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Each morning, we select some of the most important stories from Saigon, the rest of Vietnam and beyond, and digest them into short, accessible links so you can easily keep up with current affairs.

Saigon

- HCMC chairman vows no ‘restricted zones’ for reporters at launch of new press center. [Tuoi Tre]

- Ho Chi Minh City wants luxury tax on mobile phones. [VnExpress]

Vietnam

- An Giang: solar power plant to join grid in June. [Vietnam+]

- Old Quarter litterbugs to face fines. [Dan Tri]

- Vietnamese woman in Kim Jong-nam assassination faces Malaysia ban. [VnExpress]

- Vietnam’s draft law on alcohol harm prevention not strong enough: conference. [Tuoi Tre]

- Hectares of pines poisoned in Lam Dong farmland grab. [VietnamNet]

- Bui Chu Church proposed to be turned into tourist site. [Dan Tri]

Other

- Children's social media use has ‘trivial’ effect on happiness – study. [The Guardian]

- A False Dawn for Journalists in Southeast Asia. [The Atlantic]

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