NPR 2011-02-24

Oil prices hit 100 dollars a barrel today as violence escalated 1 in Libya, one of the world's leading oil producers, and that's sending stocks tumbling for a second day in the US. At last check, the Dow was down more than 110 points or nearly 1% at 12,103 with the NASDAQ down 36 or more than 1.3% at 2,720.

Forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi are out in heavy numbers in the capital Tripoli where they are telling people to get back to life as usual. But elsewhere in the country, the opposition 2 is declaring control of more areas, the latest being in western Libya.

The unrest spreading in Libya and parts of the Middle East could be central in President Obama's talks with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton this afternoon. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters that the US's position on the Libya revolt is no different than its stance on other recent uprisings.

"The issue for us, for the United States, again is to annunciate our clear principles and to (make also) make it clear as we did in Egypt and elsewhere that the drivers of change in these countries -- and this applies to Libya -- are the people, in this case, the people of Libya."

But the Obama administration is considering taking steps to pressure the Libyan leader to end his crackdown on protesters and that could include freezing the assets of the Gaddafi family and associates.

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah arrives home after three months of treatment for a back surgery. NPR's Deborah Amos reports that the king comes home to pressures for political reforms.

Saudi Arabia's political reformers say King Abdullah is an ally. He's made dramatic changes during his rule but expectations are rising. When a new Facebook group called for democracy, a constitution and political freedoms, 7,000 Saudis joined in two weeks and signed their names. Ahead of his arrival, the King announced billions in new social programs. But Jafar Al-Shayeb, the head of a municipal council, says Saudis want more from the king.

"They respect him and they think he's the one who will do the reform. But without doing the reform, I think their risk will be higher."

Political reforms inspired by Egypt, he says, can no longer be denied. Deborah Amos, NPR News in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

In the US, foreclosures and all-cash deals account for a big share of the jump in home sales that the county saw last month. The National Association of Realtors says the number of previously 3 owned homes it sold rose to a seasonally 4 adjusted annual rate of 5.36 million from December to January. Thirty-seven percent of those were foreclosures. An additional 32% of the sales were all-cash.

The latest from Wall Street. Dow's down 107 points at 12,106; NASDAQ down 33 at 2,724.

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A pro-union demonstrators continue, or rather as pro-union demonstrators continue to rally at the state Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin, Governor Scott Walker's office says the governor did indeed take a prank 5 call with a man claiming to be a wealthy conservative activist 6. NPR's Peter Overby says the 20-minute call was actually made by an editor at a website in New York.

The caller apparently 7 got through by saying he was billionaire David Koch, one of two brothers whose contribution had helped Walker win election last year. Walker didn't indicate that he knows Koch personally, but he talked at length about his proposal to cripple public employee unions. He said he might lure 8 Democratic Senators back to the Capitol by locking their paychecks in their desks there. The caller and Walker joked about having a baseball bat to handle unruly demonstrators. Walker ended the call with this:

"Thanks. Thanks for all the support in helping 9 us move the cause forward. And we appreciate it."

The Koch brothers are long-time benefactors 10 of conservative groups that advocate sharp limits on union rights. Peter Overby, NPR News, Washington.

The Supreme 11 Court is allowing a lawsuit 12 against Mazda to move ahead in California. Today, the High Court ruled that Thanh Williamson's family can sue Mazda because its 1993 MPV Minivan had only a lap seat belt in the middle of the vehicle's second row. Williamson died in a 2002 accident. California courts threw out the lawsuit that claimed Mazda was negligent 13. The company had said it could not be sued because the government gave it a choice of installing either lap or shoulder and lap belts in the seat in question.