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10 Things You Didn’t Know About Shinzo Abe

By U.S. News & World Report

1. Shinzo Abe, 62, was elected Japan‘s prime minister in December 2012, but he previously held the title from 2006-2007 as well. He stepped down in 2007, citing health reasons. He comes from a political family; his grandfather was a former prime minister and his father was a former foreign minister.

2. Abe is Japan’s first prime minister born after World War II.

3. Abe was the first Japanese prime minister to visit the memorial of the USS Arizona, a battleship on which 1,177 U.S. Marines and sailors died during the attacks on Pearl Harbor in 1941. He was the fourth prime minister to visit Pearl Harbor, though. In 2015, Abe acknowledged the damage done in WWII but said future Japanese generations shouldn’t have to continue apologizing.

4. Abe was first elected to Japan’s House of Representatives in 1993 and is now the president of the country’s Liberal Democratic Party.

5. Abe was the first foreign leader to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in November at Trump Tower. He was also the first foreign leader to visit the U.S. for a multiday series of meetings with Trump. U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May met with Trump in January for one day.

6. Japan’s relationship with China is strained by territorial disputes in the East China Sea. During the meeting in Washington, Abe and Trump affirmed part of a U.S.-Japan treaty that recognizes Japan’s administration of the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

7. Territorial disputes in the South China Sea have also caused a stir in Southeastern Asia. Under Abe, Japan designated its largest warship as a destroyer and planned to send the ship into the South China Sea as a show of military strength. China claims the rights to much of the disputed waterway despite outcry from Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Brunei.

8. North Korea’s launching of ballistic missiles that crashed into the Sea of Japan has also heightened regional tensions for Japan. Abe called the move ” extremely dangerous” and has, on past occasions, called North Korea’s advancing weapons system intolerable.

9. Abe was born on Sept. 21, 1954, in Nagato, Japan to Shintaro Abe and Yoko Kishi.

10. Shinzo is married to Akie Abe, and the couple have no children.

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10 Things You Didn’t Know About Shinzo Abe originally appeared on usnews.com

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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