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Rocket, mortar attacks reported as Afghan cast votes in presidential runoff

By WTOP Staff

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Militants are making their presence known, but Afghans have been lining up to vote in today’s presidential runoff election despite a Taliban warning to stay away from the polls.

Troops have been frisking voters before allowing them into polling stations and searching cars at checkpoints around the capital of Kabul.

In eastern Khost province, near the Pakistani border, a government spokesman says a series of rockets killed six civilians and wounded eight. Also in the east, a mortar shell killed two civilians and wounded three in Logar province. Several other explosions have been reported in Kabul and elsewhere, but those caused no casualties.

Today’s runoff is between former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah and ex-World Bank official and former finance minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai (ahsh-RAHF’ gah-NEE’ ah-mahd-ZEYE’). Both candidates promise to improve ties with the West and fight corruption as they confront a powerful Taliban insurgency and preside over the withdrawal of most foreign troops by the end of the year.

%@AP Links

122-a-14-(Abdullah Abdullah, presidential hopeful, with reporters)-“of this country”-Afghanistan presidential hopeful Abdullah Abdullah says his party guarantees a strong future for Afghan citizens. (14 Jun 2014)

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123-a-11-(Shukria Barekzai (shook-REE’-yah beh-rehk-ZY’), member of Afghan Parliament, in AP interview)-“after today’s election”-Shukria Barekzai, a member of the Afghan parliament, says the purple ink on her finger confirming that she voted is an important sign for the future of women in Afghanistan. (14 Jun 2014)

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012-r-09-(Afghan presidential candidate Ghani Ahmadzai, olding up ink covered fingers after voting, says in Pashto: “These fingers, which are used to fire the trigger of guns, are now used to vote. We ask all armed opposition to allow this nation to choose their future.”)–Afghan presidential candidate Ghani Ahmadzai, holding up ink covered fingers after voting, says in Pashto: “These fingers, which are used to fire the trigger of guns, are now used to vote. We ask all armed opposition to allow this nation to choose their future.” (14 Jun 2014)

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011-a-15-(Abdullah Abdullah, Afghan presidential candidate, with reporters)-“with our team”-Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah says he will work for the people. (14 Jun 2014)

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APPHOTO JAB118: Afghan women leave a polling station after casting their votes in Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, June 14, 2014. Despite Taliban threats of violence, many Afghans vow to cast ballots in Saturday’s presidential runoff vote with hopes that whoever replaces Hamid Karzai will be able to provide security and stability after international forces wind down their combat mission at the end of this year. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) (14 Jun 2014)

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APPHOTO JAB124: An Afghan election worker counts ballots at a polling station in Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, June 14, 2014. Afghans brave threats of violence and searing heat to vote in a presidential runoff that will mark the country’s first peaceful transfer of authority, an important step toward democracy as foreign combat troops leave. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) (14 Jun 2014)

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APPHOTO MAH151: An Afghan woman, right, casts her vote in the presidential runoff at a polling station in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, Saturday, June 14, 2014. Despite Taliban threats of violence, many Afghans vow to cast ballots in Saturday’s presidential runoff vote with hopes that whoever replaces Hamid Karzai will be able to provide security and stability after international forces wind down their combat mission at the end of this year. (AP Photo/Kamran Shefayee) (14 Jun 2014)

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APPHOTO MAH148: An Afghan woman shows her inked finger after casting her vote at a polling station in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, Saturday, June 14, 2014. Despite Taliban threats of violence, many Afghans vow to cast ballots in Saturday’s presidential runoff vote with hopes that whoever replaces Hamid Karzai will be able to provide security and stability after international forces wind down their combat mission at the end of this year. (AP Photo/Kamran Shefayee) (15 Jun 2014)

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APPHOTO JAB117: An Afghan man casts his vote at a polling station in Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, June 14, 2014. Despite Taliban threats of violence, many Afghans vow to cast ballots in Saturday’s presidential runoff vote with hopes that whoever replaces Hamid Karzai will be able to provide security and stability after international forces wind down their combat mission at the end of this year. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) (14 Jun 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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