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 Russia Systematically Trying to Stage ‘False Flag’ Attack, Warns Ukraine Ambassador to UK

Russia Systematically Trying to Stage ‘False Flag’ Attack, Warns Ukraine Ambassador to UK

Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, warned that Russia has been systematically trying to stage a false flag attack against Ukraine. The former…

Najlaa Habriri (London)
Interviews French Ambassador to UN to Asharq Al-Awsat: Political Process in Syria Has Become a 'Joke'; Iran's Nuclear Program Is a 'Top Priority'

French Ambassador to UN to Asharq Al-Awsat: Political Process in Syria Has Become a 'Joke'; Iran's Nuclear Program Is a 'Top Priority'

The Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, Nicolas de Riviere, stressed that the war in Ukraine, if it occurred, would be a "disaster" for…

Ali Barada (New York )
Interviews Goldrich Reaffirms US Commitment to Accountability in Syria

Goldrich Reaffirms US Commitment to Accountability in Syria

Ethan Goldrich, the US deputy assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs, with responsibility for the Levant and Syria engagement, reaffirmed that…

Abdulhadi Habtor (Riyadh)
Interviews Arab Parliament Speaker to Asharq Al-Awsat: Arab Disputes Create Fertile Environment for Foreign Meddling

Arab Parliament Speaker to Asharq Al-Awsat: Arab Disputes Create Fertile Environment for Foreign Meddling

Arab Parliament Speaker Adel Al Asoomi revealed that the fourth Arab Parliament conference for council speakers is expected to produce a comprehensive document…

Merza al-Khuwaldi (Dammam)
Interviews Lebanon Cen Bank Governor to Asharq Al-Awsat: My Conscience Is Clear, Campaign Against Me Is Political

Lebanon Cen Bank Governor to Asharq Al-Awsat: My Conscience Is Clear, Campaign Against Me Is Political

The daily protests that surround Lebanon's Central Bank in the heart of the capital Beirut have not impacted the operations at the building. On its sixth floor…

Paula Astih (Beirut)
Interviews Djibouti’s Energy Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Aim for Full Electrification by 2035

Djibouti’s Energy Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Aim for Full Electrification by 2035

Djibouti’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Yonis Ali Guedi said that facing climate challenges and the depletion of traditional resources requires…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Interviews WEF President: New Technologies Key to Fighting Climate Change

WEF President: New Technologies Key to Fighting Climate Change

From fighting climate change, to building an inclusive post pandemic economic model and managing migratory flows, the President of the World Economic Forum…

Najlaa Habriri (London)
Interviews WHO to Asharq Al-Awsat: Work Underway on Coexistence Strategy for Coronavirus

WHO to Asharq Al-Awsat: Work Underway on Coexistence Strategy for Coronavirus

The World Health Organization (WHO) is working on a strategy to coexist with the pandemic during the coming months, revealed WHO Regional Director for the…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Interviews Yemen PM to Asharq Al-Awsat: Battle of Liberation Will Not Stop

Yemen PM to Asharq Al-Awsat: Battle of Liberation Will Not Stop

Yemeni Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik warned that keeping the capital Sanaa under the control of the Iran-backed Houthi militias will make it a platform for…

Abdulhadi Habtor (Aden)
Interviews Shabwah Governor: Unity of Ranks Behind Governorate’s Liberation

Shabwah Governor: Unity of Ranks Behind Governorate’s Liberation

A few days after announcing the official liberation of the three districts of Yemen’s Shabwah governorate from the hold of Houthi militias, Governor Awadh al…

Abdulhadi Habtor (Shabwah)
Interviews Norland Tells Asharq Al-Awsat that Goodwill of Libyan Leaders to be Tested

Norland Tells Asharq Al-Awsat that Goodwill of Libyan Leaders to be Tested

The US Ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, has said that the North African country is now going through a period in which the “goodwill” of its leaders, who…

Jacqueline Zaher (Cairo)
Interviews Hill to Asharq Al-Awsat: Biden’s Policy Towards Syria Only Media Statements

Hill to Asharq Al-Awsat: Biden’s Policy Towards Syria Only Media Statements

Republican Representative French Hill criticized US President Joe Biden's policies towards the Syrian crisis, saying that they do not go beyond "nothing more…

Muath Alamri (Washington)
Interviews Guterres to Asharq Al-Awsat: Hezbollah Must Transform into Political Party Like Others in Lebanon

Guterres to Asharq Al-Awsat: Hezbollah Must Transform into Political Party Like Others in Lebanon

The current situation in Lebanon "breaks my heart,” said Antonio Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General, in an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat…

Ali Barada (Beirut)
Interviews UN Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Afghanistan May Face Severe Food Shortage if Timely, Adequate Resources Are Not Made Available

UN Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Afghanistan May Face Severe Food Shortage if Timely, Adequate Resources Are Not Made Available

United Nations Humanitarian assistance organizations are predicting a severe food shortage in Afghanistan if timely and adequate resources are not made…

Umer Farooq (Islamabad)
Interviews PIF Deputy Governor: We Aim to Focus on 13 Vital Sectors

PIF Deputy Governor: We Aim to Focus on 13 Vital Sectors

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is looking to find sustainable sources of income in the future, revealed Deputy Governor Yazeed Alhumied. He…

Mosaed al-Zayani (Riyadh)
Interviews Swiss Foreign Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: Riyadh Agreement Is a Step for The Right Track in Yemen

Swiss Foreign Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: Riyadh Agreement Is a Step for The Right Track in Yemen

Swiss Vice President and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis stressed the importance of Tehran’s return to the negotiations on the nuclear program, hoping that its…

Interviews Washington ‘Continues’ to Consider Classifying ‘Houthi Entities’ on Terrorist Lists

Washington ‘Continues’ to Consider Classifying ‘Houthi Entities’ on Terrorist Lists

Over the course of nine months, Tim Lenderking, the US special envoy to Yemen, has engaged in meetings and visits to the Arab region more than 13 times, in…

Muath Alamri (Washington)
Interviews Omani Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: Time to Revive Transportation of Saudi Oil to Arabian Sea

Omani Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: Time to Revive Transportation of Saudi Oil to Arabian Sea

Oman’s Economy Minister Said bin Mohammed al Saqri said the economic cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman has increased since the…

Merza al-Khuwaldi (Muscat)
Interviews The UK Hopes for Ambitious and Innovative Targets in COP26

The UK Hopes for Ambitious and Innovative Targets in COP26

The crucial COP26 summit opened Sunday in Glasgow, on the backdrop of calls to grasp the world’s “last, best hope” to keep global temperatures from rising by…

Najlaa Habriri (Glasgow)
Interviews Ahmadinejad: ‘No War in the Region Will Have Any Winners’

Ahmadinejad: ‘No War in the Region Will Have Any Winners’

US has helped install Taliban in Afghanistan which will lead to a resurgence of Al Qaeda, only to clash with Iran, but this plan will be foiled soon, Iran’s…

Camelia Entekhabifard (Camelia)
Interviews Togolese FM: We Look Forward to Strategic Partnership with Saudi Arabia

Togolese FM: We Look Forward to Strategic Partnership with Saudi Arabia

Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey revealed that his country, which enjoys the highest living standards in Africa, is moving closer to building a…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Interviews Meslet to Asharq Al-Awsat: US Shows Partiality in Dealing with Syrian Opposition Parties

Meslet to Asharq Al-Awsat: US Shows Partiality in Dealing with Syrian Opposition Parties

President of the National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces of Syria Salem al-Meslet confirmed, in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat in…

Muath Alamri (Washington)
Interviews Iraqi Minister of Culture to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Are Working On Real Partnerships with Saudi Arabia

Iraqi Minister of Culture to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Are Working On Real Partnerships with Saudi Arabia

Iraqi Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, Dr. Hassan Nadhem, said that his country’s participation as a guest of honor at the Riyadh International…

Interviews Czech FM Expresses Concern Over Iran’s Nuclear Path

Czech FM Expresses Concern Over Iran’s Nuclear Path

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Jakub Kulhanek, has expressed Europe’s growing concern over Iran’s nuclear path, and stressed the need…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)