Saudi Ambassador to US to Chair Int’l Women in Defense Program at World Defense Show

Saudi Ambassador to the United States Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz will chair the International Women in Defense Program at the World Defense Show 2024 in Riyadh. (World Defense Show)
Saudi Ambassador to the United States Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz will chair the International Women in Defense Program at the World Defense Show 2024 in Riyadh. (World Defense Show)
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Saudi Ambassador to US to Chair Int’l Women in Defense Program at World Defense Show

Saudi Ambassador to the United States Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz will chair the International Women in Defense Program at the World Defense Show 2024 in Riyadh. (World Defense Show)
Saudi Ambassador to the United States Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz will chair the International Women in Defense Program at the World Defense Show 2024 in Riyadh. (World Defense Show)

Saudi Ambassador to the United States Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz will chair the International Women in Defense Program, which aims to promote women's participation and celebrate their significant role in the defense sector.

The program is part of the upcoming World Defense Show 2024 that will be held in Riyadh in February under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.

A press release from the organizers of the show quotes Princess Reema as emphasizing the Kingdom's commitment to promoting and supporting women's endeavors in all sectors, including in defense and security.

She highlighted the importance of empowering and integrating women in the Saudi labor market, as outlined in Saudi Vision 2030, adding that there have already been successful examples of women achieving excellence in different fields.

She underlined that such programs generate global momentum and reflect the Saudi government's commitment to empowering and boosting women's participation in all spheres.

The Women in Defense Program serves as a platform that increases opportunities to contribute to this ongoing success, she stated.

The program will bring together women CEOs and leaders from different countries to highlight their achievements, address challenges, and explore their contributions to the defense sector through a series of seminars and discussions.



Gold Firms; Focus on US Data for Cues on Fed's Policy Path

FILE PHOTO: A woman looks at a gold bangle inside a jewellery showroom at a market in Mumbai January 15, 2015. REUTERS/Shailesh Andrade//File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A woman looks at a gold bangle inside a jewellery showroom at a market in Mumbai January 15, 2015. REUTERS/Shailesh Andrade//File Photo
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Gold Firms; Focus on US Data for Cues on Fed's Policy Path

FILE PHOTO: A woman looks at a gold bangle inside a jewellery showroom at a market in Mumbai January 15, 2015. REUTERS/Shailesh Andrade//File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A woman looks at a gold bangle inside a jewellery showroom at a market in Mumbai January 15, 2015. REUTERS/Shailesh Andrade//File Photo

Gold prices hovered near a four-week peak on Thursday, while focus shifted to jobs report due on Friday for clarity on the Federal Reserve's 2025 interest rate path.
Spot gold edged 0.1% higher to $2,664.30 per ounce, as of 0732 GMT. US gold futures rose 0.4% to $2,681.80
"Prices are trading in a narrow range ... A new trigger is needed for gold to breach its resistance," said Ajay Kedia, director at Kedia Commodities in Mumbai.
The bullion hit a near four-week high in the previous session after a weaker-than-expected US private employment report hinted that the Fed may be less cautious about easing rates this year.
The market now awaits US jobs report on Friday for more cues on the Fed's policy path.
Investors are also awaiting Donald Trump to take office on Jan. 20 and his proposed tariffs and protectionist policies are expected to fuel inflation.
Policymakers at the Fed's last meeting also "noted that recent higher-than-expected readings on inflation, and the effects of potential changes in trade and immigration policy, suggested that the process could take longer than previously anticipated," the minutes showed on Wednesday.
Bullion is considered an inflationary hedge, but high rates reduce the non-yielding asset's allure.
"We believe the bulk of the rally has been put in and that while gold's upward momentum may carry it higher in the near term and in early 2025, a combination of physical and financial market factors may tame the rally and drive gold moderately lower by the end of next year," HSBC said in a note.
Elsewhere, physically-backed gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) registered their first inflow in four years, the World Gold Council said.
Spot silver added 0.2% to $30.17 per ounce, platinum dropped 0.3% to $952.54 and palladium shed 0.8% to $921.37.