Hamburg - The Munich Chief of Police Wilhelm Schmidbauer was targeted by would-be-robbers in the South African city of Cape Town, German media reported on Tuesday.

Ironically, Schmidbauer was in South Africa to discuss, amongst other things, co-operation between Bavaria and South Africa for the
2010 World Cup, with one of the areas of co-operation being security.

The sueddeutsche website said that the car in which Schmidbauer and an official of a foundation where traveling after a visit to a police station was surrounded by five youths, who tried to open the car doors and the boot.

When the driver noticed what was happening, he immediately sped of.

Johannesburg, Feb. 24 : Australian cricket selector David Boon has hinted that pace could be best option for the visitors in the upcoming first Test against the South Africans in Johannesburg.

Boon isn''''t so sure that the Wanderers pitch will suit a leg-spinner such as Bryce McGain.

Boon said all 14 members of Australia''''s touring party were in the mix for spots in the side, although off-spinner Nathan Hauritz appears a rank outsider.

Seoul  - South Korea and Iraq on Tuesday signed a 3.55-billion-dollar deal to support Bagdad in rebuilding the country in exchange for substantial oil rights.

Seoul agreed to aid in reconstruction efforts and rebuilding Iraq's infrastructure in exchange for the rights to about 2 billion barrels of Iraqi oil produced in the region around Basra in southern Iraq, the office of President Lee Myung Bak said.

"With this agreement, our side can now acquire rights to develop oil reserves in Iraq's Basra region, where most Iraqi oil is produced," the presidential office said in a press release after the deal was signed by Lee and his visiting Iranian counterpart Jalal Talabani.

Johannesburg  - The world's third-biggest platinum producer Lonmin announced plans Tuesday to lay off up to 5,500 workers at two operations in South Africa.

Production of platinum, a precious metal used in car manufacturing and jewellery, has been severely affected by the global downturn.

Lonmin's announcement follows the announcement earlier this month by leading platinum producer Anglo Platinum, the South African arm of mining giant Anglo American, that it planned to cut 10,000 jobs in 2009.

Cape Town - South Africa is a holiday paradise for families with children - who can ride elephants, pet cheetahs and splash in the Indian Ocean - to name just a few activities. It is also an ideal gateway to exotic Africa for families who do not want to do without European standards.

"An increasing number of tour operators offer trips tailor-made for kids," noted Stephan Gotta, who works for South African Tourism in Frankfurt, Germany.

"Hotels and restaurateurs have reacted to rising demand and geared accommodation and prices to families with children." Demand has grown steadily since 2007, he said.

The region around Cape Town is particularly suited for an exciting and relaxing stay in Africa.

Johannesburg - The former Methodist bishop, who will lead South Africa's new Congress