Iconic Mexican skyscraper to house hotel

September 15th, 2009 MEXICO CITY - A luxury hotel in the Mexican Caribbean resort city of Cancun is offering guests the opportunity to help poor Mayan communities in Quintana Roo state during their vacations. The "Lazos Mayas" (Maya Ties) project seeks to expand a volunteer programme to guests, who "each day show more interest in becoming involved in the destinations they visit", said representatives of the Ritz-Carlton Cancun Hotel, one of the most luxurious properties in the Mexican Caribbean.

September 9th, 2009 Hijackers hold Mexican plane on runwayMEXICO CITY — Hijackers are holding a flight from Cancun to Mexico City. Mexico Communications Secretary Juan Molinar says the plane is sitting on the runway at the Mexico City international airport.

August 29th, 2009 Mexico: anti-Mexican discrimination in US growingMEXICO CITY — A Mexican official says discrimination against Mexicans in the United States is growing and is most pronounced in areas where immigration is relatively new. Director of Consular Affairs and Protection Daniel Hernandez says that "where we are seeing the most complex, hard and deep-seated discrimination is in areas where immigration is new, where there may be fewer Mexicans." Hernandez says "precisely because there are fewer Mexicans, the discrimination is tougher," although he did not cite specific examples or causes for the trend in a talk Friday.

August 28th, 2009 Yosemite's hotel still closed after rock slideYOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. — Scientists are trying to determine if a boulder avalanche that forced the closure of a historic Yosemite hotel was a one-time event or a precursor of more rockslides to come.

August 23rd, 2009 Mexican president congratulates NASA astronautMEXICO CITY — Mexico's president is so excited about a NASA astronaut of Mexican descent that he invited him to dinner when the astronaut returns to Earth. President Felipe Calderon told Jose Hernandez that he is "very happy that your are putting Mexico's name in space." Hernandez was born in California and is the son of Mexican migrant workers.

August 10th, 2009 L.A. landmark Hotel Bel-Air closing for makeoverLOS ANGELES —The Hotel Bel-Air, which has served Hollywood stars since the 1940s, is closing for a glamorous makeover. Hotel spokeswoman Alisha Mahon says the Los Angeles landmark will close at the end of September for a two-year upgrade that includes building villas and spa facilities.

July 16th, 2009 Ilikai workers OK new contractHONOLULU — Union workers let go from their jobs at the Ilikai have ratified a new contract that will lead to the reopening of the iconic hotel in Waikiki. The outcome of Wednesday's vote was announced by union officials.

July 16th, 2009 What you talkin' bout, Willis? Sears Tower renamedCHICAGO — The Sears Tower has officially become the Willis Tower in a ceremony in downtown Chicago. The country's tallest building and one of the world's iconic skyscrapers was renamed Thursday after London-based insurance brokerage Willis Group Holdings as part of its deal to lease 140,000 square feet of space in the tower.

July 11th, 2009 Ilikai closes but will reopen with new union dealHONOLULU — A day after the iconic Ilikai hotel shut down, its new owner and a labor union say the Waikiki landmark will soon be back in business. Employees were downcast on their last day at work on Thursday, when hotel operations creased on order from New York-based iStar Financial Inc.

July 11th, 2009 Iconic Hawaii hotel to reopen under new union dealHONOLULU — Despite a dour economy and a Hawaii tourism industry that is in its roughest patch ever, four dozen employees of the iconic Ilikai hotel won their jobs back Friday when their labor union and the property's new owner inked a surprise deal. The Y-shaped, 30-story Ilikai was considered Hawaii's first luxury high-rise when it opened in 1964, and it gained more prominence when it was featured in the opening sequence of the hit TV series "Hawaii Five-0." The pact will lead to the hotel's reopening sometime soon — though neither the local UNITE HERE union nor the Waikiki hotel's owner, New York City-based iStar Financial Inc., are saying when.

July 9th, 2009 Iconic Waikiki hotel closesHONOLULU — The Y-shaped Ilikai hotel that has graced the Waikiki skyline for nearly five decades and hosted everyone from U.S. presidents to Elvis Presley is closing.

June 10th, 2009 Ben Stiller wants job with Mexican governmentMEXICO CITY — Ben Stiller wants a job with the Mexican government. At least that's what he is telling reporters here who grilled him about a May news conference in Washington, D.C., in which he allegedly cleansed his hands with anti-bacterial gel after shaking hands with Mexican reporters.

June 9th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - At least five people were killed and 35 injured Tuesday evening in a bomb blast at a five-star hotel in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, according to local TV reports. The blast occurred at the Pearl Continental Hotel, a heavily guarded five-star hotel in Peshawar, capital of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), the Express TV quoted police sources as saying.

May 5th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama, it seems, still needs to work on improving his Spanish, as he used the wrong word at the opening of the Cinco de Mayo celebrations at the White House. As he welcomed guests to observe the Mexican holiday, the US president called the event "Cinco de Cuatro" prompting giggles from the crowd before he corrected himself.

February 15th, 2009 MEXICO CITY - The US Coast Guard and Mexican Navy seized seven tonnes of cocaine on the high seas off Mexico's Pacific Coast, officials said Sunday. Investigators found the drugs in a fishing trawler near the coast off the southern Mexican province of Oaxaca.