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Suicide attack in Pakistan kills 5

By WTOP Staff

REBECCA SANTANA
Associated Press

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A suicide bomber blew himself up Wednesday near a vehicle carrying Pakistani military personnel, killing two officers, both lieutenant colonels, and three civilians near the capital Islamabad, the military said in a statement.

The officers were on their way to work when the bomber, who was on foot, blew himself up near their truck, said police officer Altaf Ahmad. The civilians were pedestrian passers-by, he said.

The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility hours later.

“We carried out today’s suicide attack near Islamabad and we did it because the Pakistani military is also killing innocent people through air strikes in tribal areas,” Shahidullah Shahid, a spokesman for the group, said in a telephone call to an AP reporter.

Thousands of Pakistani forces have been killed by bombings and shootings while battling militants intent on overthrowing the government and establishing a harsh form of Islamic rule across the country.

Militants target troops in the rugged tribal areas bordering Afghanistan on a daily basis, but such incidents are rare near the capital. Wednesday’s bombing was also significant because it killed two high-ranking officers.

The Pakistani government has been trying to negotiate a peace deal with militants based in the northwestern tribal areas, but those efforts have stalled in recent weeks, raising fears that militants might launch reprisal attacks.

Shahid said his group was still open to peace talks, but that no such negotiations could be held while the army carried out operations against the tribal areas.

Clashes in northwestern Pakistan along the border with Afghanistan meanwhile killed four soldiers, said Haseeb Khan, a local Pakistani official in the Bajaur tribal region.

The Foreign Ministry said two border posts came under fire in Bajaur on Wednesday morning from across the border.

“Pakistan condemns these unprovoked attacks,” the ministry said. “This matter has been raised with the Afghan government in Kabul and with their Embassy in Islamabad. It has been emphasized that Afghanistan must take concrete steps to stop the use of its territory against Pakistan.”

But an Afghan official, Gen. Abdul Habib Sayedkhaili, who heads the Kunar province police, blamed Pakistan for the incident, accusing Pakistani troops of indiscriminately firing artillery into Afghanistan Wednesday, wounding one civilian.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have long traded accusations of allowing militants to use territory for attacks against the other. The cross-border clashes have spiked in recent days.

On Saturday, Taliban fighters attacked several Pakistani military posts along the Afghan border, sparking a lengthy battle that saw Pakistan launch airstrikes into Afghanistan. Pakistan said its soldiers killed 16 militants, while Afghan officials said the airstrikes killed five civilians.

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Associated Press writers Asif Shahzad in Islamabad, Anwarullah Khan in Khar, Bajaur and Amir Shah in Kabul, Afghanistan 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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