On Tuesday, the mother of nine-year-old Melina Frattolin took the stand, revealing that her daughter had opposed traveling abroad with her father. This revelation comes months before prosecutors allege he killed her during a summer visit to New York.

In Essex County Court, Kali Galanis recounted how Luciano Frattolin, her ex-partner, had planned to take Melina to Ethiopia, where he was originally from, for two weeks in January 2025. According to Galanis, the journey was ultimately canceled because Melina was against the idea.

“She didn’t want to go,” Galanis shared during her testimony, noting that she too felt increasingly apprehensive about the trip being proposed.

Galanis’ account offered the jury insight into the family’s tension regarding Melina’s travel plans and highlighted her increasing unease about her daughter traveling with Frattolin months prior to Melina’s tragic death.

Galanis said she had concerns about allowing Melina to travel internationally with Frattolin after the couple separated in 2019. She testified that her attorney warned her about cases in which estranged parents took children overseas and refused to return them.

Galanis testified that Frattolin later proposed extending the Ethiopia trip. She said conversations with Melina about the trip ultimately convinced her to cancel it.

“I became uncomfortable,” Galanis testified.

“I was not ok with that anymore,” she said of the proposed trip.

Instead, Frattolin suggested taking Melina on a vacation through the northeastern United States, Galanis testified.

Authorities have said Frattolin and Melina traveled through Connecticut and New York before the child was scheduled to return home to Quebec.

Prosecutors allege that on the day Melina was scheduled to return home to Quebec, Frattolin falsely reported that she had been abducted by two men in a white van, prompting an Amber Alert. Investigators later determined there was no evidence she had been kidnapped, authorities said. Melina’s body was later found partially submerged in shallow water near Eagle Lake in Ticonderoga.

Frattolin has pleaded not guilty to one count of second-degree murder and one count of concealment of a human corpse.

The trial also heard testimony Monday from New York State Police investigator Daniel Mauro, who said Frattolin remarked during questioning that “it would’ve been easier” to kill his daughter overseas, including in Italy or Ethiopia.

Mauro testified the comment came after investigators asked Frattolin whether he had any reason to harm his daughter.

Frattolin’s trial is continuing in Essex County Court.

In a harrowing incident on Montana’s tallest peak, a nurse found himself impaled in a freak accident and hiked an arduous 10 miles back for assistance at the age of 32.

David Cifaldi, along with two companions, was trekking up Granite Peak on July 20 when a misstep caused him to slip on the rugged surface, resulting in a fall onto his own trekking pole.

‘It was just kind of a freak thing, something you’d more expect to roll your ankle versus having a catastrophic injury,’ Cifaldi told KTMF. 

“As I rolled over, I noticed one of my trekking poles on the ground. Upon sitting up, I realized the other pole was lodged in my side,” he recounted.

The pole pierced straight through Cifaldi’s side, exiting from both ends and leaving a span of about eight inches between the entry and exit wounds, as detailed in a GoFundMe page established by his friend.

Relying on his expertise as an ER nurse, Cifaldi quickly evaluated the severity of his injury, taking deep breaths to check if the pole had penetrated his lung or chest area.

‘No bleeding, full feeling, no lightheadedness, nothing vital hit, and the pole was stable in place. 

‘Given his condition, he made the call to self-rescue rather than wait for extraction — hiking 10 miles back to the trailhead with a trekking pole still through his body,’ his GoFundMe stated.

Cifaldi navigated the rugged mountain descent with the help of his two pals, while the pole remained lodged in his body. 

The nurse fashioned his running vest’s chest strap into a makeshift sling, while one friend stayed behind him to keep an eye on any bleeding.

As the grueling hike wore on, Cifaldi told Backpacker magazine the trio realized they were ‘gonna make it’ and broke the tension by ‘making kebab jokes.’ 

Cifaldi’s hiking buddy, Jesse Ross, wrote on the GoFundMe that the group ‘reached the trailhead entirely under his own power — never once complaining, staying in remarkably high spirits.’

‘Near Mystic Lake, he even asked one of us to hike ahead and warn other hikers, so no children would have to see the wound,’ Ross wrote.

The three friends reached the trailhead after six-and-a-half hours, and Cifaldi was taken to a hospital before being transferred to Intermountain Health in Billings, KTMF reported.

Doctors later removed the trekking pole without complications. 

‘All told, [the pole] was in place for eight to nine hours from the fall to removal,’ the GoFundMe read.

Cifaldi is still recovering and may need more surgery. Reflecting on the harrowing accident, he told the outlet he feels ‘very lucky.’

‘A couple inches the other way, and this would be a different story,’ the nurse said.

The GoFundMe was created to help Cifaldi with medical expenses. 

Towering 12,807 ft in Montana’s Beartooth Mountains, Granite Peak is the state’s highest summit and one of the nation’s most challenging state high points, known for its rugged terrain, technical climbing and unpredictable weather. 

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, immediate help is available by contacting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

In a critical turn of events, prosecutors have started dismantling the defense’s narrative of Lindsay Clancy as being excessively medicated. They presented nine bottles of medication prescribed to her, each still holding many of the pills.

During his testimony on Monday, Patrick Clancy, her ex-husband, confirmed that numerous psychiatric medications had indeed been prescribed to Lindsay in the months leading up to the tragic deaths of their children. However, Assistant District Attorney Shanan Buckingham pointed out, through her questioning, that many of these prescriptions appeared to be only partially consumed.

“There were a lot of prescriptions, but not many pills actually taken. Correct?” Buckingham challenged, brandishing a bag filled with prescriptions in front of the jury.

“Is that comprehensive?” Patrick responded. “Of all the pills that were prescribed?”

“These are the pills that you brought into the police station,” Buckingham said. “So out of these.”

“Out of those, yeah,” Patrick said. “It’s possible that not a lot were taken.”

Buckingham also sought to distinguish between the total number of medications prescribed over several months and how many Lindsay was prescribed at one time.

Patrick estimated that she was taking three or four medications at most. Buckingham then asked whether it would surprise him to learn that Lindsay was prescribed no more than three medications at any given time and usually two.

“It wouldn’t be terribly surprising, no,” Patrick said.

Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani said the questioning appeared designed to prevent the defense from controlling how jurors view the cocktail of medications that Lindsay Clancy was prescribed in the months before authorities say she strangled Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months, inside the family’s Duxbury home in January 2023.

“An important part of being a good prosecutor is not just proving your case, but anticipating the defense’s arguments,” Rahmani, president of West Coast Trial Lawyers, told News Media. “The prosecution wants to get out ahead of that potentially bad evidence by arguing that even though she was prescribed all these meds, she wasn’t prescribed them at the same time. At most, she was prescribed two, three, maybe four medications at once and importantly, she wasn’t taking them.”

Rahmani said prosecutors appeared to be getting ahead of the defense’s claim that Lindsay’s changing prescriptions contributed to her alleged psychosis.

“The last thing you want is the defense to gain control of the key piece of evidence,” he said. “It can be O.J.’s glove or a bag of pills.”

Rahmani said the next phase will likely focus on how long Lindsay took each medication, when she stopped taking it and how many drugs she was prescribed at once.

“It’s not uncommon for psychiatrists to try different medications and stop them when they stop working,” he said. “So how long was she on the Zoloft versus the Ativan versus the Seroquel? How many pills was she taking? I think the prosecution is gonna argue that Lindsay and her doctors were trying to get her better, and the fact that she wasn’t on all these pills at once really shows that the defense is trying to mislead the jury.”

The defense has argued that Lindsay was suffering from psychosis and was not criminally responsible when she strangled her three young children. Prosecutors, meanwhile, framed the mom of three as a calculated killer, saying that Clancy’s children were “deliberately and meticulously killed.”

Buckingham alleged that Clancy deliberately sent Patrick from their Duxbury home to pick up medication and takeout food, giving herself enough time to strangle each child with an exercise band before attempting to kill herself.

During opening statements, defense attorney Kevin Reddington conceded that Clancy killed the children but argued that the only meaningful dispute is what was happening inside her mind.

“She knows that she killed these children,” Reddington told jurors. “The issue for consideration is what was going on in that woman’s mind.”

Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital, has pleaded not guilty to three counts each of murder and strangulation.

Judge William Sullivan told jurors that the Commonwealth must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Clancy was criminally responsible when the children were killed.

A surprising number of Americans appear to favor taking a hard stance against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A recent poll orchestrated by The Economist/YouGov reveals that nearly half of the U.S. population supports the idea of arresting Netanyahu due to his controversial actions in the Gaza conflict.

This sentiment is captured by the question of whether the U.S. should honor an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for Netanyahu. According to the poll results, 49 percent of respondents endorse this move, compared to 27 percent who oppose it, while 23 percent remain undecided.

The ICC’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu, issued in November 2024, accuses him of employing starvation as a weapon of war and perpetrating crimes against humanity, including murder and persecution. Moreover, he faces allegations of deliberately ordering attacks on civilian populations in Gaza.

In a recent development, Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s Mayor, retracted an earlier commitment to apprehend Netanyahu should the prime minister visit for the United Nations General Assembly later this year.

“Our hands are tied without independent legal authority to execute this warrant. The federal government is the entity that holds this power,” Mamdani conveyed in a video shared on the social media platform X.

“And I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant,” he added.

Israel and the U.S. do not fall under the rulings of the ICC, with both countries never having ratified the court’s founding treaty. The ICC, however, asserts jurisdiction over Palestinian territories.

Forty-seven percent of respondents in The Economist/YouGov poll said that they believe Netanyahu “is guilty of war crimes in Gaza,” while 24 percent disagreed and 29 percent were unsure.

The Economist/YouGov poll took place between July 25 and 27, featuring 1,559 respondents and plus or minus 3.3 percentage points as its margin of error.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed his intentions to visit New York in September, undeterred by New York City Council Member Zohran Mamdani’s controversial demand for his arrest over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

During a conversation with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Netanyahu asserted, “First of all, I’m going to New York,” confidently dismissing Mamdani’s declaration last week that deemed him “not welcome” in the city. This reaction follows the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) issuance of an arrest warrant in 2024.

The prime minister vowed to address the situation head-on, saying, “I’m definitely going there,” and expressing his determination to confront what he described as a “hate-spewing elected official” intent on dividing New Yorkers.

Netanyahu specifically accused Mamdani of inciting his followers against the Jewish community in New York, framing the political figure as a source of discord.

“I mean, what are we in the 1930s? What is this?” he remarked, alluding to an era of intense prejudice. “You know, so much hate, so many lies, and you know the big lie is about the ICC … that’s a corrupt, evil organization,” he concluded, adamantly dismissing the allegations.

Mamdani, in a July 21 video statement, admitted that he doesn’t have the legal authority to arrest Netanyahu should he visit New York – but slammed him as an unwelcome “war criminal.” 

The pro-Palestinian, socialist mayor further called on the Trump administration to enforce the ICC warrant and arrest Netanyahu, despite the US government not recognizing the international court’s authority.

Netanyahu said his visit to New York City would come in September, during the United Nations General Assembly meeting. 

The Israeli leader was in Washington Tuesday for late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s funeral. 

Netanyahu praised Graham for being “absolutely unapologetic and unabashed in supporting the American-Israel alliance.”  

“He believed that Israel’s security and America’s security were intertwined,” Netanyahu said, adding that Graham “couldn’t care about the winds of fashion.” 

“He couldn’t care about social media and all these bots that try to play the American people for fools,” the prime minister continued. “He said you have one real ally in the Middle East and in the world, Israel.” 

Netanyahu met with President Trump at the White House before Graham’s funeral and described his sit-down with the commander-in-chief as “one of the best meetings that we’ve had.”

“I always hate to disappoint our would-be critics who are trying to find, you know, cracks in our alliance,” he said, likening the current state of the US-Israel alliance to a “wall of granite.”

“The president is so clear … we have a common commitment. We don’t want to see this fanatic regime in Tehran have nuclear weapons to threaten every American and to threaten the peace of the world and to threaten the existence of Israel,” Netanyahu continued. “So we have a common goal, and it’s going to be achieved either through diplomatic means or other means and we’re both committed to that.”

Tensions within the WNBA over the ongoing transgender athlete debate have intensified, following a striking move by Stefanie Dolson of the Seattle Storm aimed at Sophie Cunningham, her rival on the court.

Cunningham, a standout player for the Indiana Fever, found herself at the center of a heated controversy after expressing concerns about the involvement of trans women in female sports. This ongoing issue was further highlighted during a game held in Seattle, a city known for its progressive views, stirring conversations on Tuesday evening.

Ahead of the Fever and Storm clash at Climate Pledge Arena, Dolson made a conspicuous entrance, wearing a statement t-shirt emblazoned with “trans rights are human rights,” seemingly directed at Cunningham.

The team’s social media pages, both on X and Instagram, were quick to share images of Dolson’s political stance, igniting a robust discussion with fervent feedback from supporters and critics alike.

While Dolson and the Seattle Storm garnered applause from many for their stand, the t-shirt also drew sharp criticism, with detractors describing it with a simple, yet harsh, “Gross.”

Another added: ‘Then you should have no problems playing against biological men.’

Before the WNBA game on Tuesday night, anti-trans protestors also held a rally outside the arena in support of Cunningham, whose comments are continuing to make headlines around the world.

The group held up signs which read ‘Thank you Sophie’ and ‘Protect Female Sports’, chanting in support of Cunningham and her now-viral comments.

Inside the arena, meanwhile, the division continued with both pro and anti-Cunningham signs seen on the ESPN broadcast.

While one fan held up a ‘no hate in these United States’ rainbow banner, another fan’s sign read: ‘Thank you Sophie for speaking up for girls’. 

Reports from outside the arena claimed arguments took place between pro and anti-trans protestors, but it is understood there was no physical violence.  

Cunningham initially sparked the widespread reaction when she underlined her support for the movement aiming to protect women’s sports while talking with ESPN, before later doubling down on Instagram. 

In her initials comments, she said: ‘I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, “I never once said that”. 

‘I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.’

The debate even got as far as the White House, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt telling reporters last week: ‘Men should not be playing in women’s sports. It’s completely ludicrous that anyone could support that.

‘It’s even more ludicrous that you do have Sophie Cunningham, a female athlete herself, very accomplished in her own right, coming forth and speaking that truth that men should(n’t) play in women’s sports.

‘The backlash she is receiving from Democrats and left-wing figures across the country is astonishing. They are clearly very out of touch with the American public on this issue, which again, is an 80/20 issue. It’s common sense.’

Cunningham herself had appeared to double down on her views with a not-so-subtle Instagram post last Thursday afternoon. 

Taking to the social media platform, the WNBA star shared pictures of her arriving before one of the Fever’s recent games, with the caption: ‘I said what I said.’

She also had the location tagged as ‘Women’s Sports’, before later changing it. 

Cunningham, who is a close friend to teammate Caitlin Clark, had already defended her comments before her team’s Wednesday night game against Connecticut Sun.

She told reporters: ‘There’s going to be some negative comments but there’s also a lot of positive comments too. It is what it is.

‘We’re all human, I really don’t care what other people have to say. I said what I said, I think it’s common sense and I think I will always believe in that. I stand on what I said.’

Cunningham was asked if her words signal a move to become more political but she denies having any aspirations to remain outspoken on any other major issues.

‘I am not a very political person but I have beliefs, I have morals and I will always be true to who I am,’ Cunningham said. 

‘I think people are going to take it how they want to take it. When it comes to protecting young girls and women in sports, I feel very strongly about that.’

The topic has become particularly politicized since President Donald Trump returned for a second term in office. He issued an executive order to block trans athletes participating in girls or women’s sports and the Supreme Court recently upheld state bans on trans athletes. 

Asked if her own comments could now ‘come back’ on the trans community, Cunningham said: ‘I extend love, I don’t dislike anyone. 

‘I think there’s room for everyone here and there’s room to love everyone. I truly think when you get people in the same room and you have conversations, you actually have a lot in common with a lot of people.

‘I’m there to love but I am also there to love biological women and I think that there are rights that need to be protected. Like I said, I am going to stand true to that. I’ll never falter in my beliefs for that.

‘But I’ve never said I hated the trans community. I think there is space for everyone.’

Back in 2022, Cunningham faced heavy backlash after sharing a post from CBS Sports host Josh Pate regarding the controversy surrounding former Penn transgender swimmer Lia Thomas and their inclusion on the women’s team.

Pate’s post read: ‘Female collegiate athletes deserve so much better than this’. 

Cunningham was forced to release a statement over the matter, at the time, saying that she ‘stands’ with athletes, but calling for ‘fair’ competition in events.