US–Zambia Deal: Zambia and the United States reaffirmed and deepened their strategic partnership on health, investment, critical minerals and border transparency during UNGA81 talks in New York. Economic Outlook: ZAMSTATS says Zambia’s economy grew 7.2% in Q2 2026, with growth supported by information and communication, agriculture, construction, mining and manufacturing. Energy & Renewables: Nava Limited commissioned a 100MW solar plant in Zambia through Maamba Solar Energy, with power evacuation started under a 20-year PPA with ZESCO. Mining & Value Addition: Zambia was selected for a UN mechanism to help resource-rich developing countries build critical energy transition mineral value chains, targeting more local processing and jobs. Business & Investment: Kenyan business leaders are set to engage at a Zambia-hosted golf and investment summit aimed at opening partnerships across sectors like energy, mining, agribusiness and tourism. Governance & Elections: The IEC ordered a three-level audit of the voters’ roll and election technology ahead of the 2028 National Assembly elections. Corporate Finance: Gemfields expects its interim net loss to widen to about $73m, though recoveries are improving. Climate Risk: El Niño heat is projected to cause major fatalities in the region, with a study flagging deaths in neighbouring countries including Zambia.