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China

China admits death row organ use - 26 August
China is trying to move away from the use of executed prisoners as the major source of organs for transplants. According to the China Daily newspaper, executed prisoners currently provide two-thirds of all transplant organs. The government is now launching a voluntary donation scheme, which it hopes will also curb the illegal trafficking in organs. - BBC News website

India

India judges to disclose assets - 27 August
Judges at India's Supreme Court have agreed to make public details about their financial assets and to publish the information on the court's website. The landmark decision follows intense public debate about the importance of judicial accountability in India. It was taken at a meeting between the 23 judges of the country's highest court and presided over by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan. The decision is likely to lead some 600 high court judges to follow suit. - BBC News website

Myanmar

Burma to free Suu Kyi US 'guest' - 16 August
US Senator Jim Webb has said jailed American John Yettaw is to be released by Burma's military leaders and will leave the country with him on Sunday. The announcement came shortly after Mr Webb held talks with Burmese military ruler Than Shwe in Burma. Mr Webb also met pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, days after she was given house arrest for 18 more months. Mr Yettaw's uninvited visit to Ms Suu Kyi's home led to her trial. He was himself given seven years' hard labour. - BBC News website

Burma court agrees Suu Kyi appeal - 4 September
Lawyers for Burma's pro-democracy opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, say a court has accepted to hear their appeal against her latest sentence. Legal representatives say an appeal against her extended house arrest will be heard in Rangoon on 18 September. - BBC News website

InfoUpdate : an Information Service supplied by the KwaZulu-Natal Law Society