No News On Mandela’s Health – As dawn broke over Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg on Thursday, journalists camping outside the facility had no clue about former president Nelson Mandela’s health condition. There was no word from any officials regarding his health. He was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday afternoon for what were described as routine tests. By the evening, a veil of silence was drawn over his condition. Staff at the hospital declined to speak to journalists who descended on the premises for news on the elder statesman. [mail&guardian]

Ferrer Ends Nadal’s Ozzie Open Title Hopes – Top seed and world number one Rafael Nadal of Spain has been knocked out of the Australian Open by compatriot and “friend” David Ferrer. Hampered by a thigh strain from the start of Wednesday’s quarterfinal, the nine-time grand slam champion was visibly suffering as he went down 6-4 6-2 6-3 at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena to his Davis Cup teammate. [cnn]

Richard Keys Quits Sky Sports Following Sexism Drama – The football anchorman had been under increasing pressure to quit after a series of leaks of footage showing him making inappropriate remarks. His fellow presenter, Andy Gray, had already been sacked by the broadcaster for his part in the scandal, which first erupted last weekend when details of a conversation between the pair was leaked to a Sunday newspaper. [telegraph]

China Plans a New Mega-City For 42 Million People – A city the size of Switzerland? If China gets its way, yes.
Some ambitious apparatchiks in southern China want to combine 9 cities to create an urban area the size of New Jersey and Vermont combined.The plan, announced in state media, would unite several existing cities in the prosperous Pearl River Delta region, including Guangzhou (12 million), Shenzhen (8.6 million), Dongguan (6.9 million) and six smaller cities. Together, these cities already account for about 10% of China’s economy. [time]

Polar Bear Swims Non-Stop For Nine Days To Find Ice – A polar bear swam continuously for over nine days, covering 687km (426 miles), a new study has revealed. Scientists studying bears around the Beaufort sea, north of Alaska, claim this endurance feat could be a result of climate change. Polar bears are known to swim between land and sea ice floes to hunt seals. But the researchers say that increased sea ice melts push polar bears to swim greater distances, risking their own health and future generations. Thanks, humans. [bbc]

Penelope Doing Great After Birth Of Son – Congratulations are in order for Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz, who welcomed their first child together over the weekend – a boy! “Penelope and Javier welcomed their first son into their family last week,” Cruz’s rep confirmed. “Both parents and baby are doing great.” The infant was born at Cedars Sinai Hospital in L.A and members of the couple’s family flew in from Spain for the birth: Cruz’s mother, brother and sister, plus Bardem’s mother. Stunning. [usmagazine]

Google Is Hiring 6,200 New Employees This Year – Narrowly pipping 2oceansvibe’s expansion plans, Google Inc. plans to hire more than 6,200 workers this year – boosting its work force by at least a quarter – in the biggest expansion yet by the Internet’s most profitable company. The hiring spree comes as President Barack Obama emphasized the need for more jobs during his State of the Union address Tuesday night. [nydailynews]

Jesse James Has More Nazi Pictures – Last year, a photo of Jesse James in a Nazi cap hailing Hitler was leaked. Today, two more pictures of Jesse James with Nazi imagery were released. In one of them, he’s riding around in a convertible smiling while his friend gives a sieg heil. In the other, he dresses a children’s book character, Flat Stanley, up as Adolf Hitler. An “insider” explains “he’s into history.” They added that Jesse isn’t a skinhead, “The swastika deal is to scare people. It’s part of biker culture.” [theblemish]

Toyota Recalls 1.7Million Cars Worldwide – Toyota recalled nearly 1.7 million cars worldwide Wednesday for fuel leaks, the latest in a ballooning number of quality problems that could add another dent to its tarnished reputation in the crucial U.S. market.
Toyota’s latest recalls are mostly in Japan, but they also include the IS and GS Lexus luxury models in North America, where the world’s No. 1 automaker faces the biggest obstacles to winning back customer trust. [msnbc]

Natalie Portman’s Engagement Ring Is Eco-Friendly – Natalie Portman’s stunning engagement ring is just as blinding as every other Hollywood ‘it’ girl’s, but leave it to the devoted vegan to flash an eco-friendly sparkler with an estimated value of $35,000. Portman’s ring was carefully designed by dancer-model fiancé Benjamin Millepied to include recycled platinum, an antique center stone and accenting pavé diamonds taken from a conflict-free mine [popeater]

Live Marimba On The Square – Young and viby Langa band, Abavuki Marimba, turns up the heat on The Square at the Cape Quarter with upbeat tunes this Sunday, January 30 and February 13 from 12pm to 2pm. Join us at one of the restaurants and take in these young masters and their intoxicating spirit. [capequarter]

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