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Egypt condoles with Venezuela after deadly earthquakes
via Egypt Today2 min read
Egypt has extended its condolences to Venezuela following two earthquakes that struck the South American country, resulting in at least 164 fatalities. The Egyptian foreign ministry expressed full solidarity with the Venezuelan government and people, offering sincere condolences to the victims' families and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. Venezuela declared a state of emergency after the earthquakes, which occurred off its coast on Wednesday, causing widespread destruction and building collapses. The US Geological Survey reported a 7.2 magnitude earthquake followed by a stronger 7.5 magnitude tremor. Interim President Delcy Rodr铆guez confirmed the death toll and nearly 1,000 injuries, noting that rescue teams are actively searching for survivors. The hardest-hit area was La Guaira state, near the capital, which Rodr铆guez described as a "disaster zone."
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Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with Speaker of the Arab Parliament Mohammed Al-Yamahi in Cairo on Thursday to discuss strengthening joint Arab action in response to regional challenges. The meeting precedes the eighth Conference of the Arab Parliament and Speakers of Arab Councils and Parliaments, scheduled for Saturday in the Egyptian capital. Abdelatty praised the Arab Parliament's role in supporting Arab positions and amplifying the Arab voice in international forums, serving common interests and reflecting the aspirations of Arab peoples. Discussions also focused on enhancing the Arab Parliament's role within the League of Arab States, especially as a new phase of joint Arab action begins with Nabil Fahmy assuming office as secretary-general of the league on July 1, 2026. Abdelatty emphasized the importance of complementarity among the league's institutions to address challenges, develop joint Arab action mechanisms, and advance collective Arab interests. He also highlighted the significance of Arab youth in parliamentary work. The talks underscored the need for continued efforts to strengthen Arab solidarity and activate parliamentary diplomacy to defend Arab interests in international forums, promoting security, stability, and sustainable development across the region.
The Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company EETC and Heca Data have signed a memorandum of understanding to evaluate the electricity requirements for a planned data center project in Egypt. The agreement, witnessed by Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, will involve studying the project's anticipated electricity demand, grid connection needs, implementation stages, and technical options for power supply. The assessment will also consider the project's impact on the national grid, identify necessary reinforcements, and explore the role of renewable energy, battery storage, and other power solutions. This initiative is part of Egypt's strategy to attract investment in data centers and develop a national framework for the sector, offering investors insights into available locations, renewable energy resources, incentives, and infrastructure readiness. Minister Esmat stated that the Ministry is working to support the localization of the data center industry and provide the necessary electricity, aligning with Egypt's broader goals to localize advanced technology and expand renewable energy generation, targeting 45% renewables in the energy mix within two years. He also highlighted the increasing importance of data centers for artificial intelligence growth due to the substantial computing capacity required for AI applications.
Egypt's food industry exports increased by 7.1 percent year-on-year in the first four months of 2026, totaling approximately $2.43 billion, according to the Food Export Council. This figure is up from $2.27 billion during the same period in 2025. Spain saw the fastest growth, with Egyptian food shipments more than doubling to $103 million from $51 million, a 103 percent increase. Saudi Arabia remained a major market, with exports rising 21 percent to $213 million. Exports to Palestine grew 47 percent to $81 million, and to China by 42 percent to $82 million. The UK experienced a 61 percent increase to $61 million. Shipments to Jordan rose 22 percent to $110 million, while Iraq saw a 26 percent increase to $87 million. Exports to the United States reached $160 million, up 11 percent, and Yemen recorded a 29 percent growth to $50 million. Tunisia also showed significant growth, with exports rising 77 percent to $22 million. These markets collectively accounted for about 40 percent of Egypt's total food industry exports from January to April 2026, with their combined value reaching $969 million, an increase of approximately $235 million from the previous year.