King Abdullah International Translation Award Announces 11th Edition Winners
The King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Translation Award has revealed the winners of its 11th edition for the year 1445 (2024), recognizing excellence across six categories:
Translation Award for Institutions
Translation in the Natural Sciences (Arabic into Other Languages)
Translation in the Natural Sciences (Other Languages into Arabic)
Translation in the Humanities (Other Languages into Arabic)
Translation in the Humanities (Arabic into Other Languages)
Translation Award for Individual Efforts in Translation
This prestigious award highlights the Kingdom's ongoing commitment to fostering global cultural dialogue, strengthening the exchange of knowledge, and building bridges between civilizations through the art of translation.
Related Topics :
Prince Mohammed bin Salman Award for Cultural Cooperation Opens Nominations
Authority Concludes 2024 International Publishing Training Program in Oxford
Saudi Arabia Participates in Beijing International Book Fair 2024
Saudi Writer Shortlisted at International Prize for Arabic Fiction
Short link :
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leaders
26-05-2025
- Leaders
King Abdullah International Translation Award Announces 11th Edition Winners
The King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Translation Award has revealed the winners of its 11th edition for the year 1445 (2024), recognizing excellence across six categories: Translation Award for Institutions Translation in the Natural Sciences (Arabic into Other Languages) Translation in the Natural Sciences (Other Languages into Arabic) Translation in the Humanities (Other Languages into Arabic) Translation in the Humanities (Arabic into Other Languages) Translation Award for Individual Efforts in Translation This prestigious award highlights the Kingdom's ongoing commitment to fostering global cultural dialogue, strengthening the exchange of knowledge, and building bridges between civilizations through the art of translation. Related Topics : Prince Mohammed bin Salman Award for Cultural Cooperation Opens Nominations Authority Concludes 2024 International Publishing Training Program in Oxford Saudi Arabia Participates in Beijing International Book Fair 2024 Saudi Writer Shortlisted at International Prize for Arabic Fiction Short link :
Saudi Gazette
13-05-2025
- Saudi Gazette
Dr. Waleed Alrodhan Alshalan: A journey through cybersecurity and the worlds of literature and history
At the fascinating crossroads of technology and imagination, Dr. Waleed Alrodhan Alshalan emerges as a prominent figure in Saudi Arabia's academic and cultural landscape. A cybersecurity associate professor and passionate novelist, Alshalan blends technical expertise with literary finesse. His novel Leonardo da Vinci gained significant attention in the Saudi cultural scene in 2022, and now, he celebrates the release of his first English-translated work, Laith the First: The Unknown King of England. In this exclusive interview, we delve into his unique journey, explore the intersection of cybersecurity and literature, and get a glimpse into his upcoming creative projects. Q: Dr. Waleed, as a cybersecurity professional and academic, what inspired you to step into the world of literature and novel writing? Since 2002, I've been actively engaged in the field of cybersecurity, both in industry and academia, a domain that continues to fuel my professional passion. Yet, from an early age, I developed a strong affinity for literature and history. My father, a well-known littérateur, encouraged me to embrace writing as a bold parallel path. This literary pursuit turned out to be an enriching adventure that never conflicted with my academic career; in fact, it expanded my intellectual horizons. Interestingly, my background in cryptography and cybersecurity has also enriched my writing, which is quite apparent to the readers of my novels. Q: How many books have you authored so far? And do you also write scientific literature alongside fiction? I've authored four novels in Arabic: Bob Isn't My Uncle; Laith the First: The Unknown King of England; Leonardo da Vinci; and 42: The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. On the academic side, I published a book titled Privacy and Practicality of Identity Management Systems with VDM Verlag Dr. Müller in Germany. Additionally, I contributed two chapters to the well-regarded book Digital Identity and Access Management, published by Information Science Reference in the United States. Q: Your novel Laith the First was recently released in English. What was your motivation behind this step, and what makes this novel unique? I've long aspired to translate my Arabic works into other languages to reach a broader, more diverse audience. That aspiration materialized with the English release of Laith the First, masterfully translated by Ms. Rana Alden. Originally published in Arabic in 2017, the novel spans nearly a millennium, beginning with the reigns of Henry I and Henry II and ending in 2016. It tells the fictional biography of an English king, Laith the First, who is imagined to have been born and buried in the ancient city of Dumat Aljandal in modern-day Saudi Arabia. The narrative weaves together history, action, romance, and layered themes of mathematics and cryptography — a reflection of my professional roots. More profoundly, the novel seeks to underscore the unity of human destiny and the interconnectivity of global histories. It also aims to introduce the rich heritage of Dumat Aljandal while engaging Arab readers with British history through an edutainment lens. Q: What upcoming cultural projects are you currently working on? I'm currently working on a new novel that marks a departure from my previous work. It demands extensive research and intricate plot development, making it a rewarding yet challenging endeavor. Additionally, I've completed a bilingual (Arabic-English) screenplay adaptation of Leonardo da Vinci, and I've written the script for a documentary series exploring the mysteries of the Voynich manuscript — projects I hope will come to life soon. On the educational front, I continue to deliver public lectures; my most recent one, titled Algorithmed Lives, was met with enthusiastic feedback. I plan to deliver more talks this year. I've also launched a brief edutainment video series called Minutes with Waleed, and I continue publishing episodes of my educational podcast, Information Security for Everyone – Prime, designed to make cybersecurity concepts more accessible to the public. Q: Any final message you'd like to share with your readers? I truly believe that a diversity of interests and interdisciplinary engagement are what enrich the human experience. Reading and writing are not merely hobbies, they are gateways to self-discovery and deeper understanding of others. My hope is that my work serves as a bridge, guiding readers toward new intellectual realms and inspiring a more expansive worldview.
ArabGT
04-05-2025
- ArabGT
Musk builds his own city named Starbase in Texas
In a symbolic and extraordinary move, the area surrounding SpaceX's rocket launch site in South Texas has officially become a city named Starbase — which translates to 'base of the stars' in Arabic. The transition was approved by a sweeping vote: 212 in favor and only 6 against, out of 283 eligible voters, the majority of whom are SpaceX employees or affiliates. The newly formed city lies along the southern U.S.–Mexico border in Cameron County, within the coastal region of Boca Chica. Most of the land is owned by SpaceX or its workers, and the area's formal incorporation had been anticipated for some time. Elon Musk, who first introduced the concept of 'Starbase' in 2021, celebrated the decision on X, saying, 'It is now a real city!' He also shared a sentimental post showing an early photo of him with a shovel at the groundbreaking alongside a recent image of the now-developed Starbase headquarters. But Starbase is far from just a symbolic name. It's a major launch site for some of SpaceX's most ambitious projects, including contracts with NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense to return astronauts to the Moon — and, eventually, to Mars. The company has also requested federal approval to increase annual launch activity from five missions to twenty-five, underscoring the facility's importance to Musk's long-term vision. Musk Celebrates His Dream Come True Musk's ambitions for Starbase go beyond aerospace. A statement from the newly formed city said, 'Becoming a city will help us continue building the best community possible for the men and women building the future of humanity's place in space.' After more than a decade of investing in the region, SpaceX considers the site to already function as a city, providing roads, medical services, and schools. In a 2024 letter, SpaceX general manager Kathryn Lueders wrote, 'We need the ability to grow Starbase as a community.' Starbase started with one shovel — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 4, 2025 Opposition and Warnings Despite the overwhelming support, the decision has not been without opposition. Critics argue that creating the city gives Elon Musk excessive control, particularly over public access to the nearby Boca Chica State Park beach. SpaceX is seeking legal authority to close the beach during launches — a power that currently belongs to the county. Texas lawmakers are now debating bills that would transfer this authority to Starbase officials, along with new legislation proposing fines and jail time for residents who refuse to evacuate during closures. Environmental and indigenous rights groups have also voiced concerns. On voting day, the South Texas Environmental Justice Network staged a protest, warning that the city's formation could pave the way for further privatization of natural resources. Some long-time residents have expressed frustration over how SpaceX has dealt with the local community. 'SpaceX bullied us from the beginning,' said Celia Johnson, who claimed the company repeatedly attempted to buy her home. She also pointed to a 2021 rocket test explosion that scattered debris and took three months to clean up, in addition to multiple violations reported by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to the Federal Aviation Administration. Still, the decision has officially gone into effect. Bobby Peden, SpaceX's Vice President of Testing and Launches, received 100% of early votes and has become the first mayor of Starbase, running unopposed. In the end, Starbase represents a one-of-a-kind fusion of private ambition and public governance — a frontier city with its eyes quite literally set on the stars. Whether it becomes a model of innovation or a cautionary tale of corporate power remains to be seen. Only time will tell.
