Zambia Election Day: Polls opened in a one-day presidential, parliamentary and local vote, with about 8.7 million registered voters expected to decide whether incumbent Hakainde Hichilema gets a second term; the contest is widely seen as a referendum on his economic reforms amid stubborn cost-of-living pressure, food and energy prices, unemployment and unreliable electricity. Election Integrity & Security: Authorities say they have arrested people over an alleged plot to disrupt the electoral process, including claims of foreign military training and seized K7.3 million linked to the Tonse Alliance; opposition leaders dispute the fairness of the process. International Watch: US senators urged peaceful, free and fair elections, while AU-COMESA observers face calls for disclosure and recusal over perceived conflicts. Banking & Dividends: Standard Bank reported record first-half headline earnings and lifted its dividend by 10%, signalling improving business conditions. Pensions Push: NAPSA disbursed interest-free advances to 565 pensioners as part of pension reforms. Industry & Infrastructure: Mulungushi Textiles resumed production and has dispatched nearly two million metres of fabric since April; government also commissioned dams in Pemba and Kalomo to boost water supply for communities and farming.