From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

The state of Texas defies the world court and its own former governor.

Hello again, I'm Armin Alney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

President Bush wants Texas to postpone tonight's scheduled execution of an admitted killer,

a Mexican national who was denied his rights under an international treaty. The president says Texas should help the U.S. keep its word and obey the world court in the Netherlands.

So far, Governor Rick Perry says

no deal. On To the Point, it's about the death penalty, illegal immigration, and U.S. credibility.

Could there be blowback for American citizens overseas? On reporter's notebook later on, a mother load

of gorillas has been found in the Republic of Congo. First, here's the news.

Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio

International Program Fund, whose contributors include the Ford Foundation and the John D. and

Catherine T. McArthur Foundation. Hello again. Warren and I'll be back with To the Point. The state of Texas is defying President Bush by refusing to halt tonight's scheduled execution of an admitted killer. On To the Point is Texas subject to international law? Could American citizens face retaliation overseas? What does the case have to do with illegal immigration and opposition to the death penalty?

On reporter's notebook, scientists have been worried about the extinction of lowland gorillas,

but a new population has been discovered alive and well, but still vulnerable.

First, this news update, the price of oil and the price of gasoline at the pump are continuing to decline,

giving American consumers some unexpected relief. David Hobbs is head of research at Cambridge Energy Research Associates in Massachusetts. David Hobbs, good to

have you on our program. Thanks very much for having me. The price of oil per barrel at one point was up

around $145, not very long ago. Yesterday it was down to 119. What's the cause of that?

I think it's difficult to put one's finger on any individual cause, but inevitably there are a number of different factors that come together and may contribute in some way.

I think for starters, we're seeing declines in consumption in some of the developed economies

and even a slowing of the rate of growth in some of the developing economies.

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