Bahá’í World News Service (BWNS)

In the latest Bahá’í World News Service podcast episode, representatives from the Addis Ababa, Brussels, Cairo, and New York Offices of the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) reflected on the advancement of women and the spiritual foundations of equality.

In the latest podcast episode of the Bahá’í World News Service, Lyazzat Yangaliyeva and Timur Chekparbayev, members of Kazakhstan’s Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs, shared insights from their participation in some of the prevalent discourses in their country over the years, particularly those related to societal harmony.

In the latest Bahá’í World News Service podcast episode, representatives of the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) from offices in Brussels, Cairo, Geneva, and New York explored approaches to building societal harmony amid contemporary challenges. The representatives examined how foundational principles found in the Bahá’í teachings—particularly an understanding of the essential oneness of humanity and the inherent nobility of every person—can illuminate paths toward greater unity among diverse populations while fostering their collective spiritual and material advancement.

In a recent podcast episode from the News Service, Farrukh Rasulov, a member of the Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs of Uzbekistan, explores contributions of the Bahá’ís of that country to social progress over the past decades. The Bahá’í Faith has been present in what is now Uzbekistan since the 19th century, when it was part of the same broader region as Ashgabat (in present-day Turkmenistan), where the first Bahá’í House of Worship was constructed under the guidance of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Around this temple emerged schools for both girls and boys, inspired by the Bahá’í principle of equality between women and men.

In the latest podcast episode of the Bahá’í World News Service, Hoda Mahmoudi—holder of the Bahá’í Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland—discusses the Chair’s distinctive approach to promoting dialogue and understanding and its research with programs on peacebuilding and development.

A new documentary examines how Bahá’í community-building initiatives in Kazakhstan are fostering social progress while drawing from the country’s rich cultural heritage.

In the latest podcast episode from the Bahá’í World News Service, Mina Yazdani—a professor of history at Eastern Kentucky University in the United States—explored the profound contribution of the Bahá’í community in Iran to their society. Dr. Yazdani shared some accounts of these contributions in several areas, including health, agriculture, and education. She explained how the Bahá’ís of Iran, despite relentless persecution, have embodied constructive resilience and have persisted in their endeavors to serve the needs of their society from its inception in the mid-nineteenth century.

In a joint letter of allegations, eighteen UN experts condemn Iran’s systemic persecution of the country’s Bahá’í women.

A new podcast episode of the Bahá’í World News Service explores the rich discussion and collaborative spirit that characterized the recent 48th annual conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies (ABS) in North America. The conference, held in Atlanta, Georgia, brought together nearly 2,000 participants from diverse fields of study to explore the application of Bahá’í teachings to contemporary discourses on humanity’s well-being.

In the latest Bahá’í World News Service podcast episode, two representatives of the Bahá’í International Community (BIC)’s New York Office, Bani Dugal and Liliane Nkunzimana, discussed the BIC’s contributions to the discourse on global governance ahead of the UN Summit of the Future.

In the latest podcast episode of the Bahá’í World News Service, we are transported to the dedication of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Papua New Guinea, hearing firsthand accounts from three participants of the historic occasion. Full story on: news.bahai.org/story/1743/

In this podcast episode from the Bahá’í World News Service, we hear from Townshend Lihanda, member of the Board of Counsellors in Africa, sharing accounts of individual and collective transformation in Kenya inspired by Bahá’í moral and spiritual education programs. Mr. Lihanda discusses the profound changes occurring within communities where these programs are offered. He highlights how these initiatives aim to awaken the latent energies of the human soul, directing them towards meaningful service to society.

Amid increasing challenges and conflict in the world, a growing recognition is emerging of the interdependence of nations. This vital insight is addressed by the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) in international forums, where its contributions highlight that at a fundamental level, humanity is one. In the latest podcast episode of the Bahá’í World News Service, representatives from the BIC’s Addis Ababa and Brussels Offices explore the implications of this interdependence within the context of the African Union (AU)–European Union (EU) partnership which recognizes that the two continents are intertwined socially and economically. Full story: news.bahai.org/story/1731/

This podcast episode from the Bahá’í World News Service explores how worship and service to humanity—two foundational aspects of living a spiritual life—mutually reinforce one another, paving the way to building more peaceful and harmonious communities. Guests of the podcast were among the participants of a recent consultation held at the Bahá’í World Centre that explored how Bahá’í Houses of Worship stand as beacons of hope, welcoming people from all backgrounds to contemplate how they can serve the needs of their fellow citizens. Full story on: https://news.bahai.org/story/1728/

This podcast episode from the Bahá’í World News Service explores the history and evolution of the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) over several decades, as well as its present work and contributions to discourses about the future and wellbeing of humanity. Guests of the episode include representatives of some of the BIC’s offices, including in Addis Ababa, Brussels, Cairo, Geneva, and New York. Their accounts highlight the BIC’s commitment to promoting the principle of the oneness of humanity in diverse international forums. The podcast explores some of the BIC’s contributions to significant global conferences and its collaboration with various United Nations agencies over the past decades to contribute to the advancement of thought in many areas including social development, the advancement of women, climate change, governance and UN reform, as well as human rights. Full story: https://news.bahai.org/story/1722/

This podcast episode from the Bahá’í World News Service explores the initiatives of the Association for Bahá’í Studies (ABS) in North America that aim to enrich the intellectual life of communities. Selvi Adaikkallam Zabihi, Michael Karlberg, Malik Nash, and Negin Toosi join the News Service from the United States to discuss the ABS’s unique approach to inquiry within the sciences and humanities.

During a recent visit to the Bahá’í World Centre, members of Bahá’í communities from various countries joined in conversation with the News Service to explore insights about fostering a pattern of vibrant community life. Guests of the episode included Jorge Guerreiro from Brazil, Nazneen Rowhani from India, Confucius Ikoirere from Papua New Guinea, Rey Elmo from Philippines, and Maria Simbowe from Tanzania. Among the topics they explored was how prayer and efforts to apply spiritual principles to one’s daily life provide the seeds for social betterment. Full story on: https://news.bahai.org/story/1717/

During a recent visit to the Bahá’í World Centre, Bhavna Anbarasan, member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Asia, spoke with the Bahá’í World News Service about how Bahá’í community-building endeavors in the villages of Bihar, India, are giving rise to a new culture of equality. Mrs. Anbarasan explained that the movement toward greater equality in Bihar has gained momentum as growing numbers of families participate in consultative spaces that welcome both women and men to contribute to discussions concerning social betterment. The consultative spaces are enabling people of all ages to re-examine some long-held perceptions that tend to inhibit women and young girls’ ability to advance in their education or to contribute to decision-making in different spheres of life. Full story: https://news.bahai.org/story/1714/

How do we ensure that our values, our aspirations, and our needs are integrated into the design, development, and use of technology? This was among the questions explored by Matt Weinberg, a technologist from the United States, in this podcast episode recorded during a recent gathering at the Bahá’í World Centre on the development of communities. Full story: news.bahai.org/story/1705/

In this podcast episode from the News Service, we hear from Kessia Ruh, member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Australasia, sharing stories about some of the efforts of the Bahá’ís of Papua New Guinea (PNG) to contribute to the wellbeing of their society. Mrs. Ruh’s accounts highlight a key principle at the core of Bahá’í social action initiatives: faith in the ability of a population to take charge of its own material and spiritual prosperity. Full story: news.bahai.org/story/1700/