Earlier Friday, an administration official said the Justice Department had been "taken to task" for not coordinating its announcement with Homeland Security and other agencies.

CNN: Out of sync on warning?

Before the announcement, the scale of the task of reflating Japan was underlined by inflation data, showing prices fell by 0.5% between March 2012 and March 2013.

BBC: Bank of Japan lifts economic forecasts

The announcement of an impending price increase will only help make that task more difficult.

BBC: A highly charged debate

In a polite country where queues are respected, this announcement was seen as jumping ahead of the financial-services task-force, which had been set up in December 1996 and was scheduled to report this autumn.

ECONOMIST: Bank mergers in Canada

Following the announcement, however, Ponting insisted Australia had picked the strongest squad for the task ahead.

BBC: Symonds misses out on Ashes squad

Moving the financial markets is an easier task, as attested to by the stock rally on the day following the long-anticipated announcement of the bond purchase initiative.

FORBES: Where Is The Love For QE2?

At a news conference after the lay-offs announcement, First Minister David Trimble and Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon disclosed the formation of a task force to investigate employment opportunities for those who would lose their jobs.

BBC: Yard workers face 'uncertainty'