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Indonesia, Australia leaders hold make-up talks

By WTOP Staff

ALI KOTARUMALOS
Associated Press

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — The leaders of Indonesia and Australia said Wednesday the two countries’ sometimes stormy ties were on the mend following their first meeting since a damaging row last year over spying allegations and people smuggling.

Good bilateral relations are important for the neighboring countries, but historical, cultural and political sensitivities have often meant periods of volatility. Australia is viewed with suspicion by some nationalists in Jakarta, who have not forgotten its role in sending troops to East Timor in 1999 when that territory broke away from Jakarta.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is leaving office in July after eight years, briefly hosted Prime Minister Tony Abbott on the island of Batam as the Australian leader was heading to Europe.

In November, Indonesia downgraded relations with Canberra over reported Australian phone-tapping of Yudhoyono, his wife and eight Indonesian ministers and officials in 2009. The row, which coincided with Abbott becoming prime minister, enflamed tensions over another longstanding issue between the two countries — the passage of asylum seekers from South Asia and the Middle East via Indonesia to Australia.

In recent weeks, ties appeared to be warming, and the Indonesian ambassador, Nadjib Riphat Kesoema, returned to Canberra in May.

While the talks Wednesday didn’t come up with anything explicit, it was clear both leaders were looking to the future.

“Yes, there have been a couple of issues between our countries over the last few months, but I am confident that they are well on the way to resolution,” said Abbott. “A satisfactory and successful resolution.”

Abbott, who has implemented a tough policy of turning back boats to Indonesia carrying asylum seekers, said “the people smuggling issue is well on the way to resolution because the boats that were coming to Australia have almost entirely ceased to come, so I believe that this is an issue which will not substantially further trouble us.”

Yudhoyono said both sides were working to resolve the issues and “want to always be good friends.”

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa also said the people smuggling issue “will not trouble us anymore.”

The allegations of phone tapping sparked a nationalist backlash in Indonesia even as they can’t have come as a surprise to many in the government there.

Indonesia has been demanding a “code of conduct” on intelligence issues before full ties can resume.

Natalegawa said the code would be agreed to soon with a “very easy and simple principle. There will be no more phone-tapping by governments of each other.”

The spying allegations came from documents leaked by former U.S. National Security Agency operative Edward Snowden.

The breakdown in relations was the most serious since 1999, when Australia led a U.N. military force into the former Indonesian province of East Timor following a bloody independence ballot.

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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