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Saudi top diplomat criticizes Iran over conflicts

By WTOP Staff

ABDULLAH AL-SHIHRI
Associated Press

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister on Monday lashed out at regional rival Iran, accusing the Shiite powerhouse of having forces inside Syria, Iraq and Yemen, and insisting that Iran is “part of the problem” in trying to defuse the myriad Mideast crises.

Saud al-Faisal said that Tehran should pull its troops — which he called “occupying forces” — from the three Mideast nations stricken by conflicts and violence if it wants to be part of the solution.

Al-Faisal did not elaborate on his allegations.

Iran insists it has no forces on the ground in any of the three countries, but has sent advisers to help Syrian President Bashar Assad keep his hold on power and to the Shiite-led government in Baghdad to battle the Islamic State group.

Iran is Syria’s strongest ally in the Middle East, and has provided Assad’s government with military and political backing for years. Iran also is believed to be sending weapons and money to Syria.

Saudi Arabia has joined the U.S.-led coalition in air strikes against Islamic State fighters who have taken over parts of Iraq and Syria, saying it seeks to both support the Syrian opposition battling Assad and crush the extremist fighters.

“In many of these conflicts, Iran is part of the problem and not part of the solution,” al-Faisal said during a joint press conference in Riyadh with visiting German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

“If Iran wants to contribute to solving the problems in Syria, it should withdraw its troops from Syria,” he said, adding the same applies to Yemen and Iraq.

Jordan, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have also joined in airstrikes against the extremist group, while Qatar is providing logistical support.

Also Monday, Qatar’s emir arrived to Saudi Arabia for a meeting with King Abdullah. It is Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani’s second visit to the kingdom in the past three months. The two were to discuss regional issues related to the fight against the Islamic State group, Saudi media said.

And in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait’s ruler Sheik Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah on Monday wrapped up his visit during which he met the federation’s top leaders, including Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The high-level meetings came as the energy-rich Gulf Arab nations strive to put aside differences in an effort to present a unified front against both Assad’s forces and the Islamic State fighters.

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE withdrew ambassadors from Qatar in March to protest its support for the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood group in the region. They have yet to reinstate them.

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Associated Press writer Aya Batrawy contributed to this report from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

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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