Latest news with #FrancophoneAfrican
Spectator
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Spectator
England's defeat to Senegal might be their worst ever performance
'England, the lions of Autumn are but lambs come the Spring'. That quote is often attributed to Michel Platini, but I remember hearing it still earlier from the wily manager of Yugoslavia, Miljan Miljanic. Either way, it's always been true. I have witnessed some astonishingly dire performances from England during countless Springs. We may technically now be in Summer but the key is the players can't be arsed until they are back from their hols. And I don't think I have ever seen a worse performance from an England team than in that 1-3 capitulation to Senegal – the first time the national side has been beaten by an African team. A Francophone African team at that. Thomas Tuchel will be blamed, of course. But it is hard for me to see past the dilatory, bored, overpaid, dilettante players. Having taken the lead, England played with what the Daily Telegraph called a sense of entitlement, which is correct, but it was worse than that. They were fabulously boring, utterly devoid of either ambition or imagination. Time and time again when they got the ball it would be passed back three quarters of the length of the pitch to the goalkeeper, Dean Henderson. Senegal employed a tight press which supposedly forced the better technically English players into errors. Why play it out from the back when the press is so avid? England meanwhile didn't press at all. They allowed Senegal to stroll forwards at will. The English players were second to every marginal ball, created so little and merely watched aimlessly as Senegal knocked in an equaliser. In truth they had been no better in defeating Andorra – Andorra! – by a single, scrambled, goal.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sanjivani Paranterals Ltd (BOM:531569) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Revenue Growth ...
Release Date: May 27, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Sanjivani Paranterals Ltd (BOM:531569) reported a strong revenue growth of 41.3% year-on-year for Q4 FY25, driven by new products and volume expansion. The company successfully underwent multiple regulatory audits and received site approval from a Francophone African nation, opening new market opportunities. The Pune facility is operational with a robust order book covering the next 90 days, marking a strategic milestone in strengthening the company's presence in the IV fluid market. The Prague joint venture has initiated commercial operations with promising early responses, positioning it for significant expansion in FY26. Sanjivani Paranterals Ltd (BOM:531569) plans to launch 15 to 20 new products in FY26, expanding its product portfolio and market reach. The evolving US tariff environment introduces uncertainty, potentially impacting capital expenditure decisions. Global currency markets remain sensitive to recent developments, which may lead to continual volatility. The company faces high barriers to entry in the IV business due to manufacturing complexities and transportation constraints. Capacity utilization at the Mumbai and Dehraun plants is currently at 65% and 40% respectively, indicating room for improvement. The company did not provide specific guidance on future growth rates, creating uncertainty about maintaining current growth momentum. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Signs with BOM:531569. Q: Is the growth momentum of 30% expected to continue next year? A: The broader outlook will be available during the AGM. We are trying our best to maintain growth, but cannot confirm the same speed right now. Unidentified_6 Q: What is the current capacity utilization percentage? A: The capacity utilization for the Mumbai plant is around 65%, and for the Dehradun plant, it stands at 40%. Unidentified_3 Q: What product segments are likely to drive growth for the company in the next 12 years? A: We will continue to expand in existing therapeutic areas such as central nervous system, cardiovascular, anti-diabetic, and anti-allergic. Unidentified_3 Q: Can you provide clarity about the HAL and Prague JVs? A: The Prague facility is focused on nutraceuticals, offering white labeling services. The Pune facility is ready, and commercial production should begin soon. Unidentified_3 Q: What is the outlook for F526 in terms of revenue and margins? A: We won't share exact margins now, but we expect to maintain the same range in terms of revenue and profit. Unidentified_4 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Thiam delisting could rattle Côte d'Ivoire business confidence
The disqualification of Côte d'Ivoire's main opposition candidate from the race to become the country's next president could undermine the nation's reputation as a stable investment hub, his lawyer told Semafor. A court ruling last month barred former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam, leader of the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI), from running in October's presidential election. He revoked his previous French citizenship in February, with the request approved the following month. But the court ruled that he didn't revoke his French citizenship early enough to qualify for this year's vote.. The decision 'sends a devastating signal,' Thiam's lawyer, Mathias Chichportich, told Semafor. Investors may struggle to trust a state that disregards its own laws, he argued, adding that political and legal uncertainty creates instability that may deter investment. In a glowing April report, the International Monetary Fund said Côte d'Ivoire had emerged as an 'engine of growth and stability' in the eight-country West African Economic and Monetary Union of Francophone African countries. GDP growth in the country averaged 6.4% over the past decade, around 3 percentage points higher than the average for sub-Saharan Africa. Côte d'Ivoire also attracts nearly 30% of foreign direct investment in WAEMU — more than any other nation in the group — according to data from the UN's trade and development body. Analysts warn that Thiam's disqualification, amid uncertainty over whether 83-year-old President Alassane Ouattara will seek a fourth term, could lead to damaging instability in Francophone West Africa's biggest economy. 'Thiam's disqualification sends a negative signal for a country like Côte d'Ivoire, which otherwise enjoys strong governance indicators in the region,' said Aroni Chaudhuri, Africa economist at the French credit insurer Coface. Thiam's exclusion stems from a legal complaint filed by private citizens citing a rarely used clause in the 1961 Nationality Code. The law states that any adult who acquires another nationality automatically forfeits Ivorian citizenship. Thiam is exploring ways in which to mount an appeal, according to Chichportich. He is the fourth major political figure in Côte d'Ivoire barred from running for president, after former President Laurent Gbagbo, former Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, and former Youth Minister Charles Blé Goudé. Côte d'Ivoire has wrestled with bouts of insecurity since the country descended into a bloody civil war in 2002 that lasted five years. Ouattara, who took office in 2011 after months of violence that followed his predecessor's refusal to accept electoral defeat, has presided over a period of economic growth that has outstripped other countries in the region. But Ouattara's controversial decision to seek a third term — a move many opposition parties viewed as unconstitutional — triggered unrest in 2020. 'Until now, the consensus was that this election cycle would be calmer than in 2020, which saw violence,' said Chaudhuri. 'But even without unrest, uncertainty over how the vote will be conducted can impact consumption and investment — as seen in Senegal, where growth slowed and consumption fell during the 2024 election period.' A broader concern lies beyond Thiam's case: The sudden enforcement of dormant legal provisions. The particular clause invoked against him was almost never used against political figures — except for a case in 2011 — and its reactivation raises questions about what other long-overlooked laws could be resurrected for political (or business) ends. The Abidjan court ruled in April that Thiam lost his Ivorian citizenship in 1987 when he became French, only regaining it in March 2025 after he renounced that nationality — too late to qualify for the late 2024 electoral roll update. Chichportich, Thiam's lawyer, argues that his client's dual nationality was long known and never contested, even during his tenure as a minister in the 1990s. Thiam has also pointed out that half of the country's football team holds dual citizenship — and that ignoring such realities would undermine the legitimacy of many public figures and national symbols. Questions of nationality — or — have been used to sideline political opponents in Côte d'Ivoire for more than a generation. Former President Henri Konan Bédié was accused of having a Ghanaian father. Thiam's case shows how arcane legal precedents could be used to great effect to undermine high-profile individuals. Some, including within Thiam's party, argue that he should have anticipated the legal outcome and renounced his French citizenship after being elected PDCI president in December 2023. One adviser to French companies in Abidjan, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Semafor: 'Investors like predictability. If the Thiam decision doesn't cause turbulence, the economy keeps growing, and the country stays on a steady course, no one will make a fuss — aside from the standard formal statements from Western embassies. Everyone has their role.' 'Among many business leaders, especially SME [small and medium enterprise] heads who lived through the 2010 crisis, there's real fear and apprehension,' said Georges Yao Yao, co-founder of Y3 Audit & Conseils. 'But there's also a shared sense that, given all the progress and investment since 2011, there are strong incentives not to risk sliding backwards.' The 'Thiam saga' shows how identity politics can still weigh heavily in Côte d'Ivoire, wrote Chatham House consulting fellow Paul Melly in a BBC article.
CairoScene
30-04-2025
- Health
- CairoScene
Kasr Al Ainy to Launch French-Language Medical Programme in 2025
Curricula for the first two years have been fully translated into French, with third-year materials nearing completion. Apr 30, 2025 Cairo University's Kasr Al Ainy Medical School will introduce a French-language MBBS programme in the 2025/26 academic year, its first offering tailored for Francophone African and Mediterranean students. The five-year programme, approved under Egypt's Ministry of Higher Education and university leadership, follows competency-based medical education (CBME) standards aligned with national guidelines (NARS 2017). Curricula for the first two years have been fully translated into French, with third-year materials nearing completion. A 2023 SWOT analysis identified 90 faculty members fluent in French, later expanded to 150 through intensive training with Cairo University's French Department. An oversight committee, formed in October 2023 and chaired by Professor Nadine Alaa Sharif, has finalised academic regulations and assessment frameworks combining formative evaluations and e-portfolios. The initiative, part of Kasr Al Ainy's strategic expansion since 2023, aims to strengthen ties with French-speaking African nations, particularly in the Nile Basin. The historic medical school, founded in 1827, currently trains approximately 12,000 students annually.
Broadcast Pro
29-04-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
APO Group and AFRICA24 to expand content distribution across Africa
All content distributed by APO Group—including text, images, video, and audio—will be made available on AFRICA24 Group's website in both English and French. APO Group, the pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service, has announced a new content agreement with AFRICA24, Africa's major TV and digital media company. Under the partnership, all text, images, video and audio content distributed by APO Group will now be published on AFRICA24's website in both English and French. Founded in 2009 by Constant Nemale, AFRICA24 operates four major television and digital channels: AFRICA24 TV, the Francophone African news channel; AFRICA24 English, focused on English-speaking audiences; AFRICA24 Sport, covering sports news and competitions across Africa; and AFRICA24 Infinity, dedicated to the creative industries, culture, music, and art. The group has also made significant advances in the digital space with the launch of the 'myafrica24' application, Africa's first and only HD streaming platform available across smartphones, tablets, computers, and Smart TVs. The AFRICA24 Group also collaborates with prominent organisations such as Afreximbank, UBA, the African Development Bank (AfDB), UNECA, the World Bank, the IMF, the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), Attijariwafa Bank Group and the OCP Group. This partnership with APO Group will give AFRICA24 access to premium content from over 300 multinational corporations, major international institutions, sports organisations and African governments, further enriching its digital platform. For APO Group, this marks another step in expanding its network of strategic media partnerships across Africa and internationally. Both organisations anticipate mutual benefits from the partnership: AFRICA24 gains a steady flow of high-quality content, while APO Group's clients enjoy greater visibility through one of Africa's most influential media platforms. Currently, APO Group content is automatically published on over 320 African news websites, as well as international platforms like Bloomberg Terminal, Thomson Reuters Eikon, Lexis Nexis and Factiva. Constant Nemale, Founder and Chairman of AFRICA24 Group, said: 'APO Group is the undisputed leader in high-quality news and certified content from organisations operating in Africa. We are delighted to be able to strengthen our online presence by publishing some of the most important and relevant information about Africa.' Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, Founder and Chairman of APO Group, added: 'APO Group is always committed to offering its customers direct access to the heart of Africa and beyond. The AFRICA24 Group has the most dominant African television channels in their segment. The AFRICA24 Group enjoys the confidence of Africa's political decision-makers and business leaders, as well as Africa's international partners. We share the same vision of changing the narrative about Africa and bringing positive African news to new audiences around the world.'
