made to position Nigeria as an attractive destination for investors. He pointed out opportunities in areas like infrastructure, economic growth, and diaspora involvement, inviting the diplomats to explore these sectors.
On regional matters, the president restated Nigeria’s role in the Economic Community of West African States, especially in maintaining democratic order, improving trade among member states, and addressing instability in the Sahel region.
Tinubu further noted that global issues such as climate change, energy challenges, terrorism, and unfair financial systems require countries to work together.
He said Nigeria is ready to cooperate with other nations both directly and through international platforms to promote a safer and fairer global system.
According to a report by Telegraph, on Thursday April 23, 2026, Israel’s defence minister has declared the country stands prepared to resume military operations against Iran, but only upon receiving authorisation from the Trump administration, as tensions between the two nations continue to simmer beneath a fragile ceasefire.
The statement came amid fresh alarm in the Iranian capital on [date], after Iranian state media reported that explosions were heard above Tehran and air defence systems were activated across the city. The developments immediately triggered speculation of a new Israeli strike, drawing swift attention from regional observers and international monitors tracking the volatile situation.
However, a source within the Israeli military moved quickly to dismiss those claims. Speaking to Israeli outlet Ynet, the source firmly stated that Israel had not carried out any attacks on Iran, offering a direct contradiction to the wave of concern that had swept through diplomatic circles following the reports from Tehran.
A ceasefire between the two countries has been in effect since April 8, and Israeli officials have so far indicated no public breach of that agreement. Despite this, the defence minister’s earlier remarks have raised serious questions about how durable that truce remains, particularly given its apparent dependency on political decisions emanating from Washington.
The reference to a required “green light” from the Trump administration underscores the degree to which Israeli military calculations are now intertwined with American foreign policy direction. Analysts note that this framing places significant weight on Washington’s posture toward Tehran, effectively making U.S. political will a trigger mechanism for potential renewed hostilities in the region.
Iran has not officially responded to the Israeli defence minister’s statement at the time of reporting. The sounds heard over Tehran, while alarming to residents and regional watchers, remain unexplained by Iranian authorities beyond initial media reports of activated air defences.
The situation reflects the precarious nature of the current ceasefire, with both nations maintaining high military readiness even as formal hostilities remain paused. Observers warn that the combination of unexplained aerial activity and bellicose ministerial language represents a dangerous mix that could rapidly destabilise the existing arrangement.
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