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Russia: Syrian vote isn’t obstacle to peace talks

By WTOP Staff

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia’s U.N. ambassador insisted Wednesday that Syria’s presidential election, which Bashar Assad is certain to win, is not an obstacle to a political settlement of the devastating war and urged the U.N. chief to quickly appoint a new envoy to revive stalled peace talks.

Vitaly Churkin criticized Western countries that believe Tuesday’s election has ruled out any progress on the political front as “fundamentally flawed.” He said it’s unacceptable “after just two five-day rounds of talks to say things are so stalemated that there is no need to continue those negotiations.”

Churkin said a replacement for U.N.-Arab League peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi is needed “to create conditions to move the talks between the government and opposition forward,” stressing that there is no military solution to the three-year conflict which activists say has killed more than 160,000 people.

Brahimi resigned on May 13, marking a second failure by the United Nations and Arab League to end the war. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon blamed Syria’s opposition but especially Assad’s government, the divided U.N. Security Council which has been impotent and feuding influential nations for failing to help Brahimi achieve a peace settlement.

Churkin said Brahimi was “heavily supported” by the U.N., not by the divided Arab League which expelled Syria, and Russia wants his replacement to be a U.N. envoy only, not a joint envoy. The secretary-general is reported to be considering this issue as well as a number of candidates from the Middle East and elsewhere.

Churkin held a wide-ranging news conference at the start of Russia’s month-long presidency of the Security Council and expressed hope that members will adopt a resolution to speed up humanitarian aid in Syria, and a resolution demanding an immediate halt to deadly clashes in eastern Ukraine and the establishment of “humanitarian corridors.”

But the council is deeply divided on both issues.

Churkin said Russia opposes a draft resolution proposed by Jordan, Australia and Luxembourg that would authorize the delivery of humanitarian aid into Syria through four border crossings without approval from the Assad government, under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charters which means it can be enforced militarily. He backed a rival Russian draft, not under Chapter 7, that calls for local cease-fires to deliver humanitarian aid.

Churkin urged speedy approval of the Russian-drafted resolution circulated Monday expressing “grave concern” at “the dire situation of thousands of civilians trapped in besieged areas” in Russian-speaking southeastern Ukraine and demanding “the immediate cessation of hostilities” leading to “a sustainable cease-fire.”

Unfortunately, some Security Council members “seem to believe the situation there can be settled by force, in fact encouraging Kiev to continue their punitive operation in eastern parts of Ukraine,” Churkin said. “We believe it’s a grave mistake.”

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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