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Africa: World Cup terror threat lowers bar numbers

By WTOP Staff

JASON STRAZIUSO
Associated Press

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The World Cup opening match was showing on TV screens in the normally popular Nairobi bar, but it was only half full. At Freedom Park in Lagos, Nigeria, fewer than 50 people watched the action on a massive screen.

Warnings by security experts that Islamic militants might attack crowds watching the World Cup in public places, as they did in 2010 in Uganda, appear to have kept many at home on the opening night of the World Cup.

The Kyadondo Rugby Club in Kampala, Uganda, was one of two spots attacked by al-Shabab militants during the 2010 World Cup final. The blasts killed 74 people. On Thursday night, as World Cup host Brazil played Croatia, the place was nearly empty.

Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria have all been hit by Islamist militants — by al-Shabab in Uganda and Kenya and by Boko Haram in Nigeria.

The U.S. Embassy in Kenya this month warned citizens to “exercise caution” at venues with World Cup crowds. The British government warned that in Nigeria “terrorists have previously targeted places where football matches are being viewed.” Ugandan police and the U.S. Embassy in Kampala have issued alerts about impending attacks.

“One is quite on edge. And we don’t anticipate bad news but it’s lingering,” said Philippe Huenermann, the owner of Havana, a popular bar in Nairobi. “It’s like a shadow.”

Bob Munir, a Kenyan, wore a wide smile as he watched the soccer match, but compared with previous years he had fewer fellow customers to share the vibe with.

“Look at this place, it’s normally packed. They come in and have one beer and leave. It’s a pity,” he said.

Even though the security warnings may hurt his bottom line, Huenermann said the authorities are doing what they need to do. He employs about eight security guards in dark black suits and the German national says they “know what to look out for.”

Huenermann also owns a sports bar in Kampala — Just Kicking — and can compare security in both countries. After the 2010 attacks, he said, the Ugandan government required his Kampala locale to post four armed government security forces. In Kenya, no such measures have been taken.

At Kampala’s Kyadondo Rugby Club, manager Robert Seguya urged his security guards to perform thorough checks.

Big crowds at sports bars and World Cup gatherings can overwhelm poorly paid security guards. Security was lax four years ago at the rugby club, a survivor of the bombings said.

“That night we were not really checked,” said customer Albert Ahabwe. Clients and security guards were so clueless about explosions, he recalled, that when the first bomb went off many believed it was an electrical malfunction and remained sitting. Most of the victims died when a second, more powerful bomb exploded.

Ugandan authorities are urging vigilance, and police have been visiting sports bars to check on security measures. Some places were found to have lax standards and were threatened with closure, said police spokesman Fred Enanga.

In Nigeria, Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade said citizens should look out for strange parcels or objects.

World Cup screening venues in 10 countries — Nigeria, Somalia, Kenya, Iraq, Tanzania, Uganda, Djibouti, Burundi, Ethiopia, Tunisia — face risk of attack, according to Robert Besseling, the lead Africa analyst at the consulting firm IHS Country Risk. He wrote that there will “almost certainly” be attacks in Nigeria and that “the most likely locations where foreigners will be targeted are Kenya and Tanzania.”

Huenermann said that since al-Shabab intensified attacks in Kenya in recent months, expat customers are scarce, but “the Kenyans are coming. They are very resilient.”

They’re also wary.

Munir, Huenermann’s customer, said: “It’s there in the back of my mind. I’m always looking for something out of the ordinary.”

___

Associated Press reporters Rodney Muhumuza in Kampala Uganda and Sunday Alabama and Maram Mazen in Lagos, Nigeria, contributed to this report.

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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