Newscast

Donald Trump promised a $5,000 dividend to every adult US citizen if Republicans win both houses of Congress in the midterms, speaking at a mini-convention in Dallas. The claim lacks details on funding or legality; while offering money directly for votes is illegal, the proposal is not tied to how individuals vote, and similar past promises have not materialised. The announcement comes amid market jitters, record gas prices, and a national debt of $40 trillion, with the president also acknowledging the war in Iran would not end before the midterms.

The programme said the US-Iran conflict is affecting global energy markets, with oil hitting $105 a barrel and UK gas prices reaching a high since 2022. Markets have reportedly capitulated to the reality that the conflict will not be settled soon, with reports suggesting a long war that could last into 2029, while the president has floated that US gas prices could drop to $2 after the midterms.

In a separate segment on AI, Geoffrey Hinton, known as the godfather of AI, told Newsnight he considers a 10% chance that AI could kill all humans within a decade a not unreasonable estimate. He described ways AI could cause devastation without physical action, such as designing viruses or cyber attacks. BBC cyber correspondent Joe Tidy elaborated on doomer scenarios, including AI manipulating governments, spreading through critical infrastructure, and releasing a pathogen that targets humans.