Barack Obama’s off-again-on-again trip to Asia

• BARACK OBAMA is set for a trip to Asia, beginning with a stop at his boyhood home of Indonesia. But the visit, originally set to start on Thursday March 18th, will be delayed until Sunday 21st so Mr Obama can be present to give health-reform a final push before a crucial congressional vote. America’s president says that he is looking forward to visiting old haunts in the most populous Muslim country. He is certain to discuss counter-terrorism efforts with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and is expected to reiterate the message of a speech in Cairo last year that sought to strengthen ties between America and the Muslim world. He is also set to visit Australia, too.

• THE head of the Senate banking committee, Christopher Dodd, will unveil a long-awaited proposal on reforming regulation of America’s financial industry on Monday March 15th. Attempts at molding a bipartisan bill foundered after Republicans insisted that a new consumer-protection agency should have few powers. The bill is likely to insist on central clearing for more over-the-counter derivatives and propose setting up a body to grab control of and wind-down financial companies that show signs of breeding systemic failure. …