The Los Angeles Fire Department says a blaze at the Universal Studios in Hollywood has now been contained but not extinguished. At the height of the fire, which broke out before dawn, more than 400 firefighters tackled the flames which destroyed a King Kong exhibit and a film set from Back to the Future. From Los Angeles, Rajesh Mirchandani reports.

"Plumes of black smoke, hundreds of meters high, billowed from a Hollywood landmark. More than 100 firefighters tackled the blaze on a giant sound stage, part of the famous Universal Studios complex. One filming stage was destroyed and as many as three blocks of movie facades, entire street fronts made of wood resembling New York and New England. The fire was reported just before dawn. At least one explosion took place. Firefighters believe it may have been a propane fuel tank. Hundreds of major movies and TV shows have been made in Universal Studios, including Jurassic Park, Psycho and CSI. Thousands of tourists visit every year, hotels on site werel not evacuated, and management said the studios will open as usual, although tours would be affected."

Natascha Kampusch, the Austrian woman who is kidnapped as a child and kept in a windowless cell for 8 years is making her debut as a television chat show host. For the first episode of Natascha Kampusch Meets..., she's interviewed the Formula One motoracing champion Niki Lauda.

BBC news.