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Indian opposition party heads for landslide win

By WTOP Staff

NEW DELHI (AP) — It’s the most decisive election victory India has seen in more than a quarter of a century.

Partial results have made it clear that opposition leader Narenda Modi (MOH’-dee) will be the country’s next prime minister — sweeping the Congress party from power in today’s elections.

Modi is a Hindu nationalist, and there are fears that his election could worsen sectarian tension between India’s majority Hindus and its 138 million Muslims. He is a divisive figure in India, in large part because he was in charge of a state where communal rioting killed more than 1,000 people in 2002 — most of them Muslims. He was accused of doing little to stop the rampage. He was later denied a U.S. visa for alleged complicity in the riots — though as prime minister, he would be virtually assured a visa.

As his overwhelming win became clear, Modi appeared before a crowd of cheering supporters and tried to strike a conciliatory note. He said he wants to run a government that “carries everyone with it.”

The outcome was a crushing defeat for the Congress party, which is closely linked to the Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty that has been at the center of Indian politics for most of the country’s post-independence history.

%@AP Links

127-a-14-(Sharad Pradhan (shah-RAHD prah-DAHN’), political analyst, in AP interview)-“a Modi wave”-Political analyst Sharad Pradhan says the personal magnetism of Hindu nationalist leader Narendra Modi was enough to oust the long-dominant Congress party. ((Narendra Modi is pronounced nuh-REHN’-druh MOH’-dee)) (16 May 2014)

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129-r-08-(Sound of drumming and whistles, as Modi supporters dance in the streets near party headquarters)–Sound of drumming as Modi supporters danced in the streets near party headquarters. (16 May 2014)

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GRAPHICSBANK: Narendra Modi (l), as Opposition leader and India’s next prime minister, and his mother Hiraben (r), flashes the victory symbol, Gandhinagar, India, graphic element on gray (16 May 2014)

APPHOTO DELX111: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters write congratulatory messages for their leader Narendra Modi on a giant board at their party headquarters in New Delhi, India, Friday, May 16, 2014. Modi will be India’s next prime minister, winning the most decisive election victory the country has seen in more than a quarter century and sweeping the long-dominant Congress party from power, partial results showed Friday. (AP Photo /Manish Swarup) (16 May 2014)

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APPHOTO DELX109: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters dance to celebrate election results outside their party office in Bangalore, India, Friday, May 16, 2014. India’s opposition leader Narendra Modi and his party won national elections in a landslide Friday, preliminary results showed, driving the long-dominant Congress party out of power in the most commanding victory India has seen in more than a quarter century. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) (16 May 2014)

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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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