Head of Vietnam Communist Party to visit United States

Head of Vietnam Communist Party to visit United States

HANOI, Vietnam

The powerful head of Vietnam’s Communist Party will travel to the United States for the first time next week and said he expects President Barack Obama to visit Vietnam later this year.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said Friday he hopes to build trust and create more opportunities to improve relations between one-time foes as they mark the 20th anniversary of normalized diplomatic ties. They also are being brought closer together by shared concerns over China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.

The White House said Trong would arrive Tuesday, and the leaders would discuss trade, human rights and defense cooperation. It did not confirm a visit by Obama to Vietnam, which would be his first.

Islamic State says it destroyed artifacts

BEIRUT

Islamic State group militants have destroyed six archaeological pieces from the historic town of Palmyra that were confiscated from a smuggler, the group said.

An IS statement, released late Thursday, said the six busts were found when the smuggler was stopped at a checkpoint. The issue was referred to an Islamic court in the IS-held northern Syrian town of Manbij, which ordered that they be destroyed and the man be whipped.

Photographs released by the group show IS militants destroying the busts with large hammers. Another photo shows the smuggler being whipped.

Baltimore police investigate sign in transport van

BALTIMORE

Police in Baltimore are investigating a sign posted inside a police transport van that tells passengers: “Enjoy your ride, cuz we sure will!”

WBAL-TV reports that a woman sent the station photos she snapped Tuesday when van doors were left open near the central district station.

Baltimore police released a statement Friday calling the sign “concerning and unacceptable.” The department says Deputy Police Commissioner Dean Palmere has ordered an inspection of all department vehicles, and internal investigations will be initiated “when appropriate.”

The revelation comes after six officers were charged in the death of Freddie Gray, who was fatally injured in police custody. An autopsy report leaked to the Baltimore Sun shows Gray died of a high-impact injury as a result of not being secured in a transport van.

400-foot Ferris wheel stops; riders safely taken off

ORLANDO, Fla.

Firefighters safely evacuated all 66 riders stranded aboard The Orlando Eye after the 400-foot Ferris wheel that towers above central Florida abruptly halted Friday afternoon, authorities said.

Orange County Fire Rescue spokeswoman Kathleen Kennedy told The Associated Press no one was injured and everyone was taken off in an evacuation operation lasting three hours. She said the ride had initially stopped for more than 45 minutes.

Power was restored via a backup generator, and firefighters on ladders clambered atop the enclosed capsules after each was slowly lowered to the ground, Kennedy said. She said the emergency crews had to reach in through a hatch and manually open the doors of the gondolas because of limited power.

“All guests are safely evacuated,” she told AP by phone Friday evening, minutes after the last person was taken off.

Associated Press