Zimbabwe president defies pressure to leave

Zimbabwe president defies pressure to leave

HARARE, Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe defied calls to quit Sunday, saying he will preside over a ruling party congress in December in an announcement that could trigger impeachment proceedings this week and more protests demanding his ouster.

In a televised address, the 93-year-old Mugabe acknowledged what he said were “a whole range of concerns” of Zimbabweans about the chaotic state of the government and the economy, but he stopped short of what many people in the southern African nation were hoping for – a statement that he was resigning after nearly four decades in power.

The once-formidable Mugabe is now a virtually powerless, isolated figure, making his continued incumbency all the more unusual and extending Zimbabwe’s political limbo.

TransCanada sends more crews to Keystone leak

AMHERST, S.D.

TransCanada Corp. says the company has sent additional crews and equipment to the site of a 210,000-gallon oil spill in South Dakota from its Keystone pipeline.

TransCanada said Saturday it is making progress in its investigation into the spill cause on farmland in Marshall County, near the North Dakota border, about 250 miles west of Minneapolis. But the company did not elaborate on the cause. The company says additional equipment and workers continue to be dispatched to the site.

TransCanada says the leak is under control and there is no significant environmental impact or threat to the public.

Nebraska regulators vote today on a proposed Keystone XL route, an expansion that also would be operated by TransCanada.

Toddler pulled from pond in Florida development dies

BOCA RATON, Fla.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office says a toddler pulled from a pond in a suburban Boca Raton development has died.

Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Teri Barbera told the Palm Beach Post that detectives are investigating the events on Sunday that led to the child ending up in the pond.

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue crews responded to Meadow Lakes at a Boca Raton development shortly before 2 p.m. after receiving a report of a missing child.

Fire Rescue spokesman Capt. Albert Borroto says divers found the child in a pond behind the home. The child was transported to a hospital.

No other details were available.

Japan trade surplus sinks in October

TOKYO

Japan reports that its trade surplus fell more than 40 percent in October from a year earlier as costs for imports of oil, gas and coal surged.

Customs figures released today showed imports rose almost 19 percent from the same month a year earlier in October, while exports were up 14 percent.

Japan’s surplus with the U.S. jumped 11 percent and exports to China were sharply higher.

While imports have risen thanks to higher costs for crude oil and other commodities, Japan’s export sector is helping drive a moderate recovery in the economy thanks to revived demand in major markets such as China and the U.S. for vehicles, electronics and machinery.

Associated Press