SINGAPORE, March 4: Qatar Airways’ new Singapore lounge is expected to serve as the benchmark and blueprint for the airline’s future Premium Lounges worldwide. Featuring an ultra-luxurious interior and enhanced offerings, the new Premium Lounge aims to narrow the gap between business and first class lounges. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: “We are thrilled to have launched our latest international Premium Lounge at Singapore Changi Airport. The lounge design is inspired by modern-day Arabic architecture, reflecting Qatar Airways’ heritage. “We want to ensure that the on ground experience offered to our passengers matches our iconic five-star airline experience. As the first Qatar Airways lounge following this design concept, it will serve as a new standard for all our Premium Lounges going forward.”

GEORGE TOWN, Malaysia: Devotees of Lord Muruga as well as other Malaysians and tourists join in the celebration of Thaipusam here, which falls on Saturday. The Thaipusam is celebrated in honour of the deity Lord Muruga or Subramaniam with devotees turning up at his various temples worldwide to mark the eve and actual day with various offerings such as milk, fruits as well as the celebrated Kavadi bearing. In Malaysia, the Batu Caves Murugan Temple in Kuala Lumpur and the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani here among the top destinations for both tourists and devotees during the celebration. Here the crowd is seen joining the Golden Chariot making its way to the temple for Thaipusam on Saturday.

SHAH ALAM, Malaysia: The December 26 annular solar eclipse recorded as the moon casts its shadow on the sun at around 1.06 Malaysian time on Thursday. Photo courtesy of BERNAMA

SEOUL – A large Christmas tree is lit up at a square in central Seoul on Dec. 24, 2019, the eve of Christmas. — Photo courtesy of YONHAP

SEOUL – A member of the Korean Federation for Environmental Movement, clad in a Santa suit, attends an event in Seoul to install a Christmas tree made of dumped cigarette butts, as the environmental activist group calls for a ban on the use of plastic for cigarette filters as part of efforts to protect the environment from toxic plastic pollution. — Photo courtesy of Yonhap

SEOUL – Youngsters wearing Santa costumes sing carols against the backdrop of a lighted Christmas tree at Jogye Temple in downtown Seoul. The event at the main temple of the Jogye order of Korean Buddhism was jointly organized by all the major religious groups in the country. — Photo courtesy of Yonhap

SHIRAZ (Southern Iran) – Tourism and handicrafts exhibition is being held in the presence of World Crafts Council (WCC) officials in Fars Province. — Photo courtesy of IRNA / Reza Qaderi

KUALA LUMPUR – Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub (third, left) together with other delegates representing Muslim countries at the plenary session titled “Food Security” in conjunction with the Kuala Lumpur Summit 2019 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today. Also present Minister of Commerce and Industry of Qatar Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari (left), Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Elyor Ganiev (second, left) and Assistant Professor at the International Islamic University, Afghanistan, Dr Fazl Ul Hadi Wazeen (third, right), Representative from The Fiqh Council Australia, Prof Ezziddin Abu Sardaneh (second, right) and Chief Executive Officer of Yesari Group, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Muhamed Ljevakovic (right). –fotoBERNAMA (2019) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian Prime Minister and Kuala Lumpur Summit (KL Summit) 2019 Chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad delivering his welcoming address during the opening of KL Summit 2019 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) today. Roundtable Session venue for the KL Summit 2019 where the state of affairs of the Muslim ummah will come under the spotlight with a view to charting the way forward for the Islamic world. The summit will be steered by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad known for his vocal views on issues concerning the Muslim world. –fotoBERNAMA (2019) COPYRIGHTS RESERVED

DAEJEON, Central South Korea – Environmentalists and city officials stage a performance on a zebra crossing in Daejeon to call on citizens to join a campaign to cut greenhouse gas emissions. — Photo courtesy of Yonhap

ANKARA, Turkey – Heavy fog covers Ankara, Turkey in the early morning of December 17, 2019. — Photo courtesy of Raşit Aydoğan / Anadolu Agency

ZAYANDEH RUD RIVER – Isfahan, Central Iran after revival has become habitat for a variety of migratory birds. In the current cold season, the new birds give birth at their beautiful resort in Isfahan. Zayandeh Rud River is the largest river of the Iranian Plateau in central Iran, Isfahan. — Photo courtesy of IRNA / Rasoul Shijaei

YANGYANG (South Korea) – Swans migrate to Korea for the winter from northern Eurasia, Alaska and northern Canada. Photo courtesy of Yonhap

LEFKOSA (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) – The first Turkish military drone lands at Gecitkale Airport in the eastern coastal city of Magusa (Famagusta) in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on December 16, 2019. Bayraktar TB2 armed unmanned aerial vehicles, stationed at Naval Air Base Command in Turkey’s Aegean district of Dalaman, landed in TRNC at 10 a.m. (0700GMT) following a green light from the government of the country. Photo courtesy of Muhammed Enes Yıldırım / Anadolu Agency

LONDON: Malaysia’s King Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin and Queen Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah with Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II during a luncheon event at the Buckingham Palace here. The King is currently on a special visit to the UK.

BUSAN, S. Korea, Nov 26: The first ladies of South Korea and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries, including Kim Jung-sook (C) of South Korea, pose for a photo during a visit to the ASEAN-Republic of Korea (ROK) K-Beauty Festival, a subsidiary event of the ongoing South Korea-ASEAN special summit, at BEXCO in Busan. Standing far left is Malaysia’s Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah. Photo courtesy of YONHAP.

NAMISEOM (South Korea) – Tourists use skyline zip wires to cross over the North Han River between Nami Island and Gapyeong wharf, 60 kilometers northeast of Seoul. The zip wire operator said more than 600,000 people had taken the ride as of this month. Photo courtesy of Jara & Nami Co. / YONHAP

TAEAN (South Korea) Visitors look at a masted grain cargo ship that has been restored to its original form at the Taean Maritime Museum, 150 kilometers south of Seoul. Photo courtesy of Taean County / YONHAP

BERLIN (Germany) Nov 08 – Remains of the Berlin Wall during the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Photo courtesy of Abdülhamid Hoşbaş / Anadolu Agency

BUSAN (South Korea) Nov 11 – This image, provided by the organizing committee for the ITTF 2020 World Team Table Tennis Championships, shows the event’s mascots. The championships will be held from March 22-29 in the South Korean port city of Busan. Photo courtesy of YONHAP

GYEONGSAN (South Gyeongsang) Nov 7 – A quarantine vehicle sprays disinfectant along the Geumho River in South Gyeongsang Province, as avian influenza virus was detected in the area the previous day. Photo courtesy of YONHAP

SEOUL (South Korea) Nov 6 – Pengsu, a penguin character of the education broadcasting company EBS, passes through an entrance at the foreign ministry building in Seoul. Pengsu visited the ministry to help promote a special summit between South Korea and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The summit is scheduled for Nov. 25-26 in the southeastern port city of Busan. Photo courtesy of YONHAP

Delgan County is the birthplace of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) in southeastern Iran province of Sistan-Baluchestan where 480 tons of sour tea is harvested annually. Photo courtesy of Mohammad-Amin Mirbalouchzehi / IRNA

ELAZIG (Turkey) Nov 05 – A shepherd leading a flock of sheep crosses historical Palu Bridge in Elazig. Photo courtesy of Enver Hancı / Anadolu Agency

NONTHABURI (Bangkok) Nov 4 – Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (eight, left) during Photo session at 14th EAST Asia Summit (EAS) here at the IMPACT Summit Muang Thong Thani today. The three-day 35th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits beginning Nov 2 will be held at the IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Centre in Nonthaburi, northwest of Bangkok. Photo courtesy of BERNAMA. From left US President Donald Trump’s National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien, Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, South Korean President Moon Jae-in, President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, From right Laos Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, President of Indonesia Joko Widodo, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Sen, Sultan Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha, and China’s Premier Li Keqiang.

SEOUL (South Korea) Nov 4 – Employees attend a publicity event at the Korea Post to promote a series of New Year’s cards to celebrate the upcoming Year of the Rat. Photo courtesy of YONHAP

ISTANBUL (Turkey) Nov 3 – A drone photo shows that participants compete in the world’s only intercontinental marathon ‘Vodafone 41st Istanbul Marathon’ in Istanbul, Turkey on November 03, 2019. Photo courtesy of Muhammed Enes Yıldırım / Anadolu Agency

BANGKOK, Oct 31 – Thailand is making the final preparations for the 35th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits as leaders in the region are set to gather here to attend the annual meeting beginning Nov 2. The three-day 35th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits will be held at the IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Centre in Nonthaburi, northwest of Bangkok. Photo courtesy of BERNAMA

MERSIN (Turkey) Oct 31 – An octopus figure covered with citrus fruits, is seen ahead of the 7th International Citrus Festival in Mersin, Turkey on October 30, 2019. The 7th annual Mersin Citrus Festival will be held between 01-03 November in Mersin. Photo courtesy of Mustafa Ünal Uysal / Anadolu Agency

POHANG (South Korea) 31 Oct – A joint naval drill between South Korea and Australia in the waters off the southeastern port city of Pohang, 370 kilometers southeast of Seoul. Launched on Oct. 29, the three-day exercise, code-named “Haedori-Wallaby,” involves joint maneuvers, as well as anti-submarine, anti-air and anti-ship firing drills. Photo courtesy of YONHAP

YELLOW SEA (South Korean) Oct 25 – A Coast Guard motor boat (Left) approaches a Chinese fishing boat operating without permission in South Korea’s exclusive economic zone on Oct. 25, 2019. The Central Regional Coast Guard Headquarters, which provided the photo, said the 30-ton boat was fishing illegally in the Yellow Sea some 114 kilometers southeast off of Baengnyeong Island when it was seized. Around 30 other Chinese boats in the vicinity were ordered to leave South Korean waters.

SHAHREKORD (Iran) Oct 25 – Gandoman international Wetland is regarded as the main aquatic ecosystems in West of Iran, Surrounding this wetland are beautiful meadows providing bush grazing grounds for herds. The Cheroo Mountain Ranges standing at a height of 3.500 m, and spanning a distance of west to south of this wetland brings Casts a glorious reflection of its landscape and beauty in these waters. Photo courtesy of IRNA / Ahmad Riahi Dehkordi

Malaysian Prime Minister at Baku Congress Centre BAKU (Azerbaijan) Oct 25 – Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (front row, fourth right) during a photo session with leaders of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) before the opening ceremony of the 18th NAM Summit at the Baku Congress Centre on Friday. Dr Mahathir is among more than 20 top leaders attending the two-day summit. Photo courtesy of BERNAMA

TOKYO, Oct 22 – The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah granted an audience to Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Akasaka State Guesthouse here today. Photo courtesy of BERNAMA

SYDNEY (Australia) Oct 21 – A woman reads Australian newspaper “The Daily Telegraph” which appears with blackened frontpage during newspapers campaign to protest against official laws that criminalise journalism and whistleblowing and calling on the Australian Parliament to enshrine press freedom. Photo courtesy of Joel Carrett / AAP / DPA

BAVARIA (Germany) Oct 21 – A man stands in Germany’s first 3D full-body scanner during a press demonstration at Munich University Hospital. There are about ten of these devices worldwide, which are intended to enable new treatments in breast reconstruction after breast cancer and for mapping skin tumors, among other things. Photo courtesy of Peter Kneffel / DPA

BRISTOL (England) Oct 21 – A crowned lemur nibbles some carved pumpkins at Bristol Zoo Gardens, where animals are being given Halloween themed treats filled with their favourite fresh vegetables. Photo courtesy of Ben Birchall / PA Wire / DPA

TOKYO, Oct 21: Malaysia’s King Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and the Queen Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah arriving at their hotel here as specially invited guests of Japan to attend the coronation of Japan’s Emperor Naruhitoon Wednesday.
 Photo courtesy of BERNAMA/By Dayana Nabila Shaipul Anuar

Jakarta, Oct 20 – Indonesia President Joko Widodo at the swearing-in ceremony of the President of Indonesia for the 2019-2024 term at the Indonesian Parliamentary building today. Photo courtesy of BERNAMA

Anuga Cologne, Germany, Oct 16 – An associate professor at the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Shahrim Karim, 50, took trade visitors at the Anuga food fair of Cologne by storm with his cooking prowess and knowledge of the intricacies of Malaysia’s cuisine. He is no ordinary chef and has a versatile academic background that caps with a doctorate in the human environment science discipline from the Oklahoma State University, his doctoral thesis being on Food, Tourism, and Malaysian Heritage Food. Indeed, his real passion is food because, as he puts it, “it is truly the best way to a man’s heart”. At the recent ANUGA Food Fair here,Shahrim attracted crowds of inquisitive trade visitors, food experts and the public who kept pouring into the Malaysia Pavilion where he was giving live cooking demonstrations in Malaysian cuisine and, in effect, also showing his immaculate skills in rustling up a variety of Malaysian dishes, much to the amusement of the onlookers who simply could not take their eyes off the mouth-watering food items that were being prepared before them. Shahrim, who was raised in Melaka, attended culinary school in Shah Alam. He has also worked at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore and attended the New York University’s course in Hotel and Restaurant Management.Some of the food and drinks he prepared during the live demonstrations included shrimp and pineapple curry, mee mamak (Malaysian fried noodles), Malaysian tropical salad, salmon and tamarind, chicken and vegetable soup, sweet and sour shrimp, teh tarek, chicken curry and coconut punch. Malaysian cuisine is unique and represents all the flavours of Asia, he says, praising Matrade and the Frankfurt-based Malaysian Trade Commissioner, Badrul Hisham Hilal, for their “strong and active support” to him. Story and photo courtesy by Manik Mehta

Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, Oct 15 – Chung Eui-sun, executive vice chairman of Hyundai Motor Co., announces strategies during a ceremony to declare a national vision of future cars at the carmaker’s Namyang R&D Center. Photo courtesy of YONHAP

Seongnam, Seoul, Oct 14 – This file photo shows South Korean singer and actress Sulli, who was found dead at her residence in Seongnam, south of Seoul today. A probe into the cause of her death is currently underway. Photo courtesy of YONHAP

Seoul, South Korea, Oct 14 – A variety of military airplanes, including F-35A stealth fighters, and ammunition are on display at Seoul Airport, south of Seoul, during a press day event, for the 2019 Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) the following day. Photo courtesy of YONHAP

West Azarbaijan, Iran, Oct 13 – Chapel of Dzordzor- a historical building registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List – is located in Maku County, West Azarbaijan Province, northwest Iran. Photo courtesy of IRNA / Mehdi Rahnavard

Chaldoran County, Iran, Oct 13 – Kara Kelisa, also known as the St. Thaddeus Church, in Chaldoran County, northwestern Iran is one of the oldest and most notable surviving Christian monuments of Iran that carries great significance for the country’s Armenian Orthodox community. Armenians hold that Qara Kelisa is the world’s first church and was constructed in 68 BC by one of the apostles of Jesus, Saint Thaddeus, who traveled to Armenia, then part of the Persian Empire, to preach the teachings of Christ. Photo courtesy of IRNA / Mehdi Rahnavard

Kashan, Iran, Oct 14 – A historical Iranian city- is the cradle of oldest world urban settlement in Sialk Hills dating back to over 7,000 years ago. Photo courtesy of IRNA / Mojtaba Soltani

South Jeolla Province, South Korea, Oct 11 – Colorful grasses cover a salt marsh on a mudflat in Sinan off South Korea’s southwestern tip, amid deepening autumn. Photo courtesy of YONHAP

Gyeongbok Palace, Seoul, Oct 9 – A group of foreigners learns Korean during an event to celebrate Hangeul Day. Hangeul is the Korean alphabet invented by King Sejong in 1443. Photo courtesy of YONHAP

Yazd, Iran, Oct 8 – Zoroastrians’ Dakhmeh is one of the main tourist attractions of Yazd which is on the southeastern part of the city. It is the place where the Zoroastrians kept their corpses after death with a special ceremony. Although there are other Dakhmeh in Tehran, Kerman, Sirjan, Isfahan, Ardakan, Taft, and Ashkezar, the Zoroastrians’ Dakhmeh of Yazd is the main one thanks to being religious capital of the Zoroastrians, and also has more visitors today. It is also registered in the Iranian National Sites. Photo courtesy of IRNA / Amin Rahmani.

Izmir, Turkey, Oct 8 – According to WWF data, the Mediterranean region is the world’s fourth-largest producer of plastic goods, and its residents and visitors generate 24 million tons of plastic waste per year. Photo courtesy of Anadolu Agency

Chilgok, North Gyeongsang, 8 Oct – Tourists take photos at a field of pink muhly grass in Chilgok, about 290 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Oct. 6, 2019, as autumn deepens in South Korea. Photo courtesy of YONHAP

Seoul, Oct 7 – South Korea’s agriculture ministry said Monday it has nearly completed the culling of pigs potentially exposed to African swine fever (ASF) in border areas as it struggles to prevent the disease from reaching southern parts of the country. Photo courtesy of YONHAP

Antalya, Turkey, Oct 7 – Iranian athletes Soroush Ghaderi Zeinabi, Samin Yahyavi and Sobhan Abbasi received bronze medals in the 2019 World Youths Muay Thai Championships. Photo courtesy of IRNA

Seoul, North Korea, Oct 4 – Protestors take part in a demonstration in southern Seoul on Sept. 28, 2019, to voice their support for Justice Minister Cho Kuk and his drive to reform the prosecution. Photo courtesy of Yonhap

Shahrekord, Iran, Oct 4 – Iran’s Second National Handicrafts and Tourism Exhibition opened by Pouya Mahmoudian, Deputy Director of Handicrafts and Traditional Arts affiliated to Ministry of Culture, Tourism and handicrafts and other provincial officials at the permanent site of Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari International Exhibits. Photo courtesy of IRNA / Ahmad Riahi Dehkordi.

Kajang, Malaysia, Oct 4 – Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah (fourth, right) joins United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet (third, right) visiting Rohingya children at the Rohingya Integrated School of Excellence (RISE) today. Photo courtesy of BERNAMA.

Yazd, Iran, Sept 26 — Pomegranate orchards in the first days of Fall create beautiful scenes in garden alleys of Taft Country, Yazd, central Iran. Photo courtesy of IRNA/Hadi Fallah Tafti

South Korea: This photo provided by a Yonhap reader on Sept. 26, 2019, shows autumn hues around Jungcheong Shelter on Mount Seorak on the east coast the previous day. The Korea Meteorological Administration says that the start of the changing of the leaves is pronounced when 20 percent of the mountain’s trees from its peak are tinged with color. Photo courtesy of YONHAP.

Kuala Lumpur, Sept 25 — While the haze continued to cloud parts of Malaysia, some areas reported a bit of relief following rain and the situation is expected to ease with the transition of the monsoon winds this week. Besides strong winds, the transition is expected to bring more rain and clearer skies. Photo courtesy of BERNAMA.

Rome, Italy, Sept 24 – Barcelona’s Lionel Messi speaks after receiving the best men footballer award during the FIFA Best Football Awards 2019 ceremony at Teatro La Scala. Photo courtesy of Bernama/Marco Alpozzi/Lapresse via ZUMA Press/dpa

Narathiwat, Thailand, Sept 24 – Birds sit in their cages during the annual bird-singing competition in Thailand’s southern province of Narathiwat. Over 1,800 birds from Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore took part in the contest. Photo courtesy of Madaree Tohlala

Manila, Philippines, Sept 24 – Rescuers search for victims after a budget hotel which is undergoing demolition, collapsed in Manila, Philippines. Rescue efforts are still ongoing to free another victim after one of the workers was retrieve after almost six hours following the incident, according to Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso. Photo courtesy of PTI

Meghalaya, India, Sept 24 – Indian and Thailand Army personnel show their operational skill during Indo-Thailand Joint Military Exercise MAITREE-2019 at Umroi Military station, in Ri Bhoi district of Meghalaya. The Joint Military Exercise MAITREE-2019 runs untill 16-29 Sep 2019. Photo courtesy of PTI

New York City, Sept 24 – A view of billboards showcasing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Times Square, New York City. In order to highlight the need for more ambitious action on the SDGs and to continue to engage with the general public, the 17 Goals are being showcased in Times Square this week, inviting everyone to stand behind the Sustainable Development Goals in advance of the UN General Assembly high-level week. Photo courtesy of UN Photo

Seoul, South Korea, Sept 23 – Sunflowers are in full bloom in a field along a river in Jangseong, 308 kilometers south of Seoul. A festival of yellow flowers is slated to run there from Oct. 1-13. Photo courtesy of Yonhap

Busan, South Korea, Sept 23 – Officials work to repair damage caused by Typhoon Tapah at a residential complex in the country’s southeastern port city of Busan. Thirty people, including three police and fire officials, were injured when this year’s 17th storm hit the country’s southern regions over the weekend, according to the anti-disaster government agency. Photo courtesy of Yonhap

Ahmedabad, India, Sept 23 – Woman wearing colorful attire practice Garba, a traditional dance of Gujarat state, ahead of festival Navratri in Ahmedabad. The festival of Navratri or nine nights will begin from Sept. 29. Photo courtesy of Ajit Solanki

Students from various colleges and schools participate in the Global Climate Strike rally in Chennai, India. Photo courtesy of PTI

Tirana. Albania, Sept 23 – Damaged cars outside the Faculty of Geology building after an earthquake in Tirana. Albania’s government and news reports say an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8 shook in the country’s west and injured at least two people. Photo courtesy of PTI