Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has revealed that Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), will soon regain his freedom.

The governor made the disclosure while speaking during a monthly media chat at the Government House Banquet Hall in Umuahia.

Governor Otti revealed ongoing discussions with the presidency about Kanu’s continued detention. He, however, shied away from revealing specific details, stressing that sensitive steps are being taken behind the scenes.

The Abia State-born activist has been a vocal advocate for Biafra’s secession and independence from Nigeria. He has remained in prison since his re-arrest in 2021.

BEIJING (Reuters) -China and Indonesia have agreed to strengthen cooperation in key sectors, including lithium, new energy vehicles, green energy and tourism, according to a joint statement released on Saturday.

The statement followed a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who is visiting China through November 10, the first country he has visited since taking office last month.

Prabowo, who won Indonesia’s presidential election in February, also chose China as the first country to visit as president elect, underscoring Jakarta’s commitment to strengthening its strategic ties with Beijing.

“China and Indonesia will work together to cultivate new drivers of global development, exploring cooperation potential in areas such as new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaics, while seizing opportunities in digital economy and green development sectors,” the statement said.

Both nations will strengthen the global energy transition partnership and jointly ensure the security of global mineral supply and industrial chains, it added.

On Sunday, Chinese battery materials producer GEM signed a deal with PT Vale Indonesia to build a high-pressure acid leaching plant in Central Sulawesi, to secure nickel resources, a Shenzhen filing showed. Prabowo witnessed the signing.

The nickel industry in Indonesia, the world’s largest producer of the metal, is dominated by Chinese companies like Tsingshan Holding Group and Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt.

In efforts to revive and surpass pre-pandemic tourism levels, the two countries will introduce new visa measures, including multi-entry long-term visas, and encourage more direct flights and destinations based on demand.

During Prabowo’s visit, both sides signed several cooperation deals, including in housing and the export of fresh coconuts from Indonesia to China.

Qatar has reportedly concluded that the Hamas political office in Doha no longer serves its purpose. Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told Donald Trump that he is willing to work toward peace.

Qatar will no longer mediate between Israel and the militant group Hamas, according to media reports Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Israeli airstrikes on Tyre killed seven people, including two children Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spoke on the phone with US President-elect Donald Trump

Here are the main developments regarding Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Gaza and the wider Middle East region on Saturday, November 9:

Qatar pulls out of Gaza cease-fire talks — reports

Qatar has reportedly pulled out of talks for a cease-fire in Gaza, according to media reports on Saturday.

An unnamed official told news agencies Reuters and AFP that Doha would no longer mediate between Israel and militant group Hamas until both sides “demonstrate a sincere willingness to return to the negotiating table.”

“The Qataris informed both the Israelis and Hamas that as long as there is a refusal to negotiate a deal in good faith, they cannot continue to mediate,” the diplomatic source told AFP.

According to the reports, the Gulf monarchy concluded that Hamas’ political office in Doha “no longer serves its purpose.”

A senior Hamas official later told AFP that the militant group had not received an order from Qatar to leave the country.

“We have nothing to confirm or deny regarding what was published by an unidentified diplomatic source, and we have not received any request to leave Qatar,” the unnamed Hamas official said from Doha.

zc/jcg (AFP, dpa, AP, Reuters)

Israeli airstrikes kill 7 in Lebanon

Israeli airstrikes killed at least seven people, including two children, in the Lebanese city of Tyre, the Lebanese Health Ministry said on Saturday.

The Health Ministry said body parts had been found and would be “identified with DNA testing.”

Another 46 people were injured during the strikes, the Health Ministry added.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said the strikes caused “massive damage to dozens of homes.”

The Israeli military said it previously told residents to evacuate the area.

Palestinian leader Abbas tells Trump he’s ready to work for Gaza peace

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed readiness to work towards a “just and comprehensive peace” in Gaza during a phone call with US President-elect Donald Trump, his office said in a statement on Saturday.

Abbas congratulated Trump on his victory and expressed his “readiness to work with President Trump to achieve a just and comprehensive peace based on international legitimacy.” “President Trump stressed that he will work to stop the war, and his readiness to work with president Abbas and the concerned parties in the region and the world to make peace in the region,” the statement said.