Talking points

US President Barack Obama delivers his annual state-of-the-union speech to Congress, an opportunity to set out some of his priorities for his second term of office. Reports at the weekend suggested Obama would use the speech to propose deep cuts in nuclear arsenals. He is also expected to seek support for new economic proposals as well as his push for reform of US gun and immigration laws.

Environmentalists in the Philippines form a human chain in a huge protest against plans for reclamation in Manila Bay. Fisherman and coastal dwellers claim their livelihoods will suffer if the 650-hectare Las Pinas-Paranaque reclamation is allowed to go ahead. Candidates running in national elections in May have been urged to take up the issue, though few have spoken out on it.