Meltdown 101: Is American consumer spending really the economic engine we think it is?

There’s power in our pocketbooks. But how much?

Correction: Saudi foreign minister story

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — In a Sept. 12 story about Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal undergoing spinal surgery in the United States, The Associated Press incorrectly stated that he is the eldest son of the late King Faisal and served previously as oil minister. He was the king’s fourth eldest son and served as a deputy oil minister.

Tribal leader: 87 killed in Yemen airstrike on camp for those fleeing government-rebel war

SAN’A, Yemen — Nearly 87 civilians were killed in a strike by government warplanes that hit a camp of people fleeing fighting in northern Yemen, a tribal leader said Thursday. It was a sign of increasing bloodiness in a remote war against Shiite rebels in this turmoil-ridden Arab nation.

Yemen suffers turmoil on multiple fronts

Yemen is beset by wars, unrest and piracy. Here are the main troubles it faces:

Shiite rebellion piles one more conflict on Yemen as US presses for action against al-Qaida

SAN’A, Yemen — While the U.S. is pressing Yemen hard to take action against an increasingly powerful al-Qaida, this turmoil-ridden nation is too busy fighting an escalating war with Shiite rebels. The chaos may only help the terror network flourish.

White House: Obama to urge nations to stay vigilant on stimulus as global economy rebounds

WASHINGTON — Wary of complacency, President Barack Obama will urge a summit of world financial powers to stick with efforts to boost the global economy rather than abandon coordinated economic stimulus work, a top White House adviser said Wednesday.

Yemeni eyewitnesses say government jets bombed a group of displaced, killing dozens

SAN’A, Yemen — Yemeni warplanes on Wednesday hit a makeshift camp for civilians fleeing fighting between the government and Shiite rebels, killing dozens of people, witnesses said.

Italian police recovers most of the jewelry stolen from Saudi princess in Sardinia

ROME — Italian police say they have recovered most of the jewelry that was stolen from the hotel room of a Saudi princess in Sardinia last month.

UN says death of 12-year-old Yemeni girl underscores urgent need to prevent child marriages

UNITED NATIONS — The head of the U.N. children’s agency said Monday that the tragic death of a 12-year-old Yemeni after three days in labor underscores the urgent need to better protect the rights of girls and prevent child marriages.

Lawmakers in a devoutly Muslim Indonesian province vote that adulterers can be stoned to death

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia — Lawmakers in a devoutly Muslim Indonesian province voted unanimously that adulterers can be sentenced to death by stoning, just months after voters overwhelmingly chose to throw conservative Islamic parties out of power.

Netanyahu tells lawmakers: West Bank settlement construction will not be completely frozen

JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday rejected U.S. calls to freeze all settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, angering Palestinians and putting a New York summit in question.

New law in Indonesia’s Aceh province makes adultery punishable by ’stoning to death’

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia — Adulterers can be stoned to death and homosexuality is punishable by steep prison terms under a new law passed unanimously by lawmakers in Indonesia’s devoutly Muslim Aceh province Monday.

Osama bin Laden’s family announces the death of one of his brothers

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — The family of Osama bin Laden has announced the death of one of the terror mastermind’s brothers.

Saudi foreign minister’s spinal surgery in US successful

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia has announced that its long serving foreign minister had successful spinal surgery in the United States.

12-year-old Yemeni girl dies as she was giving birth says rights group

SAN’A, Yemen — A 12-year-old Yemeni child-bride died after struggling for three days in labor to give birth, a local human rights organization said Saturday.

Both sides claim victory as Yemen renews assault on Shiite rebels in the north

SAN’A, Yemen — Yemen’s government launched a new offensive against Shiite rebels in the north, destroying many of their vehicles and hideouts, an army statement said Thursday.

Sharif in Saudi Arabia to perform Umra

RIYADH - Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chief Nawaz Sharif arrived here with his family to perform Umra.

Lebanese PM-designate quits trying to form government after opponents reject his Cabinet list

BEIRUT — Lebanon’s prime minister-designate abandoned efforts Thursday to form a new government, throwing the country into more political uncertainty after the Hezbollah-led parliament minority rejected his proposed Cabinet.

Morgan Stanley’s president of Middle East and North Africa ops, Georges Makhoul, leaving bank

NEW YORK — Morgan Stanley said Wednesday its president of Middle East and North Africa operations, Georges Makhoul, is leaving the bank.

OPEC meeting: Saudi oil minister says crude markets ‘in good shape,’ output cut seen unlikely

VIENNA — Saudi Arabia’s oil minister said Tuesday that crude markets were “in good shape,” boosting expectations OPEC will use its meeting this week to stress member compliance with output quotas — instead of cutting production.

Brazil says its negotiating for purchase of 36 French fighter jets

BRASILIA — Brazil’s president said Monday his country is negotiating with France for the purchase of 36 Rafale combat jets, a sign that Dassault SA is the clear favorite over U.S. and Swedish companies to win the $2 billion-plus contract.

With oil prices settling in, OPEC not expected to cut crude output

VIENNA — With oil prices about where OPEC wants them and a modest economic upturn in the offing, the oil cartel isn’t likely to tighten the taps when its leaders meet this week in Vienna.

With Islamic summer camps, Saudi Arabia tries to keep youth away from al-Qaida

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Young men spray hoses in a car-washing contest and play pool. Children make paper crowns in an art class, while their parents have a picnic. Alongside the fun and games, Muslim clerics answer questions about jihad or give lectures about the proper dress for women.

Libya celebrates coup that brought Gadhafi to power, as Lockerbie controversy continues

TRIPOLI, Libya — Libya staged a lavish spectacle Tuesday, parading white-robed horsemen and gold-turbaned dancers as jets streaked overhead to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the coup that brought Moammar Gadhafi to power in the oil-rich nation.

Saudi anti-terror chief was on phone with wanted militant when attacked, say authorities

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — The wanted Saudi militant who attacked the kingdom’s anti-terror chief after pretending he wanted to surrender blew himself up while the official was on the phone reassuring another militant in Yemen it would be safe to return home, the Interior Ministry said Tuesday.

Saudi authorities confirm bomber who targeted anti-terror chief was a wanted Saudi militant

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry has identified the bomber who targeted the anti-terror chief as a wanted Saudi man who had expressed his intention to surrender.

Iraq: suspected bomber recently released by US; man confesses to militant training in Syria

BAGHDAD — The suicide truck bomber who targeted Iraq’s Foreign Ministry in one of the most deadly attacks this year had recently been freed from U.S. custody, an Iraqi investigator said Sunday, raising fresh concerns that former detainees will return to violence.

Al-Qaida claims attack that injured Saudi royal, says bomber arrived on prince’s plane

CAIRO — Al-Qaida claimed responsibility Sunday for a suicide attack that injured a Saudi prince and said the bomber — a wanted militant who had fled to Yemen — arrived on a royal jet after convincing the ruling family he wanted to surrender.

Suicide bomber who attacked Saudi prince traveled from al-Qaida sanctuary in Yemen

SAN’A, Yemen — The suicide bomber who lightly wounded Saudi Arabia’s assistant interior minister set out from an area of neighboring Yemen known to be an al-Qaida sanctuary, Yemen’s foreign minister said Saturday.

Saudi prince vows to fight terrorism after first assassination attempt on royal in decades

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Hours after being lightly wounded by a suicide bomber, a senior Saudi prince largely credited with the kingdom’s aggressive anti-terrorism efforts said Friday he was more determined than ever to fight militants in the country.