The Abbreviated Evening Edition

Due to playing in the mud (don’t ask, trust me it’s messy), the Evening Edition will brought to you by c’est moi.

Greek rebel lawmakers may block austerity: deputy PM

ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece’s deputy prime minister warned on Sunday that rebel lawmakers may block some reforms sought by international lenders, though parliament will probably back an overall austerity package this week to avert national bankruptcy.

Adding to Socialist Prime Minister George Papandreou’s dire problems, the conservative opposition rejected appeals from the government and senior European Union politicians to vote in favor of the five-year plan.

Republicans firm on taxes ahead of Obama meeting

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Senate’s top two Republicans on Sunday stood firm against including tax increases in any deal to raise the debt limit and shrink budget deficits one day before a meeting with President Barack Obama, but said the showdown need not go down to the “11th hour.”

Obama is to meet separately with Senate Democratic and Republican leaders on Monday to try to revive negotiations that collapsed on Thursday when Republicans walked out over Democrats’ demands for tax increases.

Levees hold as Souris River crests at historic high

MINOT, North Dakota (Reuters) – The Souris River crested to historic heights in North Dakota’s fourth largest city of Minot early on Sunday, but emergency levees held providing respite to officials battling to keep areas dry.

“Probably inevitable” a country will exit euro: Soros

VIENNA (Reuters) – Billionaire investor George Soros thinks a country will eventually exit the euro zone and urged policymakers on Sunday to come up with a “plan B” that could rescue the European Union from looming economic collapse.

Yemen’s Saleh to reappear as violence grips south

RIYADH/SANAA (Reuters) – Wounded Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, not seen in public since an attack on his palace in early June, is well enough to return soon to Yemen and will make a media appearance within the next couple of days.

Gaddafi revives offer of vote to end Libya conflict

TRIPOLI (Reuters) – The Libyan government on Sunday renewed its offer to hold a vote on whether Muammar Gaddafi should stay in power, a proposal unlikely to interest his opponents but which could widen differences inside NATO.

Intelligence shift shows change in Afghan war aims

WASHINGTON – Military intelligence officers were scrambling a year ago to collect and analyze the social, economic and tribal ins and outs of each valley and hamlet in Afghanistan.

This information wasn’t the kind of secret or covert material many military intelligence specialists were used to. But it was seen as crucial to helping commanders tell the good guys from the bad, learn what Afghans really needed from their government and undermine the Taliban-led insurgency by winning hearts and minds over time.

Libyan rebels claim advances in western mountains

TRIPOLI, Libya – Rebels in Libya’s western mountains said they have advanced and are battling Moammar Gadhafi’s forces in a strategic town southwest of the capital, ramping up pressure against government troops on a second front.

Pride parade celebrates passage of gay marriage

NEW YORK – One of the world’s oldest and largest gay pride parades turned into a carnival-like celebration of same-sex marriage Sunday as hundreds of thousands of revelers rejoiced at New York’s new law giving gay couples the same marital rights as everyone else.

Nigeria: 25 killed in 3 bomb attacks in northeast

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria – Suspected members of an Islamic sect bombed three beer gardens in northeastern Nigeria, killing 25 people and wounding 12 others on Sunday, authorities said.

Police blamed the attack on a group known locally as Boko Haram, which earlier this month carried out an attack on the nations police headquarters.

Hugo Chavez’s brother talks of armed struggle

CARACAS, Venezuela – One of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s brothers said Sunday that backers of the hospitalized leftist leader should not rule out armed struggle in the future, though they prefer to maintain power at the ballot box.

Wisconsin justice says court fight led to choking

MADISON, Wis. – A member of the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s liberal faction has accused a conservative justice of choking her during an argument in her office earlier this month – a charge he denied.

Syrian troops close in on Lebanon border

DAMASCUS (AFP) – Syrian troops pushed towards the Lebanese border on Sunday as they pressed a deadly crackdown in central towns on the eve of an opposition meeting in Damascus on the country’s unrest, activists said.

Kadhafi to stay out of Libya peace talks: AU panel

PRETORIA (AFP) – African leaders Sunday welcomed Moamer Kadhafi’s decision to stay out of talks to end Libya’s conflict, entering its fifth month, as fighting raged between his troops and rebels near Tripoli.

Obama’s signature: Is it real or is it autopenned?

WASHINGTON – It’s the open secret that nobody in government wants to talk about: That cherished presidential signature that’s tucked away in a scrapbook or framed for all to see might never have passed under the president’s hand.

Vettel wins sixth race of the year at European Grand Prix

VALENCIA, Spain (AP) – Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel won his sixth race of the season at the European Grand Prix on Sunday to further strengthen his already commanding Formula One championship lead.

Vettel beat Fernando Alonso of Ferrari by 10.891 seconds for his second straight victory along Valencia’s street circuit. It was the German’s fifth win this season starting in pole and came in stifling 115-degree heat.

Germany, France win on opening day of World Cup

SINSHEIM, Germany – On a great day for women’s soccer, it was a good day for Europe’s teams.

The World Cup started Sunday with two stadiums overflowing with goodwill, color and the cheer of nearly 100,000 fans. There were also four goals, including one stunner.