Arabian Horse Lovers Gather for Qassim Championship in Saudi Arabia

Renowned for their distinctive beauty, purebred Arabian horses possess a small, refined head, expressive eyes, an elegant arched neck, and a high-set tail, setting them apart from other breeds. (SPA)
Renowned for their distinctive beauty, purebred Arabian horses possess a small, refined head, expressive eyes, an elegant arched neck, and a high-set tail, setting them apart from other breeds. (SPA)
TT

Arabian Horse Lovers Gather for Qassim Championship in Saudi Arabia

Renowned for their distinctive beauty, purebred Arabian horses possess a small, refined head, expressive eyes, an elegant arched neck, and a high-set tail, setting them apart from other breeds. (SPA)
Renowned for their distinctive beauty, purebred Arabian horses possess a small, refined head, expressive eyes, an elegant arched neck, and a high-set tail, setting them apart from other breeds. (SPA)

The third Qassim Arabian Horse Show, a three-day championship in Saudi Arabia featuring 260 purebred Arabian horses, is currently underway and has attracted significant participation from enthusiasts and horse lovers, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

Renowned for their distinctive beauty, purebred Arabian horses possess a small, refined head, expressive eyes, an elegant arched neck, and a high-set tail, setting them apart from other breeds.

Horses have long held a vital place in Arab culture, serving as crucial support in warfare, transportation, and livelihoods since ancient times. Beyond their practical uses, horses are cherished and treated with exceptional care, becoming potent symbols of pride and dignity, particularly within the Kingdom.

The allure of the Arabian horse has endured through time. Today, these magnificent creatures compete in local and international races, nurtured in premier farms and stables, and deeply admired by horse aficionados and owners worldwide.



Firefighters Battle a Wildfire Burning Out of Control on the Greek Island of Chios

A firefighting helicopter during firefighting operations on Chios Island, Greece, 24 June 2025. EPA/KOSTAS KOURGIAS
A firefighting helicopter during firefighting operations on Chios Island, Greece, 24 June 2025. EPA/KOSTAS KOURGIAS
TT

Firefighters Battle a Wildfire Burning Out of Control on the Greek Island of Chios

A firefighting helicopter during firefighting operations on Chios Island, Greece, 24 June 2025. EPA/KOSTAS KOURGIAS
A firefighting helicopter during firefighting operations on Chios Island, Greece, 24 June 2025. EPA/KOSTAS KOURGIAS

Hundreds of firefighters backed up by aircraft were battling a wildfire burning out of control for the third day on the eastern Aegean island of Chios Tuesday, with authorities issuing multiple evacuation orders.

Towering walls of flames tore through forest and agricultural land on the island, where authorities have declared a state of emergency and have sent firefighting reinforcements from Athens, the northern city of Thessaloniki and the nearby island of Lesbos, said the Associated Press.

By Tuesday morning, the fire department said 444 firefighters with 85 vehicles were tackling the blaze on scattered fronts. Eleven helicopters and two water-dropping planes were providing air support.

Emergency services have issued evacuation orders for villages and settlements in the area since Sunday, when fires broke out near the island’s main town. The fire department has sent an arson investigation team to Chios to examine the cause of the blaze.

“We are faced with simultaneous fires in multiple, geographically unconnected parts of the island — a pattern that cannot be considered coincidental,” Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Giannis Kefalogiannis said Monday from Chios. Authorities, he said, were “very seriously examining the possibility of an organized criminal act, in other words arson.”

The minister said police forces on the island had been reinforced, while military patrols had been doubled.

“Whoever thinks that they can play with the lives of citizens and cause chaos with premeditated actions will be led to court,” Kefalogiannis said. “Arson is a serious crime and will be dealt with as such.”

Wildfires are frequent in Greece during its hot, dry summers. In 2018, a massive fire swept through the seaside town of Mati, east of Athens, trapping people in their homes and on roads as they tried to flee. More than 100 died, including some who drowned trying to swim away from the flames.