NPR 2010-06-28

World leaders meeting in Toronto appear to have reached consensus 1 on the importance of cutting government deficits 2. As NPR's Jim Zarroli reports they pledge today to reduce deficits in half by 2013.

The leaders are meeting at a time when the global economy is still recovering from one of the worst downturns in decades. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said countries should continue to spend money on stimulus 3 programs that they have committed to.

"But at the same time, advanced countries must send a clear message that as our stimulus plans expire we will focus on getting our fiscal 4 houses in order."

Harper said countries should stabilize 5 their government debt by 2016. The focus on debt reduction represents something of a victory for European countries which have been struggling to contain the Greek debt crisis. Other countries, including the United States and Japan, have pushed for more stimulus spending, saying cutbacks now would endanger the fragile global economy. Jim Zarroli, NPR News, Toronto.

Protests are again under way in Toronto on the second day of the summit. Police have detained more than 100 people today alone, many of them linked to anarchist 6 groups from Quebec. The weekend violence started after black-clad protesters broke away from a larger peaceful demonstration 7 and smashed windows of downtown buildings and torched police cars. More than 500 people have been arrested, and Toronto's police chief says he expects more violence.

Alex has been downgraded to a tropical depression as it moves across the Yucatan Peninsula. As NPR’s Jason Beaubien reports from Cancun, the weather system is expected to gain strength when it enters the Gulf 8 of Mexico later today.

Alex pounded Belize and the eastern side of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula from Chetumal to Cancun. Strong winds and heavy rains continued to buffet 9 the area. Belize set up storm shelters, and more than 1,000 people were moved from coastal 10 islands to the mainland. Alex slowed after coming ashore 11 late Saturday, but forecasters say it still has the potential to rebuild into a major storm in the Gulf. Shell Oil Company says it's pulling non-central staff off drilling rigs and oil platforms in anticipation 12 of Alex's arrival. Forecasters currently predict that Alex will stay to the west of the BP oil spill and hit the Mexican Gulf Coast late in the week, but they also warned that track could change. Jason Beaubien, NPR News, Cancun.

NPR has learned West Virginia Democratic Senator Robert C. Byrd has been hospitalized in serious condition. The longest-serving senator in the nation's history was admitted to a Washington area hospital last week. The 92-year-old broke the record for congressional service in November after serving more than 57 years.

Martin D. Ginsburg, the husband of Supreme 13 Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, died today at the couple's home in Washington DC. He was 78 years old.

You are listening to NPR News in Washington.

At least one major oil company says deepwater drilling must continue despite BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. At a business and political forum 14 in South Africa, Royal Dutch Shell says drilling is needed to meet rising global demand, but the company's chief executive says the Gulf spill should offer lessons.

The Pope is lashing 15 out at Belgian authorities who staged raids on church property Thursday as part of an investigation 16 into sexual abuse of children by church officials. Teri Schultz reports from Brussels on the mounting criticism of the prosecutors 17' actions.

Pope Benedict calls it "surprising and deplorable" that police and investigators 18 sealed off a Belgian archbishop's residence and a cathedral and drilled into two tombs in search of evidence in an ongoing 19 pedophile inquiry 20. Computers, phones and files were seized. In a letter to Belgian bishops 21, the Pope expresses his solidarity 22 with them in what he calls this moment of sadness. He also says he hopes the justice will take its course and that everyone involved will have their rights respected. Bishops were holding a meeting at the time of the raids and were detained for several hours during the collection process. The Belgian Catholic Church says it's considering filing legal action against the state. The prosecutor's office says it was justified 23 in looking for more evidence regarding sexual abuse charges against clergy 24. For NPR News, I’m Teri Schultz in Brussels.

As Germany celebrates its 4-1 World Cup win over England, an eight-legged resident of Germany seems to have seen the victory coming. An octopus 25 in a German aquarium 26 was given the choice of food from two plastic containers, one bore an England flag, the other had a German flag. The octopus nicknamed Paul quickly opened the box with Germany's flag.

I’m Rebecca Sheir, NPR News in Washington.