If Obama were seriously motivated by a moral desire to protect poor countries from being ruined by excessive American consumption then his biggest priority would be to rein in this consumption.

FORBES: D'Souza to Obama with Malice

Even now, Mr Noda's political priority has little to do with the tsunami: it is the consumption tax, which he wants to raise to prevent a financial meltdown.

ECONOMIST: Japan after the 3/11 disaster

The team's priority now is to put the craft into "Point Rest State" - reducing fuel consumption so the craft has enough left to last months or years, giving scientists the time to decide how to proceed.

BBC: Nasa's Kepler telescope hobbled by faulty wheel