Mayan priests started off ceremonies aimed at marking the end of the current era in the Mayan long-count calendar today, with dancing, incense and rituals designed to thank the gods.

Mexican authorities set up emergency shelters and cruise ships shifted course as Hurricane Rina strengthened off the Caribbean coast today, following a projected track through Cancun and the resort-filled Mayan Riviera, Mexico’s most popular tourist destination.

Part of the stage for a weekend concert by Elton John at Mexico’s famed Chichen Itza ruins collapsed as it was being built, injuring three workers, authorities said today.

Stonehenge has beaten off competition from the London Eye, Greenwich Observatory and St Paul’s Cathedral to make it into a global poll to decide the new 7 wonders of the world.

A plane carrying 16 US tourists and three crew members on a visit to Mayan ruins crashed in the state of Yucatan yesterday. All aboard died.