Seized Egyptian artifacts on display at the Muhammed Ali Museum + This year’s World Cup had a lot of viewers
Cairo’s Muhammed Ali Museum is displaying some 70 Egyptian artifacts that were seized at Egypt’s ports before being smuggled January 25, the National reports. The exhibition aims to celebrate the palace’s historical anniversary and put a spotlight on authorities’ efforts to maintain the country’s heritage and its tangible valuables, the museum’s director Mohamed El Bardiny tells the news outlet. The palace also houses around 25k objects in storage that will be eventually showcased in 15 halls. Egypt has saved 29.3k illegally smuggled artifacts between 2011-2021, director of the Tourism and Antiquities Ministry’s antiquities repatriation department Shabaan Abdelgawad tells The National.
The 2022 World Cup pulled in over double the viewership than the last iteration: Global network BeIN Sports reported a 135% increase in viewership with 5.4 bn viewers tuning in to this year’s World Cup, compared to 2.3 bn viewers during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, according to a statement. Some 242.8 mn viewers watched the World Cup’s charged final match between France and Argentina.
Which countries watched the most: Qatar led the pack in terms of highest viewership with 93% of the adult population of viewers tuning in, Morocco came second (91%), followed by Lebanon (89%), Algeria (79%), and Egypt (72%).
Agritech and foodtech sectors are struggling to draw investors: VC investments in agritech and foodtech sectors plummeted 44% y-o-y in 2022 amid rising interest rates, costs and concerns over startups’ business models, the Financial Times reports. Companies in the two sectors raised just under USD 30 bn in 2022, according to preliminary analysis by PitchBook. The slump in agritech and foodtech investments in 2022 was more pronounced versus the overall decline of just over a third in total VC financing across all industries. Equity market volatility restricted IPOs, limiting exit options, which made investors reluctant to take part in later-stage funding rounds. The decline in funding raises the likelihood that there will be sector consolidation and more mergers and acquisitions in the upcoming year.
It’s a stark contrast to last year: VCs ramped up investments in various companies developing lab-grown or plant based proteins, vertical farms, and biological fertilizers in 2021, doubling investments amid increased awareness regarding agricultural and meat production and rising concerns over food security.