Radio addresses...New Al-Qaida strategy?...Box Office record

UNDATED (AP) President Bush is using his weekly radio message to urge Congress to open up offshore oil exploration. In the Democratic address, Senator Patty Murray wonders whether Bush sees that high Gas Prices are creating an "emergency" for American families. As she puts it, "When was the last time the president filled his own tank?"


BAGHDAD (AP) General David Petraeus says the pounding al-Qaida has been taking in Iraq may be leading terror leaders to change course. He says al-Qaida may be reconsidering Iraq as its highest priority war front and shifting fighters and resources to Afghanistan's frontier.

GENEVA (AP) Iran and the European Union's chief negotiators have been meeting to discuss Tehran's uranium enrichment. An Iranian official quickly ruled out calling a halt to enrichment.

Negotiations are expected to resume in two weeks.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) Forecasters say a tropical depression off the Southeast coast is expected to gain strength, and possibly turn into a tropical storm. The National Hurricane Center says a tropical storm warning is now in effect from the northern South Carolina coast to the North Carolina-Virginia border.

LOS ANGELES (AP) "The Dark Knight" has been lighting up box offices across the country on its opening weekend. Warner Brothers says the Batman sequel has set a single-day box office record: taking in 66.4 million dollars on its opening day.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 07-19-08 1049CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list