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Kuwaiti protesters arrested, police use tear gas

By WTOP Staff

HUSSAIN AL-QATARI
Associated Press

KUWAIT CITY (AP) — Kuwait police fired tear gas and stun grenades Sunday in a busy historic market to disperse several thousand protesters calling for the release of an opposition activist and a purge of corrupt judges.

Defying government orders not to hold unauthorized protests, more than 2,000 people marched from Kuwait’s Grand Mosque after traditional evening Ramadan prayers and into the old market, where police broke up the demonstration.

It’s the fourth consecutive day that police have used tear gas to break up unauthorized anti-corruption protests in the Gulf Arab monarchy.

Kuwait has the most politically empowered parliament among the Gulf Arab states, with opposition lawmakers often directly challenging government officials over corruption and power abuses. Kuwait’s political tension has deepened rifts in one of Washington’s most important Gulf allies.

A picture circulated on social media of activist Abdulhadi Al-Hajeri in the back of an ambulance in a blood-soaked garment. His head was wrapped in a bloodied sheet.

Human rights activist Hadeel Bugrais told The Associated Press that al-Hajeri was wounded when a tear gas canister hit him in the head. She said the police were firing “randomly” at the crowd of marchers and that many bystanders were caught up in the mayhem.

Burgais said dozens of protesters were arrested. She accompanied several lawyers to a police station to inquire about the detainees.

A brief statement by Kuwait’s Interior Ministry released late Sunday said the protest was dispersed by police and that no injuries were immediately recorded. The statement made no mention of arrests, saying only that the protest was unauthorized.

The protesters are demanding the release of Musallam al-Barrack, a former opposition lawmaker who was detained in an investigation into allegations he insulted the judiciary. Al-Barrack revealed documents he alleges prove huge sums of illicit financial transfers were made to senior officials, including judges.

Kuwait’s prime minister, Jaber Al Mubarak Al Sabah, a member of the ruling family, has dismissed the documents, saying they have no value and do not stand up to scrutiny.

Al-Barrack’s group is calling for allowing citizens to run for the prime minister’s post. Kuwaiti prime ministers are currently appointed by the emir and are from the ruling family.

Many protesters Sunday were members of his tribe, but many others joined the call for greater government accountability and transparency. They say they are fed up with the pace of economic development in Kuwait, which was once a main hub for tourism and investment in the region but has now been shadowed by neighboring Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Violent protests have also been taking place since al-Barrack’s arrest in his hometown province of Jahra in the neighborhood of Sabah Al-Nasser, southeast of the capital Kuwait City. Protesters there have burnt tires and some have fired flares at security officers.

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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