When Boris Johnson announced on March 27 that he’d tested positive for Covid-19, Brits were in shock, much as Americans were when they heard President Donald Trump was infected. The UK prime minister was the first leader of a major country to be hospitalised with the virus, an event that was characterised as “routine” at first before the illness took ...

In recent weeks, India’s government has shown unusual amounts of energy in pushing through long-awaited economic reforms. The last session of Parliament — cut short when several MPs tested positive for Covid-19 — was exceptionally productive. Two labour-law amendments were passed, as was a package of measures addressing the agricultural sector. However you look at it, these moves take India ...

In many cases, the pandemic has served to entrench the previously existing winners and losers in the retail sector. Chains such as Macy’s Inc and Kohl’s Corp, already deeply challenged before the public health crisis, look no closer to a turnaround. Walmart Inc and Target Corp, meanwhile, have solidified their dominance with turbocharged sales. Against that backdrop, the latest quarterly ...