International
Nearly 4,000 forced to evacuate Eiffel Tower after bomb threat
PARIS (AP) — A bomb threat and the discovery of a suspicious package spurred French authorities to briefly evacuate nearly 4,000 tourists from the Eiffel Tower on Wednesday, tower officials and police said.
 
No explosives were found, and the site in the French capital was reopened to visitors more than two hours after the original warning, said a Paris police official.
 
Police officers cordoned off the sandy plaza beneath the tower and soldiers in camouflage gear patrolled the site after the evacuation.
 
NATO forces Gadhafi troops to roll back as rebels try to organize
BENGHAZI, Libya (AP) — NATO ships began patrolling off Libya’s coast Wednesday as airstrikes, missiles and energized rebels forced Moammar Gadhafi’s tanks to roll back from two key western cities, including one that was the hometown of army officers who tried to overthrow him in 1993.
 
Libya’s opposition took haphazard steps to form a government in the east, as they and the U.S.-led force protecting them girded for prolonged and costly fighting.
 
Mexico says $4 million Mayan statue is a fake, sellers dispute
MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Mexican government says a Mayan-style statue that brought $4 million (euro2.9 million euros) at auction is a fake. The auctioneers say it is genuine.
 
The Paris-based gallery that sold the shield-toting, clay warrior figure says the attack on its authenticity is an attempt by Mexican officials to ruin the market for pre-Hispanic artifacts.
 
National
 
Big Island damage in Hawaii totals more than $14 million
KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (AP) — A county agency says the Big Island suffered more than $14 million in damage during a tsunami triggered by the earthquake in Japan.
 
Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Quince Mento says the new estimate includes $11.1 million in damage to businesses.
 
Hawaii News Now reports businesses that were affected include the Kona Inn and the King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. Residences incurred about $2.5 million. County facilities in Kona suffered $562,000.
 
Condom machine stolen from Washington state sports bar
BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) — A condom machine has been stolen from a shuttered Washington state sports bar, where fixtures are being auctioned off.
 
Police spokesman Mark Young also says an ATM machine was damaged in the break-in early Tuesday at the old Quarterback Pub. It’s been closed for more than a year.
 
The Bellingham Herald reports an auction company employee discovered the burglary.