a very warm welcome to bbc news, broadcasting to our viewers in north america and around the globe. my name's mike embley. our top stories: a rallying call to the american people — in his first address to congress president trump declares the time for small thinking is over. all the nations of the world, friend orfoe, will find all the nations of the world, friend or foe, will find that america all the nations of the world, friend orfoe, will find that america is strong, america is proud and america is free. he called for a merit—based system of immigration and extreme vetting to prevent terrorists entering the united states. we cannot allow terrorism to form inside america, we cannot allow our nation to become a sanctuary for extremists. america is willing to find new friends and forge new partnerships

in the interest of peace. president donald trump has been giving his first speech to a joint session of the us congress since he took office last month. in his hour long address he he said he wanted to see a one trillion dollar investment in the infrastructure of the united states and a merit—based system of immigration. he railed against the islamic terrorism. it was pleased to improve approval ratings. he spoke of the renewal of the american spirit and condemn the recent wave of threats. he said the american people must be united against evil. recent threats

targeting jewish centres and vandalism of jewish targeting jewish centres and vandalism ofjewish cemetery as well as last week ‘s shooting in kansas city reminds us that while we are a nation divided we are country that stands united in condemning hate and evil in all of its very ugly forms. he startled many by beginning the speech by mentioning the civil rights movement, and his first mention of the shooting attack on two indian engineers and those attacks on jewish two indian engineers and those attacks onjewish centres and cemetery. the bbc‘s barbara plett usher is at capitol hill in washington. we arejust we are just catching congress people as they come out, asking them for their reaction. i have steve russell, a republican from oklahoma.

thank you forjoining us. russell, a republican from oklahoma. thank you forjoining uslj russell, a republican from oklahoma. thank you forjoining us. i think if we can get past the party that filters, it was a uniting message. what america can look like. there we re what america can look like. there were some challenges, how do we educate, unite and fix the broken things. there was some unifying language. what about in terms of what he said on policy? it has been a little bit vague and contradictory about the way forward from the legislative agenda? the one key thing we did get was in his must haves for the replacement of the afforda ble haves for the replacement of the affordable care act. he listed five things. his guidelines of what he would need before signing legislation or stop what do you think about his proposal to increase military spending to the degree that

he says he wants to do? part of the increase is already spent. a 3% increase is already spent. a 3% increase is already spent. a 3% increase is not going to be adequate. it is not enough money at his spoke forcefully about the end of the quest —— sequester. we need to get past the bi— partisan divide. was anything that surprised you? he moderated, stayed on message... you looked relieved? yes, i thought he would be good. he actually laid out a vision. we have nine years, what do we want to look like in 2050. if we can get past our partisan

filters, it was unifying. wasn't that enough for the democrats to respond to? a lot said a lot of fluff not enough detail. there we go with the partisan filters. the lab five points on affordable care act. infrastructure — we all agreed on that. there are two things we all agree on. to fix the healthcare and improve infrastructure and everybody stood up on the strength of the military. there are three things. the vetting of the immigration and travel ban? we have some education to do. i personally visited multiple cabs on the syrian conflict. we have to bea cabs on the syrian conflict. we have to be a nation that accommodates

more refugees. ifeel strongly to be a nation that accommodates more refugees. i feel strongly about that but the president is right in saying let's look at the country where we have some problems, were there are some dangers and let's look at them for 90 days. i willing to give him that. tax reform - he said out how he felt about it but did not say what he would do? we would not be able to get to that until we get to the repeal and replacement of the affordable care act. a long legislative road ahead? and many long days but that is what the people voted us into do. steve russell, the republican congressman from oklahoma, seem to be fairly encouraged by the speech but acknowledged some differences with mr chung particularly over refugees

and acknowledging this policy issues are actually quite complicated. —— mrtrump. are actually quite complicated. —— mr trump. we wanted played one more beat of the speech. from the outside, people were interested in what he would say about the rest of the world. our foreign policy calls for a direct, robust and meaningful engagement with the world. it is american leadership based on vital security interest that we share with our allies across the globe. we strongly suport nato, an alliance forged through the bonds of two world wars that dethroned fascism, and a cold war that defeated communism. applause but our partners must meet their financial obligations.

and now, based on our very strong and frank discussions, they are beginning to do just that. in fact, the money is pouring in...very ...very nice. president trump giving his strongest ever stated support for nato although he repeats his line about other states not giving enough money. russia, china or iran were not mentioned. he said very little about foreign policy and the one thing he said specifically, very strong support for nato and support from congress which to show that most people, most lawmakers that

support the nato alliance and have been quite relieved to hear he is coming around to say those kinds of things as well. he talked about the kinds of partnerships that america should have, forged partnerships with countries with mutual interest. he talked about working together with enemies of the past — perhaps that was a very bleak reference to better ties with russia but you are right, he did not pull out any specific issues by name. it was very much a domestic focused speech not only to the house of congress to the american people, the largest audience he will have for the rest of this year. picking up another piece from the speech, he also said all talking about repealing and replacing affordable care act.

tonight, i also calling on this congress to repeal and replace affordable care act. with reforms that expand choice, increase access, lower cost a nd that expand choice, increase access, lower cost and at the same time provide better healthcare. one third of the counties have only one insurer and they are losing them fast, they are losing them so fast, they are leaving and many americans have no choice at all. there is no choice left. remember, when you were told you could keep your plan we now know that all those promises have been totally broken. obamacare is collapsing and we must act decisively to protect all americans. action is not a choice, it is a necessity. the president knew, as we all know, that during recess members

of congress were getting a very hard time from constituents concerned about losing their cover. a former kentucky governor saying every republican idea to replace it would reduce the number of americans covered. how did the president deal with that? 80 democrats largely put have responded in the same way that there spokesperson did now but in terms of republicans, the risk in saint amongst some of them because of the reaction from constituents. —— as there is concern amongst some of them. about how to approach it. some legislation has been put forward but not supported by everyone. president trump has been a bit vague and contradictory about what should happen. he came out with five principles, i sure how much

specific guidance that would give the republicans but it showed he wa nts the republicans but it showed he wants the act of repeal, he wants a market—based system but at the same time he talked about keeping medicaid which is a programme the healthcare act supports which supports poor people. he also talked about another element of the democrats would want to keep which is pre—existing conditions should not exclude them from any sort of healthcare. he seemed to kind of... he is sort of in the middle of what he wants to support but he made it clear it would be repealed, obamacare, clear it would be repealed, obamaca re, having clear it would be repealed, obamacare, having said that it will bea obamacare, having said that it will be a long and contentious discussion and the political difficulties the republicans face are not going away. it is very complicated, as the president himself said. he seems to have realised that. this is a man

that has been so vitriol and offensive to say many people and it seems he will get point will not doing that again. there is no doubt it was a different tone tonight. promising to renew the american spirit, compared to the very bleak and darker vision in the inaugural address? a thing deliberately say. i think his advisers felt the american people did need to have a more optimistic message and he framed it really with his election not specifically is message of making america great again. he said now it is beginning to renew, to build, to dream more. when we look at so many yea rs we dream more. when we look at so many years we will come back to this day. it was framed within his presidency but the tie and was optimistic and

it did contrast quite starkly with his inaugural speech and with his style. he was on message, he did come across is much more presidential, according to republicans is that too. one said this was the moment he became president. thank you for being with us. much more to come on president trump's tribute to a widow of a serviceman killed in the attack in yemen. first the plates slipped gently off the restaurant tables. then suddenly the tables, the chairs and people crashed sideways and downwards and it was a matter of seconds before the ferry lurched onto her side. the hydrogen bomb on a remote pacific atoll. the americans had successfully tested a weapon whose explosive force dwarfed that of the bomb dropped on hiroshima. i had heard the news earlier and so my heart went bang and bang.

the constitutional rights of these marchers have their rights as citizens of the united states and they should be protected even in the right to test them out so they don't get their heads broken and are sent to hospital. this religious controversy, i know you don't want to say too much about it, but does it worry you it's going to boil up when you get to the stage? well, it worries me, yeah. but everything will be all right in the end as they say. glad to be with us on bbc news. latest headlines: president trump hasissued latest headlines: president trump has issued a rally to call the american people. he said the time for small thinking is over. addressing congress for the first time, he said he wanted to see a $1

trillion investment in american infrastructure and a merit—based system for immigration. donald trump outlined plans for tax reform so that american businesses can compete and thrive, as well as providing tax relief for the middle classes. my economic team is developing historic tax reform that will reduce the tax rate on our companies so they can compete and thrive anywhere and with anyone. it will be a big, big change. at the same time, we will provide massive tax relief for the middle class must provide relief for american companies american companies and our workers. speaking to matthew cooper, the political editor of newsweek. thank you for your time. the

president has committed the country to tax cuts. a massive increase in the military budget, a $1 trillion immigration package, paid family leave and a wall without massive cuts. what else? i don't think it works without massive cup. does it works without massive cup. does it work at all? probably not. like all proposed legislation in the us congress, he is going to have to start with his bargaining position and work through the process. we will see what a good negotiator he is or is not. so far he has signed executive orders, now he had to do the real work of convincing and cajoling. we will see if he is capable of doing that. there is a lot of stuff that his core voters, real supporters care about. what are the red lines? it was a very

hardline speech in a velvet glove. he suffered is a bit, came out of the gate and condemned some recent violence againstjewish cemeteries and immigrants in the us, but it was still very hard line on immigration. very big for military buildup. i think for the people who have supported him, they are going to hear about what he wanted. maybe for others it was dressed up a little better. there was definitely no softening of the real donald trump. what do you make of the announcement ofa what do you make of the announcement of a new office out of the department of homeland security, the victims of immigration client engagement? immigrants are responsible for proportionally far less crime than nativeborn americans, what you make of this?

less crime than nativeborn americans, what you make of thi57m is using criminal statistics to promote an agenda. you could sing loud any group that causes crime. boys, man, man oversix loud any group that causes crime. boys, man, man over six feet tall. you are taking an arbitrary category. i think it is really more apr category. i think it is really more a pr stunt —— men. nevertheless, i think that if he ever gets this office for his purposes, he will effectively draw attention to the very small number of crimes committed by immigrant. he said taking strong measures to protect the nation from, a phrase obama refused to use, radical islamic terrorism. we cannot allow terrorists to form inside america. we cannot allow our nation to become a sanctuary for extremist. ——

extremists. that is why my administration has been working on improved vetting procedures and we will shortly take new steps to do keep our nation said, and to keep those out who will do us harm. as promised, i directed the department of defence to develop a plan to demolish and destroy isis, a network of lowly savages, who have thwarted man, women and children of all faiths and beliefs. we will work with our allies, including those in the muslim world, to extinguish this violent the muslim world, to extinguish this viole nt enemy from the muslim world, to extinguish this violent enemy from our planet. taking you to another piece connected with that. a tribute to ryan allen is killed in the rain in

yemen last month that a raid. he was one of the first officers to die in combat since the presidency began. he died as he lived, a hero battling against terrorism and securing our nation. applause that was the victim's widow. what was the feeling about this? he made a very big feature of ryan allen's widow. some called it an abortive raid in yemen. civilians died as well. there was a long ovation which

she of course deserved. the president said that the general was blamed for the failure of vat rate. it is all rather odd? there is no question that he had on his mind the criticisms of the raid, whether it actually yielded much intelligence 01’ actually yielded much intelligence or whether it was baht, why they we re or whether it was baht, why they were not better prepared, they lost touch and expensive aircraft in the process of doing it. i think he focused attention on the suffering ofa focused attention on the suffering of a widow, that's naturally draws sympathy in a room. this was certainly a president trying to pull things together, with an eye to some of the things he has said and done in the past? a lot of the people he highlighted were either women or black? i think that's exactly right. i think it was part of the kind of velvet glove on an iron fist that i mentioned earlier. i think he is

very conscious of this criticism that he is biased against immigrants, african—americans, and i suspect this will not convince those groups who have not supported him in the past. it will probably not swayed many others as well. but he did that, at least this time and in other speeches, he has made attempts at windowdressing. thank you very much. going back to the speech, the president issued a rallying call to the american people. the time for small thinking is over. the time for trivial fight is behind us. we just need the courage to share the dream is that fill our hard. the bravery to express the hopes that are in our

souls, and the confidence to turn those hopes and dreams into action. from now on, america will be empowered by our aspirations, not burdened by our fears. empowered by our aspirations, not burdened by ourfears. inspired by the future, not bound by failures of the future, not bound by failures of the past. and guided by a vision, not blinded by our hopes. i am asking all citizens to embrace this renewal of the american spirit. i am asking all members of congress to join me in dreaming big and bold, and daring things for our country. join me in dreaming big and bold, and daring things for our coun in, to seize this moment, believe in yourselves, believe in your future and believe, once more, in america. thank you, god bless you and god bless the united states. the

president giving his first speech to a joint session of the house of congress. in effect, a state of the union speech. the high lead is now. he's going to ask the rest to fund a $1 trillion infrastructure package. he started his speech with mentions of black history month, the civil rights movement and the shooting attack on two indian engineers, as well as the attacks onjewish cemeteries and community centres. he gave his strongest ever support for nato. and he is still talking about repealing and replacing obamacare. that was met with cheers from republicans, but booing from the democrats. the department of homeland security is going to create an office called the victims of immigration client engagement, or

voice. thank you for watching. hello. there was a bright enough start to the day across eastern parts of the british isles on tuesday, but it didn't last, did it, because we were driving belts of weather down from the western side of scotland ever further towards the south and east. low pressure very much the dominant feature, and there's obviously something waiting in the wings just to the west of us. and that doesn't arrive just in time to stop the temperatures dribbling away again, it'll be a chilly start for wednesday. some wintry showers across the north of scotland, watch out for some ice here as well. but if you can avoid the showers, there's plenty of sunshine to be had across the north of britain, things changing quite markedly, though, as we get on into the afternoon, across the southern parts of both england and wales, where it is turning increasingly wet, and eventually, really very windy indeed. so some detail for the middle part of the afternoon. there is that combinations of sunny spells and showers. quite a noticeable wind, but this time, unlike tuesday, coming from the west

rather than the north. so it might feel a tad milder, but not much. temperatures five, six, or seven degrees. plenty of sunshine there, with a mixture of showers across the north of england, clouding up eventually across the southern and western parts of northern ireland. the midlands hanging on to some sunshine. i'm afraid that's not going to be the case across southern england and wales, where that band of cloud that i showed you eventually rocks up, producing some heavy rain. but it is the strength of the wind that may cause some real concerns. some of those gusts at least to gale—force, i would have thought, across the exposed parts of both southern england and wales. and as we push that belt of rain further north and it moves into higher ground, well, you know, the intensity of the snow might cause a problem across the highest ground and across the high—level routes. so that combination could cause some disruption to your travel plans overnight wednesday. come thursday, less in the way of rain to speak of, initially, with the old weather front driving its way a little further to the north.

a little bit of sunshine around until late in the day. some uncertainty about this feature, but we suspect that something will run in on that noticeable wind into the western side of wales. some rain, and some hill snow, yet again. but a half decent day on thursday. oh that that were the case on friday. it probably won't be in the south again, as this area of low pressure will throw its weather fronts ever further towards the north. again, the pace of advance open to some conjecture at the moment. but we think that will be the major player of the weekend, sitting very close by to the british isles through saturday, and, indeed, on into sunday. and it will be perhaps the northern part of scotland and the northern parts of ireland at times that will see the best of the weather. but the general theme of the weekend is a bit of cloud around and a few spells of rain. take care. the latest headlines from bbc news. i'm mike embley. president trump is giving his first speech to the us congress since he took office last month. he said a new era of american greatness was beginning, and he spoke of the renewal of the american spirit. he said he will be asking

congress to approve a $1 trillion investment in infrastructure. president trump said his administration would improve vetting procedures to check who should be allowed into the us. he called for a switch away from the current system of lower—skilled immigration and instead adopt a merit—based system to improve security and job prospects for americans. mr trump also called on congress to help him replace obamacare — his predecessor's health insurance scheme — with reforms that he said would expand choice, lower cost and provide better care. the republican party is divided over the issue but its leaders say they will table a plan in march. democrats say it would reduce the number of americans covered.