President Barack Obama will have scant time to rest up from his eight-day Asia trip.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Thursday defended the costly bailout of insurer AIG and urged swift regulatory reform to safeguard the economy from the failure of big financial firms.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Thursday defended the costly bailout of insurer AIG and urged swift regulatory reform to safeguard the economy from the failure of big financial firms.

Tough decisions, showdown votes await Obama on health care, Afghanistan, jobs, banks. President Barack Obama will have scant time to rest up from his eight-day Asia trip. On Saturday, two days after his return to Washington, the Senate plans a make-or-break vote on his hard-fought plan to overhaul the nation's health care system. Obama also confronts a difficult choice on strategy and troop levels in Afghanistan, which will be criticized no matter what he decides.

Editorial Roundup: Excerpts From Recent Editorials in Newspapers in the US and Abroad. Excerpts from recent editorials in newspapers in the United States and abroad:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Progress toward tighter U.S. financial regulation faltered in the U.S. Congress on Thursday as a House committee postponed a pivotal vote and Republicans on a Senate committee aired stubborn opposition.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Progress toward tighter U.S. financial regulation faltered in the U.S. Congress on Thursday as a House committee postponed a pivotal vote and Republicans on a Senate committee aired stubborn opposition.

A former White House security adviser has alleged that the Muslim army psychiatrist accused of killing 13 at a Texas military base may not have been investigated because of "political correctness."

A former White House security adviser has alleged that the Muslim army psychiatrist accused of killing 13 at a Texas military base may not have been investigated because of "political correctness."

NYC rare stamp auction raises $3.2 million for Smithsonian Nat'l Postal Museum. A New York City gallery has auctioned over 200 rare postage stamps to raise $3.2 million for the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C.

Obama answers top Cuban dissident blogger, says Cuban gov't must change to improve relations. President Barack Obama has answered questions submitted by a celebrated Cuban blogger, saying he isn't interested in "talking for the sake of talking" with Raul Castro and indicating he won't visit the island until the communist government changes its ways.

BEIJING (Reuters) - Two Chinese rights activists who sought a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama hours before he left Beijing said on Friday they were briefly detained by police, and one said Washington's sway over rights in China had eroded.

This city did not wait for Washington's health care overhaul. Most uninsured adults here are already reaping the benefits of a government-run health care program ? seeing doctors, filling prescriptions, and getting surgeries they could not otherwise afford.

San Francisco's 'public option' _ a city-run health care program _ informs national debate. This city did not wait for Washington's health care overhaul. Most uninsured adults here are already reaping the benefits of a government-run health care program ? seeing doctors, filling prescriptions, and getting surgeries they could not otherwise afford.

San Francisco's 'public option' - a city-run health care program - informs national debate. This city did not wait for Washington's health care overhaul. Most uninsured adults here are already reaping the benefits of a government-run health care program ? seeing doctors, filling prescriptions, and getting surgeries they could not otherwise afford.

Major world powers met in Brussels Friday to discuss Iran's rejection of an international nuclear fuel deal, after US President Barack Obama warned Tehran must face the consequences.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Democratic-led U.S. Senate, having smashed through a Republican wall of opposition, confirmed on Thursday U.S. President Barack Obama's first and longest-stalled judicial nominee.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Budget shortfalls pose a direct threat to millions of U.S. jobs, many in the private sector, as state and local governments lay off workers and cut spending on contracts and other business services, a think tank said on Thursday.

Pentagon chief says Afghan troop increase could swiftly follow Obama announcement. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said any new U.S. forces President Barack Obama sends to Afghanistan could move into the country swiftly, despite logistical hassles that force almost all major deliveries of troops and supplies to go by air.

Major world powers met in Brussels Friday to plot their next move after Iran rejected a nuclear fuel deal, as the UN atomic watchdog's chief warned that Tehran risked losing a "unique" opportunity.