WORLD NEWS/ WORLD'S TALLEST BUILDING OPENS IN DUBAI

The world's tallest building opened tonight with a dramatic fireworks ceremony in the Gulf emirate of Dubai. The Burj Khalifa was revealed to be 2716ft high, far taller than the previous record holder, Taipei 101. Known as the Burj Dubai during construction, the tower has been renamed after the leader of Dubai's oil-rich neighbour, Abu Dhabi. Last month, Abu Dhabi gave Dubai a handout of $10bn to help it pay off its debts.

Construction of the Burj Dubai began in 2004, at the height of an economic boom. Clad in 28,000 glass panels, the tower has 160 floors and more than 500,000 sq m of space for offices and flats. The tower also lays claim to the highest occupied floor, the tallest service lift, and the world's highest observation deck, on the 124th floor. The world's highest mosque and swimming pool will meanwhile be located on the 158th and 76th floors.