Wearing face masks and maintaining social distances were a significant part of the world’s reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, new research says the practices are not only effective at saving human lives, but chimp lives as well.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the world in 2019 and 2020, study after study has shown that one of the more effective strategies to combat the spread of the disease was the wearing of face masks. In 2021 in fact, a global study published in the British Medical Journal showed that the practice cut the incidence of the disease by an average of 53%. That same study showed that adequate handwashing was equally effective at slowing disease transmission and that social distancing led to a 25% lower transmission rate on average.
While it’s now commonly known that these strategies work well to keep humans safe, a new study has looked at whether the practices can keep our chimp cousins healthy as well.
In 2016, at the Ngogo Chimpanzee Project in Uganda’s Kibale National Park (a site featured in the 2023 Netflix documentary, Chimp Empire), a virus jumped from humans to the chimp population. The disease spread through the group eventually claiming the lives of 25 of the almost 200 members who lived there, which represented the largest chimp population ever observed in the wild.
After tamping down that outbreak by February 2017, the researchers working at Ngogo implemented a new series of protocols. While they already were staying about 15 ft (4.5 m) away from the chimps and either burying their waste or avoiding leaving it in the forest at all, the new protocols resemble what the world would begin to adopt in 2019 to combat COVID.
If a researcher had any symptoms of an infection, they were quarantined from the forest until they felt better. The distance they were required to keep from the chimps expanded to 20 ft (6 m), with an even more safety-focused 30 ft (9 m) recommended. They also now needed to don face masks and sanitize their hands when around the chimps. Finally, they had to wear different clothing when entering the forest than the normal clothes they wore at camp.
For the new study, lead author Jacob Negrey examined about 70 samples of chimp excrement collected between 2015 to 2019 to analyze what was going on in the population before, during, and after the outbreak. Negrey is an assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Arizona’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. He is also the co-director at Ngogo.
Negrey used lab analysis to identify which DNA in the waste came from viruses spread by humans. He found both a reduction in viral shedding among the chimp population after the new protocols were enacted as well as a reduction of the chimps’ coughing rates, which fell from 1.73% of the time to 0.356%.
“We’re really excited about this study because it actually does show – for the first time, as far as I’m aware – that these protocols work,” Negrey said, referring to how the protocols reduced human-to-chimp disease transmission.
In follow-up observations, after the camp implemented quarantine procedures for anyone coming to visit from the outside from 2020 forward, the coughing rate plummeted to 0.075%.
Negrey says the findings could have implications for wildlife tourism in addition to its impact on keeping chimps safe in research environments.
“They’re so special, they’re so weird, and they’re really unlike anything else on Earth,” he said about the chimps. “It’s to our great benefit to protect them for future generations so we can continue to be awed by them and continue to learn from them.”
Jordan is celebrating the qualification of its football team for a FIFA World Cup for the first time following a decisive 3-0 victory against Oman.
Huge celebrations erupted as fans drove their cars through Jordan’s capital Amman late on Thursday and into Friday, honking their horns and chanting victory while others waved the national flag in triumph.
“We are all with you!” and “It’s getting closer, heroes” read messages written into the night sky in a spectacular drone light show.
Jordan sealed their place on the penultimate day of Asian qualifying for the 2026 tournament, which will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Ali Olwin netted a hat-trick as the 2023 Asian Cup runners-up to Qatar etched their name in the history books.
They secured their spot in the World Cup when South Korea defeated Iraq, also on Thursday, 2-0.
Jordan’s players Abdallah Nasib, Yazan Al-Naimat and Muhannad Abu Taha celebrate after the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying victory in Oman [Ameen Ahmed/NurPhoto via Getty Images]
The royal court published pictures of King Abdullah II wearing a national team jersey as he watched the game from the embassy in London, where he was on a visit.
I wholeheartedly congratulate the sons and daughters of our dear people on our national football team’s qualification for the World Cup finals,” he wrote on social media platform X.
“This historic qualification is well-deserved by our team, which includes stars and cadres of whom we are proud.
“Special thanks go to our loyal fans who have been our support and encouragement.”
His Majesty King Abdullah watches the national football team’s World Cup qualifier match against Oman, at the Jordanian embassy in London, during a working visit to Europe ( Photos courtesy of Royal Court ) pic.twitter.com/CI4JMurjQu
Sohad Idrissi, a 48-year-old housewife who watched the game with her siblings, beamed with pride as she told AFP that her side had played “a beautiful game and deserved to qualify for the World Cup”.
“Today the joy is two-fold: there is the joy of Eid al-Adha, and the joy of Nashama qualifying,” she said, using a nickname for the Jordanian team.
Fadi Qalanzi, a 21-year-old university student, called the win “a dream that is finally coming true”.
“Our team put on a beautiful performance, and they truly deserved to qualify,” he added.
Osama al-Shreeda, a 60-year-old retired civil servant, also called it a dream come true.
“I’ve been following Jordanian football since 1978, and a relative of mine used to play with the national team,” he said.
“It’s a great opportunity for our team and its players to be recognised globally,” he added, calling it an achievement not just for Jordan but for the wider Arab region.
“It was about time, this is a joy we’d been waiting for, for a long time,” said 55-year-old teacher Nashat Badr.
Jordanians watch their national football team play against Oman on a screen in Amman, Jordan [Alaa al-Sukhni/Reuters]
Uzbekistan also reach first FIFA World Cup
For Uzbekistan, a 0-0 draw against the United Arab Emirates was enough to take the second automatic qualification spot in Group A behind Iran.
With Asia now having eight guaranteed qualifiers – after just four for the 2022 edition in Qatar – Uzbekistan was a likely contender to step up.
While most of its team plays in the domestic league, it includes a few Europe-based stars like Roma forward Eldor Shomurodov and Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov.
Jordan’s highest-profile player is winger Mousa Tamari at French club Rennes.
Palestine and Indonesia set sights on playoffs
Palestine’s 2-0 win in Kuwait kept alive their hopes of reaching their first World Cup finals.
The victory, thanks to goals from Tamer Seyam and Wessam Abou Ali, means Palestine in fifth spot in Group B are one point outside the playoff qualification positions with one game to play.
A win in their final match in Amman, Jordan, against Oman, who hold fourth spot and are one point ahead of Palestine, on Tuesday will see them finish above their opponents.
Third and fourth positions in the three groups, in the third round of AFC qualifiers for the World Cup, progress to a fourth qualifying stage of playoffs.
The top two teams from each of the three six-team groups qualify automatically for next summer’s tournament, while the teams in fifth and sixth position are eliminated.
Indonesia, meantime, remain on course for a playoff finish, and only a second appearance at a World Cup finals, following their 1-0 win against China to hold fourth spot in Group C.
Your guide to what Trump’s second term means for Washington, business and the world
Donald Trump has intensified his attacks on Jay Powell, calling on the US Federal Reserve chair to slash interest rates by a “full point” after official figures pointed to a weakening labour market.
The US economy added 139,000 jobs in May, compared with a downwardly revised 147,000 posts added in April, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday.
The BLS also revised down the March figures, bringing the average jobs gains for the year until May to 124,000, compared with 168,000 in 2024.
“‘Too Late’ at the Fed is a disaster!,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform following the release, using a nickname he has given to the Fed chair. “Despite him, our Country is doing great. Go for a full point, Rocket Fuel!”
“He is costing our Country a fortune,” Trump added, referring to borrowing costs on US debt.
Trump’s fresh attacks on Powell come after the European Central Bank on Thursday cut rates by a further quarter point. The ECB has halved borrowing costs over the past year.
The Fed has paused a rate-cutting cycle that began in 2024 as policymakers weigh the effects of Trump’s tariffs, which many economists expect to increase inflation while cooling growth. Trump and Powell met last week, with the US president telling the Fed chief he was making a “mistake” by not cutting rates.
Powell has held firm in the face of Trump’s pressure, however, telling the president that its policy decisions would “depend entirely on incoming economic information”.
Friday’s data from the BLS beat market expectations, coming in ahead of the 126,000 predicted by economists polled by Bloomberg. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.2 per cent.
Despite the better than anticipated May figure — which Trump hailed as “GREAT JOB NUMBERS” — economists said that the revisions to prior data suggested the market was weakening.
“The headline beat isn’t nearly as impressive as it appears at first glance,” said Thomas Simons at US investment bank Jefferies, noting the revisions. “Job growth has clearly shifted into a lower trajectory.”
Marc Giannoni, chief US economist at Barclays, added: “We expect more slowing over the course of the year.”
The OECD warned this week that the global economy was heading into its weakest period of growth since the Covid-19 pandemic as Trump’s trade war weighs on the world’s top economies.
Average hourly earnings rose by 0.4 per cent to $36.24, the BLS said, bringing to 3.9 per cent the increase over the past year.
Treasury yields rose after the data was released as traders marginally scaled back expectations for interest rate cuts this year. Futures markets are now pricing in a small chance that the Fed could cut rates one more time this year, although two reductions remains their central expectation.
“For the Fed this means they are on hold for a while,” said Giannoni. “The latest employment report does not give them any reason to be alarmed.”
The S&P 500 rose 1 per cent in morning trading in New York.
Friday’s jobs numbers were dragged down by a continued slide in the number of government jobs amid a cost-cutting effort by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, led until last week by Elon Musk.
Musk and Trump’s relationship erupted into acrimony this week after the billionaire tech executive left his role and blasted the president’s signature tax bill as “a disgusting abomination” that would swell US debt.
But Doge’s efficiency drive has already led to the loss of 59,000 federal government workers since January, according to the BLS. That has been offset slightly by a rise in hiring in the leisure and hospitality sectors.
The Israeli military has admitted to BBC Verify that it conducted a previously unacknowledged strike on the al-Mawasi area of southern Gaza, which reportedly killed at least one Palestinian and injured 30 others.
The strike took place on Sunday – hours after 31 Palestinians were killed in an incident near a new aid distribution centre in the city of Rafah, according to the Hamas-run Civil Defence agency.
While reviewing footage purporting to show the incident near the aid distribution centre, BBC Verify identified a separate strike in the nearby city of Khan Younis.
The blast was not previously announced by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which regularly publishes operational updates online.
It was only when approached by BBC Verify that the IDF admitted it had carried out an artillery strike and said the incident was the result of “technical and operational errors”.
They said troops had fired towards a “target” but the artillery had “deviated” and “wrongfully hit the Mawasi area” – a coastal strip of Khan Younis. The IDF did not provide evidence for these assertions.
The IDF rarely acknowledges such “errors”. A BBC Verify analysis of statements on the IDF’s official Telegram account could only find four previous instances of it admitting to making a “mistake”, “technical” or “operational” error relating to the war in Gaza since it began in October 2023.
The footage we reviewed from the Khan Younis blast first began to emerge late on Sunday evening. It showed bloodied bodies surrounded by dust clouds in an area where Palestinians were living in tents. Women and children could be seen running and screaming as they watched injured people carried away.
Videos show aftermath of a strike on al-Mawasi in southern Gaza
The Israeli strike hit an area where a number of displaced Palestinians had been sheltering. The UN has estimated that 90% of the strip’s population of 2.1 million people have been forced to flee their homes.
Ambulances arrived on the scene to collect the injured shortly after the incident. BBC Verify identified a number of the same injured Palestinians in both the footage from the scene and later images from the hospital where they were treated.
One Palestinian was killed and 30 others were injured by the strike, according to the Kuwaiti Field Hospital.
The footage was initially falsely linked to killings near a controversial new aid distribution site in Rafah.
But BBC Verify geolocated the footage to a location in Khan Younis – 4.5km (2.8 miles) away from the distribution site.
The Hamas-run Civil Defence agency said “Israeli gunfire” had killed 31 Palestinians near the aid distribution centre. The Israeli army at first said it did not fire on Palestinians near the site, but a military source later told BBC Verify that troops had fired warning shots.
We used the position of the sun to ascertain that the footage was filmed in the evening, shortly before sunset. A local journalist who filmed footage of the scene also told BBC Verify that the incident occurred around 19:00 local time on Sunday – hours after the killings near the aid site.
The IDF statement did not offer a figure for those killed in the Khan Younis blast and said that “the incident is under review”.
The footage showing the strike has been at the heart of a dispute between the BBC and the White House.
On Monday, BBC Verify reviewed the footage and debunked claims that it was connected to the killings near the distribution centre in Rafah.
In a statement, the BBC said her comments were “misleading”, adding that she had been “conflating” the two stories.
“We did not remove any story and we stand by our journalism,” the BBC statement said.
Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to Hamas’ cross-border attack, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
At least 54,607 people have been killed in Gaza since then, including 4,335 since Israel resumed its offensive on 18 March, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.
On May 20th, a flight with eight deportees left Texas headed to South Sudan, a country on the brink of civil war. But mid-flight, a judicial battle began to unfold that forced the flight to land in Djibouti. Katrin Bennhold, speaks with Hamed Aleaziz, New York Times reporter covering Homeland Security and Immigration, to understand what’s going on and how it fits into President Trump’s larger immigration plan.
Support for Musk among Americans quickly soured in the initial weeks of the Trump administration as he fed USAID “to the woodchipper”, helped strip cancer research that helps kids and threatened every federal worker with termination. But it was his role in Wisconsin’s state supreme court race that ultimately marked the beginning of the end of this marriage of convenience.
It was perhaps the most widely predicted break-up in American political history. The bromance between Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest man, and President Donald Trump, the world’s most powerful, appears to have run its course.
On Tuesday, only some 100 hours after officially leaving the employ of the White House, Musk admitted he could no longer swallow his disgust at what the Tesla CEO called an “abomination” of a tax bill—stopping short of naming Trump directly, however.
Many online users were mildly astonished that it took this long before the two finally broke up.
After all, they had not been on the best of terms in the past.
In July 2022, they famously exchanged barbs with Trump calling Musk just “another bullsh*t artist”, while the Tesla CEO shot back it was time for him to “sail into the sunset”.
It didn’t end there either. The then ex-president mocked Musk over his “driverless cars that crash” and “rocketships to nowhere”, branding the entrepreneur a corporate welfare queen always in need of more subsidies.
“I could have said ‘drop to your knees and beg’, and he would have done it,” Trump claimed.
Furious at the Biden administration, however, Musk ultimately decided to bankroll Trump’s campaign in support of his campaign claim for safe cities, strong borders, prudent spending and an anti-‘woke’ agenda.
This timeline charts the series of scandals and blunders that saw Musk’s star fall as he went from being a powerful ally and “First Buddy” to a political liability whose approval ratings proved radioactive for the Trump administration.
July 13, 2024
Musk endorses Trump for the first time after the assassination attempt in Butler, Pa. Later the entrepreneur would describe his campaigning as an “all-in” bet on Trump. It was a dramatic turnaround for Musk, who told his fans in March in no uncertain terms that he would not be making any political donations of any kind to either of the nominees.
November 5
After spending roughly $290 million of his own money—including controversial giveaways to spur voter registration—Musk helps Trump sweep all seven battleground states. Convinced the Tesla CEO now has the might of the White House behind him, investors bid up its shares for weeks with the stock rallying 75% until it finally peaked in mid-December at over $480/share. By then, it had become worth as much as the rest of the global car industry combined.
November 12
Trump officially taps Musk to run the unofficial Department of Government Efficiency, initially with a goal of delivering $2 trillion in budget cuts by the country’s 250th independence day celebrations next July. “Republican politicians have dreamed about the objectives of ‘DOGE’ for a very long time,” Trump writes, likening it to the Manhattan Project. Musk would soon predict mass headcount reductions in the civil service.
December 28
Trump needs to spend political capital to bail the Tesla CEO out when the entrepreneur attacks his MAGA coalition over the issue of H-1b visas. “I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend,” Musk posts. The president is forced to step in, demonstrably taking the billionaire’s side against his own voters.
January 20, 2025
At Trump’s inauguration bash, a fist-pumping Tesla CEO takes the stage to express his thanks to the president’s supporters that “the future of civilization has been assured”. In the process, he thrusts out a stiff right arm not once but twice in what many observers deemed to be a fascist salute to the MAGA faithful. The images go around the world, eliciting a storm of controversy.
The Tesla CEO is under heavy scrutiny ever since he began openly endorsing far-right forces in Europe that harken back to its fascist past. His salute to Trump supporters was only the latest controversy.
Angela Weiss—AFP/Getty Images
February 3
Musk celebrates a weekend spent feeding the United States Agency for International Development “into the wood chipper”. The Atlantic’s Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Anne Applebaum later sums it up as “the world’s richest man takes food and medicine from the world’s poorest children.”
February 10
The Washington Post breaks the story that one senior DOGE advisor to the State Department is none other than a 19-year-old programmer Musk hired. Edward Coristine, who calls himself “Big Balls” online, is later lampooned in a March 1 Saturday Night Live skit as a symbol of Musk’s questionable judgment.
February 21
Boasting he will take a chainsaw to the federal bureaucracy, Musk brandishes a power tool gifted to him by Argentine president Javier Milei on stage at a CPAC conference. One of the defining images of Musk’s brief political career, it rankles Trump and even Tesla bulls criticize the PR blunder, saying he inspires people as a builder, not a demolished.
Elon Musk has taken a chainsaw to federal government spending, a method he adopted from role model Argentine President Javier Milei, pictured to the right in the background.
Saul Loeb—AFP via Getty Images
February 22
Musk sends an email to the entire federal bureaucracy demanding employees list five things they accomplished that week. “Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation,” he warns. Soon reports reveal senior Trump officials take offense at the advisor overstepping his boundaries by threatening their staff with layoffs.
February 26
At the first official cabinet meeting, Trump once more comes to the aid of Musk. With a simple question “Is anyone unhappy with Elon?” the president aims to silence reports of growing frustration with Musk and paper over cracks emerging between Musk and several key members of his government.
February 28
On the Joe Rogan podcast, Musk calls Social Security “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time”. Already blamed for helping strip $190 million to fund research combating cancer in children, Democrats ramp up attacks, now claiming the entrepreneur aims to dismantle the widely popular government-run entitlement program.
March 11
The third time Trump rides to the rescue of Musk. After weeks of protests and images of burning Teslas and vandalized dealerships, Trump turns the South Lawn of the White House into an impromptu car showroom and openly urges his supporters to buy Tesla cars. He also warns anyone destroying or defacing Tesla property will be treated as a terrorist by federal law enforcement.
President Trump and White House Senior Advisor, Tesla CEO Elon Musk deliver remarks next to a Tesla Model S on the South Lawn of the White House on March 11, 2025 in Washington, D.C. The South Lawn became a kind of Tesla showroom, as Trump—holding a Tesla pricelist—spoke out against calls for a boycott of Musk’s companies and said he would purchase a Tesla vehicle in what he called a ‘show of confidence and support’ for Musk.
Andrew Harnik—Getty Images
April 1
The date marks the beginning of the end of Musk’s political career. Wisconsin voters elect Susan Crawford to the state Supreme Court despite the Tesla CEO personally spending millions and campaigning to sway the outcome in favor of Republican Brad Schimel. Democrats succeeded in turning the vote into a referendum on Musk and DOGE, making him a liability for the Trump administration. The next day the first stories leak that he would soon be returning to Tesla, forcing the White House to issue a non-denial denial.
April 10
At a cabinet meeting, Musk slashed his estimate for DOGE savings from $1 trillion, already half of what he originally promised, down to just $150 billion. Even that figure is disputed, with the only cuts both tangible and permanent codified in a $9.4 billion rescissions package currently in front of Congress. Independent polls show a majority of Americans do not approve of the job he’s doing
April 23
After a demonstrative attempt to show presence during an unscheduled Tesla all-hands fails to soothe frayed investor nerves, Musk signals during the company’s Q1 earnings call that he will only spend one to two days a week in Washington. Despite net profit plummeting 71% in the period, far worse than expected, the stock rebounds sharply on the news he’s dialing back his DC commitments.
May 20
At the Qatar Economic Forum, Musk states he’s done, for now at least, bankrolling the Republican party. “I think I’ve done enough,” he says, adding that he no longer sees a reason. Just three weeks earlier he had still praised Trump in a cabinet meeting marking the first 100 days, predicting: “I think this could be the greatest administration since the founding of the country.”
May 27
In an interview with CBS News, Musk voices open criticism of Trump’s spending bill, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates will raise deficits by $3.8 trillion. Describing it as disappointing, he argues that the generous tax cuts are undermining the efforts of his DOGE team. The following day, he announces his time as a special government employee in the service of the Trump administration is effectively over, and he leaves Washington with a literal black eye on Friday.
June 3
Now, officially looking outside, Musk turns on Trump. “I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination,” he posts. What repercussions will ensue is unclear but already over the weekend Trump withdrew the nomination of Musk’s preferred pick as head of NASA.
June 5
After Trump punches back during a press briefing with the German chancellor, Musk goes scorched earth on his former ally. In a matter of hours, he claims Trump is directly implicated in the Epstein files, argues the ingrateful president is only in power because the Tesla CEO put him there, and backs a call for his removal with Vice President J.D. Vance taking his place in the Oval Office. Trump responds by threatening to terminate all of his government contracts and subsidies. Tesla shareholders once more find themselves collateral damage as a record $150 billion-plus is wiped off the company’s market cap, costing Musk personally $34 billion. It is the second-largest daily loss ever in the history of the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, according to the media giant.
FIFA has tried to forge on with the World Cup even as it deals with the barrage of criticism.
On Monday, seven European countries ditched plans to wear a rainbow armband signaling anti-discrimination and inclusion after FIFA threatened to punish them for it, including handing them automatic yellow cards.
The captains of England, Wales, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland had planned to wear OneLove rainbow armbands during their matches. But their respective soccer associations later said in a joint statement they were “unable” to do so anymore because of FIFA’s threats.
“We were prepared to pay fines that would normally apply to breaches of kit regulations and had a strong commitment to wearing the armband,” the associations said. “However, we cannot put our players in the situation where they might be booked or even forced to leave the field of play.”
On the eve of Sunday’s opening match, FIFA President Gianni Infantino hit back at critics in an outrageous speech in which he claimed to understand discrimination against marginalized groups because, as a child, he was bullied for having red hair and freckles.
“Today, I feel Qatari. Today, I feel Arab. Today, I feel African. Today, I feel gay. Today, I feel disabled. Today, I feel a migrant worker,” Infantino said. “Of course, I am not Qatari, I am not an Arab, I am not African, I am not gay, I am not disabled. But I feel like it, because I know what it means to be discriminated, to be bullied.”
Sony Music is once again expanding its presence in the booming Indian music market, with Sony Music India forming a joint venture with Los Angeles-headquartered The Hello Group.
The new THG India aims to fill what Sony calls a “critical gap” in sophisticated talent management and live touring infrastructure in India.
The JV will leverage Sony Music India’s network and expertise in the South Asian market with THG’s expertise in live touring and artist management.
Founded in 2016 by A&R executive Taylor Jones, who serves as CEO, The Hello Group in an entertainment industry holding company that operates 16 businesses.
Among those businesses are Hello Management, label services company Hello Music, and THG Publishing, which launched in 2018 with administration by Sony Music Publishing, and is known for a catalog that includes songs from prominent K-pop bands like BTS, NCT 127, ITZY, IVE, Tomorrow X Together, ENHYPHEN and TWICE, as well as artists such as Steve Aoki and The Chainsmokers.
The company’s booking agency has booked shows and tours for artists including Jeff Satur, Mark Ambor, I.M (of MONSTA X), Matt Steffanina, Sunkis, Greyson Chance, EMEI, C-Kan, Kang Daniel, and others.
Vinit Thakkar, Managing Director, Sony Music India, described the new joint venture as a “great moment” for the Indian music industry.
“THG India marks our first international collaboration of this scale right here in India, and it serves as a critical bridge,” he said.
“By combining THG’s strength in global live touring and their international network with our deep local expertise, we are strategically empowering Indian artists with the resources, seasoned management, and global network essential to truly accelerate their careers and resonate on the international stage.”
“We are strategically empowering Indian artists with the resources, seasoned management, and global network essential to truly accelerate their careers and resonate on the international stage.”
Vinit Thakkar, Sony Music India
THG’s Jones added: “The Indian music scene boasts an incredible wealth of talent, and its global influence is undeniable. THG India reinforces our deep commitment to building a robust platform for these artists, underpinned by our extensive experience in live touring, artist development and publishing.
“With our dedicated team in Mumbai and our proven track record of orchestrating worldwide tours for top-tier artists, we are uniquely poised to amplify India’s voices like never before.”
For Sony Music, THG India represents the latest in a series of partnerships that have helped cement the company’s position in India’s music market, which is expected to see significant growth despite a decline in digital music revenues in 2024.
Earlier this year, Sony announced it had formed Tiger Baby Records, a joint venture with film production company Tiger Baby. That followed last year’s partnership with Mumbai-based film and web series production company Maddock Films, to produce film soundtracks, pop singles, and other music projects.
“With our dedicated team in Mumbai and our proven track record of orchestrating worldwide tours for top-tier artists, we are uniquely poised to amplify India’s voices like never before.”
Taylor Jones, The Hello Group
In 2022, Sony Music Entertainment and Sony Pictures Entertainment launched a JV called ‘Sony Entertainment Talent Ventures India’ (SETVI), focused on creating “ventures for media talent in India.”
Sony Music Publishing has also struck partnerships with India-based companies, notably one with Tips Music in 2023, which sees SMP administer and promote Tips’ catalog globally. The partnership was renewed earlier this year. SMP signed a similar deal with Indian label Big Bang Music in 2023.Music Business Worldwide
When the Oklahoma City Thunder square off against the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals, it will be a matchup of elite offense versus historically elite defense.
Over the course of the Pacers’ run through the Eastern Conference, Tyrese Haliburton has led his team to offensive heights rarely seen. Over in the Western Conference, the Thunder have done the same with their defense.
Ask the Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves and they’ll tell you just how suffocating Oklahoma City’s defense can be. Talk to the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks and they’ll probably marvel at how great the Indiana offense is.
But just how elite are we talking?
Pacers Stack Up Favorably Offensively
Looking back on the last 10 NBA champions, only the 2017 Golden State Warriors and 2023 Denver Nuggets have posted better offensive ratings than the Pacers.
One is an all-time great team in the Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant led Warriors. The other is led by one of the greatest offensive engines in basketball history in Nikola Jokic.
The Boston Celtics looked mighty impressive during their title run a year ago but even they fall short of Indiana’s lofty heights.
How much of this has to do with the way offensive efficiency has improved over the years? A fair chunk.
That’s where it’s worth keeping in mind the Pacers are still six percentage points better than the average offensive rating this postseason. Four of the former champions have been better relative to their competition.
Only the Cavs have a better offensive rating than the Pacers this postseason and that comes down to the way they mauled the Miami Heat. The Thunder are 4.4 percentage points better relative to their competition this season.
Don’t underestimate what this Indiana team could accomplish going up against the Oklahoma City defense.
Thunder Defense Is Historically Elite
On the defensive side of the ball, the Thunder’s defense lags only behind the 2015 and 2018 Warriors, as well as the 2019 Raptors.
What should be a concern for the Pacers is they rank last by a long shot compared to these former champions. The only solace is the Nuggets are second to last and they did go on to win the title.
No former champion from the past decade has outperformed the average defensive rating more than the Thunder. They allow 8.46 percentage points than the 2025 postseason average. The next best are the 2021 Milwaukee Bucks, allowing 7.66 percentage points fewer than average.
Indiana, relative to its opposition this season, is just above average as a defensive unit.
So, which side of the ball are you favoring in these Finals?
