MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS NEWS

Taliban releases raw footage of the handover of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl to U.S. military forces in Afghanistan — SEE THE VIDEO

The video, emailed to media on Wednesday, shows Bergdahl in traditional Afghan clothing sitting in a pickup truck parked on a hillside. More than a dozen Taliban fighters with machine guns stand around the truck and on the hillside. read full story »

OPINION: Surrender without honor! President Obama's swap with Taliban endangers country

Questions remain on how 5 Taliban prisoners will be watched in Qatar

Despite President Obama's assurances Tuesday that five released Taliban fighters will be closely monitored, there's reason to wonder.

Ex-Navy Blue Angels commander found guilty of running sexually-charged squadron that kept porn on jets and painted huge phallus on training facility

Capt. Gregory McWherter, who twice served as the squadron's commander between 2008 and 2012, was reprimanded in a Navy disciplinary hearing Monday after reports of hazing and porn emerged.

LAYS IN THE MILITARY: Fort Hood sexual assault prevention officer ran prostitution ring on base: witness

A cash-strapped soldier told a hearing board Tuesday about how a noncommissioned sex-assault prevention officer on base forced her into a prostitution ring so she could buy groceries for her child.

Lupica: True Blue Rangers fans get final say

In the end, as the Stanley Cup Final begins across the country on Wednesday night, this hockey story in New York is about the Rangers and their fans. That means the ones who have never had the numbers around here but who just kept coming, even as 1994 began to feel as distant as 1940 once did at Madison Square Garden.

Miley & Mariah MIA! World Music Awards may never air on TV

Sailor says she may have spotted missing Malaysian jet during sailing voyage across Indian Ocean: report

A British woman says she may have spotted missing Malaysian Airlines jet MH370 aflame in mid-flight while she was sailing across the Indian Ocean with her husband.

'They killed my family’: Man finds wife and her 2 daughters fatally stabbed in Texas home

A woman and her two daughters were found fatally stabbed inside a Texas home after the mother’s husband returned home from work on Tuesday morning, relatives said.

EXCLUSIVE Over 100 Harlem gang members indicted in case around murder of teenage basketball star: sources

More than 100 Harlem gang members have been indicted in a massive conspiracy case surrounding the 2011 slaying of an 18-year-old high school hoops star, sources said.

Doomed plane carrying Philadelphia newspaper magnate, six others, never came off the ground before fatal crash

Flight recorder data from a jet that crashed over the weekend in Massachusetts, killing Lewis Katz and six others, shows the plane reached takeoff speed but never lifted before plunging into a ravine.

Bieber AGAIN uses N-word, sings about joining KKK in video

San Francisco man caught near the Golden Gate Bridge after manhunt had bomb components, ball bearings, screws in apartment: FBI

Documents show that a search of a San Francisco social media expert’s apartment turned up ball bearings, screws and components needed to make a homemade bomb.

United Express plane turns back to Tennesee after passenger threatens crew member

An United Express flight headed from Nashville to Houston turned around after an angry passenger allegedly threatened a female crew member.

Pennsylvania priest caught having sex in car with teen sentenced to jail time after pleading guilty

The Rev. W. Jeffery Paulish, a priest in Lackawanna County, will spend 8 to 23 months behind bars. He had pleaded guilty to felony corruption of a minor.

LIVE REVIEW: Pharrell makes everyone 'Happy' at the Apollo Theater

Texas mother fuming after autistic son is voted most gullible, drama king by classmates

A Texas mom is furious after learning her autistic son was voted “most gullible and drama king” by the kids in his fifth grade class.

Mass. teen charged in math teacher’s murder now investigated in jailhouse assault: report

Philip D. Chism, who's being held in the October murder of Danvers High School teacher Colleen Ritzer, allegedly attacked a Department of Youth Services employee in Dorchester Monday, according to a report.

Six injured in fiery chain-reaction crash at gas station on New York's Hutchinson River Parkway

A 70-year-old man having a diabetic emergency while driving tried to exit the roadway at a gas station and smashed into a car, which toppled over a gas pump and sparked a huge fire.

BLONDES OR BRUNETTES? Which celebs have more summer fun

MARINO CALLS AN AUDIBLE: Iconic quarterback now plans to WITHDRAW from NFL concussion lawsuit

Miami Dolphins legend Dan Marino plans to withdraw from the NFL concussion lawsuit filed against the NFL on Monday in Philadelphia federal court, according to a South Florida newspaper report.

Georgia jailbird picked his cell's lock, lured female inmate inside for sex: report

Norris Speed, who was sentenced to death for murdering an Atlanta police officer in 1991, confessed to jimmying his lock at Fulton County jail before coaxing a female inmate to join him, according to a report.

Teen shot dead near Brooklyn cop station ‘basically a good boy’: neighbors, family

Laquan Nelson, nicknamed ‘Popcorn,’ was playing basketball on a court in Fort Greene when shots rang out late Monday. He was believed to be a member of the Bloods street gang, police sources said.

Man who served nearly 17 years in prison for Brooklyn homicide declared innocent

Roger Logan, 53, walked free from Brooklyn Supreme Court on Tuesday after prosecutors discovered a key eyewitness at his 1997 trial was in police custody when she testified seeing him shortly before the murder.

Guess who! Which star underwent amazing makeover for new flick?

French woman dies after suitor buries her ALIVE when she falls unconscious on first date in Morocco

Mina El Houari, a diabetic, apparently collapsed during her first meeting with an internet lover, who she had been talking to on Facebook for several months.

Alabama ministry uses Hitler quote in shocking billboard

An Alabama ministry is apparently using an Adolf Hitler quote on a billboard at a mall. The billboard shows five smiling children and the Nazi leader's quote alongside them: "He alone, who owns the youth, gains the future."

White House apologizes to Senate Democrats for 'oversight' in Bergdahl notification failure

The White House has apologized to Senate Democrats for failing to notify them of the Gitmo prisoners swap to secure the release of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.

New Mexico man steps up to donate $35,000 for toddler’s eyesight-saving surgery: report

2-year-old Pamela Soto can see again after Danny Watson, the owner of a construction business in Hobbs, picked up the tab for her surgery.

Katharine McPhee a ‘Smash’ hit on beaches of Cabo

Anti-gun pols will get funds from Gabby Giffords' group

The political action committee launched by former Rep. Gabby Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly detailed plans Tuesday to take on the gun lobby in congressional races in nine states.

Congressional candidate changes name to Cesar Chavez

If you can’t beat ‘em, change your name. An underdog congressional candidate in Arizona has legally changed his name to “Cesar Chavez” to increase his name recognition in hopes of giving him a shot at winning, according to a report.

Florida judge allegedly attacks lawyer outside courtroom

A Florida judge allegedly punched a public defender after the two stepped outside the courtroom to settle a beef.

Rosie the puppy drives owner's car into pond in Massachusetts

German Shepherd puppy Rosie decided that going for a walk in Canton, Mass., just wasn’t enough, so she went for a drive as well.

Avonte Oquendo’s family files lawsuit against city

The family filed the suit last week in Queens Supreme Court, charging the city, the Department of Education, NYPD and others share blame for allowing the autistic 14-year-old boy to escape his Queens school.

The good wife! Kim K keeps her curves under wraps

GOP rivals split Mississippi voters, Iowa state senator wins Republican nod

Tea Party favorite Chris McDaniel and six-term Sen. Thad Cochran remained locked in a close, uncallable race in Mississippi’s primary election Tuesday night — an epic struggle in a party deeply divided along ideological lines.

Flacks behind Bergdahl naysayers deny it's political

A partner at the communications firm scheduling media interviews for soldiers critical of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl denies launching a politically motivated hit job.

Boy hit by minivan that had hooker in passenger seat

A boy in Riviera Beach, Fla., was left with a badly injured leg after a minivan hit him. In the passenger seat was a prostitute, according to neighbors.

British scientists could create embryos with 3 donors

Britain's fertility regulator says controversial techniques to create embryos from the DNA of three people "do not appear to be unsafe" even though no one has ever received the treatment, according to a new report.

Port Authority commish pleads ignorance in Bridgegate probe

I know nothing. That is what one of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s men on the Port Authority board is expected to say Tuesday when he testifies before the legislative panel investigating Bridgegate scandal.

Rihanna’s new dress made of crystals — and that's really it

Cops who probed N.M. man’s anus 8 times during traffic stop still on job: report

Three New Mexico cops who made national headlines after they ordered eight anal cavity searches on a man during a nightmare traffic stop last year are still on the force, despite a $1.6 settlement on the falsely accused driver's behalf.

Cops hunt for shooter after New Mexico driver shot through windshield in moving car during rush hour

Police say they don't know who shot a woman in her face while she was driving on a busy Albuquerque highway. Officers haven't determined if the attack was planned or a random act of violence.

Plane headed to LaGuardia stops in Tennessee after passenger barges into cockpit

A commercial flight from Texas to LaGuardia International Airport made a major pit stop in Memphis, Tenn., on Saturday after an unruly passenger reportedly charged into the cockpit.

Miley smokes, raps and dances in wild new Instagram pics

Jenny Sanford wades into South Carolina education race

Jenny Sanford, the ex-wife of former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, is speaking out in support of her ex’s former education adviser in the race for South Carolina Superintendent of Education.

British baby in urgent need of a new heart

A tiny newborn in the UK is being kept alive by a machine as doctors wait for an organ small enough to perform a lifesaving heart transplant.

Woman who tried to slit cop’s throat aqcuitted of attempted murder

A Vermont woman who sneaked up behind a police officer while under arrest and tried to slit his throat with a knife was found not guilty of attempted murder.

Paul Walker's lookalike brother to star in more 'Fast & Furious' films: report

Elk barges into Swedish classroom, forcing students to flee

Miranda Lambert opens up about admiring Beyoncé

Hong Kong man kept bodies of dead mistress, son in apartment for 14 years: cops

Sports

Lawrence: Is Spurs star Duncan looking to leave on a high note?

Tim Duncan was very unlike Tim Duncan when he made what sounded like a guarantee after the Spurs advanced to the Finals, proclaiming, “We’ll do it this time.” Maybe it’s his last time.

Smoke and mirrors: Clinton camp denies Cup story

The U.S. and its honorary chairman of the 2022 World Cup bid had many reasons to be frustrated by the results of the scandalous voting process, but former president Bill Clinton did not take it out on his hotel mirror, according to his spokesman.

Harper: Straight A's for Oakland on big Bronx stage

The A’s are hardly a surprise team anymore, not after back-to-back AL West titles the last two years. But they’re still underexposed nationally, so much so that they openly relish the chance to strut their stuff on the big stage in the Bronx.

Chrome’s working-class co-owner thinks late sister will help horse

Besides his nasal strip, California Chrome will also have a little help from above as he tries to become horse racing’s 12th Triple Crown winner. Before every race, co-owner Steve Coburn says a prayer to his sister, Brenda, who died of cancer.