Iranians freed

Dubai, Jan. 9 (Reuters): Syrian rebel groups have freed 48 Iranians captured over recent months in the country in exchange for prisoners held by Syrian security services, Iran’s state-run Press TV said today.

The report has not been confirmed.

Labour unrest

De Doorns (Reuters): South African police fired rubber bullets to disperse hundreds of striking farm workers in the grape-growing Western Cape area on Wednesday. The farm workers want their minimum daily wage of 69 rand be increased to 150 rand

Sudan loan

Abu Dhabi (Reuters): Sudan has secured a $1.5- billion loan from a Chinese bank that was guaranteed by state oil firm China National Petroleum Corp, Sudan’s finance minister Ali Mahmoud said on Wednesday.

Iraq border

Baghdad (Reuters): Iraq has closed a border crossing with Jordan after Sunni Muslim demonstrators blocked a highway to Syria and Jordan as part of mass protests challenging Shia Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s government.