CHICAGO - The American Medical Association on Thursday issued a formal apology for more than a century of discriminatory policies that excluded blacks from participating in a group long considered the voice of U.S. doctors.

The apology stems from initiatives at the nation’s largest doctors’ group to reduce racial disparities in medicine — from the paltry number of black physicians to the disproportionate burden of disease among blacks and other minorities.

“The AMA is committed to improving its relationship with minority physicians and to increasing the ranks of minority physicians so that the work force accurately represents the diversity of America’s patients,” Dr. Ronald Davis, the group’s immediate past president, said in a statement posted on the AMA’s Web site. MORE>>>

George Bush surprised world leaders with a joke about his poor record on the environment as he left the G8 summit in Japan.

The American leader, who has been condemned throughout his presidency for failing to tackle climate change, ended a private meeting with the words: “Goodbye from the world’s biggest polluter.” He then punched the air while grinning widely, as the rest of those present including Gorden Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy looked on in shock. More>>>>

A Brooklyn toddler was mauled by a pit bull yesterday after its sadistic, drunken owner unleashed the dog in a room where he knew five children slept, police said.

Frantz Cesar, 24, angry at his estranged wife, allegedly kicked in a basement air conditioner at 2 a.m. and threw in his pit bull. Read more »

Rev. Jesse Jackson (shown here with Cindy Sheen) apologized Wednesday for saying Barrack Obama is “Talking down to black people” during what Jackson thought was a private conversation before a FOX News interview Sunday. Jackson was speaking to a fellow guest at the time about Obama’s speeches in black churches and his support for faith-based charities. Jackson added before going live, “I want to cut his nuts off.” His microphone picked up the remarks. MORE>>>>>