MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS NEWS

'WAR OF GOOD AGAINST EVIL': Ukrainian official calls on West to help in fight against Russia following Malaysia jet disaster

Soon after the Malaysia Airlines jet was shot down over its airspace, Ukrainian officials pointed the finger right across the border — at Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Cops trying to determine if human remains found on Long Island belong to missing Brooklyn mom: police source

Human remains, possibly a severed head, that could belong to a missing Brooklyn mother of four were found on Long Island Thursday, authorities said.

VIDEO WAR DRUMS IN GAZA: Israel begins offensive as cease-fire agreement with Hamas crumbles

It’s unclear if anyone was injured during the attack. Israel and Hamas stopped fighting for a five-hour period in order for residents of Gaza to obtain supplies. It was not clear if Israel would respond to the attack.

Jerry Sandusky's adopted son tells Oprah that sexual abuse included oral sex

Jerry Sandusky’s adopted son Matthew said in a television interview Thursday that his sexual abuse at the former Penn State coach’s hands consisted of oral sex, a more serious allegation than two years ago.

Rosie, Whoopi seek peace on 'The View'

Lupica: Malaysia Airlines plane crash becomes latest terror attack with no mercy

This is an act of terrorism and an insane act of war at the same time, not so long after a military cargo plane is shot down in this same area.

EXCLUSIVE Phil Jackson talks about his return to New York and the Knicks in new autobiography

There’s a part of me that has always longed to lead a simpler, more ascetic life. But I’ve had to balance that with the demands of constantly being in the public eye.

COP AND ROBBER: Conn. state trooper pleads guilty after he's caught stealing $3G in cash, jewelry from dying victim of motorcycle crash

A crooked Connecticut cop caught by his dash cam stealing more than $3,000 in cash and jewelry off a mangled motorcycle crash victim is facing prison after pleading guilty Wednesday.

Leading AIDS researchers heading to international conference among the dead on Flight MH17

Famous Dutch AIDS researcher Joep Lange (pictured) was among the researchers headed to Australia for conference on finding a cure.

EDITORIAL Make the killers pay: President Obama must lead international effort to find the MH17 attackers

As many as 23 Americans were among the 295 casualties of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, shockingly shot down by a missile near the Russia-Ukraine border.

Ukrainian rebel writes online post claiming he shot down military jet — but was it Malaysia flight MH17?

Igor Strelkov (center), the Russian commander in Donetsk, posted that his rebels blasted what they thought was a military jet. 'We warned you — do not fly in our sky,' he wrote.

Soviet-era missile launcher that official says took down jet is a 'sophisticated missile battery' crafted to intercept targets up to 72,000 feet in the air

The Associated Press reported seeing the weapon — which resembles a launcher mounted on top of a tank — in the eastern Ukrainian town of Snizhne earlier Thursday.

Malaysia Airlines flight could be FOURTH commercial airplane shot down

If the Malaysia Airlines plane was indeed shot down, it would be the fourth commercial airliner to face such a fate.

Biggs ripped for Malaysia Airlines plane crash tweet, later apologizes

VIDEO Footage appears to show Malaysia Airlines jet crashing and erupting into flames

Shocking video appears to show the moment the Malaysia Airlines flight crashed in eastern Ukraine, exploding in a fireball.

Hillary: ‘Should be outrage in European capitals’ if Russia shot down Malaysia Airlines plane

If Russian separatists shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in Ukraine, it’s up to European countries to get tough on Russian President Vladimir Putin, Hillary Clinton said hours after the tragedy.

SPECIAL REPORT Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 tragedy raises many questions

As with any major aircraft accident, questions abound in the early stages of an investigation, determining not only what caused a crash, but how to prevent such accidents in the future.

New York

PICTURED Cops ID 6-foot-9 Washington Heights man who forced himself into apartment and raped woman

Jean Rodriguez, 23, of the Bronx, is wanted by police for the rape of a 20-year-old Washington Heights woman.

NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton backing bill to regulate Times Square's costumed characters

Times Square has some 'Elmo issues' — and the city’s top cop has backed a legislative effort to address them.

NYPD detective busted for submitting forged paperwork to claim $1,000 reward: prosecutors

NYPD Detective John Malloy, 46, was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court Thursday morning on charges of second-degree forgery and attempted petit larceny.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

Alleged shoplifter wins $510K verdict after breaking ankle in police custody

Kevin Jarman, 50, claims cops intentionally tripped him after he was arrested for shoplifting a bag of shrimp from a Queens Pathmark in 2011.

PICTURED Earliest-known printed Hebrew book goes on display in Brooklyn

For a brief moment in 1475, a Hebrew printing press opened up in Regio di Calabria in southern Italy. More than 500 years later, two leaves from a Hebrew book produced in that ancient shop have found their way to Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

SEE IT: Tim McGraw SLAPS fan during Atlanta concert

California bank robbers used hostage as human shield during deadly gun battle that killed 2 robbers

Officers responding to a call of a robbery at a Bank of the West branch in north Stockton spotted three men taking three female hostages from the bank at gunpoint.

Canadian student gets public schools to stop using Christian organization for sex education classes

A Canadian school board has agreed to stop using a Christian agency to teach sex education classes after a student and her mother raised a holy ruckus.

Florida man attacks wife on jet ski near nudist retreat after she mentions seeing him ‘involved in sex act’ with another man

A Florida man was arrested for viciously attacking his wife during a jet ski ride after the woman mentioned she saw her husband “involved with a sex act” with another man, police said.

NSA workers pass nude photos swiped from communications streams, Snowden says

Workers for the National Security Agency regularly share private, intimate photos swiped from communications streams, according to NSA leaker Edward Snowden.

The women of ‘Friends' reunite for dinner in Hollywood

Celtics legend Bill Russell collapses while speaking in Nevada, team says he's OK

Celtics officials say NBA Hall of Famer Bill Russell is doing OK after collapsing during a speaking engagement near Lake Tahoe.

Connecticut high school teacher arrested for having sex with student, sending nude pics and giving him marijuana: cops

A Connecticut English teacher turned herself in Thursday on allegations that she had sex with and sent naked pictures of herself to one of her students at Stamford High School.

Alleged meth-fueled Montana gunman shot at mom, kids, plants at park

Paranoia got the best of a homeless man who went on a methamphetamine-induced shooting spree in Billings, Mont. and nearly shot a mother and her children.

U.S border officials can’t cope with medical needs of immigrant children from Mexico: report

The rising tide of immigrant children has overcome U.S. border officials, leaving the kids without proper medical screening before they are sent to detention centers, according to a news report.

Sports

Average Yankees in need of second-half surge

A half-billion dollars of new talent has translated into a .500 record through the first half of the season. Joe Girardi’s team has no shortage of talent, but with a glut of pitching injuries and an underachieving offense, can it make a second-half run to get Derek Jeter one final October?