Latest World News: Interviews

Microsoft Saudi Head Affirms Kingdom Entering AI Execution Phase

Interviews Saudi Arabia shifts from AI pilots to live deployment in key sectors (Shutterstock)

Microsoft Saudi Head Affirms Kingdom Entering AI Execution Phase

Riyadh’s hosting of the Microsoft AI Tour this week delivered a headline with concrete weight: customers will be able to run cloud workloads from a local Azure…

Nassim Ramadan (Riyadh)
Interviews Guido Crosetto said Rome and Riyadh are working to support the success of the ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran (Italian Ministry of Defense).

Italian Defense Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: Relations with Saudi Arabia at an Unprecedented Strategic Strength

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said relations between Rome and Riyadh have reached an unprecedented level of strategic strength, noting that the two…

Abdulhadi Habtor (Riyadh)
Interviews Sheikh Amr bin Habrish, First Deputy Governor of Hadhramaut (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Bin Habrish to Asharq Al-Awsat: Hadhramaut on Threshold of New Era

After nearly 500 days spent in the mountains and highlands, Sheikh Amr bin Habrish, First Deputy Governor of Hadhramaut and commander of the Hadhramaut…

Abdulhadi Habtor (Yemen)
Interviews President of Madagascar Michael Randrianirina (Presidency)

President of Madagascar to Asharq Al-Awsat: Three-Pillar Economic Plan to Revive the Country

President of Madagascar Michael Randrianirina said his country views Saudi Arabia as its “main partner” in the phase of “refoundation” and in building a new…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Interviews Naim Yazbeck, President of Microsoft for the Middle East and Africa (Microsoft) 

Microsoft President: Saudi Arabia is Moving from Exporting Oil to Exporting Artificial Intelligence

As Saudi Arabia accelerates its national transformation under Vision 2030, the region’s technology landscape is undergoing a decisive shift. For the first time…

Nassim Ramadan (London)

Interviews The secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hissein Brahim Taha (Asharq Al-Awsat)

OIC Secretary-General: E-Draw Consolidated Fairness in Pilgrim Selection

The secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hissein Brahim Taha, said that the success of the Hajj seasons every year was “a clear…

Saeed al-Abyad (Jeddah)
Interviews Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed bin Mubarak, Asharq Al-Awsat

Yemeni FM: Lebanon’s Vowed Measures against Houthi Channels Remain Mere Ink on Paper

Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed bin Mubarak has heavily criticized Lebanon-based Hezbollah’s interference in the Yemeni crisis and demanded that the country take…

Thaer Abbas (Beirut)
Interviews Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Al-Khorayef (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Minister of Industry: We Have Identified 50 Mining Sites to Offer to Investors

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Al-Khorayef said that the Kingdom has identified 50 sites that are believed to contain minerals in…

Asharq Al Awsat (London)
Interviews Arcapita CEO Atif Abdulmalik. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Arcapita’s CEO: We Have Successfully Executed 100 Investment Transactions with a Total Value of $31 Billion

Atif Abdulmalik, Chief Executive Officer of Arcapita Group Holdings (Arcapita), a Sharia compliant global alternative investment firm, has set out Arcapita’s…

Mosaed al-Zayani (Manama)
Interviews Former member of Sudan’s ruling Sovereign Council, Mohammed al-Faki Suliman.

Faki to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Don’t Want New Partnership with Military

Mohammed al-Faki Suliman, a former member of Sudan’s ruling Sovereign Council, expressed his optimism that the military would cede power to civilians in his…

Ahmed Younes (Khartoum)
Interviews Head of SDC Ilham Ahmed (Asharq Al-Awsat)

SDC’s Ahmed: Washington Rejects Any Turkish Attack Inside Syrian Territory

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is once again threatening to launch a new cross-border military operation in Syria against the remaining areas of the…

Kamal Sheikho (Qamishli)
Interviews Participants gather at the 51st annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, 22 May 2022. EPA/GIAN EHRENZELLER

WEF: Youth Unemployment, Inequality and Climate Change Top Challenges Facing MENA

Running the team that manages the WEF’s relations and initiatives with the Middle East and North Africa, Maroun Kairouz has a busy portfolio on his hands. …

Najlaa Habriri (Davos)
Interviews Yemeni Army Chief of Staff to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Are Ready to Decide Battles, Achieve Victory

Yemeni Army Chief of Staff to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Are Ready to Decide Battles, Achieve Victory

Yemen Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Sagheer bin Aziz confirmed that the forces of the legitimate government are fully prepared to decide the battle and…

Abdulhadi Habtor (Riyadh)
Interviews Borrell: Russia Not Invited to Syria Brussels Conference Because of Aggression on Ukraine

Borrell: Russia Not Invited to Syria Brussels Conference Because of Aggression on Ukraine

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told Asharq Al-Awsat in an interview that the European Union holds onto its three “red lines” which involve not…

Ibrahim Hamidi (London)
Interviews Siniora to Asharq Al-Awsat: Boycott of Parliamentary Elections Hands Lebanon over to Hezbollah

Siniora to Asharq Al-Awsat: Boycott of Parliamentary Elections Hands Lebanon over to Hezbollah

Former Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora is racing against time to persuade Sunnis to take part in the upcoming parliamentary elections, which kicked off…

Thaer Abbas (Beirut)
Interviews Head of Yemen Reconciliation Commission to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Are Keen on Peace, Stability

Head of Yemen Reconciliation Commission to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Are Keen on Peace, Stability

Head of the Consultations and Reconciliation Commission of the Yemen Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), Mohammed al-Ghaithi revealed that the body will…

Abdulhadi Habtor (Riyadh)
Interviews  Nissan: Dynamism of Saudi, UAE Markets a Key Factor for Company’s Regional Growth

Nissan: Dynamism of Saudi, UAE Markets a Key Factor for Company’s Regional Growth

Nissan’s Chairperson for the region of Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania (AMIEO) Guillaume Cartier said the vehicle market in Saudi and the United…

Mosaed al-Zayani (Dubai)
Interviews Saudi Arabia to Start Manufacturing Drones, Eyeing Foreign Exports

Saudi Arabia to Start Manufacturing Drones, Eyeing Foreign Exports

Saudi Arabia’s INTRA Defense Technologies CEO Abdulsalam Ghamdi said unmanned aircraft systems have become a useful technology for many fields, indicating that…

Bandar al-Mosalam (Riyadh)
Interviews Al-Burhan: I Broke The ‘Three No’s’ In the Interest of My Country, No Secret Visits to Tel Aviv

Al-Burhan: I Broke The ‘Three No’s’ In the Interest of My Country, No Secret Visits to Tel Aviv

General Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman al-Burhan, chairman of the Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council, revealed that there is a major Saudi investment…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Interviews Geagea to Asharq Al-Awsat: Arabs Are Not Concerned with Lebanon of Qassem Soleimani

Geagea to Asharq Al-Awsat: Arabs Are Not Concerned with Lebanon of Qassem Soleimani

The Lebanese Forces’ main slogan for its electoral campaign – “We want and we can” – has emphasized the political party’s willingness and determination to…

Thaer Abbas (Beirut)
Interviews Astrazeneca: Our Vaccine Helped Save More Than One Million Lives

Astrazeneca: Our Vaccine Helped Save More Than One Million Lives

In the global fight against "Covid-19”, AstraZeneca has become a household name for millions of people around the world. It has supplied over 2.7 billion doses…

Najlaa Habriri (London)
Interviews Washington Committed to Defending Saudi Arabia, Confronting Iranian Threat

Washington Committed to Defending Saudi Arabia, Confronting Iranian Threat

US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iran and Iraq Jennifer Gavito, in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, confirmed that Washington is committed to reinforcing…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Interviews Marlène Schiappa: Macron Govt Adopted Innovative Measures to Protect Women against Violence

Marlène Schiappa: Macron Govt Adopted Innovative Measures to Protect Women against Violence

Marlène Schiappa, the French Minister Delegate for Citizenship, occupies a unique position in the government. Even though she does not hold a sovereign…

Michel Abou Najm (Paris)
Interviews Princess Nourah Prize Highlights Saudi Women’s Excellence

Princess Nourah Prize Highlights Saudi Women’s Excellence

While Riyadh celebrates Saudi women on International Women’s Day, eyes turn to the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (PNU), which is honoring the…

Iman Al Khataf (Damam)
Interviews Hana Al Omair: Filmmaker Inspired by Writing

Hana Al Omair: Filmmaker Inspired by Writing

When documenting the history of Saudi cinema, director Hana Al Omair emerges as one of the top figures who have fought and strived to consolidate the industry…

Eman Al-Khattaf (Al-Dammam)
Interviews British Assessment of Where Russia's Invasion of Ukraine 'Went Wrong'

British Assessment of Where Russia's Invasion of Ukraine 'Went Wrong'

The Russian invasion of Ukraine appears to have stalled. Launched on the 24th of February, the Russian attack seems to have been stopped by a fierce Ukrainian…

Camille Tawil (London)
Interviews Italian Defense Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Russia Left us No Choice

Italian Defense Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Russia Left us No Choice

A high-ranking Italian official said Moscow's invasion of Ukraine left the Europeans with no choice but to tighten sanctions against it in solidarity with the…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Interviews Iraqi FM to Asharq Al-Awsat: Internal Divisions Affecting Ties with Neighbors

Iraqi FM to Asharq Al-Awsat: Internal Divisions Affecting Ties with Neighbors

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein warned that the Arab region will be affected by the Ukrainian-Russian war. In an interview to Asharq Al-Awsat, he…

Muath Alamri (New York)
Interviews Historian Rashid bin Asakir to Asharq Al-Awsat: Religious Dimension in Establishment of 1st Saudi State Is Overstated

Historian Rashid bin Asakir to Asharq Al-Awsat: Religious Dimension in Establishment of 1st Saudi State Is Overstated

Readers of books that chronicle the history of the Arabian Peninsula, specifically its center (Najd or Al-Yamamah), from the early Islamic ages until the past…

Badr al-Khuraif (Riyadh)