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C. African Republic places great hope on UN force

By WTOP Staff

EDITH M. LEDERER
Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The president of the transitional government in conflict-torn Central African Republic said Saturday the country has great hopes that the new U.N. peacekeeping mission will help restore security and promote development.

Catherine Samba-Panza told the U.N. General Assembly that the success of the U.N. force will hinge on the involvement of the country’s security and defense forces at its side.

She asked the U.N. Security Council to re-examine the arms embargo on Central African Republic, which was imposed in December for a year.

Mostly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power in poor, landlocked country in March 2013, overthrowing the president of a decade. Their leader stepped down in January, setting off a series of reprisal attacks by the anti-Balaka Christian militia.

Months of the unprecedented sectarian fighting has left at least 5,000 people dead and forced thousands of Muslims to flee to the north, and violence still rages in the provinces. The country’s forces have been ineffective in restoring security.

Samba-Panza said political instability over two decades has made the country extremely vulnerable and it continues to experience “an alarming situation.” She said her election to head a civilian transitional government “gave rise to great hope” of a radical break with the past.

Samba-Panza said she is working with help from the international community to organize national elections by February and tackle the country’s humanitarian crisis.

She said that after a July 23 cease-fire agreement it is time to move toward disarming all armed groups and bringing all parties together to consider “a new republic and pact to recast the Central African state.” She urged international support.

The Security Council in April authorized a nearly 12,000-strong peacekeeping force for the Central African Republic to replace an African Union force. But when the U.N. took over peacekeeping duties on Sept. 15, its strength was only 7,500, including 4,800 African troops and 1,000 international police from the previous mission and about 1,700 new troops and police.

U.N. peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous told reporters that it will take another three or four months for the rest of the peacekeeping force to arrive.

While “the logistics in a landlocked country like Central African Republic are absolutely daunting,” he said the mission so far is going “pretty well.”

The security situation in the capital, Bangui, is far better but nothing is totally solved, Ladsous said, with some violence continuing in PK5, one of the last neighborhoods where Muslims still live after a mass exodus following brutal violence earlier this year.

The peacekeepers face an enormous task: bringing peace to a country the size of Texas with some 4.6 million people and little infrastructure. Its vast north was largely anarchic even before the violence erupted and is home to a number of rebel groups.

“The success of this mission will also hinge on the involvement at its side of the national security and defense forces to support this mission as a result of their intimate knowledge of the ground,” Samba-Panza said.

___

Associated Press Writer Cara Anna contributed to this report from the United Nations.

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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