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Ukraine accuses pro-Russia rebels of downing Malaysian plane with 298 aboard

By WTOP Staff

HRABOVE, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine is accusing pro-Russian separatists of shooting down a Malaysia Airlines jet Thursday. The rebels are denying it.

Ukraine’s security services say two intercepted telephone conversations show the rebels were responsible, though neither recording could be independently verified. Ukraine’s U.N. ambassador alleges that Russia has supplied the separatists with a sophisticated missile system that can hit planes.

But, Russian President Vladimir Putin says Ukraine bears responsibility, saying: “this tragedy would not have happened if there were peace” in Ukraine and military actions had not been renewed.

Bodies and wreckage of the Boeing 777 were strewn over a field near a rebel-held village in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, about 25 miles from the Russian border. There was no sign of any survivors.

Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 took off from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur with 298 people aboard, including three infants.

The White House is calling for a “full, credible and unimpeded international investigation.” It’s also urging Russia, the pro-Russian separatists and Ukraine to support an immediate cease-fire in order to ensure “safe and unfettered access to the crash site.”

%@AP Links

275-c-12-(Peter Leonard, AP correspondent)-“been shot down”-AP correspondent Peter Leonard reports Ukraine’s security services played what they said was an intercepted telephone conversation between a rebel commander and a Russian military intelligence officer. (17 Jul 2014)

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276-c-11-(Peter Leonard, AP correspondent)-“there any weapons?”-AP correspondent Peter Leonard reports another tape played by Ukraine’s security services purports to be a conversation between two rebel fighters who are trying to figure out what kind of plane was taken down by a unit of insurgents. (17 Jul 2014)

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277-c-17-(Peter Leonard, AP correspondent)-“22 thousand meters”-AP correspondent Peter Leonard reports the Malaysia Airlines plane would have been within the range of a powerful Russian-made radar-guided missile launcher. (17 Jul 2014)

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259-c-19-(Peter Leonard, AP correspondent)-“the plane down”-AP correspondent Peter Leonard reports separatists and the Ukrainian government are exchanging accusations over who shot down the Malaysia Airlines plane. (17 Jul 2014)

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261-c-19-(Peter Leonard, AP correspondent)-“going to have”-AP correspondent Peter Leonard reports the crash investigation is officially being handled by police in Ukraine’s rebel-held Donestk region. (17 Jul 2014)

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APPHOTO NYKS114: Fire engines arrive at the crash site of a passenger plane near the village of Hrabove, Ukraine, as the sun sets Thursday, July 17, 2014. Ukraine said a passenger plane carrying 295 people was shot down Thursday as it flew over the country, and both the government and the pro-Russia separatists fighting in the region denied any responsibility for downing the plane. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky) (17 Jul 2014)

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APPHOTO NYKS112: Relatives of passengers on flight MH17 wait in a bus to be transported to an unknown location to receive more information, at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, Thursday, July 17, 2014. Ukraine said a passenger plane carrying 295 people was shot down Thursday as it flew over the country, and both the government and the pro-Russia separatists fighting in the region denied any responsibility for downing the plane. (AP Photo/Phil Nijhuis) (17 Jul 2014)

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APPHOTO NYKS109: A relative of passengers on flight MH17 cries as he waits in a bus to receive more information, at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, Thursday, July 17, 2014. Ukraine said a passenger plane was shot down Thursday as it flew over the country, and both the government and the pro-Russia separatists fighting in the region denied any responsibility for downing the plane. (AP Photo/Phil Nijhuis) (17 Jul 2014)

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APPHOTO NYKS108: This image taken from video, Thursday July 17, 2014, shows a guidebook found in the wreckage of a passenger plane after it was shot down Thursday as it flew over Ukraine, near the village of Hrabove, in eastern Ukraine. Malaysia Airlines tweeted that it lost contact with one of its flights as it was traveling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur over Ukrainian airspace. (AP Photo/Channel 1) RUSSIA OUT – TV OUT (17 Jul 2014)

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APPHOTO NYKS107: In this image taken from video, Thursday July 17, 2014, people walk amongst the debris at the crash site after a passenger plan was shot down Thursday as it flew over Ukraine, near the village of Hrabove, in eastern Ukraine. Malaysia Airlines tweeted that it lost contact with one of its flights as it was traveling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur over Ukrainian airspace. (AP Photo/Channel 1) RUSSIA OUT – TV OUT (17 Jul 2014)

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APPHOTO NYKS106: A man walks amongst the debris at the crash site of a passenger plane near the village of Hrabove, Ukraine, Thursday, July 17, 2014. Ukraine said a passenger plane was shot down Thursday as it flew over the country, and both the government and the pro-Russia separatists fighting in the region denied any responsibility for downing the plane. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky) (17 Jul 2014)

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APPHOTO NYKS104: People inspect the crash site of a passenger plane near the village of Hrabove, Ukraine, Thursday, July 17, 2014. Ukraine said a passenger plane was shot down Thursday as it flew over the country, and both the government and the pro-Russia separatists fighting in the region denied any responsibility for downing the plane. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky) (17 Jul 2014)

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APPHOTO NYKS103: Ukrainian rescuers walk past debris at the crash site of a passenger plane near the village of Hrabove, Ukraine, Thursday, July 17, 2014. Ukraine said a passenger plane was shot down Thursday as it flew over the country, and both the government and the pro-Russia separatists fighting in the region denied any responsibility for downing the plane. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky) (17 Jul 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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