Last gasp in the ninth includes Castro scare

Shortstop Starlin Castro had another good day defensively and at the plate Saturday, but there was a collective gasp in the ninth inning when he ducked away from a high pitch from Francisco Cordero. It struck Castro on the left shoulder and ricocheted off his helmet, but the result was only a bruise and a run forced in with the bases loaded.

''I tried to protect my face,'' he said. ''It's a little sore.''

Castro intends to play today.

But the Cubs will be without Geovany Soto, who wasn't available Saturday because of a mild ligament strain in his right shoulder that affects his swing.

Because Soto couldn't play, manager Lou Piniella wasn't able to …

Canada's complicity in torture since 2002 must be ended

ABUSE OF PRISONERS:

Debate continues in Parliament and across the country about two issues that have become emblematic of the worrying ways that human rights have been undermined and sold short in the name of security: the fate of Ornar Khadr and the handling of prisoners apprehended by Canadian troops in Afghanistan.

Both have been prominent on the public, political, and media agenda in recent months. Both raise very troubling questions about Canadian complicity in torture. Both remain unresolved. And both begin on the battlefield in Afghanistan, back in 2002.

That is when Canadian troops first deployed in Afghanistan. From the outset, Canadian military brass and …

Homemade bomb kills 2, wounds 19 outside southern Philippine air base

A homemade bomb exploded outside an air force base in the southern Philippines on Thursday, killing two people and wounding 19 others in a possible attack by al-Qaida-linked militants, police said.

The cell phone-detonated bomb was apparently concealed in one of several bags of civilian commuters waiting to hitch a ride on an air force C-130 cargo plane outside Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga city, police Chief Superintendent Jaime Caringal said.

A man and a woman, both waiting to get on the plane, were killed in the blast and 19 others were wounded, he said.

Caringal said no one had claimed responsibility for the blast, which also damaged …

[ A FAMILY FOR ME ]

Meet Troy and Tre

These twin brothers enjoy each other's company and want to beadopted together. Troy (left) is a friendly young man who is good atexpressing his thoughts and feelings. He excels at sports, especiallybaseball and football. Tre is generous and compassionate. He likes toplay board games and draw cartoon characters. They are 13 years old.

Their likes:

Troy likes to build model cars and care for pets. Tre likessports, especially basketball and soccer.

What others say:

Their …

The challenges of growth

PASSION ASIDE, DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BRING YOUR BUSINESS INTO THE MAJOR LEAGUES? HERE ARE THE SECRETS OF SOME WHO MADE THE BIG LEAP

John Sleeman was within a hairbreadth of realizing his dream. He'd sold his previous venture, rounded up private investors and sold a chunk of his new company to the Stroh Brewing Co. of Detroit. It was 1988, and the Sleemans were getting back into the beer business after a 55-year hiatus. John's great-great-grandfather had launched the clan into brewing in Canada in 1834, and Guelph, Ontario, became home to several generations of Sleeman beer-makers. But one fateful day in 1933 the government had shown up, padlocks in hand; seems John's …

WORLD SPORTS at 0000 GMT

TOP STORIES:

SOC--WCUP-VOTE CORRUPTION

ZURICH — Further corruption allegations from the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding contests will ensure the focus leading up to the FIFA presidential election vote in 13 days' time is on integrity. Sepp Blatter reveals a former bid employee will be interviewed about claims to a British newspaper that two African voters were paid $1.5 million bribes. Moved. By Graham Dunbar.

SOC--FIFA ELECTION-ENGLAND

LONDON — Unable to choose between two candidates tainted by allegations of corruption scandal, the English Football Association says it will not vote in the election to choose the next FIFA president. Moved. By Rob …

NZ teams face Super 14 crunch week

Four of New Zealand's five teams face critical matches in the weekend's eighth round of rugby's Super 14 as they attempt to remain in playoff contention.

The Wellington Hurricanes, Auckland Blues, Otago Highlanders and last year's finalist the Waikato Chiefs all hope to end midseason slumps and regain prominent positions in tournament standings.

After seven rounds only the third-place Canterbury Crusaders of New Zealand's five franchises remain strongly in contention for the semifinals.

The Hurricanes have had four straight losses and face seven-time champions the Crusaders in the opening match of the eighth round, needing a win to remain in the …