Non-governmental Organizations

MADRID - A Spanish relief organization has confirmed that two of its workers kidnapped in Mauritania in November have been released.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Mikhail Semenko's employer knew he liked to frequent embassy functions and didn't want to work at his small travel agency forever, but he was stunned when the somewhat awkward Russian immigrant was accused of being a spy.

PARIS - The Turkish Islamic charity behind a flotilla of aid ships that was raided by Israeli forces on its way to Gaza had ties to terrorism networks, including a 1999 al-Qaida plot to bomb Los Angeles International Airport, France's former top anti-terrorism judge said Wednesday.

BEIJING - This week's resumption of U.S.-China human rights talks after two years will spotlight what critics say is a deterioration in Beijing's record on legal protections, free speech and civil society.