Woman with blood disorder meets blood donor for first time

When 37-year-old Radhika Sawh finally met one of the hundreds of anonymous donors who keep her alive, she shed tears for those who had shed blood for her. “The people who donate blood don’t get anything in return,” said Sawh, who has received over 1,200 units of blood from hundreds of donors. “But I get everything. I get to see my daughter come home from school. I get to live.” As summer approaches, a time of historically slow blood donations...

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The Daily Checkup: Adopting healthy lifestyle is the best way to reduce the risk of a stroke

The specialist: As the director of the Mount Sinai Stroke Center, Dr. Stanley Tuhrim is a vascular neurologist who specializes in stroke and related conditions. Founded in 1988, the stroke center provides care to about 500 patients a year. Who’s at risk: Every year, about 700,000 Americans suffer a stroke, which works out to one stroke every 40 seconds. “A stroke is a disturbance in the blood flow to the brain, most often due to a clot...

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President Obama's possibly risqué comment about wife’s pushups provokes laughter at fund-raiser

President Obama is chasing green, but his humor may be turning blue. A comment by the commander-in-chief about his wife's exercise routine sent snickers through a crowd of Hollywood's gay and lesbian elite who gathered at an LGBT Leadership Council gala in Beverly Hills on Wednesday for a fund-raiser. After being introduced by emcee Ellen DeGeneres, Obama called the comedian "a great friend who accepts a little bit of teasing about...

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George W. Bush is the most unpopular living ex-President: poll

George W. Bush has stepped out of the public eye since leaving office, but absence hasn't made the nation’s heart grow fonder. The 43rd President of the United States is the most unpopular living former president, a CNN/ORC International poll has found, as only 43% of people surveyed said they had a favorable opinion of him and 54% viewed him unfavorably. The negative rating puts Bush far behind his fellow living ex-Presidents...

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UN: Syrian forces shot at monitors trying to get to scene of latest massacre

UNITED NATIONS — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says U.N. monitors were shot at trying to get to the scene of the latest Syrian massacre. The U.N. chief told the General Assembly on Thursday that the unarmed observers were initially denied access to the scene in central Hama and "were shot at with small arms" while trying to get there. He did not mention any casualties. Ban said each day in Syria sees more "grim atrocities" and...

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euro 2012 poland greece last minute training friday opener

Poland were on Thursday preparing to kick off Euro 2012 on home soil, with opponents Greece seeking a morale-boosting win to lift a beleaguered nation hit by political turmoil and crippling financial woes. Both teams were due at the National Stadium in Warsaw for training, a day ahead of the curtain-raiser for the 16-team showpiece, as excitement builds across the country -- and in neighbouring co-hosts Ukraine -- for the start of the...

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euro 2012 real madrid barcelona rift spanish squad alvaro arbeloa

The Spanish squad is united and not riven by a split between Real Madrid players and those from Barcelona said Real defender Alvaro Arbeloa on Wednesday. The 29-year-old - a member of the Spanish squads that won both Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup - denied Barcelona midfield general Xavi Hernandez's assertion last week that there was an underlying bitterness between the two camps. "No, there is no split," said Arbeloa, who was a key...

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euro 2012 germany defense spotlight reliability mertesacker a question february ankle surgery

GDANSK, Poland - Questions have been raised about the reliability of Germany’s defense and the speed of its anchor, Per Mertesacker, whose match experience since February has been limited to two friendlies. But coach Joachim Loew appears ready to take the risk with the center back for Germany’s European Championship opener against Portugal and its star forward Cristiano Ronaldo on Saturday. EURO 2012: COMPLETE COVERAGE Germany’s...

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euro 2012 england striker jermain defoe leaves team death father

England striker Jermain Defoe has flown home from the squad's Euro 2012 training camp in Krakow following the death of his father, the Football Association confirmed Thursday. Tottenham star Defoe, who only touched down in Poland with his England team-mates on Wednesday, will rejoin the squad at an unspecified date, the FA said in a brief statement. "England striker Jermain Defoe has returned home to England this morning following...

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The silent issue that could doom President Obama in 2012 election

There will be so many things to talk about with Obama vs. Romney from here to November, but the one that nobody will want to talk about very much in polite society, even in what has a chance to be the meanest presidential campaign for all times, is race. It works against the President this time, in a big way. Last time, there were just weren’t enough reasons for enough white voters to vote against the black guy, as much as they wanted to....

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US military suicides rising, even as combat eases

WASHINGTON — Suicides are surging among America’s troops, averaging nearly one a day this year — the fastest pace in the nation’s decade of war. The 154 suicides for active-duty troops in the first 155 days of the year far outdistance the U.S. forces killed in action in Afghanistan — about 50 percent more — according to Pentagon statistics obtained by The Associated Press. The numbers reflect a military burdened with wartime demands...

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