The U.S. supports Malaysia’s participation in upcoming Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations. Also in Malaysia, women entrepreneurs teach others how to “bootstrap their startups.” The U.S. midterm elections are next week; find out how the youth vote and the members of the tea party might influence them. And, finally, learn about the ikats of Central Asia.
Malaysia Joins Negotiations
The United States supports the addition of Malaysia, its 16th-largest trading partner, to negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and will continue to deepen its strong economic partnerships across the Asia-Pacific region, says U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk.
Kirk, pictured at left with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, says that Malaysia’s inclusion in the negotiations will contribute “to the development of the high standard, 21st-century, regional trade agreement we are seeking.”
Bootstrap Startups in Malaysia
Entrepreneurial women are sharing their experiences, best practices and creative problem-solving techniques to build more successful businesses in a forum created by Warisan Global and the U.S. Embassy in Malaysia.
Rocking the Youth Vote
Young American voters registered in numbers higher than expected to vote in the November midterm elections, continuing a trend of increased political participation by young U.S. citizens.
Election 2010, Is it Tea Time?
The tea party movement is a small but enthusiastic group of American voters who share a frustration over U.S. economic policies. Though it makes up only a small fraction of the U.S. electorate, the tea party is playing an influential role in the 2010 midterm elections.
Republicans to Gain House Seats
Republicans and Democrats are campaigning feverishly in the final days before the nationwide congressional elections November 2 and most experts expect the Republican Party will gain seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. It is uncertain whether these gains will be enough to turn the House majority from Democratic to Republican.
An Exhibit of Asian Ikats
The spectacular patterns and vivid colors of the ikat fabrics, a status symbol of 19th-century Central Asia, are on display at the Textile Museum’s newly opened exhibition, Colors of the Oasis: Central Asian Ikats. The word “ikat” derives from a Malay term meaning “to tie.” Sumru Belger Krody, right, the curator of the exhibition, says ikats were “a glue in many spheres of life, from political to economic to social” and that one reason for the prestige of the fabrics is the difficult of making them.