Forum for Creative Youth Ideas Kicks Off in Central Saudi Arabia

 Photo from the first edition of the Community Participation Forum in the Eastern Province (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo from the first edition of the Community Participation Forum in the Eastern Province (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Forum for Creative Youth Ideas Kicks Off in Central Saudi Arabia

 Photo from the first edition of the Community Participation Forum in the Eastern Province (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo from the first edition of the Community Participation Forum in the Eastern Province (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Under the patronage of Prince Dr. Faisal bin Mishal bin Saud, Emir of the Qassim region, the second forum for community participation in Qassim will kick off on Sunday, in the presence of the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, and a number of officials and stakeholders in the non-profit sector in the region.

The second edition of the forum is held under the slogan, “Community Solidarity,” as it aims to shed light on the establishment of urban parks and their importance to residential areas, and the role of community participation in activating various programs and activities.

The forum focuses on inviting creative youth initiatives to exchange expertise and experiences that reflect the integration between entities in the non-profit sector, with the aim to reach effective contribution and highlight the role of the non-profit sector in achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

The forum will feature a number of seminars and dialogue sessions, in addition to a parallel exhibition that showcases the most prominent local experiences and expertise in community work.

The sessions address a number of topics, including art in public places, and expanding the concept of quality of life in residential neighborhoods to include the social and urban environment, by developing indicators to measure community satisfaction, in addition to activating the role of urban parks in humanizing cities.



Gold Gains as Dollar Slips on Trump Tariff Uncertainty

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
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Gold Gains as Dollar Slips on Trump Tariff Uncertainty

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)

Gold prices rose on Tuesday as the US dollar eased due to uncertainty around President-elect Donald Trump's tariff plans, with further support coming from top consumer China's central bank adding to its gold reserves for a second straight month.

Spot gold was up 0.5% at $2,648.75 per ounce, as of 1218 GMT. US gold futures also rose 0.5% to $2,660.20.

"The main factor is the softening of the US dollar over the last two sessions, which has provided some relief for the precious metal," said Ricardo Evangelista, senior analyst at ActivTrades.

The dollar index eased towards a one-week low versus major peers as traders considered whether President-elect Donald Trump's tariffs would be less aggressive than promised following a report in the Washington Post, Reuters reported.

Trump however denied the report, deepening uncertainty about future US trade policies.

A stronger dollar makes bullion more expensive for other currency holders.

Traders are setting their sights on Friday's US jobs report for Fed policy clues, along with job openings data due later in the day, ADP employment and the minutes from the Fed's December meeting on Wednesday.

Fed Governor Lisa Cook on Monday said that the Fed can be cautious about any further rate cuts given a solid economy and inflation proving stickier than previously expected.

Bullion is considered a hedge against inflation, but high rates reduce the non-yielding asset's appeal.

Meanwhile, China's gold reserves stood at 73.29 million fine troy ounces at the end of December as the central bank kept buying gold for a second straight month, official data showed.

"By re-entering the market in December, Beijing signaled that its gold acquisition program remains active—a development likely to lend continued support to the precious metal's price," Evangelista added.

Gold prices gained about 27% in 2024, mainly boosted by robust central bank purchases and Fed rate cuts.

Spot silver gained 0.8% to $30.19 per ounce, platinum added 1.2% to $944.39 and palladium rose 0.9% to $928.38.