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Bahrain orders US diplomat to leave

By WTOP Staff

REEM KHALIFA
Associated Press

MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — Bahrain ordered a top U.S. diplomat to leave the country on Monday after he met with a leading Shiite opposition group.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Tom Malinowski is not welcome in Bahrain. It said he intervened in the country’s domestic affairs by holding meetings with some groups at the expense of others.

Bahrain, a tiny island nation that is home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, has been roiled by near-daily protests by Shiites seeking greater political rights and inspired by the Arab Spring wave of revolutions since early 2011. The Bahrain government moved to crush the uprising, which threatened to spill into neighboring Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries with Shiite populations, with the help of regional Gulf Arab forces.

Malinowski was ordered to leave after meeting with Bahrain’s Shiite opposition group, Al Wifaq. He arrived in the country Sunday and had been scheduled to stay for three days.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Monday that Malinowski is still in Bahrain.

She said Malinowski was on a visit to reaffirm and strengthen bilateral ties and support King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s reform and reconciliation efforts, particularly in light of events elsewhere in the region.

In a statement later Monday with more details, Psaki said the U.S. is “deeply concerned” by the demand for Malinowski to leave Bahrain immediately. She said his visit had been warmly welcomed and that Bahrain’s government “is well aware that U.S. government officials routinely meet with all officially recognized political societies.”

“Contrary to our longstanding bilateral relationship and in violation of international diplomatic protocol, the government insisted — without advance warning and after his visit had already commenced — to have a Foreign Ministry representative present at all of Assistant Secretary Malinowski’s private meetings with individuals and groups representing a broad spectrum of Bahraini society, including those held at the U.S. embassy,” Psaki said. “These actions are not consistent with the strong partnership between the United States and Bahrain.”

Repeated rounds of political talks have since failed to significantly close the rifts between the country’s Sunni monarchy and majority Shiite factions.

Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry said the kingdom’s relations with the United States remain strong and important but such meetings were divisive. His actions, added the statement, “run counter to conventional diplomatic norms.”

Al Wifaq spokesman Abdul Jalil Khalil told The Associated Press that Malinowski met with the group Sunday evening and was scheduled to hold a joint meeting with them and other opposition groups on Tuesday.

“He had a vision to end the political crisis in Bahrain, especially since the region is witnessing political unrest in Iraq and Syria,” Khalil said of the meeting.

He said Al Wifaq is “very surprised” by the government’s decision to order Malinowski to leave since US officials usually meet with all sides, including opposition groups, in visits to Bahrain.

Leading human rights activist Nabeel Rajab, who was released from prison late May after serving two years for taking part in illegal protests, told the AP that he had a meeting planned with Malinowski on Monday, but it was canceled.

Sheik Maytham al-Salman, the head of the Religious Freedom Unit at Bahrain Human Rights Observatory, said he also had been scheduled to meet with Malinowski on Tuesday.

Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain condemned the decision to expel Malinowski.

“Malinowski’s deportation, which appears to be a result of meeting with various opposition figures and human rights activists, undermines any claims by the Bahraini government that they are serious about reconciliation in the country and creating the space necessary for reform to occur,” the group’s executive director Abdulla Husain said in a statement.

___

Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Washington D.C. contributed to this report.

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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