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Egypt court acquits Mubarak-era interior minister

By WTOP Staff

MARIAM RIZK
Associated Press

CAIRO (AP) — An Egyptian court acquitted the former interior minister under longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak of charges of corruption and money laundering Thursday, a judicial official said.

The verdict in the retrial of Habib el-Adly lifted a 12-year jail term and 15 million Egyptian pound ($2.5 million) fine issued by a court in May 2011.

Al-Adly still faces other retrials, including one on charges of killing protesters during the 2011 popular uprising that toppled Mubarak, as well as another corruption-related case.

The verdict acquitting al-Adly comes one day after a prominent activist of the 2011 revolt was sentenced to 15 years in jail after being convicted of organizing an unauthorized protest and assaulting a policeman. The sentence against Alaa Abdel-Fattah and 24 others drew criticism from international and local human rights groups.

It was the first conviction of a prominent activist since former army chief Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi took office as president on Sunday.

A joint statement Thursday by 16 Egyptian human rights associations condemned the conviction and sentencing of Abdel-Fattah and other defendants, saying it was unconstitutional and disregarded their right to a fair trial.

It said the verdict “further downgrades the status of human rights in Egypt.”

“The ruling yesterday is but another example of the government’s continued disregard for the protection of constitutional guarantees of freedom of assembly and the right to a fair trial, as well as Egypt’s international obligations.”

The U.S. State Department said Thursday it was “deeply troubled by the harsh prison sentence” issued against the 25 activists, saying it had come after “very irregular court proceedings.”

“The implementation of Egypt’s restrictive demonstrations law has led to a sharp increase in arrests, detentions and charges against opposition figures, human rights activists and peaceful demonstrators, and verdicts based on these charges, all of which send a chilling message to the civil society at large,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters in Washington on Thursday.

Prosecutors accused Abdel-Fattah of organizing an illegal demonstration and illegal possession of an object that could be used as a weapon. He and 24 other defendants are accused of using force against police, blocking traffic and posing a threat to public safety and order.

All were tried in absentia, meaning that there will be an automatic retrial.

The statement from the rights groups said the defendants were standing outside the courtroom while the judge sentenced them in absentia. It said lawyers did not have a chance to call witnesses or examine evidence presented by the prosecution.

Abdel-Fattah and at least two other defendants were arrested after the proceedings.

The verdict was the latest blow to liberal activists who took part in the 2011 revolt against Mubarak, and came amid a sweeping crackdown on dissent.

In the 11 months since the ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, hundreds of his supporters have been killed and at least 16,000 have been detained.

Other secular activists are also facing trial or serving sentences on charges of breaching the controversial protest law, which prohibits demonstrations without police notification and approval.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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