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Canadian Illegal Immigrant Ordered Deported After Slapping Patriotic Teen at New Jersey Shore

Matzav -

A Canadian woman who was caught on video assaulting a teenage girl wearing patriotic clothing during a Fourth of July weekend confrontation on the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk has been ordered deported from the United States after pleading guilty to a reduced assault charge.

An immigration judge in Texas ruled Tuesday that 33-year-old Kaitlyn Tracey will be removed to Canada. The deportation order came shortly before Tracey entered a guilty plea in New Jersey to a single count of simple assault, a misdemeanor, resolving the criminal case stemming from the July 3 incident.

Tracey participated in the hearing by telephone from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Texas, where she has been held since being transferred from New Jersey.

As part of the plea agreement, Tracey admitted guilt to one misdemeanor assault charge. She was sentenced to one day in jail but received credit for time already served after spending time in the Ocean County Jail following her arrest.

Authorities said the altercation began after Tracey confronted a group of four teenagers on the Point Pleasant boardwalk, including a girl wearing a USA 250 tank top. According to police, the confrontation escalated into an argument before Tracey slapped the teenager across the face in an incident captured on video.

The Department of Homeland Security previously said Tracey had overstayed her visa and was living in the United States illegally at the time of her arrest.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Tracey’s attorney urged the court to view his client more favorably, describing her as someone who had contributed positively while living in the United States.

“She arrived here on a passport some years ago. She met her husband and didn’t leave, but while she was [here], she maintained employment and was a productive member of society,” attorney Francis Hodgson told Judge Guy P. Ryan, characterizing the incident as simply “unfortunate.”

Hodgson also argued that Tracey had accepted responsibility for her conduct.

“[Tracey has] taken responsibility for her role in it, and this is a reasonable judgment, Judge, that is consistent with other similar-type matters that happen every day during the summer on this boardwalk,” Hodgson said.

Prosecutors told the court that the victim’s family, whose daughter was identified only by the initials M.H., agreed to the plea arrangement.

Although one of the girl’s parents attended the hearing virtually, the individual did not appear on camera or address the court directly.

Judge Ryan instead read portions of the family’s victim impact statement into the record.

“The parents recite that, ‘Thank goodness for cameras and cell phones to have documented this incident’,” he said, adding that the family comes from an immigrant background and is “proud of their country and celebrated its independence.”

“The notoriety and publicity of this matter has indicated that they’re proud of their country, love their country, they have core values and refer to the history of their family,” the judge stated.

The judge concluded by noting that the victim and her parents “look forward to justice being served, and they thank all the agencies involved.”

Tracey, who had been living in Asbury Park with her husband, Matt Geroni, for the past three years, originally faced multiple charges, including child endangerment, simple assault, harassment, and obstruction.

Following her arrest, she was initially detained at the Delaney Hall immigration detention facility in Newark before being transferred to an ICE processing center in Laredo, Texas, where deportation proceedings continued.

Officials have not announced when Tracey will be returned to Canada or whether she will ever be permitted to reenter the United States. During sentencing, however, Judge Ryan indicated that any prohibition on returning would likely remain in place “for a very long time.”

Tracey’s husband did not attend Tuesday’s court hearing. Previously, he posted videos on TikTok criticizing the conditions at the Delaney Hall detention center, describing them as “horrible,” and urging followers to help secure his wife’s release from ICE custody, “even if that means back to Canada.”

Geroni, who refers to himself on social media as the “Jester of the Jersey Shore” and the “Clown of Asbury Park,” has also drawn attention for a series of inflammatory online posts.

Among them were videos posted last August in which he expressed hostility toward President Donald Trump and his family.

“Praying the entire Trump family gets cancer. And I mean everybody, like little kids ….,” one caption read alongside a video showing Geroni kneeling with his hands clasped.

In another post published the following day, he wrote, “Praying the next assassination attempt works.”

Apple Seeks Court Order to Halt OpenAI’s Hardware Push Amid Explosive Trade Secrets Battle

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Apple is escalating its legal fight against OpenAI, asking a federal judge to immediately block the artificial intelligence company from accessing or using what it claims are stolen trade secrets tied to its hardware business. OpenAI has forcefully rejected the allegations, accusing Apple of making major factual errors—including sending a legal warning to the wrong executive.

In a filing submitted Monday, Apple requested a preliminary injunction preventing OpenAI and two former Apple employees from using, disclosing, or benefiting from confidential information that the iPhone maker alleges was improperly taken. Apple argued that without immediate court intervention, it faces irreparable harm.

OpenAI responded within hours with a sharply worded blog post describing Apple’s lawsuit as “careless, aggressive and oddly personal,” while disputing the company’s version of events.

Apple had previously claimed it warned OpenAI about the alleged theft in February but received no response. OpenAI denied that assertion and said Apple has since acknowledged that its outside attorneys mistakenly contacted the wrong person.

“Apple had claimed that they contacted OpenAI in February and that we didn’t respond. They now admit that their outside lawyers emailed the wrong person after confusing two Asian last names — only after we brought this to their attention,” OpenAI said.

According to emails released by OpenAI, attorney Gabriel Gross of the law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges mistakenly sent a warning letter to OpenAI General Counsel Che Chang instead of a former Apple employee whose last name was Wang.

The correspondence also included a reference to a telephone conversation that OpenAI says never occurred. According to the company, Apple later withdrew that claim after the mistake was pointed out.

OpenAI said Chang replied by forwarding the email to Apple’s legal department, explaining that he had never spoken with Gross and had no idea who he was.

Gross later apologized for the error and indicated that Wang had agreed to cooperate. OpenAI said Apple then took no further action for five months before filing suit.

Apple launched the lawsuit on July 10 in federal court in Northern California, accusing OpenAI of orchestrating a coordinated effort to obtain confidential hardware information as it develops its first consumer device.

The complaint names former Apple senior system electrical engineer Chang Liu and former Apple vice president of product design Tang Yew Tan, who spent years overseeing products including the iPhone and Apple Watch before joining OpenAI to lead its hardware division.

Apple alleges Liu copied dozens of confidential hardware documents after leaving the company by using another employee’s laptop. It also claims Tan emailed supplier information to his personal account and advised departing employees on how to avoid scrutiny during Apple’s exit procedures.

OpenAI has rejected those allegations, insisting it possesses no Apple trade secrets and has no interest in acquiring them.

The company also published internal iMessage conversations that it says contradict Apple’s claims. According to OpenAI, the messages show Apple employees repeatedly contacting Liu after he had left the company, asking for help locating technical files and other information. One former colleague even joked that Liu remained “the best” source, “even if you don’t work here anymore.”

OpenAI argued that any continued access to Apple systems resulted from Apple’s own employee offboarding process, which it claims allowed former workers to retain access they neither requested nor expected.

Regarding Tan, OpenAI said the longtime Apple executive has consistently instructed his team not to use confidential information belonging to previous employers.

Apple is also seeking expedited discovery, asking the court to quickly order depositions of Liu, Tan, OpenAI employee Yu-Ting Peng, and another former Apple employee whose identity has not been disclosed.

In its court filing, Apple argued, “Apple will be irreparably harmed absent a preliminary injunction.”

OpenAI said it is willing to comply with three of Apple’s five requested restrictions, including prohibiting future access to any Apple confidential information, refraining from using such material, and preserving relevant evidence. However, the company opposes Apple’s request to allow its lawyers and forensic investigators to inspect OpenAI’s computers, storage devices, and internal networks.

The legal battle carries enormous implications for both companies. More than 400 former Apple employees have joined OpenAI, which industry analysts believe is developing an AI-powered consumer device that could eventually compete directly with smartphones—and potentially challenge the iPhone’s dominant position in the marketplace.

The dispute marks another major courtroom battle for OpenAI, which earlier this year successfully defeated a separate legal challenge brought by Elon Musk’s xAI.

SpaceX Posts Explosive Revenue Growth in First Earnings Report Since Record IPO

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SpaceX delivered its first quarterly earnings report as a publicly traded company on Tuesday, reporting a 92% jump in revenue while exceeding Wall Street expectations despite posting a quarterly loss. The results come after a turbulent first few months on the stock market, as investors have grown increasingly wary of soaring artificial intelligence spending.

Elon Musk’s aerospace company reported second-quarter revenue of $7.8 billion, well above analysts’ expectations of $6.93 billion. SpaceX posted an operating loss of $143 million and a net loss of $541 million, while reporting a loss of $0.09 per share—significantly better than the $0.26 per-share loss analysts had projected.

The earnings release marks the company’s first financial update since its historic June initial public offering, when SpaceX debuted at $150 per share and raised $86 billion in what became the largest IPO on record.

Since going public, however, the company’s stock has fallen approximately 24%, erasing roughly $500 billion in market value as investors have become increasingly cautious about the lofty valuations of AI companies and their massive infrastructure spending.

Following the earnings announcement, SpaceX shares initially rose during regular trading before dropping as much as 8% in after-hours trading.

The company attributed much of its spending to continued investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure, Starship development, and the expansion of its Starlink satellite internet network. During the second quarter alone, SpaceX invested $18.37 billion in those initiatives.

The company reported a $4.9 billion loss last year, largely driven by its aggressive investments in AI infrastructure.

While SpaceX’s rocket launch business continues to secure major government contracts—including missions for NASA—it remained unprofitable during the reporting period.

The company’s strongest financial performance continued to come from its communications division, led by the Starlink satellite internet service, which provides connectivity to consumers as well as government and military customers and remains SpaceX’s only profitable business segment.

During Tuesday’s earnings call, Musk expressed confidence in Starlink’s long-term potential.

“It’s not out of the question that, at some point, Starlink will deliver a majority of the world’s internet, at least in countries where we are allowed to operate, which is the vast majority of countries,” Musk said.

Investors could face additional volatility later this week as SpaceX’s post-IPO lock-up period begins to expire on Thursday, allowing insiders and early investors to begin selling shares on the open market.

Despite recent stock-market pressure, SpaceX has continued to win major government contracts that could strengthen its financial performance during the second half of the year.

In late July, the company secured a $1.6 billion launch contract from the U.S. Space Force. Earlier this year, it also won national security satellite contracts worth approximately $6.5 billion.

Meanwhile, SpaceX continues testing its massive Starship rocket, which is expected to eventually launch the company’s next-generation “V3” Starlink satellites—significantly larger spacecraft designed to expand the capacity and reach of its growing global satellite network.

New Shipping Attacks Jeopardize Emerging Strait of Hormuz Agreement With Iran

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Fresh attacks on commercial vessels in the Middle East are raising new concerns about efforts to secure an agreement with Iran that would ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, even as U.S. officials say negotiations continue to make progress.

The latest incidents unfolded early Tuesday, when a commercial vessel sailing near Oman was struck by an unidentified projectile, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). Authorities are also investigating a separate attack on another ship in the same region.

The renewed violence came on the same day Houthi rebels were blamed for sinking an Indian commercial vessel in the Red Sea, reinforcing fears that some of the world’s most critical shipping lanes remain vulnerable despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.

In response to the attack, India’s Ministry of External Affairs condemned the violence, saying, “The continued incidents of attacks on commercial shipping in the region are deeply worrisome.”

Despite the deteriorating security situation, Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed optimism that negotiations with Iran are continuing to move forward.

“There’s oil moving right now through the straits. You know there are ships moving through the straits. There’s oil moving right now through the straits. So the straits are open, nonetheless,” Rubio said.

He added, “I think that there’s a conversation and negotiation that we are involved in between Oman and Iran on how more ships can be able to go through there safely in the short term as we move towards these longer-term talks about denuclearization.”

Rubio concluded by saying, “And suffice it to say, there’s been progress made in those talks, but not finality yet.”

His comments followed remarks earlier Tuesday by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who suggested an agreement could be reached within days.

“We are in talks with the Iranians,” Bessent said during an appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box. “There is a chance we may have a deal today or tomorrow to open the strait and move towards a more normalized position in this conflict.”

Bessent’s comments helped push oil prices lower, with crude falling below $77 per barrel as investors anticipated the possibility of a breakthrough that would stabilize one of the world’s most important energy corridors.

Even so, negotiations remain complicated by reports that Iran wants a central role in regulating maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. According to reports, Tehran has proposed charging commercial vessels fees for using the strategic waterway.

Trump administration officials strongly disputed those reports, insisting Iran would not be permitted to impose tolls on international shipping.

“Any temporary routes will be without any impediments — meaning no approvals or permissions and no tolls or charges,” a U.S. official said. “The Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway and no party controls the lanes or the ability to transit through them.”

President Donald Trump also weighed in on the negotiations Monday, describing the current discussions as Iran’s “last chance for them to sign a good document” before “decapitation,” referring to the possibility of military strikes targeting Iran’s leadership.

Trump’s remarks came after he said he had called off a military operation against Iran that he claimed would have rivaled “World War II,” believing Tehran was prepared to pursue a negotiated agreement instead.

Iran also disclosed Monday that its proposed navigation plan would establish two designated shipping corridors through the Strait of Hormuz, with vessels entering along a northern route close to Iran’s coastline and exiting through a southern lane near Oman.

Meanwhile, UKMTO said the commercial vessel struck near Oman sustained damage after being hit by an unidentified projectile. Authorities are continuing to investigate the attack while urging all ships operating in the region to remain on heightened alert.

The latest attacks underscore the fragile security environment surrounding the negotiations, as Oman continues mediating talks between Washington and Tehran aimed at guaranteeing safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz before broader discussions turn to Iran’s nuclear program.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important waterways, carrying roughly one-fifth of all globally traded seaborne oil.

Armed Suspect Arrested at Trump Golf Club Days Before Southern California Visit

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Federal and local law enforcement officers arrested a heavily armed Southern California man outside President Donald Trump’s golf club in Rancho Palos Verdes on Sunday after authorities said he was photographing the property and observing security preparations just two days before the president’s scheduled visit.

The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Jeanine John Taele of Downey, California, was taken into custody after plainclothes FBI agents noticed what they considered suspicious behavior on the grounds of Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles.

Investigators said Taele was allegedly documenting the property, taking photographs and videos, and monitoring security-related activity surrounding preparations for Trump’s upcoming appearance at the club.

According to authorities, deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene at approximately 3:28 p.m. after receiving information from federal agents.

When deputies questioned Taele, they discovered he was already under investigation by the El Segundo Police Department in connection with a robbery case. A pat-down search allegedly uncovered a 16-round magazine loaded with hollow-point ammunition in his pants pocket.

A subsequent search of Taele’s vehicle parked at the golf course uncovered what authorities described as a significant cache of weapons and tactical equipment, including an illegally modified AR-platform rifle, an AR-platform upper receiver, a loaded 1911 .45-caliber pistol with a round chambered, two radio signal devices, body armor, multiple high-capacity magazines, large quantities of rifle and pistol ammunition, and several notebooks containing what investigators described as concerning writings.

Taele was arrested on charges including carrying a concealed firearm and possession of prohibited ammunition.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said detectives assigned to its Major Crimes Bureau and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force executed a search warrant Monday at Taele’s residence in Downey as part of the ongoing investigation.

Authorities said the case has since been presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, with additional criminal charges possible as investigators continue working alongside the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service.

Although the investigation remains active, officials emphasized that they have found no credible threat to the surrounding community at this time.

Trump was scheduled to arrive in the Los Angeles area Tuesday evening for a series of events highlighting his administration’s economic policies, border security agenda, and public safety initiatives.

The president is expected to attend a Republican National Committee fundraising dinner at Trump National Golf Club before departing for Nevada the following day.

Ahead of the visit, the White House promoted the president’s agenda.

“President Trump will visit California on Tuesday to tout his wins for the people of the Golden State despite failed Democrat leadership: the largest middle-class tax cut ever, the most secure border in American history, and a plummeting crime rate,” White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales said.

Wales also sharply criticized California Gov. Gavin Newsom, accusing him of “raising taxes, inviting rampant fraud in taxpayer-funded programs, and protecting illegal immigrant drug dealers, rapists, and murderers.”

Newsom’s office responded by criticizing Trump’s visit, saying, “Donald Trump is coming to Los Angeles County to raise money while wildfire survivors are still waiting for the federal recovery funding he promised 18 months ago.”

The governor’s office added, “Californians deserve a president focused on helping families rebuild — not raising money for himself at his golf course.”

In advance of Trump’s appearance, Newsom’s office also sought to counter expected criticism by highlighting declines in crime and efforts by the state to combat fraud.

Trump’s last official visit to California came in January 2025, when he toured areas devastated by the Palisades and Eaton wildfires.

MAMDANI UNDER FIRE: DOJ Demands Answers From Mamdani as Federal Antisemitism Probe Intensifies

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The Trump Justice Department has launched an active effort to investigate antisemitic crimes in New York City and has sent Mayor Zohran Mamdani a letter seeking answers over allegations of the “unequal treatment” of Jewish residents, according to federal officials and community leaders.

The development follows a pair of violent attacks on Manhattan’s Upper West Side last month, when police say 51-year-old Raul Morales shouted “Allahu Akbar!” while stabbing a Jewish man and, in a separate incident, an Asian man.

In the aftermath of the attacks, a number of prominent Jewish leaders placed blame on Mamdani, citing his repeated criticism of Israel. The mayor has accused Israel of committing “genocide” during the war in Gaza and has called for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

New NYPD statistics released Monday also showed that hate crimes have continued to rise across New York City under Mamdani’s administration, with more than half of all reported hate-crime incidents this year targeting Jewish New Yorkers.

Last week, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who leads the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, met with Dov Hikind, founder of Americans Against Antisemitism and a former New York state assemblyman, to discuss concerns surrounding antisemitic hate crimes in the city.

Dhillon’s office also sent a letter to Mamdani requesting information regarding the allegations.

“The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is actively investigating and prosecuting hate crimes, including antisemitism, in New York City and nationwide,” the Justice Department said in a statement.

“The Civil Rights Division has an extensive and active portfolio of antisemitism enforcement, including indictments, prosecutions, settlements, and investigations across the country.”

Hikind said Dhillon personally informed him that the letter seeks a response from the mayor concerning what it describes as the “unequal treatment” of Jewish New Yorkers.

“The Justice Department is taking antisemitism very seriously,’’ Hikind said.

“The king of antisemitism is none other than Mayor Mamdani.’’

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, also suggested that Mamdani’s rhetoric toward Israel has contributed to a climate that encourages antisemitic violence.

“Hey,@NYCMayor Mamdani — Law enforcement says the man they arrested for attacking a synagogue in Sarasota, FL, was motivated by social media propaganda,” Greenblatt wrote on X.

“The man reportedly reposted your video demonizing the Jewish state. Words have consequences. Your inflammatory rhetoric can lead to violence.

“Jewish people and institutions are being attacked in NYC and across the country because of hateful and demonizing rhetoric,’’ Greenblatt said.

“The Jewish community deserves leaders who will confront antisemitism and protect Jewish New Yorkers, not fan the flames of hate.”

The mayor has previously said he takes antisemitism seriously and has pointed to increased city funding for anti-hate initiatives as evidence of his administration’s commitment to combating antisemitic violence.

{Matzav.com}

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