World News Briefs -- August 30, 2010

MEDICAL EVACUATION
U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher Holton provides security while a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter lands during a medical evacuation in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, Aug. 3, 2010. Holton, a radio telephone operator, is assigned to the Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team, which was on a mission in the province when one of its vehicles rolled over. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. J.T. May III

ANALYSIS-Iraq Drawdown May Raise Pressure On US Defense Budget -- Reuters

WASHINGTON, Aug 30 (Reuters) - The end of the U.S. combat mission in Iraq may increase pressure on the Pentagon to trim spending, giving ammunition to lawmakers who have long wanted to take aim at the massive defense budget.

The United States will formally end its combat mission in Iraq on Tuesday, ahead of a scheduled withdrawal of all U.S. forces next year. President Barack Obama also aims to start withdrawing U.S. forces from Afghanistan in July 2011.

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MIDDLE EAST

Iran shifts assets out of Europe banks.

Abbas says talks will collapse if Israel expands settlements in West Bank.

U.S. troops in Iraq go from shock and awe to 'advise and assist'.

EU to help Iraq dismantle old nuclear facilities.

ASIA

Floodwaters in south Pakistan 'begin to recede'.

China confirms visit of North Korea's Kim Jong-il.

S. Korea Premier-designate quits.

Indonesia's volcano eruption forces more evacuation.

Bout asks Thailand to block his extradition to U.S.

Cricket scandal rocks Pakistan.

AFRICA

Obama administration intensifies efforts in Sudan.

South Africa's Zuma tells ministers to end strike.

Somali militants grow more brazen in attack.

EUROPE

Prosecutors say Croatia ethnically cleansed Serbs.

19 dead in Chechen shootout.

Gunman kills six in Slovakia rampage.

Putin slams West for deceiving Russia.

Putin says 2012 polls important to him.

AMERICAS

Hurricane Earl more forceful, expected to become 'major hurricane'.

Venezuela's opposition candidates make inroads in Chavez strongholds.

Drilling of mine rescue shaft to begin in Chile.

Gold rush is growing threat to Suriname rainforest.

Obama hails New Orleans spirit on Katrina anniversary.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Yemen president admits growing Al Qaida threat.

Money trail links the war on terrorism to the global financial crisis.

Norway 'bomb plot' underscores al-Qaida pitfalls.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Investors braced for week of key data.

BP's internal probe faults its own engineers: report.

Luxury booms while bargain retail suffers.