Kuwait's new opera house catches fire

Kuwait City : Flames ripped through Kuwait's new opera house on Monday, just three months after the futuristic $770-million (£617.4 million) venue opened to the public.

A thick plume of black smoke rose from the waterfront Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Centre, television footage showed.

Firefighters on a crane sprayed water onto the building, a structure covered with geometric Islamic patterns.

Broadway musical "Cats" was due to open there on Thursday, according to the centre's website.