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UN approves measure to combat al-Qaida fighters

By WTOP Staff

EDITH M. LEDERER
Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Responding to the growing terrorist threat in Iraq and Syria, the U.N. Security Council imposed sanctions Friday on six men for recruiting or financing foreign fighters and threatened additional sanctions against those supporting terrorist groups.

The U.N.’s most powerful body, in a resolution adopted unanimously, also demanded that the Islamic State extremist group and all al-Qaida-linked groups end violence and disarm and disband immediately.

The British-drafted resolution follows the recent offensive by the Islamic State group, which has taken control of a large swath of eastern Syria and northern and western Iraq, brutalizing civilians and forcing hundreds of thousands to flee, as well as increasing terrorist activity by other al-Qaida-linked groups including Jabhat al-Nusra in Syria.

British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant said the resolution sends a clear message that the international community condemns the Islamic State group’s “brutal and mindless terrorist acts, rejects its violent extremist ideology and is united in its resolve to oppose and confront it.”

The six men now subject to a global travel ban and asset freeze include four who either recruited or helped finance al-Nusra — Abdelrahman Mouhamad Zafir al Dabidi al Jahani, Hajjaj Bin Fahd Al Ajmi, Said Arif and Abdul Mohsen Abdallah Ibrahim al Charekh.

Another man, Hamid Hamad Hamid al-Ali, was blacklisted for helping finance both al-Nusra and the Islamic State group. Abou Mohamed al Adnani was blacklisted for financing and perpetrating acts supporting the Islamic State group.

Al Jahani and Al Ajmi are already subject to U.S. sanctions.

According to the U.S. Treasury Department, al Jahani was participating in fighting in Syria and working with counterparts in Pakistan to acquire heavy weapons and trainers to support al-Qaida efforts. The department alleges that Al Ajmi agreed to provide financial support to al-Nusra in exchange for installing Kuwaitis in the group’s leadership positions.

Al Adnani is the spokesman for the Islamic State who was seen on video proclaiming the establishment of a caliphate on captured territory in Syria and Iraq on June 29, according to U.N. diplomats. The chosen caliph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is an Iraqi militant with a $10 million U.S. bounty on his head.

Arif, an ex-Algerian army officer, escaped house arrest in France last year and is reportedly a key recruiter of foreign fighters for al-Nusra in France and northern Africa. Al Charekh, from Saudi Arabia, is allegedly a leader of al-Qaida operations in Syria, and al-Ali, a Kuwaiti, allegedly purchased arms and equipment for al-Nusra and paid for travel for foreign fighters, according to U.N. diplomats.

“The numbers of foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq, as well as their source nations, are unprecedented,” U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power said. “Reportedly as many as 12,000 participated in the conflicts. And the return of radicalized battle-hardened jihadists to their home countries or other vulnerable destinations has the potential to widen the scope of the violence.”

The resolution was adopted under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, meaning it can be militarily enforced. But Russia’s deputy U.N. ambassador, Petr Iliichev, stressed that “this cannot be seen as approval of the use of military actions.”

Syria’s Ambassador Bashar Ja’afari reminded the council that Damascus had repeatedly warned of the Islamist threat. He said the Syrian government is a “necessary partner in the fight against terrorism.”

Syria’s Western-backed opposition group, the Syrian National Coalition, called the resolution “the first concrete step towards tackling the threat of extremist groups” but said more needs to be done.

Iraqi Ambassador Mohamed Ali al-Hakim said the Islamic State terrorist group “needs to be defeated,” and he urged the United States to widen its attacks.

The resolution adopted Friday urges all countries to meet their obligations under a resolution adopted immediately after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States. It demanded that all 193 U.N. member states adopt national laws to combat terrorism.

It notes “with concern” that oil fields controlled by the Islamic State group, Jabhat al-Nusra and other al-Qaida-linked groups are generating income that is supporting their recruitment efforts and ability to carry out terrorist operations.

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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