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UN envoy to Syria worried civilians trapped in Kobani may be killed if town falls to IS group

By WTOP Staff

MURSITPINAR, Turkey (AP) — The U.N. envoy to Syria is invoking the genocides in Rwanda and the Bosnian town of Srebrenica (sreh-breh-NEET’-sah) in an appeal to world leaders to prevent another slaughter in the Syrian border town of Kobani.

Staffan de Mistura says 500 to 700 civilians are trapped there, many of them elderly. He says they will likely be “massacred” if Kobani falls to the Islamic State group.

U.S.-led airstrikes against the extremists appear to have failed to blunt their push on Kobani. Islamic State fighters have taken over most of what’s known as the “Kurdish security quarter,” where Kurdish militiamen maintain security buildings and where the police station and other local government offices are located.

A Kurdish activist inside Kobani reports heavy fighting on the town’s southern and eastern sides and says the Islamic State group has been bringing in reinforcements.

The U.N. envoy says only a small corridor remains open for people to enter or flee the town.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the Islamic State group now controls 40 percent of the town.

%@AP Links

146-a-18-(Staffan de Mistura (stuh-FAHN’ dee mihs-TOO’-rah), United Nations envoy to Syria, at news conference)-“self-defense operation”-The newly appointed U.N. envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, calls on Turkey to allow fighters to enter the border town of Kobani to try to protect civilians who are trapped there. (10 Oct 2014)

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148-a-15-(Staffan de Mistura (stuh-FAHN’ dee mihs-TOO’-rah), United Nations envoy to Syria, at news conference)-“that cannot continue”-The newly appointed U.N. envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, says there must be a more robust effort to help save Kobani from falling to the extremists. ((refers to the Islamic State group as ISIL)) (10 Oct 2014)

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149-a-17-(Staffan de Mistura (stuh-FAHN’ dee mihs-TOO’-rah), United Nations envoy to Syria, at news conference)-“next? Other villages?”-The newly appointed U.N. envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, says militants are in danger of gaining control of a large section of the Turkey-Syria border region. (10 Oct 2014)

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147-a-20-(Staffan de Mistura (stuh-FAHN’ dee mihs-TOO’-rah), United Nations envoy to Syria ((note cut length)), at news conference)-“advance of ISIL”-The newly appointed U.N. envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, calls on Turkey to help save the beleagured Syrian city of Kobani from falling to the extremists. ((refers to the Islamic State group as ISIL)) (10 Oct 2014)

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APPHOTO AXLP102: Heavy smoke from a fire caused by a military strike rises in Kobani, Syria, as fighting intensified between Syrian Kurds and the militants of Islamic State group, seen from Mursitpinar in the outskirts of Suruc, Turkey, at the Turkey-Syria border, Friday, Oct. 10, 2014. Kobani, also known as Ayn Arab, and its surrounding areas, has been under assault by extremists of the Islamic State group since mid-September and is being defended by Kurdish fighters. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (10 Oct 2014)

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APPHOTO AXLP115: Turkish forces armoured vehicles, bottom, patrol the border road in Mursitpinar, in the outskirts of Suruc, Turkey, on the Turkey-Syria border, while smoke from fires caused by military strikes rise over Kobani inside Syria, as fighting between Syrian Kurds and the militants of Islamic State group intensified, Friday, Oct. 10, 2014. Kobani, also known as Ayn Arab, and its surrounding areas, has been under assault by extremists of the Islamic State group since mid-September and is being defended by Kurdish fighters. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (10 Oct 2014)

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APPHOTO AXLP101: Heavy smoke from a fire caused by a strike rises in Kobani, Syria as fighting intensified between Syrian Kurds and the militants of Islamic State group, as seen from Mursitpinar in the outskirts of Suruc, at the Turkey-Syria border, Friday, Oct. 10, 2014. Kobani, also known as Ayn Arab, and its surrounding areas, has been under assault by extremists of the Islamic State group since mid-September and is being defended by Kurdish fighters. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (10 Oct 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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