This post was updated Dec. 1 at 9:20 a.m. The Bilingual Lecture Series on Iran at UCLA has allowed the Iranian community of Southern California to further learn about their roots in their native language. Read more...

Photo: A cross-campus collaboration between professors from UCLA and California State University, Northridge created the Bilingual Lecture Series on Iran in 2003. Since then, the series has hosted a variety of speakers to provide lectures in Farsi and English about topics such as Iranian politics, culture and society. (Constanza Montemayor/Daily Bruin senior staff)

Hitoshi Abe was awarded a Foreign Minister’s Commendation from the government of Japan, according to a UCLA International Institute press release from Sept. 27. Abe, the director of the UCLA Paul I. Read more...

Photo: The director of the UCLA Paul I. and Hisako Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies, Hitoshi Abe, received a Foreign Minister’s Commendation from the government of Japan. Colleagues said Abe is dedicated to advancing academic and cultural understanding and exchange between the U.S. and Japan. (Courtesy of Shunichi Atumi)