hello, you're watching bbc world news. i'm adnan nawaz. our top story this hour: a rallying call to the american people. in his first address to congress, president trump declares the time for small thinking is over. he called for a merit—based system of immigration and extreme vetting to prevent terrorists entering the united states. isa is a new national pride is sweeping gci’oss is a new national pride is sweeping across our nation, and a new surge of optimism is placing impossible dreams firmly within our grasp. —— a new national pride. welcome to the programme. our other main story this hour: two women have been formally charged in malaysia with murdering the half—brother of north korean leader kimjong—un. i'm sally bundock. in business: make america wait again. trump lays out his vision but wall street is unimpressed with detail on tax and economic reform scarce.

virtual reality versus augmented reality. we make sense of this latest technology that promises to revolutionise your day to day experience. president donald trump has given his maiden speech to a joint session of the us congress. just over a month since taking office, he said he was there to deliver a message of unity and strength and that a new era of american greatness was beginning. he spoke of the renewal of the american spirit, and opened by asserting his commitment to civil rights. he condemned the recent wave of threats targeting jewish centres and the shooting of two indian immigrants in kansas. the presidet said the american people must be united against evil. recent threats targeting jewish community centres and vandalism of jewish cemeteries, as well as last

week's shooting in kansas city, remind us that while we may be a nation divided on policies, we are a country that stands united in condemning hate and evil in all of its very ugly forms. applause it was quite a long speech, of course it was. the bbc‘s laura bicker is in washington. well, the hallmark of president trump's campaign was his rhetoric on immigration and of course building that border wall. he talked about that border wall. he talked about that in the speech, he called it a great great wall and said work was under way on proposing the wall and how it would work but he then went on to outline a new immigration policy, one we haven't really heard before and the tone had softened. he was talking about a merit based

system, so a system like they have in canada and australia. here's what he to say. my administration has answered the pleas of american people for immigration enforcement and border security. applause by finally enforcing our immigration laws we will raise wages, help the unemployed, save billions and billions of dollars and make our communities safer for everyone. applause we want all americans to succeed, but that can't happen in an environment of lawless chaos. we must restore integrity and the rule of law at our borders. applause we've had some breaking news within the last 15 to 20 minutes about the proposed new executive order on that

travel ban. now, if you remember, that was one of his first executive orders that endedin of his first executive orders that ended in a bit of chaos at airports when he put a travel ban on seven mainly muslim countries, people coming from those countries. we are now hearing iraq will not be one of those countries. that's news breaking. we are expecting a new travel ban within the next coming days. donald trump then went on to talk about world security in america and it's part in it. he said he wasn't going to be a president for the world but a president for the united states, but he did affirm a commitment to nato. 0ur 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. applause in fact, the money is pouring in. very nice. 0ne one of the other key themes of the campaign has been to repeal and replace 0bamacare, campaign has been to repeal and replace 0bamaca re, the campaign has been to repeal and replace 0bamacare, the affordable ca re replace 0bamacare, the affordable care act in the united states, it was a key policy for president 0bama

but it has had its problems. 20 million more people are insured and have felt insurance through this policy but health—insurance premiums have gone up as a result. the problem is repealing it is perhaps the easy part. trying to find a replacement has been difficult so donald trump's message tonight had to be keyed in trying to get republicans on his side. here's what he had to say. tonight i'm also calling on this congress to repeal and replace 0bamacare. applause with reforms that expand choice, increase access, lower costs and at the same time provide better healthcare. 0ne healthcare. one third of the counties have only one insurer and they‘ re one third of the counties have only one insurer and they're losing them fast. they are losing them so fast, they are leaving, and many americans have no choice at all, there's no

choice left. remember when you were told you could keep your doctor and keep your plan. we now know that all of those promises have been totally broken. 0bamacare is collapsing and we must act decisively to protect all americans. action is not a choice, it is a necessity. studio: laura, the fact checking will be taking place right now. one thing i've read about his assertion that kentucky has suffered particularly badly under 0bamacare is actually the number of uninsured in kentucky since 0bamacare was introduced has fallen dramatically, so introduced has fallen dramatically, so that's one fact checked that i personally have seen. when are we going to get more details on this long speech, because actually there wasn't that much detail, although perhaps this wasn't the place for it, maybe it's the place for the broad vision. i think donald trump would argue this is the place for

his broad vision, he hasjust over an hourto make his broad vision, he hasjust over an hour to make a speech to congress and after that he has to flesh out the bones. what we saw tonight was the bones. what we saw tonight was the most unconventional of politicians actually being conventional. this is not a platform donald trump is used to. he's not been a politician for very long. and yet this was the most presidential moment probably of his presidency so far. he stuck to the script. he will have pleased a lot of republicans, there was also a lot in there for democrats to like. he talked about introducing paid annual leave for families. he talked about this trillion dollar investment in infrastructure. he talked about clea n infrastructure. he talked about clean airand infrastructure. he talked about clean air and water, which, considering he's talking about almost gutting the environmental agency, this was also a surprise. what he didn't talk about was how he was going to pay for all these, including an extra $54 billion for

the military. so there's a lot to pay for in the promise he delivered this evening, but how he's going to pay for it hasn't come across yet. of course there are tax laws. he promised tax breaks for businesses and tax breaks for the middle class so and tax breaks for the middle class so how he is going to pay for all of this and implement tax breaks will be the real question many will be leaving asking tonight. laura, thank you very much indeed, laura asking the questions sally will be addressing right now because laura just mention the infrastructure spending and the tax breaks. it's interesting because since president trump came into office, in fact since he was elected there's been a global market rally led by wall street. $3 trillion has been added to the value of us stocks since november the eighth. in a highly anticipated speech, he spoke of restarting the engine of the american economy. the president reiterated his intention to slash corporation tax in the us and provide tax breaks to middle class americans.

at the same time, he announced he'll be asking congress to approve legislation which will result in $1 trillion worth of investment in us infrastructure. he also called for what he describes as one of the largest increases in national defence spending in american history. mr trump pointed to the country's $800 billion trade deficit in goods. though figures from the census bureau suggest this figure reduces to about $500 billion when trade in services is factored in. but as laura pointed out, there is a real lack of detail beyond those state m e nts real lack of detail beyond those statements that were made in the speech. so far the market reaction to what he had to say, i have to say it was the only story in town for markets globally yesterday, is very muted, if not some disappointment.

more on that in world business report. also we're focused on tech this week. do you know the difference between vr and ar? silicon valley has high hopes for both of these emerging technologies. but the world we live in could be very different if one takes off ahead of the other. stay with me, i'll explain what they both are. starting with vr. virtual reality. it involves the creation of a 360—degree computer generated environment. game developers and film producers have been quick to adopt the technology, there's been a lot of hype, but it is not mainstream yet and could be some time partly because of the cumbersome headset you have to wear to engage in vr. by contrast, augmented reality, or ar, takes the real—world view from your smartphone camera then superimposes additional images on top. it's used to provide more

information about things you encounter in day—to—day life and ar was also the technology behind the smash hit smartphone game pokemon go. stay tuned for world business report, our technology correspondent, rory cellanjones, has been speaking to the man behind the madness! i'm looking at my watch, i'll be backin i'm looking at my watch, i'll be back in 17 minutes! very exact, impressive! the us has criticised russia and china after they blocked a un resolution seeking to punish bashar al—assad for using chemical weapons. this is the seventh time russia has used its veto power to shield the syrian government from international condemnation. greg dawson reports. there was little expectation this vote would ever passed but at a time when us talks have improved relations with russia there was no sign of it in this session. russia

arejust sign of it in this session. russia are just doesn't want to criticise the assad regime for using chemical weapons, that's the truth. so what message are we sending to the world? aun message are we sending to the world? a un investigation accused the syrian government dropping chlorine on rebel held areas twice in 2014 and againa on rebel held areas twice in 2014 and again a year later. president assad denied it. his plan would have banned the sale of helicopters to syria and imposed further sanctions, but russia and china blocked it. syria and imposed further sanctions, but russia and china blocked itm isa but russia and china blocked itm is a sad day on the security council when members start making excuses or other member states killing their own people. the world is definitely a more dangerous place. today the international community can look no further than the security council for contributing to that. this was the kremlin's seventh security council bito in defence of bashar al—assad and on a visit to kyrgyzsta n, bashar al—assad and on a visit to kyrgyzstan, vladimir putin reinforced his argument that punishing the syrian government

would harm diplomatic efforts to stop the war —— veto. translation: would harm diplomatic efforts to stop the war —— veto. translationzlj think it's absolutely inappropriate because it doesn't help. it wouldn't help the negotiation process, it would only hinder it. it would undermine trust in the negotiation process. donald trump has talked of working with vladimir putin to defeat so—called islamic state in syria, but this vote demonstrates how russia's continued support for the assad regime could hinder any future relationship. greg dawson, bbc news. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: two women face a possible death penalty after being formally charged with the murder of the brother of the north korean leader in malaysia. 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. this is bbc world news. our main headline comes from the us:

president donald trump has issued a rallying call to the american people, saying the time for small thinking was over. addressing congress for the first time since taking office, he said he wanted to see a $1 trillion investment in the infrastructure of the united states and a merit—based system of immigration. two women have been charged with murdering the half—brother of north korean leader kimjong—un. siti aishah and doan thi huong, seen here entering the court to be charged, could be hanged, if they are convicted of kim jong—nam's death. the 42—year—old died after the pair allegedly smeared a deadly chemical over his face at a malaysian airport in mid—february. the women claim they thought they were taking part in a prank. 0ur south korea correspondent steve evans is in seoul and joins me now. do we know who were represent them and what the process will be, or when they will enter a plea? we do

not. we certainly do not know who will represent them. this hearing today was a very formal hearing. the presentation of charges at a lower court. the matter will be referred up court. the matter will be referred up to court. the matter will be referred uptoa court. the matter will be referred up to a more senior court for trial. today, it was a matter of identification of the two accused women and also the charge being read to them, that they killed the north korean man in the departure error of kuala lumpur or airport on debris to i3. kuala lumpur or airport on debris to 13. -- kuala lumpur or airport on debris to i3. —— on february 13. the ladies said in english that they understood the charge but that they did not do it. the theory that they were duped in some way to take part in a rank. in other words, they thought that there could be a prank for reality television, and they simply did not know what they were handling. the application of the charge is that the malaysian authorities don't buy that theory, or certainly are not

convinced by the theory. because the reasoning behind their lack of being condensed is that they seem to have known that this substance was very dangerous, because they did not let it touch themselves. as they say, one of the ladies said in court that she did not do it. so we wait to hear the full argument. in the location or the question will be if you thought it was a prank, if you thought that stuff was harmless, how come you talk such care not to touch it is at any details about the news that a senior north korean delegation was arriving in malaysia to ask for the body of kim jong—nam? this is a senior delegation. it includes a former debit ambassador to the un from the dprk. but north korea is in a conflicted situation, hear, if you like. they are saying

that matt legg that they were not behind this attack but also that we have no chemical weapons, we have no vehemn, no chemical weapons. have no chemical weapons, we have no vehemn, no chemicalweapons. —— vehemently. but they are saying that he isa vehemently. but they are saying that he is a north korean citizen and they want the body returned, even though kim jong—nam did they want the body returned, even though kimjong—nam did not live in north korea. he was living in a cow in china and in beijing in china. so we had this strange situation where north korea is saying it is nothing to do with us, but we need the body. —— macau in china. the malaysians say they have investigations do, dna investigations to do, and they are not releasing the body to anybody until they have completed their investigations. thank you for joining us, steve. to africa, and somalia has declared a national disaster

because of drought. last month, neighbouring kenya declared a drought emergency, with the kenyan red cross saying the ongoing lack of water had killed 10,000 animals. one way kenya is trying to help people who are suffering is not through food aid, but through electronic cash payments. as our africa correspondent, alistair leithead reports, these sorts of payments are helping people deal with the current crisis, but also to help alleviate poverty more generally. there are thin pickings for the cattle of northern kenya. drought is back, and with it a difficult decision, whether or not to sell the cows to survive. help can be as simple as sending cash to stop them selling off the family assets. and it is all being gun from hundreds of miles away in narrabri. in the errors we have had extreme drought, if you compare this to what we have, we have read all over here. —— nairobi. cash isn't in the uk,

strings attached, and direct electronic cash payments are becoming increasingly popular. this man's card gets automatically topped up man's card gets automatically topped up with credit, and once identified with a figure constand, pretty $5 a month isn't over. the worse the drought, the more people receive cash to keep them going. " if it wasn't for the cash payments," he said, " he would have to sell all his things to provide for basic needs. " his things to provide for basic needs. you can see why this idea of sending people cash directly works so well in places like this was so much drought. but they are also trying it in places which are not as bad, just to train the people out of poverty. here in western kenya, there is an drought, but people are extremely poor. a charity

called give directly is doing just that. like everywhere, people have big dreams. receiving a lump some of $1000 a loud emboli to build a new house and start eight business selling cooking fat. a tin roof replaced the thatch, which needs regular and costly repairs. translation: i am happy because i am not using any more money on my roof. ican not using any more money on my roof. i can use that money to buy my clothes, food, pay school fees and other expenses. others use the lump sum to buy cattle, fertiliser, seed, after five years of detailed research, here, into how people spend the money, there is little evidence it is wasted or abused, and plenty of proof is making a real difference to reduce poverty and help in humanitarian crises. let's get on donald trump's

presidential address. there was a presiding message that, what will america look like on our 150th anniversary? there are some unifying language, there. what about in terms of what donald trump was saying on policy? he has been a little bit vague, little bay contradictory in terms of how he feels, for instance, about the way forward from the legislative agenda here will stop you feel that you got enough guidance? —— a little bit contradictory. what we did get worse his must haves for the affordable ca re his must haves for the affordable care act. he liston fight things. and that was key. what his guidelines were before he would sign legislation. important to get that guidance. —— he listed five things.

donald trump also needs to understand that people may disagree with him from time to time. but that does not make them his enemies. when the president attacks the loyalty and credibility of our intelligence agencies, the court system, the military, the free press, individual americans, simply because he does not like what they say, he is eroding our democracy, and that is reckless. the governor of kentucky giving the official democratic response to that speech by donald trump. the publishing giant, penguin random house, has won a sought after two—for—one deal to produce the memoirs of both barack and michelle 0bama. the new york—based publisher announced the deal

for the worldwide publication rights of the two books. the company itself gave no details of the financial terms of the contract, but bidding for the double deal had reached over $60 million. if it is around that number, it it is thought to be a record for presidential memoirs. and plenty more on donald trump's speech to come throughout the morning here in london. with low pressure close by and british isles, no wonder we have had such an unsettled side of the week. sherry bosa read across many parts and with a little bit of elevation, we have seen things a little bit more wintry. there is busily something lurking out in the winds, but that won't arrive before the damp isa but that won't arrive before the damp is a red away, giving a cool start to wednesday. a dry enough start to wednesday. a dry enough start for many, but there will be a

spring clean showers across northern and western parts exposed to the north—westerly breeze. adobe fall by the dry start, because as you see that grey build of howard eventually comes into the southern counties of england and wales, providing a wet the day and a windy one as you will see. further north, it is a mixture of sunny spells and showers for the northern and western parts of scotland. central part should do nicely, a lot sunshine here. not doing much for that averages. northern ireland, later in the day, beginning to cloud up, showers giving way to rain. showers aplenty across northern parts of england. and maybe in the north—east of wales, the north midlands, doing nicely, perhaps more sunshine here. you will lose the sunshine after that bright start with the cloud, wind, and rain developing all the while. and the wind will pick up through the evening and overnight. gale first dusts certainly. —— gale —force gale first dusts certainly. —— gale—force gusts. there could be hill snow around, so the high—level

routes could really get quite tricky. and the strength of that wind in the south could be disrupted as well. so we will keep our eye on that combination of weather elements. first it looks to be half decent once the remnants of that weather front peter away. quite a bit of sunshine to be had. the wind is quite noticeable with wintry showers, there across north—western scotland. at that late in the day, we may just bring scotland. at that late in the day, we mayjust bring more rains back into the parts of the south—west or the western side of wales, with temperatures in the south reaching at least double figures. and then from thursday into friday, it looks as though will keep the bright showery raging across the northern half of the british isles, but a new airof low half of the british isles, but a new air of low pressure will again so as weather fronts with quite a bit of wind and rain into central and southern parts of the british isles to finish at the date. the best in the sunshine, here, no doubt about it, to be found through the heart of scotland. in his first speech to the us congress since taking office, president donald trump has promised a renewal of the american spirit. he said he would be asking congress to approve a one trillion dollar

investment in infrastructure. he said he wants to replace the current practice of encouraging lower—skilled immigration to the united states with a merit—based system. he also vowed to introduce extreme vetting to keep terrorists out of the country. the us has criticised russia and china after the two blocked a un resolution seeking to punish syria's president assad for using chemical weapons. it's the seventh time russia has used a veto to shield the syrian government. two women have appeared in court in malaysia to be charged with murdering the brother of the north korean leader. the suspects, one from indonesia and the other from vietnam,