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Ukraine president to be at World Cup final in Rio

By WTOP Staff

BRADLEY BROOKS
Associated Press

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko will attend the World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro — along with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Brazilian authorities said Saturday.

An official in Brazil’s government with direct knowledge of the trip and a press officer for Brazil’s Foreign Ministry both confirmed that Poroshenko would be at the match.

The World Cup final pits Argentina against Germany — and it was German Chancellor Angela Merkel who persuaded Poroshenko to attend the game, the government official said. He said Merkel, Putin and Poroshenko, along with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and other heads of state, would be circulating in the same VIP area at Maracana stadium.

However, no direct meeting between Putin and Poroshenko was known to have been arranged, the official said.

The Foreign Ministry press officer said Poroshenko might not arrive in time for a pre-game lunch on Sunday to be hosted by Rousseff for several heads of state, including Putin and Merkel.

Citing ministry rules, the press officer would not allow his name to be used. The government official agreed to discuss the event only if he was not identified because he was not authorized to reveal the information.

Tension between Russia and Ukraine escalated in February when protests by people who wanted closer ties with the European Union drove pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych from office. Russia called that an illegal coup and seized Ukraine’s Crimea region, saying it was protecting the rights of people there who speak Russian as their main language.

Since then, fighting between pro-Russia rebels and Ukrainian government troops has killed more than 400 people in eastern Ukraine, while tens of thousands have fled their homes, in many cases crossing the border into Russia.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, accompanying Putin on a trip to Argentina ahead of their visit to Brazil for a summit of the BRICS nations, told the Russian news agency ITAR-Tass that a meeting between Putin and Poroshenko was not yet planned. But he left open the possibility, saying Putin remains ready for comprehensive talks on Ukraine at anytime, anywhere.

The foreign ministers of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine earlier this month all called for the re-start of peace talks on the situation in Ukraine. Two rounds of talks have failed.

Meanwhile, violence in Ukraine continues.

On Saturday, at least four people were killed by artillery fire in an overnight attack in Maryinka, a suburb of Donetsk where pro-Russia insurgents are holed up. The attack happened hours after Poroshenko vowed vengeance for the deaths of 19 troops in an insurgent rocket attack near the Russian border.

Putin, whose nation will host the 2018 World Cup, is attending Sunday’s final to take part in a handover ceremony with Rousseff and FIFA President Sepp Blatter.

Before the game, Rousseff will host a lunch for several leaders, including Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel — and possibly Poroshenko if he arrives in Rio on time.

The Brazilian Foreign Ministry press officer said he did not have information on the seating arrangements at either the stadium or at the lunch.

“So I can’t tell you where Putin, Poroshenko and Merkel will be sitting. It will be interesting to see,” he said.

Merkel, along with French President Francois Hollande, have been the two key European leaders in trying to bring the conflict in Ukraine to an end.

The rhetoric on both sides is increasingly intransigent.

On Saturday, the European Union moved to impose sanctions on 11 leaders of the pro-Moscow rebellion. The names published in the EU’s Official Journal brought the total of people subject to the bloc’s Ukraine-related sanctions to 72, along with two companies whose EU-based assets have been ordered frozen.

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Associated Press writer Bradley Brooks reported this story in Rio de Janeior and Stan Lehman reported from Sao Paulo.

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Bradley Brooks on Twitter: www.twitter.com/bradleybrooks

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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