Bahá’í World News Service (BWNS)

In the latest podcast episode of the Bahá’í World News Service we hear from Rachel Bayani and Alessandro Benedetti, representatives of the Brussels Office of the Bahá’í International Community (BIC), who explore conditions that enable young people’s capacities for meaningful social contribution to flourish.

The latest podcast episode from the News Service explores the need for global governance that recognizes humanity as an interdependent whole rather than competing units.

In a recent podcast episode from the News Service, we hear from Musonda Kapusa-Linsel, member of the Board of Counsellors in Africa, as she reflects on the transformation fostered through Bahá’í material and spiritual educational initiatives in Zambia over the past four decades. Mrs. Kapusa-Linsel explains that, over time, educational programs created spaces where participants could explore concepts such as the essential oneness of humanity, the elimination of prejudice of all kinds, the equality of women and men, and the power of consultation as a tool for achieving collective vision and harmonious action.

In a recent podcast episode from the News Service, Ilya Shodjaee-Zrudlo from Canada explores how Bahá’í moral and spiritual education programs in that country are inspiring young people to see their lives through a new lens—one where service to humanity becomes the central organizing principle that brings coherence to all aspects of life. Dr. Shodjaee-Zrudlo, draws on experiences as a collaborator of Bahá’í training institutes in Montreal and as a member of Wordswell Association for Community Learning—a Bahá’í-inspired organization in Canada that empowers youth to develop their academic, intellectual, and moral capacities while contributing meaningfully to community transformation.

The latest podcast episode of the Baháʼí World News Service explores how a growing number of young people in the Canary Islands are learning to live a more coherent life centered on service to their society through their participation in Bahá’í moral and spiritual educational programs. Orlando Ravelo Hernández, member of the Board of Counsellors in Europe, and Alejandro Sarmiento González, member of the Auxiliary Board in the Canary Islands, discuss how these educational programs are fostering a new understanding of the period of youth in communities throughout that region of Spain, one that contrasts sharply with prevailing societal narratives.

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/