World briefs

Wanted: rich older women interested in hot younger guys. Applicants must be over 35, earn at least $500,000 a year or have a minimum of $4 million in liquid assets, entrusted assets or divorce settlement.

That's the basis of a speed-dating event organized by a New York entrepreneur bringing together 20 "sugar mamas" and 20 "boy toys" vetted by an elite New York matchmaker.

Set to take place at Manhattan's 230 Fifth club on February 7, the event has attracted more than just wealthy divorcees.

Speed-dating pairs up prospective couples for face-to-face meetings that last just a few minutes. The partners rotate over the course of the evening, allowing participants to make the acquaintance of many potential partners.

"I find younger guys will usually be totally into you while older guys will be looking over your shoulder at a younger woman," said Gail Garrison, 44, a fashion designer and former model.

Student tries to ski home

As unusually cold weather blankets much of central and southern China in snow and closes roads, one student had a bright idea about how to get home for the Lunar New Year holiday - he would ski.

The university student from Jingzhou in the central province of Hubei wanted to get back to his home city of Wuhan, 200 kilometres to the east, the Changjiang Daily said.

"So he had a fantastic idea. He hired or borrowed some ski poles, skis and the rest of the equipment, bought some snow gear, packed some water and snacks and got on the highway," said the report.

But he was spotted by police, who picked him up and took him to a bus station.

Mexico's oldest cantina

With beers in hand, hundreds of former patrons have protested the closing of Mexico's oldest cantina, where Cuban President Fidel Castro, revolutionary Che Guevara and Mexican leaders all once drank.

Supporters called El Nivel (The Level) a national cultural treasure. The drinking dive, which was handed the first cantina license in 1855, closed on January 2 after losing a long legal battle against the owners of the building, the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

Demonstrators, many drinking from beer cans, protested outside the padlocked door of the bar. "We consider it a place of learning at the university of life," said one protester.

Mexico is dotted with cantinas, mostly no-frills bars where tequila and beer dominate the drinks list and hearty traditional food is served. When Cuban President Fidel Castro lived in Mexico in the 1950s he too frequented the bar with guerrilla icon Ernesto 'Che' Guevara. Castro set out on his Cuban revolution from Mexico.

Winner ready to give it all

Retired hospital porter Steve Smith, who is suffering from a potentially fatal heart defect, won almost £19 million on Britain's National Lottery - but said he would give it all up if he could spend a few more years living with his wife Ida.

"I have a one in 10 chance of living. It's like a ticking time bomb," said the 58-year-old Smith, enjoying a bittersweet glass of celebratory champagne with his wife Ida.

Mr Smith, who has an aortic aneurysm, told reporters when collecting his cheque: "It's Ida I worry for, it's leaving her behind. I would give all that back if I am allowed to still be with her... "

Mr Smith landed the giant prize with an extra stroke of luck - the couple stopped off on the way home from a family visit to buy some lucky dip tickets and it was one of those which hit the jackpot.

Ban the patio heaters!

The patio heaters warming drinkers and diners on the pavements of European countries are also warming the planet's climate and should be banned, according to a European Parliament report that could be adopted today.

Environmentalists argue that heaters not only pump heat directly into the atmosphere but also climate-damaging CO2, while owners of pubs and bars say they need them to help retain customers driven outside by smoking bans.

"Patio heaters are scandalous because they are burning fossil fuels in the open sky, so producing vast quantities of CO2 with very little heat benefit," said European parliamentarian Fiona Hall, who wrote the report criticising the pace of energy reforms in Europe.

"We urge the Commission to set a timetable for completely taking off the market some appliances that are intrinsically inefficient, such as patio heaters," she added.

According to UK government statistics, outdoor heaters produce about 22,200 tonnes of CO2 a year, compared with around 21 million tonnes from household heating and hot water.