First lady Melania Trump reportedly gained permanent residence in the United States through a visa program specifically for people with “extraordinary ability.” The Washington Post reported Thursday that President Donald Trump’s wife in March 2001 was one of only five people from Slovenia to enter the U.S. through the EB-1 program, also referred to as the “Einstein visa” program. The EB-1 program is reserved for people such as academic researchers and multinational business executives, or those in other fields, such as Olympic athletes and Oscar-winning actors, who have demonstrated “sustained national and international acclaim,” the Post reported.  According to government statistics, only 3,376 of more than 1 million green cards in 2001 were issued through the EB-1 program. The first lady was dating Donald Trump when she received her green card. The former model had been featured in runway shows in Europe and had been included in the swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated. With …

Puerto Rico’s capital city, San Juan, lost electricity Thursday when two of the U.S. island territory’s main power plants shut down. The failure came after warnings by officials that the power supply was in danger as the island struggles to fund its recovery after being hit by back-to-back hurricanes in 2017. Along with San Juan, the municipalities of Caguas, Bayamon and Carolina were affected. A company spokeswoman with Prepa, the Puerto Rican power company, told the Associated Press that it isn’t clear how many people were affected by the blackout. About 970,000 people live in the areas where the blackout occurred. Power was restored to the island’s international airport and several hospitals by Thursday afternoon. The cause of the blackout was unclear. It caused traffic problems and water outages in Old San Juan, the historic part of the capital. Much of Puerto Rico has been without power since Hurricanes Irma …

Maria Eloisa Melendez Altieri, the mayor of the seaside resort city of Ponce, Puerto Rico, was in Washington this week to speak to officials about economic development. She spoke to VOA Thursday about the need for the federal government to deliver the funding it has promised to help the island recover. Veronica Balderas Iglesias has more. …

A Massachusetts man who allegedly sent an envelope filled with white powder to Donald Trump Jr. was arrested Thursday and charged with using the mail to threaten people. Daniel Frisiello was ordered to remain behind bars at least until his next court appearance. His attorney said he planned to plead not guilty. Frisiello is accused of sending envelopes filled with white powder along with insulting notes to five people, including the president’s oldest son. Trump Jr.’s wife, Vanessa, opened his envelope and was briefly hospitalized, complaining of nausea and coughing. The powder was harmless cornstarch. But it was accompanied by a note implying it was dangerous and calling Trump Jr. “an awful, awful person … you make the family idiot, Eric, look smart … so you are getting what you deserve.” Other envelopes were sent to Democratic Senator Deborah Stabenow of Michigan; California Republican congressional candidate and actor Antonio Sabato Jr; a U.S. attorney from …

President Donald Trump announced Thursday the United States will impose steep tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. Trump talks often about wanting to go after China, but the proposed tariff or quota would harm Canada and Europe, too. The top five exporters of steel to the United States are: 1. Canada 2. Brazil 3. South Korea 4. Mexico 5. Russia China ranks 11th among the countries that export steel to the U.S. The top four exporters of aluminum to the U.S. are: 1. Canada 2. Russia 3. United Arab Emirates 4. China …

Russia’s idea for a humanitarian corridor to evacuate civilians from a besieged Damascus suburb is “a joke,” the U.S. State Department’s spokeswoman said Thursday. “What needs to happen instead is a nationwide cease-fire that was voted upon unanimously at the United Nations last Saturday,” Heather Nauert told reporters. “Fifteen countries supported it, let me remind you. So did Russia.” Nauert said the 30-day cease-fire in eastern Ghouta approved by the Security Council was “clearly not working.” She said the U.S. blamed Russia for continuing to train and equip the Syrian military. Washington is calling on the Russians to pressure the Syrians to restrain themselves and de-escalate the fighting, not just in eastern Ghouta but everywhere. Russia unilaterally announced on Monday a daily five-hour pause in fighting in rebel-held eastern Ghouta so civilians can leave through a humanitarian corridor. But no one has taken advantage of the daily lull so far, …

The White House on Thursday faced fresh speculation about the future of national security adviser H.R. McMaster, with officials sending mixed messages about his possible departure. Amid a stream of staff leaving Donald Trump’s White House, NBC reported that the three-star general tasked with running White House security policy would, within months, be headed for the exit as well. “We frequently face rumor and innuendo about senior administration officials,” White House spokesman Raj Shah said in response. “There are no personnel announcements at this time.” That was followed up by a more categorical statement from McMaster’s spokesman, Michael Anton. “I was just with President Trump and H.R. McMaster in the Oval Office. President Trump said that the NBC News story is fake news, and told McMaster that he is doing a great job,” Anton said. NBC reported that a senior executive at U.S. automaker Ford, Stephen Biegun, was a possible replacement. …

The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, the first lethal weaponry the U.S. has sold to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion of Crimea in 2014. The State Department formally approved the sale Thursday of 210 Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, in a move long expected to upset Russia. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, part of the U.S. Department of Defense, said Ukraine has asked to buy the missiles and 37 launchers, at a cost of around $47 million. Kyiv has been asking Washington for lethal military aid since the Russian invasion, but the Obama administration offered only training and support equipment rather than contribute to escalated violence.  Late last year, President Donald Trump indicated he would be agreeable to moving forward with the sale of Javelin missiles to Kyiv. Congress must sign off on the sale before the deal can be made complete, which means …

Uber is driving deeper into health care by offering to take patients in every U.S. market where it operates to their next medical appointment.  The ride-hailing service said Thursday its Uber Health business will handle rides set up by doctor’s offices or other health care providers and then bill that business, not the patient, for the service. The company said rides can be set up within a few hours or days in advance. Patients won’t need access to a smartphone to use the service. Uber began testing the service last summer. More than 100 health care providers have signed up including hospitals, clinics and physical therapy centers.   Company leaders said they are expanding because there’s a need. They cite federal government research that estimates that more than 3 million people do not obtain medical care due to transportation problems. “There are a lot of people out there who are …

Mexico’s economy minister met with top U.S. trade officials on Wednesday midway through the latest push to renegotiate the NAFTA trade deal, as concerns about steel added to trade tensions between the two countries. Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo met U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer during a hastily arranged visit to Washington as U.S., Mexican and Canadian officials held a seventh round of negotiations to rework the North American Free Trade Agreement. In a statement, Mexico’s economy ministry said Guajardo had discussed possible U.S. steel import tariffs with Ross, as well as bilateral agreements over tomatoes and sugar, which have been renegotiated periodically. Guajardo also met with Lighthizer to discuss the agenda of the ministerial meeting on March 5 at the conclusion of the latest NAFTA talks in Mexico City, his ministry said. U.S. President Donald Trump is considering imposing steel and aluminum tariffs on …

Motorists were warned to stay off Northern California mountain roads as a major winter storm was expected to bring heavy snowfall, powerful winds and torrential rains at lower elevations Thursday.   Meanwhile predictions of widespread showers across the southern end of the state raised concern about flash flooding near wildfire burn scars later in the week.   A blizzard warning was issued for parts of the Sierra Nevada, where winds could gust up to 125 mph (200 kph) on the ridges and 40 to 60 mph (65 kph to 95 kph) in some valleys, the National Weather Service said.   The blizzard would help the snowpack, which is vital to the state’s water supply and is only about a quarter its normal size for this time of winter.   “Totals will be measured in feet and mountain travel will become dangerous,” the National Weather Service tweeted. “Travel is highly discouraged.” …

Thousands of South Korean conservatives rallied in Seoul on Thursday to protest President Moon Jae-in’s Olympic outreach to North Korea, and in support of impeached President Park Geun-hye, who faces a possible 30-year prison sentence for corruption charges related to the scandal that ousted her from office. Moon’s opponents, many waving American flags, denounced his engagement policy to foster increased dialogue and cooperation with the North as appeasing the enemy and undermining the United States’ “maximum pressure” strategy. “Trying to promote false peace slogans such as, no wars in Korea’” President Moon now plays an accomplice in crimes against humanity by approving nuclear weapons of Kim Jong Un,” said Kim Suk-woo, one of the rally organizers. Kim is a former vice minister of Unification and president of the National Development Institute in Seoul. In the last year North Korea, conducted numerous threatening missile and nuclear tests to develop the capability …

China expressed anger Thursday after the U.S. Senate passed a bill promoting closer U.S. ties with Taiwan, but the step drew praise from the self-ruled island, which pledged to deepen cooperation. The move adds to tensions between China and the United States, already at loggerheads over trade, with President Xi Jinping’s close economic adviser Liu He in Washington this week to try and avert a trade war. Several top U.S. steel and aluminum executives have been invited to the White House later Thursday for what could be a major trade announcement, according to two people familiar with the meeting. U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed to take steps to crackdown on imports of steel and aluminum and has been considering imposing hefty tariffs on imports of the metals from China and other countries. ​‘One China’ violation Beijing considers democratic Taiwan to be a wayward province and integral part of “one …

Taken for granted by most Americans, the freedom to practice whatever religion one wants is an American value that the U.S. spends considerable effort exporting.  It begins with the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which declares, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Advocating for that American value is a core objective of the U.S. government. “I so fundamentally believe that this is one of those rights that brings forward a number of other human rights,” said Sam Brownback, U.S. ambassador-at-large for religious freedom.   WATCH: Plugged in with Greta Van Susteren – Feb. 28, 2018 One success Brownback told VOA’s Greta Van Susteren his office has had is helping win the release of Vietnamese Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh. “Vietnam policy is to keep religion under control,” Chinh said. “Personally, I do not accept that. I believe religion should not …

Taken for granted by most Americans, the freedom to practice whatever religion one wants is an American value that the U.S. spends considerable effort exporting. Challenges, successes and best practices were part of the discussion in the latest episode of Plugged In with Greta Van Susteren. VOA’s Steve Redisch reports. …

Orchids are among the world’s most beautiful flowers. Although the blossoms come in different shapes, sizes and colors, they all belong to one of the largest and oldest families of flowering plants on earth. The U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington is showcasing some of the thousands of different orchid varieties in a spectacular exhibit that runs until the first week of April. VOA’s Deborah Block takes us there for a fragrant look at the exotic world of orchids. …

U.S. company Dick’s Sporting Goods has decided to stop selling assault-style rifles in the wake of February’s Parkland, Florida, high school shooting. The attack and its aftermath led other companies to cancel their discount programs for National Rifle Association members. This comes as President Donald Trump voiced support for new gun control measures in a bipartisan meeting with lawmakers in Washington. VOA’s Elizabeth Cherneff has more. …

The U.S. Congress paid tribute to famed evangelist Rev. Billy Graham Wednesday with a memorial service as he lies in honor in the Capitol Rotunda. Graham, who died at 99 last week, was one of the leading spiritual voices of the 20th century and played a key role in bringing evangelical Christianity into mainstream American politics. As congressional correspondent Katherine Gypson reports, Graham leaves behind a complicated legacy on women, gay rights and the role of religion in politics. …

In recent weeks, the investigation into possible collusion between President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and Russia has intensified, raising the prospect that the probe could become an issue in advance of the November midterm congressional elections. Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort made another appearance in federal court in Washington Wednesday, where he pleaded not guilty to the latest round of charges brought by special counsel Robert Mueller.   WATCH: Russia Probe Intensifies as Trump Complains About ‘Witch Hunt’ Last week, Rick Gates, Manafort’s former deputy, pleaded guilty to lying to prosecutors and is now cooperating with the investigation. In mid-February, 13 Russians were indicted in connection with election meddling, which deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein described as an effort to “promote discord in the United States and undermine public confidence in democracy. We must not allow them to succeed.” Hicks testifies Congressional inquiries also continue. Hope Hicks, the White …