MR GRADY'S DAILY BLOG: AMERICAS NEWS

JULY 4 GRINCH: Man on bike swipes 7 American flags from homes on Independence Day morning — WATCH UNPATRIOTIC ACT

An apparently unpatriotic punk swiped American flags from seven Brooklyn homes early Friday, authorities said.

SETTING RECORD STRAIGHT: Mya's manager denies singer had affair with Jay Z after fans 'start making threats'

Mya (inset right) broke her silence this week and forcefully denied a long-term affair with Jay Z after the rumor turned to death threats, her manager told the Daily News on Friday.

BRUTAL HONESTY: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford CAN'T promise he'll stay sober if reelected

Crack-smoking Toronto Mayor Rob Ford said Friday that he won’t guarantee he will stay sober if he’s reelected, telling a radio show that people will just have to trust him.

Toddler mauled by pit bull and part of KFC ejection hoax to receive new eye in Florida

A Florida prosthetist is offering to provide an artificial eye to a 3-year-old Mississippi girl mauled by her grandfather’s pit bulls.

KEEPING TABS ON FRIENDS? Germany accuses man of spying for U.S., summons ambassador to Berlin

Germany summoned the U.S. ambassador in Berlin Friday following the arrest of a man reported to have spied for the U.S., heightening friction between the two countries over alleged eavesdropping in Germany.

SCORE! Team USA star dating Scottish stunner

Russian President Putin to Obama: Happy Fourth of July, let's be friends

They've been tussling over Ukraine and barely spoke at D-Day ceremonies, but Russian President Vladimir Putin still remembered to wish President Obama a happy 4th of July.

9 Ukrainian soldiers die as gov't troops press offensive against pro-Russian rebels

KIEV, Ukraine — Fighting left at least nine Ukrainian soldiers dead Friday, as government troops pressed their offensive against pro-Russian rebels using heavy artillery and combat jets, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said.

Gertrude Weaver, oldest living American, celebrates sweet 116 on July 4

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A southern Arkansas woman who celebrated her 116th birthday Friday is almost half as old as her country — and the oldest confirmed living American.

Manhattan woman gives birth to son in the back seat of hired car on the way to the hospital

Thanks for the ride, baby. A Manhattan mom delivered her newborn son in the back seat of a hired car, with the infant arriving eight days early outside the Columbia University Medical Center’s front door.

Wilmer's hacked Twitter uploads naked Lovato pics

Fears of undetectable bombs implanted in terrorists’ FLESH prompt heightened security at European airports

Passengers on U.S.-bound flights from Europe endured lengthy security checks Friday amid new fears terrorists could sneak high-tech bombs aboard in cell phones, shoes or even implanted in their flesh.

VIDEO Rocks thrown at Israeli police by protesters during teen's funeral

Israeli police clashed with rock-throwing Palestinian protesters in Jerusalem on Friday as thousands mourned at the funeral for an Arab teen who Palestinians say was killed by Israeli extremists in a revenge attack.

SEE IT Blue whales capsize 21-foot boat off California coast and almost swallow floundering photographer

Wildlife photographer Dale Frink was snapping away on an expedition to watch the creatures some 12 miles off the San Diego shore Wednesday when tragedy almost struck.

Three Florida women accused of raking in more than $2 million with stolen baby formula scheme

Alicia Tondreau-Leve, Guilyanna Guzman and Alexis Lyn Dattadeen allegedly stole $2 million worth of baby formula from stores through Florida.

GUESS WHO! See how these stars celebrate July 4

9-year-old Brooklyn girl who survived hit-and-run wreck that killed sister fighting for her life in coma: family

The 9-year-old Brooklyn girl who survived a hit-and-run wreck that killed her big sister was in a coma Friday — and unaware of her sibling’s death, according to a family member.

Orphan who pleaded to be adopted sent back to Florida foster care after 'things got physical' between him and another child in adoptive family

After 16 years of in foster care and publicly begging for someone to adopt him, Davion Only thought he finally found a family, but now he's back in Florida, upset and embarrassed, unwilling to talk.

SEE IT American Apparel apologizes for posting picture of Challenger disaster as ‘clouds’

American Apparel set off fireworks on social media after they mistakenly posted a picture of the Challenger space shuttle disaster before the Fourth of July.

California nurse gets jail time for having sex with woman's corpse

Alejandro Lopez Razo, 62, was sentenced to two years in the Los Angeles County Jail for having sex with an 82-year-old woman's corpse while preparing it for the mortuary.

NYC Mayor de Blasio draws boos during July 4th parade appearance

Obama, First Lady greet military members for Fourth of July celebration

It's National Bikini Day! SEE the most iconic swimsuits

New York

Friends of Brooklyn teen who was fatally stabbed start petition to solve her murder

Frustrated friends of Tanaya Grant’s have put together an online petition demanding cops step up their investigation into the beloved band member’s slaying — which they say may have already been solved.

Thug steals purse from wheelchair-bound woman, 98, in Brooklyn

A heartless bike-riding crook ripped a pocketbook away from a defenseless, wheelchair-bound 98-year-old woman in Brooklyn, cops said Friday.

Dems will formally investigate Brooklyn for 2016 convention

The Democratic National Committee will send a contingent to the borough next month to size up the city’s bid to host the party’s 2016 convention at the Barclays Center in Mayor de Blasio’s beloved home borough.

LATEST FROM AROUND NEW YORK

Fears of undetectable bombs prompt heightened security at European airports

Man arrested in Queens shootings of teen bystander, rival: police

A 34-year-old Long Island man was arrested for shooting two victims — including a 15-year-old innocent bystander — in Queens, cops said Friday.

Justin Bieber celebrates 4th of July with yacht party

Mexico issues alert for radioactive material taken from truck

Small amount of Iridium-192 missing after pickup truck is stolen. Authorities have found the truck, but not the pen-sized case that houses tiny radioactive device.

Family blames fraternity hazing for death of California State University student

The family of a 19-year-old who died during a barefoot hike in a southern California forest claims the stunt was part of a college fraternity hazing ritual.

Cash-strapped town places plastic dummy in patrol car at speeding hot spots in attempt to keep the peace

Ada Police Department cannot afford to employ another traffic officer — so is instead propping up a CPR mannequin, dressed in full uniform, behind the wheel of a patrol car.

Hillary Clinton defends $200G speaking fee, saying it goes to charity

The former Secretary of State, in London promoting her book, said on Friday that she doesn’t hang on to the money she has earned from college events.

PHOTOS: Bar gets some air — and sun — at the beach

Canadian police say case of missing 5-year-old, last seen with grandparents, is ‘less of a mystery’

Police in Canada say the disappearance of a small boy and his grandparents is “less of a mystery” but there remains no motive nor suspects in the strange case.

Iraqi Prime Minister vows to seek another term despite recent violence

Despite pressure to step aside, Nouri al-Maliki vowed Friday not to abandon his bid for another term as prime minister and pledged to stay on until the terrorists taking over much of the country are defeated.

Rolf Harris, one-time children’s show favorite in Britain, sentenced to more than 5 years on child sex charges

Harris, who for decades cultivated an image of the affectionate uncle with numerous children’s television programs, was sentenced Friday to five years and nine months in prison.

Five people hospitalized for suspected anthrax infection in Hungary

An infection of deadly anthrax has been identified in beef in eastern Hungary and five people are being monitored in hospital for suspected symptoms of the disease, the health authority ANTSZ said on Friday.

Sports

Sabathia's season and career could be over as knee surgery looms

CC Sabathia will visit Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham on July 14, at which time the orthopedist is expected to recommend surgery on the pitcher’s ailing right knee. Dr. Andrews is not available to see Sabathia next week, though given the bleak outlook – at least for 2014 – there doesn’t seem to be a rush to get Sabathia examined.

Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic advance to Wimbledon final

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic will meet for the Wimbledon title after the old guard held off the new in the semifinals Friday at the All England Club.

Athletics get pitchers Samardzija, Hammel from Cubs: sources

A person familiar with knowledge of the deal says the Oakland Athletics have an agreement in place to acquire right-handers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel from the Chicago Cubs in a trade that makes one of baseball’s best pitching staffs even better.

Damon eager to return, thinks he ‘can still outhit at least half the league’

Teams looking for a proven hitter to help them down the stretch might want to call Johnny Damon. The three-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion and five-time .300 hitter is staying in shape, swinging the bat and eager to return to the majors.

Germany beats France to advance to 4th straight World Cup semi

It was hot, it was dreary, and it was inevitable. In a match that stuck stubbornly close to a predictable script, Germany ousted France, 1-0, for a quarterfinal victory in sticky Rio de Janeiro.

LATEST NEWS: Germany beats France to advance to 4th straight World Cup semi; SEE IT: GIANT insect lands on Colombian star's arm during shot at World Cup; Neymar out of World Cup after suffering broken vertebrae in win over Colombia; World Cup star Tim Howard dating model Sara McLean; Miroslav Klose back in Germany’s World Cup lineup vs. France; View All

You won't believe the identity of this former heartthrob

Diaz talks getting naked for first time ever on screen

SEE IT Texas Tech cheerleader, 19, loves shooting big game in Africa — and makes no apologies for it

Animal rights activists aren't pleased with a Texas Tech University cheerleader's hunting trips that have left trails of blood throughout Africa.

Obama rated worst president since World War II: poll

Americans ranked President Obama as the worst commander-in-chief since World War II in a new Quinnipiac poll. Of those polled, 33% rated Obama as the least impressive of 12 Presidents since the last global conflict.

Travel Channel pulls Adam Richman's 'Man Finds Food' show after Instagram rant goes viral

The Travel Channel show was postponed from Wednesday's launch after Richman encouraged one woman to commit suicide while calling others degrading names.

Tim Howard becomes viral sensation after amazing World Cup effort

Howard singlehandedly kept the U.S. in it amid heavy pressure from Belgium, which finally broke through in extra time and went on to win it 2-1.

Victoria shares wedding snap to mark anniversary

Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson gets 18 months in prison for role in conspiracy to hack phones of celebs, pols, and crime victims

Three other former journalists at the tabloid and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire all received shorter sentences. Mulcaire, the newspaper’s chief phone hacker, received a suspended six-month sentence.

ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL: Florida burglars caught sleeping in car parked at crime scene

Officers found 22-year-old Sebastian Gaarlandt and 24-year-old Kristine Gankos sleeping in their car hours after they allegedly broke into other vehicles at a condo complex.

SEE IT Shocking video shows car run over boozed-up man's head in parking lot and victim miraculously SURVIVES

A drunken Polish man was lucky to be alive after he lay down in a parking lot and a car ran over his head.

PHOTOS: Lingerie football league turns up the heat

Arizona child, 9, dies by bullet ricochet during target practice with family

He died after being airlifted to Phoenix Children’s Hospital in critical condition when he was shot in the neck.

Al Qaeda bombs that airports can't detect are new threat

The potentially deadly explosives — which have no metal parts — are the sick brainchild of Saudi bomb maker Ibrahim Al-Asiri, the chief explosives creator for Al Qaeda.

Obama touts immigration reform at White House Fourth of July citizenship ceremony

With immigration reform on his mind, President Obama echoed his pledge for a policy change at a White House ceremony Friday to naturalize military members who have served without citizenship.