Top Eight Teams to Compete at BAL Playoffs (www.BAL.NBA.com) and Finals in Kigali, Rwanda from May 24 – June 1; Bank of Kigali Joins BAL’s Roster of Marketing Partners for Playoffs and Finals.

The 2024 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Playoffs will tip off on Friday, May 24 at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda featuring the top eight teams (https://apo-opa.co/3wP67QQ) from the league’s Kalahari (https://apo-opa.co/3wCKu6N), Nile (https://apo-opa.co/4awYBbE) and Sahara (https://apo-opa.co/3yxDXuA) conference group phases that were held in Pretoria, South Africa; Cairo, Egypt; and Dakar, Senegal, respectively: FUS Rabat Basketball (Morocco), Petro de Luanda (Angola), Cape Town Tigers (South Africa), Al Ahly (Egypt), Al Ahly Ly (Libya), Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria), AS Douanes (Senegal) and US Monastir (Tunisia). 

The complete game schedule for the Playoffs and Finals, which is available at BAL.NBA.com, features four seeding games followed by an eight-game, single-elimination playoffs, culminating with the 2024 BAL Finals on June 1 at 4:00 p.m. CAT.  Tickets for the Playoffs and Finals are on sale now at BAL.NBA.com and Ticqet.rw.

In conjunction with the Playoffs and Finals, the BAL and Bank of Kigali today announced a collaboration to drive fan attendance and elevate the in-arena experience throughout the week. Bank of Kigali joins the BAL’s roster of partners that also includes Foundational Partners Rwanda Development Board, NIKE, Jordan Brand and Wilson, as well as marketing partners Afreximbank, Castle Lite, Hennessy and RwandAir.

Below are notable facts and figures about the 2024 BAL season:

1,600,000 – BAL games have reached 1.6 million live viewers across the NBA and BAL’s social and digital media channels this season [the NBA App (https://apo-opa.co/43eJtgR), NBA.com, BAL.NBA.com and the BAL’s YouTube channel (https://apo-opa.co/3twvshm)].

238,000 – BAL games have generated 238,000 total watch hours across the NBA and BAL’s social and digital media channels this season.

125,000 – The Nile Conference game on May 26 between defending champion Al Ahly (Egypt) and first-time BAL participant Al Ahly Ly (Libya) was the most-watched game this season on the BAL’s YouTube channel with 125,000 unique viewers.

80,000 – The BAL set a single-season attendance record as more than 80,000 fans attended games across the three conference group phases.

5,000 – This season, the BAL has engaged more than 5,000 youth from local communities through BAL4HER, BAL Advance, U-23 women’s camps, Special Olympics programming, Jr. NBA clinics, Fan Zone, and in-arena gameday experiences.

544 – Al Ahly Ly scored 544 points over six games during the Nile Conference group phase, the most points scored by any team during a group phase this season.

500 – More than 500 media members from 20 countries across Africa, Europe and the U.S. were credentialed to cover the three group phases.

375 – The BAL engaged 375 coaches and 141 referees through clinics in Pretoria, Cairo and Dakar.

226 – Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria) guard Kelvin Amayo and Bangui Sporting Club (Central African Republic) guard Rolly Fula Nganga each played a total of 226 minutes during the group phases, the most minutes played of any players this season.

214 – The 2024 BAL season is reaching fans in 214 countries and territories in 17 languages through free-to-air and paid TV broadcast partnerships with the African Union of Broadcasting, American Forces Network (AFN), Canal+, NBA TV, SuperSport, Tencent Video, TSN, TV5 Monde, Visionary TV and Voice of America (VOA), and livestreaming on the NBA App (https://apo-opa.co/43eJtgR), NBA.com, BAL.NBA.com and the BAL’s YouTube channel (https://apo-opa.co/3twvshm). 

154 – The 12 BAL teams this season collectively featured 154 players from 25 countries across Africa, Europe, Oceania, and the U.S., including five players with NBA experience, 19 players with NBA G League experience, 48 former NCAA Division I players, 18 former Basketball Without Borders (BWB) campers, 12 NBA Academy Africa prospects, and 39 players who have represented their national teams at the FIBA Basketball World Cup and FIBA AfroBasket.

135 – Al Ahly Ly center Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. scored 135 points over six games during the group phase, making him the BAL’s leading scorer. The South Sudanese center is averaging 23 points per game this season.

110 – On April 27, Al Ahly Ly scored 110 points in its win against the City Oilers (Uganda), which marks the most points scored in a BAL game this season.

51 – US Monastir (Tunisia) guard Chris Crawford helped his team qualify for the Playoffs with a league-leading 51 assists over six games. The 2023 All-BAL First Team member and former NBA G League player is averaging 8.5 assists per game.

42 – On April 27, Al Ahly Ly center Jo-Lual Acuil Jr. set a new BAL single-game scoring record with 42 points when he led his team to a 110-78 win over the City Oilers.

22 – Bangui Sporting Club guard Rolly Fula Nganga led the league in three-pointers (22) during the group phases.

17 – City Oilers center Khaman Maluach led the league in blocked shots (17) during the group phases. The South Sudanese NBA Academy Africa prospect and Duke University commit averaged 13.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game.

12 – As part of the third edition of the BAL Elevate program (https://apo-opa.co/3WSZp7d), one NBA Academy Africa prospect joined each of the 12 BAL teams for the 2023 season. NBA Academy Africa is an elite basketball training center in Saly, Senegal for the top high-school-age prospects from across Africa and the first-of-its-kind on the continent.

5 – Five new teams and three new countries were among the 12 club teams from 12 African countries that qualified for the 2024 BAL season (https://apo-opa.co/3KfHLTI).

3 – 2022 BAL champion US Monastir is the first team in league history to overcome a 0-3 start in the group phase and qualify for the Playoffs after a 3-3 finish. 

2 – The BAL had its first-ever double-overtime game when the Rivers Hoopers defeated Armée Patriotique Rwandaise Basketball (APR; Rwanda) 78-71 on May 11.

2 – US Monastir and 2022 runner-up Petro de Luanda (Angola) are the only two teams that have participated in all four BAL seasons.

1 – The inaugural Kalahari Conference group phase in March marked the first time BAL games have been held in South Africa and the first time the league expanded to four different countries.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL).

Contact:
Edwin Eselem 
Basketball Africa League 
+221 786154287 
EEselem@thebal.com

Desert-to-Power involves 11 countries across Sahelian belt; 250 million people set to benefit with 10 gigawatts of solar by 2030.

The African Development Bank is the driving force behind one of the world’s most ambitious energy projects: the Desert to Power initiative aims to bring energy to one of the least developed and most marginal parts of the continent.

This transformative and bold effort aims to turn Africa’s vast, sun-drenched Sahel region – one of the most vulnerable regions in the world – into a powerhouse of solar energy, targeting 11 countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sudan.

By harnessing the region’s immense solar potential, Desert to Power seeks to generate 10 gigawatts of solar power by 2030, thereby facilitating access to electricity for 250 million people.

The ground-breaking project is the brainchild of Bank President Dr Akinwumi Adesina who has termed it the Bank’s “baobab”.  

 “Desert to Power is what I call the baobab of projects. It will require all our efforts if we are to effect change,”​ he told a COP meeting.

Last December, the Bank approved the 225 kV Mauritania-Mali Power Interconnection and related Solar Power Plants Development Project (PIEMM) which is a priority operation under that Desert to Power Initiative. The project will help develop regional electricity trade in the Sahel, allow Mali to import about 600 GWh of electricity from renewable energy sources from Mauritania each year and enable both Mali and Mauritania to increase their national electricity access rate and to improve the performance of their electricity sub-sector by reducing fuel consumption, and shutting down several generators with exorbitant operating costs thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Ultimately, the project is expected to connect 100,000 new households (80,000 in Mauritania and 20,000 in Mali).

The initiative presents a major step along the way to solving Africa’s critical energy access issues and reducing dependence on fossil fuels like heavy fuel oil. These are key drivers of environmental fragility in the region, worsening climate warming behind many of the dramatic weather events now regularly hitting the continent.

The Bank has also successfully leveraged climate finance from international sources like the Green Climate to blend with the Bank’s own resources to support the Desert to Power initiative.

Additionally, the Bank’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), the Bank’s largest in-house blended finance facility with commitments of over US $500 million from 10 donors, including Denmark, the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Germany, the Nordic Development Fund, and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, is providing catalytic capital for private sector projects across the Desert to Power countries and beyond.

Today, the Desert to Power portfolio counts 10 investment projects and over 15 technical assistance operations across 7 of the 11 countries of operation.

The initiative has drawn plaudits from policy makers, diplomats, politicians and media commentators.

The authoritative British newspaper the Financial Times (FT) recently hailed it as a showcase example of imaginative development projects of the type Africa needs to engage its populations and prevent regional unrest exploited by anti-state actors.

In an article, endorsed by its editorial board, the FT called on Western governments to back the project along with similar initiatives directed at improving people’s daily lives. Development brings stability, it argued.

The initiative is part of a broader effort to transition Africa towards more sustainable energy sources, helping mitigate deforestation and its associated impacts.

In Africa, deforestation is a significant issue, with an area equivalent to the size of Switzerland being cleared of forest annually, largely for cooking and heating purposes. This loss of forest exacerbates dust storms, disrupts rain patterns, and accelerates desertification, posing severe threats to biodiversity and local climates.

The Bank’s investment in solar energy is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, reliable and affordable energy is essential for reducing reliance on charcoal, which is not only a leading cause of deforestation, but also an expensive option for many households. The continent’s rapid population growth has intensified energy demands, with the population doubling and doubling again to at least 1.2 billion, nearly half of whom lack access to electricity.

While there are ongoing reforestation projects in countries like Kenya, Congo, Madagascar, and Malawi, the rate of forest loss far outpaces these efforts. The immediate need is to electrify the continent quickly, choosing sustainable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydro over more harmful fossil fuels.

Africa’s potential for renewable energy is vast but largely untapped. The continent has an almost unlimited solar capacity (11 TW), significant hydro resources (350 GW, with only between five and six percent currently harnessed), wind power (110 GW, with only two percent utilized), and geothermal energy sources (15 GW).

Despite this potential, 600 million people in Africa live without access to electricity. The continent accounts for just six percent of global energy demand and slightly over three percent of electricity demand. This underscores the importance of scaling up renewable energy investments to meet the continent’s energy needs sustainably.

From 2016 to 2022, the AfDB approved US $8.3 billion in energy commitments, with 87 percent directed towards renewable energy projects. This investment has already generated 3.4 GW of electricity, including 2.6 GW from renewable sources. The Bank is also developing an African Green Mineral Strategy to capitalize on the continent’s abundant critical minerals, such as cobalt, manganese, and platinum, which are essential for facilitating the energy transition. the entire Sahel region and forever changing the face of one of Africa’s most neglected areas.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Following heavy rains associated with the El Niño phenomenon, which resulted in massive flooding and landslides in Tanzania, the European Union is providing TZS 276,974,500 (€100,000) in emergency humanitarian funding to assist the most affected households. The flooding and landslides have claimed many lives and destroyed thousands of homes.

This funding is in addition to an earlier allocation of TZS 276,974,500 (€100,000) to the Tanzania Red Cross Society, in December 2023, which the EU contributed in response to flooding. This brings the total EU contribution to the Tanzania flooding response to TZS 553,949,000 (€200 000).

The sustained heavy rains continue to make the situation worse for many affected households.

This new EU funding will support the Tanzania Red Cross Society in delivering urgently needed assistance, to scale up lifesaving and emergency relief to the most vulnerable, especially the people whose homes have been destroyed, and those who have been displaced.

The Tanzania Red Cross Society (TRCS) will use this funding to provide tarpaulins and tents affected households, to set up emergency shelters. They will also distribute essential household items to those displaced and to camp-based populations.

The Red Cross society will also provide cash assistance to the most affected and vulnerable populations, conduct search and rescue operations, offer first aid and evacuate  the critically ill or the injured. Finally, this assistance will also be used to purchase and distribute water treatment chemicals, to minimise the risk of waterborne diseases.

This additional funding will allow the TRCS to step up its support and assist 85 000 people in several parts of Tanzania, including Morogoro, Mbeya, Kilimanjaro, Unguja, Geita, Dar es Salaam, Manyara, and Pwani.

This allocation is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, IFRC.

Since November 2023, Tanzania has been experiencing heavy rains caused by the El Niño phenomenon. The rains continued into 2024, bringing landslides and floods which caused further destruction of homes, crops, agricultural assets and affected over 200 000 people. In December 2023, a massive landslide near Mount Hanang in the Manyara region of northern Tanzania affected nearly 44 000 people and resulted in 89 deaths. In addition, Cyclone Hidaya made landfall on 4 May 2024, bringing strong winds and heavy rains to the coast south of Dar es Salaam. The already-affected areas of Dar es Salaam, Pwani and Morogoro experienced heavy rainfall, exacerbating an already dire situation.

Background

The European Union together with its Member States is the world’s leading donor of humanitarian aid. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity towards people in need around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and human-made crises.

Through its European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid operations  department, the European Union helps millions of victims of conflicts and disasters every year. Headquartered in Brussels and with a global network of field offices, the EU assists to the most vulnerable people, based on humanitarian needs.

The European Commission has signed a €8 million humanitarian contribution agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support the Federation’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF). Funds from the DREF are mainly allocated to “small-scale” disasters – those that do not give rise to a formal international appeal.

The Disaster Response Emergency Fund was established in 1979 and is supported by contributions from donors. Each time a National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society needs immediate financial support to respond to a disaster, it can request funds from the DREF. For small-scale disasters, the IFRC allocates grants from the Fund, which can then be replenished by the donors. The contribution agreement between the IFRC and ECHO enables the latter to replenish the DREF for agreed operations (that fit in with its humanitarian mandate) up to a total of €8 million.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Delegation of the European Union to the United Republic of Tanzania and the East African Community.

As the world continues to grapple with the aftermath of the most severe pandemic in a century, the Seventy-seventh session of the World Health Assembly will convene under the banner of “All for Health, Health for All.” Scheduled to run from 27 May to 1 June, with the participation of ministers of health and other high-level country representatives, the Health Assembly serves as a critical platform for addressing existing global health challenges such as HIV, measles and polio, amidst the climate emergency and the rise of conditions like hypertension and obesity. 

One of the pivotal moments anticipated during the Health Assembly is the Pandemic prevention, preparedness and response accord and the amendments to the International Health Regulations, signaling a concerted effort by Member States to bolster global preparedness and response mechanisms.  

A pre-Health Assembly opening event on Sunday 26 May will kickstart the WHO Investment Round efforts, an engagement with current and potential donors aimed at ensuring sustainable funding for WHO. Additionally, the launch on Tuesday 28 May of WHO’s third Investment case will explain the value proposition, in terms of additional lives saved, if the Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 14), WHO’s strategy for 2025–2028, is carried out in its entirety.  

“The cumulative effects of climate change, disease outbreaks and conflict mean ever more pressure on WHO to respond to the world’s health needs,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This Health Assembly presents our Member States with key opportunities to promote, provide and protect health and well-being for everyone, by adopting the Fourteenth General Programme of Work, the global health strategy for the next four years; by supporting WHO’s continued transformation through the WHO Investment Round; and by making the world safer through the Pandemic Agreement and the amendments to the International Health Regulations.” 

Key highlights and decisions 

Key moments and outcomes expected during the Health Assembly include the approval on 28 May of WHO’s 2025–2028 strategy, GPW 14, to address health-related implications of such megatrends as climate change, ageing, migration, and advances in science and technology. The four-year period represents a window to get the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) back on track. 

Crucial decisions are expected on a range of health priorities such as climate and health, WHO’s work in health emergencies, access to transformative tools, communicable diseases, noncommunicable diseases, mental health, women’s health and the reform of WHO itself.  

The Health Assembly will feature high-level participation from political leaders and ambassadors, and representatives from civil society and non-State actors, underscoring the global commitment to advancing the public health agenda. 

On Friday 31 May, the Health Assembly President will present six 2024 public health awards to eight laureates for outstanding contributions to public health.

Pre-Health Assembly opening events 

Some events will take place on Sunday 26 May, prior to the Health Assembly official opening on Monday morning. The fifth edition of the Walk the Talk: Health for All challenge will start at Place des Nations at 08:00 CEST to promote physical and mental health. Sports and entertainment leaders will be participating, including WHO Goodwill ambassador Didier Drogba; basketballer and childhood obesity control champion Pau Gasol; Olympic and World 800m champion David Rudisha; Swiss, world Paralympic wheelchair marathon champion Marcel Hug; and choreographer and development advocate Sherrie Silver.  

Later on Sunday, 26 May, from 17:00 to 20:00, the All for Health, Health for All event at WHO headquarters will launch WHO’s first Investment Round and host the Grand Prix awards for the Health for All Film Festival. Mezzo-soprano opera singer Farrah El Dibany will also perform. The event will be live-streamed.  

On Monday 27 May, the Health Assembly will open at 09:00 at the Palais des Nations. The high-level segment is expected to begin at 09:30 with the WHO Director-General presenting the Director-General’s Global Health Leaders awards to laureates at about 10:00. (Note: one laureate will receive their award at the 26 May event.) Dr Tedros’ main address will starts at approximately 14:30.   

Strategic Roundtables 

Strategic Roundtables will take place throughout Health Assembly with the theme of “Invest in global health – Invest in WHO.” These events will host discussions among Health Assembly delegates, partner agencies, representatives of civil society and WHO experts on public health priorities. Sessions run from 28 May to 1 June 2024 at 13:00–14:15. A session will also take place on Tuesday evening, 28 May. All sessions can be followed online.  

As WHO’s highest decision-making body, the Health Assembly sets out the Organization’s policy and approves its budget. The Health Assembly is attended by delegations from all 194 WHO Member States. The Health Assembly’s agenda is preceded by the 40th meeting of the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board, meeting on 22–24 May 2024. After the Health Assembly, the 155th meeting of the Executive Board will take place on 3–4 June. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO).