Suspected militants armed with grenades attacked the offices of a U.S.-based Christian aid group helping earthquake survivors in northwestern Pakistan on Wednesday, killing six employees and wounding several others, police and the organization said.

Regensburg diocese tells AP it will investigate abuse claims at choir pope's brother once led.

The German Bishops Conference will lead an investigation into all allegations of the sexual and physical abuse of students in Germany, a top prelate announced Wednesday.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has told the Palestinians that they deserve a "viable" independent state with contiguous territory.

A British newspaper's interview quoting Nelson Mandela's ex-wife bitterly criticizing the anti-apartheid icon has prompted outraged headlines in South Africa.

Pickens writes "The Washington Post reports that professors have banned laptops from their classrooms at George Washington University, American University, the College of William and Mary, and the University of Virginia, among many others, compelling students to take notes the way their parents did: on paper. A generation ago, academia embraced the laptop as the most welcome classroom innovation since the ballpoint pen, but during the past decade it has evolved into a powerful distraction as wireless Internet connections tempt students away from note-typing to e-mail, blogs, YouTube videos, sports scores, even online gaming. Even when used as glorified typewriters, laptops can turn students into witless stenographers, typing a lecture verbatim without listening or understanding. 'The breaking point for me was when I asked a student to comment on an issue, and he said, "Wait a minute, I want to open my computer,"' says David Goldfrank, a Georgetown history professor. 'And I told him, "I don't want to know what's in your computer. I want to know what's in your head."' Some students don't agree with the ban. A student wrote in the University of Denver's newspaper: 'The fact that some students misuse technology is no reason to ban it. After all, how many professors ban pens and notebooks after noticing students doodling in the margins?'"

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Biden: Palestinians deserve 'viable' independent state with contiguous territory.

Top prelate Karl Juesten says the German Bishops Conference will lead an investigation into growing claims of abuse at Catholic institutions in Pope Benedict XVI's homeland of Germany.

A Spanish aid worker kidnapped late last year in Mauritania by suspected Islamic militants was freed Wednesday but two colleagues remain in captivity, the Spanish government said.

South Africa's governing party says a leading member didn't mean it literally when he sang about killing whites.

Top prelate says German Bishops Conference will investigate Catholic abuse claims in Germany.

Spain's deputy prime minister says a Spanish aid worker kidnapped late last year in Mauritania by suspected Islamic militants has been freed, but two colleagues remain in captivity.

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