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Yemen defense minister escapes Al-Qaida ambush

By WTOP Staff

AHMED AL-HAJ
Associated Press

SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Yemen’s defense minister escaped an assassination attempt Friday when alleged al-Qaida militants ambushed his motorcade as he was visiting strategic areas in the south and a sprawling al-Qaida base recaptured by the army, security and military officials said.

Officials said Mohammed Nasser Ahmed was on his way to check up on forces in the Mahfad region when gunmen opened fire on the convoy.

The attack came as government forces pushed back militants in fighting atop a hill overlooking the region’s main road, they added. Troops killed three militants and captured two wounded ones, while sustaining three wounded themselves.

The officials also said troops in an army post in Meyfaa town in Shabwa province killed Friday an al-Qaida militant as he was attempting a suicide attack in an explosive-laden car.

The army has started to establish fixed military posts and checkpoints in areas recaptured from the militants in Mahfad, Azzan and Meyfaa to prevent them from returning from neighboring mountainous regions to which they have fled.

In the capital Sanaa, the Interior Ministry said two al-Qaida militants from Marib province were killed Thursday night in clashes with security men, but their tribe, which sympathizes with al-Qaida, denied that the two belonged to the group. In retaliation they blew up one of the main oil pipelines in Marib province and cut off electricity supplies to the capital on Friday.

Some foreign fighters, including Westerners, were among those killed or arrested in the past week’s fighting in the ongoing military campaign against al-Qaida, officials said. The official SABA news agency quoted an unnamed security official as saying on Friday that two al-Qaida members who are French nationals were arrested Thursday while trying to flee the country from Hadramawt province. It said both are of Tunisian origin.

The Defense Ministry said Friday that a militant from Dagestan called Taymour al-Dagestani was among those killed. Officials said Dagestani was a leading militant from al-Qaida, an expert in explosives and suicide attacks. Another Saudi militant, Torki Abdul Rahman, was also killed in recent operations, the ministry added.

Security and military officials said at least seven attacks by al-Qaida were foiled during the fight over the past few days, including six car bombs mostly targeting military leaders and installations. Only one of the bombs blew up in Shabwa, killing three soldiers.

Later on Friday, assailants believed by authorities to belong to al-Qaida attacked a security checkpoint in the capital Sanaa, near the presidential palace, killing at least two policemen.

All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information to journalists.

Washington considers Yemen’s al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula the most active branch of the group in the world, and has assisted the government with logistics, training and drone attacks. The militants have fought back, targeting government buildings and security forces.

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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