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Kerry meets with Palestinian leader in London

By WTOP Staff

LONDON (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry worked Wednesday to keep the Palestinians committed to his hope of restarting Mideast peace talks despite Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ move to set up an interim government with a militant group that refuses to recognize Israel.

Kerry met with Abbas in a London hotel for the first time since peace negotiations collapsed last month.

Kerry, who is in London for talks with international partners about the Syrian civil war and political unrest in Ukraine, said he planned to have an informal meeting with Abbas and that he did not plan to offer any proposals.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that during the two-hour meeting, Kerry reiterated U.S. support for the Palestinian people.

“Secretary Kerry made clear that while the door remains open to peace, it is up to the parties to determine whether they are willing to take the steps necessary to resume negotiations,” she said “He again urged both sides to refrain from unhelpful steps.”

The talks fell apart after nine months of discussions amid one-sided moves by both the Palestinians and Israelis.

Israel promised to, but ultimately did not, release Palestinian prisoners and approved construction of hundreds of new homes in Israeli settlements.

On the Palestinian side, Abbas held off trying to join international agencies and conventions even though the U.N. General Assembly recognized a “state of Palestine” as a non-member observer in 2012. But in early April, Abbas signed letters to join 15 international conventions, despite a promise that he would refrain from seeking further recognition for Palestine for the duration of the negotiations. The U.S. and Israel had denounced the move as an attempt to bypass peace talks.

The Palestinians also angered Israel by moving to reconcile with Hamas, which has been branded as a terror group by the U.S. It’s the latest in a series of reconciliation attempts since Hamas seized the Gaza Strip from Abbas in 2007, leaving Abbas with parts of the West Bank.

Abbas wants to set up a unity government with Hamas by the end of the month. He says the new government will be bound by his plan to seek peace with Israel — something he hopes will allay U.S. concerns about a partnership with militants who refuse to renounce violence.

The reconciliation with Hamas presents a difficult problem for Kerry’s peace effort because Israel says it won’t negotiate with any government backed by Hamas, which has killed hundreds of Israelis in attacks over the years.

Psaki said Kerry reiterated the need for any Palestinian government to recognize Israel, commit to nonviolence and abide by previous agreements.”

Congressional Republicans and Democrats have signaled that any permanent arrangement between the Western-backed Palestinian Authority and Hamas would force the United States to end some $400 million in economic and security aid provided annually. U.S. law states that no foreign aid can be provided to “any entity effectively controlled by Hamas, any power-sharing government of which Hamas is a member, or that results from an agreement with Hamas and over which Hamas exercises undue influence.”

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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