NNA – Caretaker Minister of Labor, Mustafa Bayram, launched Monday a platform that caters to providing job opportunities in Qatar, stressing that "with huge efforts this platform was completed, which allows any citizen, worker and graduate to enter and register." Speaking during a press conference held at his Ministry office this morning, Minister Bayram gave an extensive review of the steps, contacts and consultations he held with the Qatari Minister of Labor and officials in several work sectors in Qatar and with Lebanese officials, led by the President of the Republic and the government, a number of relevant ministers and the Director General of Public Security, to facilitate this matter. He added he received all support and willingness to provide all facilities for the success of this step related to Qatari employment.

Bayram about the mechanism of using this platform and seeking employment in many sectors, while the role of Qatari companies would be to enter the platform and search for their demand among those who are qualified for their job openings. “We have no role in the recruitment process, and we are equidistant from all the Lebanese,” the Labor Minister asserted, noting that “the interaction will be between the private sector and the Lebanese youth," and that “the platform is accessible to all Lebanese across the country.”

By Najia Houssari -- Arabnews.com -- BEIRUT: Lebanon’s president has hailed progress in the dispute with Israel over its southern maritime border, saying that US-led mediation efforts were close to finding a solution. Michel Aoun’s office said that the latest round of discussions had concluded and that Amos Hochstein, the lead US negotiator, was preparing a draft of a final agreement. “Reaching an agreement on the demarcation of the southern maritime borders means the start of the process of exploration for oil and gas in the Lebanese fields located within the exclusive economic zone,” Aoun said. He added that signing a deal would “mark the beginning of the economic recovery process.”

Hochstein told Aoun during a call on Sunday that the discussions had been wisely managed by Lebanon. The presidential palace announced that Lebanon would carefully study the final version of Hochstein’s proposal. The positive feedback comes days after Israel had rejected Lebanon’s revisions of the proposal. A spokesman for the US State Department told Al-Arabiya on Monday that Hochstein was working to resolve outstanding differences, adding that “we believe that a sustainable agreement is both possible and within reach.”

NNA - Lebanon reaped massive victory on the first day of the fourth annual Beirut Open Taekwondo Tournament, organized by the Lebanese Taekwondo Federation, under the auspices of the President of the Lebanese Republic, General Michel Aoun, and under the supervision of the International Federation, held at the Nohad Nawfal Complex Stadium in Zouk Mikael. Twenty countries are partaking in the tournament, namely Lebanon, Turkey, Congo, Ivory Coast, Iran, India, Greece, Libya, Iraq, Lesotho, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Kuwait, Morocco, Netherlands, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Syria and Oman.

NNA – “We do not want a settlements president,” said Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Beshara Boutros Rahi, this Sunday from Bkerki, adding that …