Morning Edition

Six years ago today, suicide bombers killed 52 people by targeting London's public transit system. There are allegations that British police collaborated with tabloid magazines to hack into the victims' voicemail messages left that day.

The Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloid "News Of The World" is facing new allegations in a phone hacking scandal that has set off a fire storm in Britain. Murdoch's top news executive at News International is under increasing pressure to resign.

In Texas Thursday, Humberto Leal Garcia is scheduled to be put to death. Leal was convicted of the rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl in 1994 — but he is a Mexican national and was not informed of his right to notify his embassy or consulate at the time of his arrest. President Obama, the United Nations and others have asked Texas to stay the execution, but the state has refused.

With the August deadline on the debt ceiling looming, President Obama and Republicans say they have agreed on a set of spending cuts. The president is insisting that the package include some revenue. The debate seems to center on when is a tax increase not a tax increase. David Wessel, economics editor of The Wall Street Journal, talks to Renee Montagne about Thursday's deficit reduction talks at the White House.

Minnesota's government has had been shutdown for nearly a week. There continues to be a standoff over taxes and spending between the Democratic governor and the Republicans who control the state's legislature. Hundreds of laid off state workers rallied at the steps of the state Capitol Wednesday.