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UN: 1st peacekeeper killed in C African Republic

By WTOP Staff

CARA ANNA
Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations on Thursday reported its first peacekeeper death in the Central African Republic since it took over the duties of trying to calm months of unprecedented violence between Christians and Muslims.

The peacekeeper died in a crash after a U.N. convoy was attacked in the capital, Bangui, said Vannina Maestracci, a spokeswoman for the U.N. secretary-general. The head of the U.N. mission, Lt. Gen. Babacar Gaye, said in a statement that another peacekeeper was severely wounded and seven slightly injured.

Gaye strongly condemned the Thursday evening ambush. There was no information yet on the attackers, and the nationalities of the peacekeepers were being withheld until families could be notified.

A spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement that Ban was appalled by the attack. “Such acts against those who are working towards peace and security in the Central African Republic are entirely unacceptable,” the statement said.

The news came shortly after commanders of the various U.N. peacekeeping missions gathered at United Nations headquarters for a Security Council meeting on how to deal with increasing violence and other challenges.

“As we are meeting here now, we may listen to bad news again, god forbid,” said Major General Jean Bosco Kazura, the commander of the U.N. mission in Mali, which has lost 10 peacekeepers in the past week alone.

Central African Republic has been devastated by months of unprecedented violence between Christians and Muslims that has sent thousands of Muslims fleeing the country. At least 5,000 people have died.

This week, Bangui is seeing its most significant violence since the U.N. force took over peacekeeping duties from an African Union force. Clashes have resulted in “many casualties,” the International Committee for the Red Cross said Thursday.

An Amnesty International statement earlier Thursday warned that the peacekeeping force was facing its “biggest test” yet amid this week’s violence.

Both diplomats and mission commanders at the Security Council meeting expressed concern about the rising threat to the record number of 130,000 peacekeepers around the world — and, in turn, the people they are there to help.

The U.N. says 102 peacekeepers died in 2013, 36 from direct attacks and others from accidents and illnesses. In 2012, 112 peacekeepers were killed.

“If missions are unable to protect themselves, they will be unable to protect others,” British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant said. He pointed out that peacekeepers are increasingly challenged by non-state entities like terrorist groups.

Lt. Gen. Iqbal Singh Singha, the commander of the U.N. mission on the Golan Heights, where 45 Fijian peacekeepers were held for two weeks this year by al-Qaida-linked fighters, said the fighters warned that they would do it again if they had the chance.

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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