10.12 | Long arm of the lawsuit

Mary Reichard (0:05)

Good morning. A Colorado lawsuit seeks damages from oil companies over climate change, but the implications could reach far beyond.

Brett Kavanaugh (0:13)

Anyone is a potential defendant for a suit like this, any manufacturer, any business.

Nick Eicher (0:18)

That's ahead today on Legal Docket. Also today, the Monday money beat white diesel fuel remains scarce, even as oil shipments recover. Economist David Bahnsen is standing by, and later, the World History Book.

Jean Webb (0:31)

The stories are a real world in a fantasy place, and that's where children live.

Nick Eicher (0:37)

How Winnie-the-Pooh left a lasting legacy.

Mary Reichard (0:47)

It's Monday, October 12th. This is The World and Everything In It from Listener Supported World Radio. I'm Mary Reigert.

Nick Eicher (0:54)

And I'm Nick Eicher.

Mary Reichard (0:58)

Up next, Kent Covington with today's news.

Kent Covington (1:01)

President Trump is still pursuing an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. He said Sunday that the two sides had agreed to stop attacking energy sites. But a White House official later told Axios that Trump was referring to a potential agreement covering oil refineries. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says his country is willing to halt energy strikes if Russia does the same. But Ukrainian officials reported a Russian strike on a power plant in Kharkiv after Trump's remarks.

Separately, President Trump defended Friday's diesel deal with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Donald Trump (1:35)

He'd like to see a settlement.

President Putin would like to see a settlement strongly. And look, he's freeing up a lot of oil for the world, okay? That's a good thing, by the way, at a very low price.

Kent Covington (1:48)

Trump says temporarily easing sanctions to let Russian diesel reach US and world markets will help to lower fuel prices. But a bipartisan group of senators urged him on Sunday to reverse course. They argue that Russian imports conflict with US law and would help to fund Moscow's war. But others, like Republican Senator John Barrasso, defended Trump's effort to bring down energy costs while seeking an end to the fighting.

Meantime, Volodymyr Zelensky responded on Sunday to President Trump's call for a new president in Ukraine. He told ABC's This Week that he would accept the choice of voters, but they need security to cast ballots.

Volodymyr Zelensky (2:27)

Tell Putin, give us two months, 60 days of total ceasefire, 60 days, and we will organize elections.

Kent Covington (2:37)

Trump said on Saturday that Ukraine needs a leader who can make a peace deal. He accused Zelensky of passing up opportunities to end the war and blamed Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries for higher diesel prices. Zelensky's elected term was due to end two years ago, but Ukrainian law bars presidential elections under martial law, which remains in place amid Russia's invasion.

Meantime, the US war with Iran remains at a standstill. The US military has not carried out sustained attacks inside Iran since July, but President Trump says he will not declare an end to the conflict until he can be sure that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.

Donald Trump (3:18)

I have to keep it that way. I don't want them to do it in two years. We have to have a guarantee that they won't have it in the future.

We could leave right now, but we have to guarantee that they can't have it in the future, and we'll get that.

Kent Covington (3:33)

And Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says that right now, rather than dropping bombs, the US is wielding suffocating economic pressure.

Scott Bessent (3:41)

Iran now has no oil on the water. They have negative cash flow. We have cut them off.

We have cut off their airline service to the world.

Kent Covington (3:53)

President Trump has said the US could resume major strikes after next month's midterm elections, but he says he believes the two sides will reach a deal instead.

Trump over the weekend also said the US military could possibly join Saudi strikes against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. World's Benjamin Eicher has more.

Benjamin Eicher (4:14)

The Saudi-led coalition says a projectile hit a passenger terminal on Sunday at the International Airport of Riyadh, the Saudi capital, igniting a fire. The Houthis claimed responsibility. That followed Saturday's missile attack at the same airport. Saudi authorities said that strike killed 12 people, including an American, and wounded more than 300

The airport remained closed Sunday with no immediate word on casualties from the latest attack. The coalition also reported intercepting and destroying a cruise missile near the airport. The Houthis threatened more strikes, warning travelers and airlines to avoid most Saudi airports.

Saudi-led forces have been striking Houthi targets in Yemen. The coalition vowed a firm response to Saturday's attack. For World, I'm Benjamin Eicher.