BUSINESS | Page 8 QATAR | Page 20 QSE-listed fi rms cumulatively report R8.39bn profi t in Q1 Qatar is a bird ‘stopover’ site for about 300 species published in QATAR since 1978 MONDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11545 May 11, 2020 Ramadan 18, 1441 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Enjoy double speed with Ooredoo ONE while you’re at home #Hadaya_Ooredoo *Terms and conditions apply Amir gets message from Kuwaiti leader Private sector backs govt eff orts; support needed to face ‘virus’ challenges atar’s private sector, which is a key driver of national economy, Qis fi rmly behind the govern- ment in facing the consequences of Covid-19, two of its leaders have said. The country’s private sector has con- tinued to function as an instrument for economic development despite the chal- lenges it is facing during the novel coro- navirus (Covid-19) pandemic, said Qa- tari Businessmen Association chairman HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani. Hussain Alfardan HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani Full Report on Business Page 1 Covid-19, and continued payment of need to support the businesses that Hussain Ibrahim Alfardan, First the salaries of workers and employ- have been sustaining harmful conse- Deputy Chairman of Qatari Business- ees without making any profits. quences due to such circumstances. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has received a verbal message from Kuwait’s Amir, Sheikh men Association said, “The private He said the private sector companies Sheikh Faisal said, “Qatar’s business Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, pertaining to the fraternal ties between the two countries and the prospects for sector in Qatar is also keen to support are currently under pressure, as they community has proven to be highly- enhancing them, in addition to a number of issues of mutual interest. The message was conveyed by Kuwaiti Minister the eff orts of the state to face the con- have distinguished staff and it is not responsible throughout the various of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser al-Mohamed al-Sabah during a meeting with the Amir, yesterday evening sequences of Covid-19 pandemic.” easy to lay them off , while the continu- exceptional circumstances that came at his off ice at Al Bahr Palace. At the beginning of the meeting the Kuwaiti minister conveyed greetings of Sheikh However, Alfardan pointed out ation of such situation for a long period over the Qatari economy, in particular, Sabah to His Highness the Amir, wishing him good health and happiness and the Qatari people further progress and that the private sector is currently will negatively impact the economy. and the international economy, in gen- prosperity. His Highness the Amir entrusted the Kuwaiti minister to convey his greetings to Sheikh Sabah, wishing him suffering due to the consequences of Accordingly, Alfardan stressed the eral.” To Page 20 good health and well-being, and the brotherly Kuwaiti people further development. Page 2 MoPH reports 2,753 Covid-19 recoveries The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) Europe braces for reopening despite fears of virus 2nd wave yesterday announced 1,189 new confirmed cases of Covid-19, as many as 254 new recovered ones, and one AFP lined an easing of Britain’s stay-at-home in over a month yesterday in Wuhan, forced to reimpose restrictions after an strictions and let over-65s out for the death in the last 24 hours. The total Paris orders in a televised address yesterday where the outbreak fi rst started late outbreak at a meat processing plant. fi rst time yesterday. number of recovered cases in Qatar night, in what he called “the fi rst sketch last year before it went on to infect Belgium, Germany and Greece are The Middle East’s most-aff ected now stands at 2,753. Most of the of a road map for reopening society.” more than four mn worldwide. among other European nations set to country, Iran, has also relaxed its lock- new cases are expatriate workers illions of people in France and Johnson said the aim of loosening And in Germany there was uncer- ease lockdowns today. down measures and bazaars and shop- infected with the virus as a result of Spain counted down to the of the nearly two-month lockdown tainty too with at least one district Turkey had already eased some re- ping centres in the capital Tehran were contact with individuals who have Mrelaxation of strict coronavi- was to cautiously awaken the economy bustling again after being nearly de- been previously infected, in addition rus lockdowns today, hopes of release while bearing in mind “the science, the serted for weeks. to recording new cases from within from their homes laced with fears of data and public health.” And the resumption of league foot- groups of workers from various a second wave of a pandemic that has Schools and shops could begin a ball in Europe was dealt a blow after regions. Page 2 killed over 280,000 worldwide and phased reopening starting in June, he confi rmation of clusters of infections wrought economic disaster. said, while the businesses in the hos- among players in Spain, Germany and S&P affirms ‘stable’ In France, people will be able to pitality industry, like hotels and res- Portugal. rating on Qatar walk outside for the fi rst time in nearly taurants, would probably not be able to Football bosses in all three coun- eight weeks without fi lling in a permit, reopen until July at the earliest. tries, however, insisted that season Global credit rating agency Standard teachers will start to return to schools, He said that from Wednesday people restarts planned for the coming weeks & Poor’s (S&P) has aff irmed “stable” and some shops will reopen. could start spending more time outside were still on track. As some of the rating on Qatar as the country’s Restaurants, theatres and cinemas their homes, including sunbathing in hardest-hit countries prepare to relax sovereign and external balance sheet will however remain closed. local parks, car travel to other destina- their restrictions, Britain’s recovery off er suff icient buff er to withstand Spaniards outside of urban hotspots tions, and playing outdoor sports with remained slightly behind its European the twin stocks of Covid-19 and low such as Madrid and Barcelona — which people of the same household. counterparts. energy prices. Aff irming “AA-/A-1+” remain under lockdown — eagerly European offi cials have been em- Even further behind are Russia and foreign and local currency ratings made plans to meet friends and fam- boldened by declining death rates — Brazil, which both passed grim mile- on Qatar; S&P said it does not expect ily in restaurants that have outdoor France’s toll of 70 yesterday was its stones yesterday. the government’s fiscal and external spaces. lowest since early April and Spain’s Russia’s caseload surpassed stock positions to “materially” But the anticipation of regained daily fatalities have dropped below 200,000 and is expected to become the deteriorate beyond its expectations. freedom was tinged by concern. 200. highest fi gure in Europe within days, Business Page 1 With millions out of work and econ- But the risk of a second wave was even as the number of deaths remains omies fl atlining — including in the underscored by a resurgence in South CEO of Paris region public transport operator RATP Catherine Guillouard, relatively low at fewer than 2,000. 2nd repatriation flight United States, where 20mn lost their Korea, widely praised for its handling French Junior Minister for Transports Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, Ile-de-France While offi cials say the fi gures reveal to India delayed jobs in April — governments are des- of an initial outbreak but now forced to region president Valerie Pecresse and French Minister for the Ecological and the eff ectiveness of Russia’s testing perate to reopen, but most are choos- shut all clubs in the capital Seoul after Inclusive Transition Elisabeth Borne stand on a platform at the Gare de l’Est train regime, an opposition-allied doctors The second repatriation flight from ing a gradual approach. a cluster of infections was confi rmed station in Paris during a visit on the eve of a gradual lifting of Covid-19 lockdown union said the authorities were under- Qatar carrying stranded Indians was Prime Minister Boris Johnson out- China reported the fi rst infection restrictions in France yesterday. reporting deaths of medics. cancelled yesterday due to “technical reasons”, the Indian embassy said. The Doha-Thiruvananthapuram flight is now “being scheduled” for Tributes paid to victims of slave trade tomorrow, the embassy has informed through a tweet. Page 3 Strict measures in place to Iran ready for prisoner exchange with US keep Industrial Area safe Iran said yesterday it had expressed readiness for a full prisoner exchange ompanies with employees liv- Industrial Area while working on vari- with the United States “with no ing in the Industrial Area need ous projects”, and should “continue to preconditions” but said that Washington Cto sign a pledge not to let such educate their workers about the need was yet to respond. “We said some time workers mingle with others outside the to leave a safe distance (2m) and take ago that we are ready to exchange all area while working on diff erent projects. other preventive measures”. Iranian and American prisoners,” ISNA This is one of the conditions to be The health requirements stipulate news agency quoted government fulfi lled by companies to ensure their that no one is allowed to enter the area spokesman Ali Rabiei as saying.