Free Republic

LePage (Maine) considers program to offer green cards to foreign investorsOne option is to create a regional center like one in Vermont that officials say has helped generate $500 million in investments, and another $500 million in commitments. The LePage administration is considering establishing a program that would help Maine businesses lure foreign investors by giving those investors permanent U.S. residency. Maine would be the third state, after Vermont and Michigan, to create such a program, which allows foreign nationals to obtain a green card if they invest in projects that create jobs. The investment program, called EB-5, was...

"An inspector general called them courageous, but Sen. Harry Reid said Friday that the government whistleblowers who accused him of using political pressure to try to win special treatment for a Las Vegas casino were “a bunch of whiners.” ........[Homeland Security Inspector General John] Roth said the special treatment was brought to his attention by more than 15 whistleblowers — an extraordinary number, in Mr. Roth’s judgment — who believed Mr. Mayorkas was caving to political pressure. “That so many individuals were willing to step forward and tell us what happened is evidence of deep resentment about Mr. Mayorkas‘ actions...

Mexican telecom mogul Carlos Slim Helu now owns more of the New York Times Company than does the Sulzberger family, which has controlled the venerable news provider since 1896. Slim became the dominant investor today after paying $101.1 million to exercise warrants that boosted his ownership of Class A shares by 11.9 million to 27.8 million, equal to 16.8% of the voting stock, the company says. The billionaire acquired the warrants in 2009 when he bought $250 million of the Times’ notes. The investment helped see the company through a dark period as print ads fell, and it had to invest in its digital platform. The terms guaranteed Slim...

AIG: Inquiring Minds Want To Know The history of AIG includes.... 1919 The AIG companies were one of the very few U.S. companies to have their origins in China when their founder, C.V. Starr, formed American Asiatic Underwriters in Shanghai. 1921 C. V. Starr founded Asia Life Insurance Company, the first foreign life operation to offer products and services to the Chinese people. 1931 International Assurance Company, Ltd was established. It was renamed American International Assurance Company, Limited in 1948. 1975 AIG former Chairman & CEO, Maurice R. Greenberg, made his first visit to Beijing and has since traveled many...

Shanghai. (Interfax-China) - The leaders of China's three largest state-owned oil companies, the China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC), the China Petrochemicals Corp. (Sinopec Group) and the China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC), met face to face in Beijing last week to discuss topics ranging from enhancing corporate competitiveness to strengthening communications, according to an official announcement by the three companies. The three have long been at odds with each other, despite the fact that they are all government-owned. Rivalry has been particularly intense between CNPC and Sinopec in the downstream wholesale and retail market where the two together own half...

California Environmental Law Challenged by Foreign Investors Using NAFTA; Methanex v. U.S. Hearing Open for Public Viewing June 7 To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor, Environment Reporter Contact: Martin Wagner of Earthjustice, 510-550-6700, Marcos Orellana of the Center for International Environmental Law, 202-785-8700, Howard Mann of the International Institute for Sustainable Development, 613-286-5383 News Advisory:WHO: Three-Member Arbitral Panel administered by ICSID (International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes)WHAT: Hearing in the case Methanex Corporation v. United States of AmericaWHERE: Ground Floor of the MC Building of the World Bank (adjacent to the Preston Auditorium), Entrance to broadcast will be the...