INTERNATIONAL NEWS

You can always refer to the News Service of the Baha'i International Community for the latest international news from the Baha'i World.

Baha'i world loses most distinguished member
HAIFA, Israel, 24 September 2007 (BWNS) - Dr. Ali-Muhammad Varqa, the last surviving member of the group of Baha'is who held the rank of Hand of the Cause, has died.  The worldwide Baha'i community has lost its most distinguished member. He passed away on the evening of 22 September 2007 at his home in Haifa. > FULL STORY

King of Samoa has passed away
APIA, Samoa, 14 May 2007 (BWNS) -- A state funeral is planned for 18 May for the Samoan head of state, His Highness Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II, to be followed on 20 May by a memorial service at the Baha'i House of Worship near Apia. He passed away on the evening of 11 May in a hospital in Apia. A follower of the Baha'i Faith, he was one of the longest reigning monarchs in the world. He was 94 years old. > FULL STORY
 

Systematic Social Development Investigated
ORLANDO, FLORIDA, United States, 17 January 2007 (BWNS) -- In recent years, Baha'is around the world have been engaged in an increasingly systematic approach to community development through what they regard as "core activities" - classes for children and junior youth, study circles, and devotional meetings. At the annual Baha'i Conference on Social and Economic Development, participants sought to understand how these core activities also can lead to larger programs of social and economic development. > FULL STORY

Baha'is help found Interfaith Forum in Iceland
REYKJAVIK, Iceland, 24 December 2006 (BWNS) -- The Baha'i community of Iceland joined with twelve other faith groups and collaborative partners here to form the country's first national interfaith forum last month. The Iceland Forum for Interfaith Dialogue was officially founded on 24 November 2006 in ceremonies at the Reykjavik City Hall. "The object of the Forum is to promote tolerance and respect between persons of different religions and religious organizations with differing outlooks on life as well as to protect religious freedom and other human rights," said Ingibjorg Danielsdottir, secretary of the Baha'i community of Iceland. > FULL STORY

UN Declaration on religious tolerance commemorated in Prague
PRAGUE, 19 December 2006 (BWNS) -- Although it was negotiated at the height of the Cold War, a 25-year-old international agreement on freedom of religion or belief remains as relevant today -- and perhaps even more so -- said speakers at a major United Nations-sanctioned observance here in late November. Some 350 participants representing more than 60 governments, UN agencies, and various international non-governmental organizations -- including the Baha'i International Community -- gathered on 25 November 2006 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief. > FULL STORY

Looking beyond short term profits
GROESBEEK, Netherlands, 8 November 2006 (BWNS) -- Participants from 28 countries gathered in this small Dutch town in September to consider how businesses can look beyond short term profits towards moral and spiritual practices that can create meaningful wealth for all. The 16th annual conference of the European Baha'i Business Forum (EBBF), held 21-24 September 2006, focused on "The Purpose of Business, from Vision to Action > FULL STORY

UN forum sees interfaith dialogue as essential to peace
UNITED NATIONS, 8 October 2006 (BWNS) -- Last month some 33 governments sent delegations to a special conference here on how religions and governments can work together for peace. "The High-Level Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace" was sponsored by a unique coalition of governments, United Nations agencies and religious non-governmental organizations, including Baha'i representatives. > FULL STORY

Oxford conference on climate change stresses global collective action
OXFORD, United Kingdom, 2 October 2006 (BWNS)-- The challenges posed by global warming will require a far higher level of collective action and international cooperation than is currently practiced. That was among the conclusions at a conference at Balliol College here 15-17 September 2006 that sought to explore the relationship between "Science, Faith and Climate Change." Climate change is "testing mankind's ability to deal with a collective challenge," said Halldor Thorgeirsson, deputy executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC). "The solution itself will fundamentally change how governments cooperate." > FULL STORY

New Baha'i representative at the United Nations
UNITED NATIONS, 27 July 2006 (BWNS) -- Bringing wide-ranging experience in women's issues, civil society organization, and international development, Fulya Vekiloglu has joined the United Nations Office of the Baha'i International Community in New York as a representative to the United Nations. A native of Turkey, Ms. Vekiloglu arrived in New York in June 2006. She will work alongside Bani Dugal, who is the Community's principal representative to the United Nations. Ms. Vekiloglu's focus will be on issues related to the advancement of women and social development. > FULL STORY