Colombo, Sri Lanka: United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon has voiced concern about the safety of aid workers in Sri Lanka after the murder of two Red Cross volunteers, his office said, as Japan's peace envoy began a visit to the war-battered island.  Read article

Beijing, China: China sent more than 400 volunteers to teach Mandarin in Thailand, the largest number of volunteers since China launched its program to send volunteers abroad to teach the Chinese language, the overseas edition of People's Daily reported on Monday.   Read article

Islamabad, Pakistan: Volunteers are a catalyst of change for any society and there is urgent need for creating an enabling environment at the national level to foster volunteerism, said Federal Health Minister Muhammad Nasir Khan recently.  Read article

Israel: Israeli Welfare Minister Isaac Herzog recently approved the first Arab non-profit agency, the Organization for Social Equality and National Service, to direct Arab volunteers to civilian national service jobs.  Read article

Bangkok, Thailand: Civil servants will be given five days leave a year to do volunteer work  starting today, says Deputy Prime Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham.  The announcement was made after Thai government declared that giving and volunteering was placed in the national agenda.  Read article

Seoul, Korea: A volunteer expert said that South Korea's overseas volunteer program creates a triple-win situation for volunteer participants, donor and recipient governments.  Read article

Canberra, Australia: All Western Australians are being encouraged to become volunteers in their local community and discover the positive change it can bring to their lives. Launching National Volunteer Week 2007, Volunteering Minister Sue Ellery said volunteering had enormous social and economic benefits for all communities and there were plenty of opportunities for people to become involved.  Read article

Rome, Italy: Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in hundreds of cities worldwide to vote with their feet in support of WFP's 2007 Fight Hunger: Walk the World campaign.  Read article

Washington D.C., USA: The Health Benefits of Volunteering: A Review of Recent Research has found a significant connection between volunteering and good health. The report shows that volunteers have greater longevity, higher functional ability, lower rates of depression and less incidence of heart disease.  Read article

London, UK: Local volunteer organizations in England with plans to involve volunteers in the delivery of health and social care projects could benefit from the latest funding round from the Opportunities for Volunteering Scheme (OFV), a Department of Health initiative that provides grants to local health and social care organizations in England.  Read article