Monday's Most Intriguing: Bernanke, Bahrain's prince, 'The Elders'
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will hold the first ever press conference by a Fed Chair on Wednesday.
April 25th, 2011
12:03 PM ET

Monday's Most Intriguing: Bernanke, Bahrain's prince, 'The Elders'

BEN BERNANKE

The Federal Reserve's board convenes on Tuesday with Chairman Bernanke taking an unprecedented risk. On Wednesday, he'll hold the first-ever press conference by a Fed Chairman. The entire world—particularly the Fed itself—will assess every word, the Wall Street Journal's David Wessel told NPR this morning. Bernanke feels this transparency is needed, given the public mistrust after the financial crisis. At the same time, the slightest misstep by Bernanke would cause a market tumble, said Wessel adding that this move will change the role of fed chair forever. Charisma will now be a required skill set for any future Federal Reserve chair, he said. Read Time magazine's intimate portrait of Bernanke, who was Man of the Year in 2009.

PRINCE SALMAN bin HAMAD Al-KHALIFA

Bahrain's Crown Prince is sending his regrets to Britain's Prince William, stating that he must decline an invite to the royal wedding due to unrest in his country. The decision was delayed until the last minute, Prince Salman wrote, because he'd hoped violence would have subsided. There have been accounts of human rights violations across Bahrain. Go here for more on the latest from Bahrain.

THE ELDERS

Four members of the group for former world leaders announced in Beijing this morning that they will travel to North Korea in hopes of restoring dialogue between that country and South Korea. Former President Jimmy Carter, Finland's Martti Ahtisaari, Ireland's Mary Robinson, and the former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Brundtland are traveling to Pyongyang at the invitation of Kim John Il's government, Carter said. North Korea's critically low food supply and South Korea will be discussed. "Clearly there is a great level of mistrust and suspicion between North and South Korea," Ahtisaari said. "But the stakes are too high to allow this standoff to continue."

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Filed under: Bahrain • Economy • Most Intriguing People • Politics
soundoff (18 Responses)
  1. Joey

    Bahrain's Crown Prince clearly has a solid dedication to his duty, as does the Queen of England to hers.
    American's elected leaders would do well to learn from these examples.

    April 25, 2011 at 12:15 pm | Report abuse |
  2. nur amabo nur

    Bahrain is # 10 on the list of greatest financial freedom for individuals in the world. U.S. # 9 cause of the illegal printing of bills by the private bank known as the federal reserve.

    April 25, 2011 at 12:15 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Joey

    Typo:
    Americans' or America's,
    not "American's."

    April 25, 2011 at 12:17 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Joey

    "...public mistrust AFTER the financial crisis?"
    This statement is subliminal PR.

    April 25, 2011 at 12:23 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mmmmm

      Agree. It appears the only interest he is upholding is the market and the consumers do not own the market.

      April 25, 2011 at 2:28 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Gary Johndro

    This Prince of Bahrain is a good man. Too bad he couldn't make it to the wedding in England. What's wrong with the people of Bahrain anyway and why do they need democracy? At least these Elitists are good friends of the West!!!

    April 25, 2011 at 12:44 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Mmmmm

    We need to regulate the whole financial structure especially the banks, wall street, imports, and stop outsourcing jobs...reform did not happen...so talk to the hand federal reserve and your bald headed representatve.

    April 25, 2011 at 2:34 pm | Report abuse |
    • DDW 1946

      I agree totally, the federal reserve is a joke, run by the former employee's of the very establishments they are supposed to regulate.

      April 25, 2011 at 3:54 pm | Report abuse |
  7. lilpig

    Crash the entire system start over

    April 25, 2011 at 2:58 pm | Report abuse |
    • Sam

      As a SOC facilitator and Prevention Coordinator at our Children's Advocacy Center, I acatlluy bought one of these kits after stumbling across it during a Google search. I was very impressed and now suggest it as a resource during my presentations. In this business, I think we always need to be aware of what resources are out there and what's being utilized in other parts of the country. You find what is successful and incorporate those ideas and strategies into your programs. We can never have too many tools to help parents and children in our communities. Thanks Dr. Missy for a great product!!

      July 11, 2012 at 10:17 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Dim Mak

    Don't see why charisma matters. It's not like they will ever give everyone the 100% truth about any illegal or corrupt practices. 😐 Does the news media really think we're all that stupid?

    April 25, 2011 at 3:16 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Joey

    @ lilpig:
    "Crash the entire system start over"
    ___________________
    That could be done, and perhaps it will be done.
    However, the new system will still be run by human beings with strong survival instincts, open to corruption.
    Those in power would be humans who could not make it in the present system.
    I betcha you won't like the surprise you'll get if that happens.

    April 25, 2011 at 4:46 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Short Round

    I would expect the Norwegian fellow to encounter more of China's hissy fit over giving the Nobel to one of their dissidents.

    April 25, 2011 at 6:46 pm | Report abuse |
  11. banasy

    It would be imminently nice if we were able to comment on the countries cnn itself puts in their stories without the silly filters. Since I haven't the patience to try to keep trying to revise something to try and get past said filters, I am getting off CNN now before I write them off completely. I have to go study up on my coding. In other words, bite me, CNN!

    April 25, 2011 at 7:17 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Joey

    banasy is correct (again).
    I wondered today why some important stories covered by CNN (DOMA lawyers, Trump/Obama BC) were not open to discussion here.
    I thought it might reflect CNN's knowledge of the taste and bent of this venue's regulars.

    April 25, 2011 at 7:53 pm | Report abuse |
    • Egbert

      Much of CNN's content is NOT news. It is propaganda – intended to enforce an agenda and is not subject to question. By disallowing comments, CNN can make it appear as uncontested. The further to the left, the less likely you will see comments allowed.

      April 26, 2011 at 3:31 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Egbert

    Bernanke is a THIEF. He is the "cause" or the main "conspirator" in this financial fleecing of America. The FED should be audited. The criminals that run the FED should be prosecuted. The FED should be dissolved.

    April 26, 2011 at 3:28 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Jazzzzzzzz

    I say Ken Feinberg , who was head of processing the gulf oil disaster should take over. He seems like an honest guy. O well what do I know but he sure doesn't seem as shady as this character.

    April 26, 2011 at 6:53 pm | Report abuse |
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