MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS NEWS

TIME FOR KIDS TO CALL A TIME OUT? Appeals court rules that spanking is 'reasonable use of force' by parents after child gets hit for cursing

In a recent ruling, the state Appellate Division found that a Long Island father’s spanking of an 8-year-old boy was not 'excessive corporal punishment.'

Boy living with mom, grandparents was starved, looked like 'Holocaust victim': detective

The 7-year-old ate bugs to stay alive as he wasted away to 20 pounds at his home in Pennsylvania, authorities say. A woman walking a dog tipped off police after spotting a living 'human skeleton' at the Greenville house.

EXCLUSIVE OOPS! Bumbling jail captain mistakenly released a Rikers Island inmate A YEAR EARLY

A bumbling jail captain accidentally released an inmate a year early from Rikers Island last Tuesday and it took the department three days to realize it, according to sources and an internal jail document.

Chinese spy ship spotted off Hawaiian coast, near U.S.-led naval exercises

China sent the surveillance vessel into international waters near the RIMPAC drills, a 22-nation naval exercise led by the United States.

Guess what beauty was spotted with Mets pitcher Matt Harvey

13 Israelis killed, including 2 U.S. citizens, as Israel's attacks on Hamas in Gaza intensify

Israel expanded its ground assault on Hamas militants in Gaza Sunday — the bloodiest day in the two-week war. The Israel Defense Forces said 13 of its soldiers — including two Americans — were killed in the latest round of fighting, bringing the total number of Israeli military fatalities in the latest hostilities to 18.

Florida cop charged with having sex with girl who stayed in his home

A Florida police officer is accused of having sex with an underage girl he first met when she was 11 and he was assigned to her missing persons case.

'We can still do impossible things': 45 years after walking on moon, Buzz Aldrin hopes next step is manned mission to Mars

It’s been 45 years since the planet stopped to cram around a tiny, grainy television set to watch humans land on the moon.

Sky News reporter criticized for going through MH17 victim’s suitcase

Warren: Obama attends photo op, plays golf amid flight crisis

Beaming mother and son take picture aboard doomed flight before takeoff

Singapore Airlines slammed for 'heartless' tweet after MH17 crash

It's the end of one character's era for 'Homeland'

SEE IT Calif. hiker survives on bugs and snow for 6 DAYS after breaking leg, getting stranded on mountain

A California hiker has a "refreshing" perspective on his life after he was stranded on a 13,000-foot mountain with a broken leg — eating melted snow and bugs in order to survive.

East Harlem housing cop gets teeth broken by pothead's punch

A cop patrolling housing had her teeth broken when a man punched her in East Harlem early Sunday, police said.

New York parents hire pricey pros for naps, potty training

Man pours beer on tiger, tries to enter penguin pool during zoo party

A man poured beer over a tiger and another stripped off and tried to enter a penguin pool at a party at the London Zoo. The events happened at a Zoo Lates events, which takes place at the London landmark during the summer.

Bronx man arrested after he beat victim with hammer in argument: cops

Michael Dilello, 43, of the Bronx, surrendered to police and faces charges of attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon in the Friday morning attack.

New York

Long Island man accused of beating mother in home where brother was found dead

An 18-year-old Long Island man has been charged with assaulting his mother in a home where his brother was found dead.

Snake terrifies visitors at Washington Square Park, cops called

Police arrived at Washington Square Park Sunday afternoon after terrified visitors called about a serpent in the grass by their bench on the north side of the park.

DONOHUE LIRR workers do better, but aren't as well off as their commuters, in tentative contract deal

Forget the A train. Subway performers should work the Long Island Rail Road that — thanks to a late-inning tentative contract reached with unions last week — is not crippled by a strike today.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

Teenage cyclist in critical condition after being hit by taxi on UWS

A 13-year-old cyclist suffered serious injuries Sunday afternoon when he was run down by a taxi.

Two sisters who ran away from home in Rockaway, Queens, return safely

The two sisters who ran away from their Rockaway, Queens, home on Saturday are now back in their mother’s arms.

CBS is ready for some big gains with $275M NFL deal

Typhoon Rammasun kills 17, leaves 5 missing in southern China, officials say

A typhoon believed to be the strongest storm to hit southern China in four decades killed eight people after claiming 77 lives in the Philippines, officials said Saturday.

Boko Haram extremists kill over 100 people in northeast Nigeria

Boko Haram extremists have killed more than 100 people and hoisted its black-and-white flag over a town left undefended by Nigeria’s military, just 53 miles from the state capital of Maiduguri, a Civil Defense spokesman and a human rights advocate said Saturday.

22 computers stolen from Long Island elementary school: cops

A heartless thief stole more than $20,000 worth of computers from a Long Island elementary school, police said. The theft was discovered Friday morning when an employee of South Grove Elementary School in Syosset spotted a broken window in the back of the school and called the cops.

'Idol' just needs to create more stars, Fox honcho says

Bangladeshi woman trapped in building collapse saws off her own arm

A fearless Bangladeshi woman has told how she amputated her own arm to save her life and escape a collapsed garment factory.

NYPD cops bust Harlem man for 11 Midtown burglaries

A career criminal whose recent string of burglaries involved stealing laptops, cash and a bottle of liquor from Midtown businesses was busted, police said Saturday.

Thousands rally over alleged police inaction over 6-year-old girl's rape at school in southern India

Thousands of people angry over alleged police inaction after a 6-year-old girl was raped at her school in southern India rallied Saturday to demand that authorities arrest those responsible for the attack.

Sports

Giants' Snee expected to announce retirement

Chris Snee, the final link to one of the greatest offensive lines in Giants history, is expected to announce his retirement after 10 NFL seasons on Monday, just hours before his 11th would have begun.

Vacchiano: With rash of injuries, Giants hope 2014 doesn't hurt, too

Last season felt like it was over for the Giants before it ever really started. They had so much hope, so much belief in their team that a Super Bowl countdown clock hung near their locker room.

Gola: Woods enters British like a Tiger, exits like a lamb

After a surprising opening round that gave everyone promise, it was more of the same sloppiness at Royal Liverpool Sunday — more wayward shots into the hay with his driver, yet another double on the card, and a fat 75 to take home on his private jet.

Brian McCann's bloop helps Yankees complete Cincinnati sweep

The Yankees completed a three-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday with a 3-2 walk-off victory at the Stadium. Brian McCann's high fly fell on the turf behind first base when three fielders converged and no one went for the catch.

James Garner, legend in TV and film, dead at 86...

EXCLUSIVE Head of City Council Finance Committee once ran not-for-profit that issued checks to herself, family

Before she was a city councilwoman, Julissa Ferreras ran the Latino Initiative for Better Resources and Empowerment (LIBRE), which issued $8,000 in checks to herself and her family. LIBRE was what corrupt pol Hiram Monserrate was convicting of looting.