A solemn ceremony was held in the northern city of Hai Phong on August 10 to disperse the ashes of Merle Ratner, a leftist and anti-war activist of the US and also a close friend of Vietnam. Representatives of Vietnamese agencies and organisations offered their deep condolences to the bereaved family over the sudden passing of Ratner in a traffic accident in the US on February 5, 2024. Source: Vietnami News Agency