Marketplace Morning Report for Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Maersk says it's buying 10 new mega-container ships for cargo. That shows the shipping giant is betting on the recovery when shipping still isn't back to shipshape.

As the chaos escalates in Libya, the Wall Street Journal reports a U.S. review of arms sales and military assistance to countries in North Africa and the Middle East caught up in political and economic turmoil. Janet Babin explains.

As political unrest continues to grow in North Africa, the Chinese government has started to censor information online and detain activists in hopes of avoiding potential protests in China. Rob Schmitz reports that while experts think unrest will not spread to China, an upheaval would be catastrophic for the global economy.

A New York judge has thrown out a claim accusing British bank Barclays of unfairly purchasing pieces of failed Wall Street firm Lehman Brothers. Lawyers claimed Barclays hurried the deal to earn billions of dollars in profits. Stephen Beard explains.

As violence continues in Libya, international workers are fighting to evacuate the country. Jeremy Hobson speaks to Peter Thomas, a British teacher, who managed to flee Tripoli to Ankara, Turkey.

On Tuesday, Senate Democratic leaders called for negotiations with House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican, on federal spending cuts to avoid any government shutdowns. House Speaker Boehner says he's open to a short term bill, as long it includes cuts to spending. Jeremy Hobson discusses the cuts with Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics.

Workers in Greece have taken to the streets of Athens to protest the government's deep budget cuts to worker pay, benefits and pensions. But this time, workers don't see eye to eye. Joanna Kakissis reports from Athens.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs has been on medical leave since last month. Shareholders are pushing the company to reveal who would take over the company should he leave permanently.

Pontiac, Mich., is re-populating some of its empty storefronts thanks to a local development committee.

Governor Rick Perry is against the idea, pushing instead for budget cuts.