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AZZURRI GROUP LAUNCHES ITS 2024 SUSTAINABLE DINING REPORT AND ACHIEVES FURTHER REDCUTIONS IN CARBON EMISSIONS

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Market-leading operator of ASK Italian, Zizzi and Coco di Mama launches third annual Sustainable Dining Report revealing it reduced its GHG emissions intensity by 7% in 2024 which was delivered against an expanding restaurant portfolioReduction in operational emissions driven by 1.3 million kHh less electricity consumed, equivalent to serving 1.9 million pizzas annually Partnering with like-minded suppliers delivered carbon reductions in the Group’s value chain, for instance, the introduction of Wildfarmed flour at ASK Italian helped cut the business’ dough footprint by 50%Amidst a period of growth, the Group opened three more SKA Gold certified restaurants, ensuring key sustainability metrics are met when opening and refurbishing restaurants across the portfolioThe Group also continues to be invested in supporting communities by donating and redistributing over 250,000 meals to local communities since 2022

LONDON, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Azzurri Group, the hospitality platform investing in leading businesses including ASK Italian, Zizzi and Coco di Mama, today launches its fourth annual Sustainable Dining Report.

During FY24, the company delivered a strong financial performance, opening additional restaurants, expanding retail offerings and growing its portfolio with Boojum, Dave’s Hot Chicken and Openr.

During this period of growth, Azzurri Group achieved a reduction in total carbon emissions across its core businesses. This reduction was achieved both in absolute terms and an even greater intensity reduction of 7% (tCO2e/ £1m turnover), building on last year’s reported year-on-year reductions of 9.7%. This progress demonstrates Azzurri’s commitment to becoming a net zero business by 2040 and a reflection of how the business is integrating responsible stewardship at every level of its operations.

Restaurants are continuously monitored and incentivised on energy efficiency. Innovative behavioural campaigns were at the heart of the electricity reduction achieved in FY24. The Group also continues to work on its Scope 3 emissions hot spots and to devise strategies to reduce related emissions by constantly reviewing food offering and partnering with like-minded businesses. ASK Italian’s partnership with regenerative flour producer Wildfarmed is an example of a collaboration that allows the brand to offer a fantastic tasting product while reducing carbon emissions.

Linking performance with lower carbon emissions is also key to the Group’s design and construction strategy. The Group has opened three more sites with a SKA-Gold certification, a rigorous third party verified assessment aiming to promote environmental best practices within building fitouts. Zizzi Bridgend, Ask Italian Merry Hill and Zizzi Chatham were amongst the latest to achieve the accolade.

The Group also remains focussed on our communities. It made fast progress on its goal of donating half a million meals by 2030, already having donated and redistributed over 250,000 meals since 2022. This has been possible thanks to a range of strategies, such as Coco Di Mama’s committed to redistributing surplus food with food banks with Olio’s support and Ask Italian’s donations to FareShare and local food banks.

The 2024 Sustainable dining report captures the above and shares further details on the Group’s progress against its Responsible Business Goals and how these contribute to wider topics, such as the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Steve Holmes, Chief Executive Officer of Azzurri Group, commented:

“Since we defined our purpose, mission and values back in 2021, our commitment to being a more sustainable business has grown year on year.

I am proud to see our teams lead with collaboration, innovation and dedication, embedding ESG into their day-to-day operations. This approach has meant sustainability is now woven into our decision making and the way we operate. Ultimately, this has strengthened our business, making us more resilient and more adept at building better food businesses.

I’m grateful to our teams who have embraced the opportunity to be a better business for our people and planet. Whether it’s through the 500 volunteer hours we have contributed since 2021, or our collective efforts to reduce carbon emissions across operations and supply chains, our teams have risen to the challenge to make sustainability happen across our business.”

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/azzurri-group-launches-its-2024-sustainable-dining-report-and-achieves-further-redcutions-in-carbon-emissions-302347377.html

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Melody Party Offers Over 20,000 Songs and Adds More Than a Thousand New Tracks Monthly, Enhancing Its Online Karaoke Experience

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October 27, 2026

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SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Melody Party is a music social app featuring a variety of activities, including Mic Grab, Artist Mafia, and Singing Battle. Through its online karaoke feature, SING A SONG, the app brings the traditional karaoke experience online, removing time and location constraints and offering a music experience that combines real-time singing with social interaction.

SING A SONG features an extensive library of more than 20,000 songs, with over a thousand new songs added every month. Its diverse selection includes popular K-pop tracks, classic Korean songs, and karaoke favorites. The feature offers a free-use model, allowing users to start singing their chosen songs without paying a separate fee. This helps reduce the time and cost associated with visiting traditional coin-operated karaoke venues, making it easier to enjoy singing as part of everyday life.

In terms of functionality, SING A SONG supports pitch adjustment and independent volume controls for vocals and accompaniment, allowing users to customize their singing experience according to their preferences. Users can also create online karaoke rooms, invite friends to sing together in real time, and enjoy voice chat and social interaction.

By continuously expanding its song library and offering diverse music-based interactive experiences, Melody Party continues to strengthen its music ecosystem. Through SING A SONG, the platform aims to create an accessible, highly interactive online music social space.

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SOURCE Melody Party

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Drawing new strength from 20-year legacy, IAACA calls on global counterparts to join annual conference to fortify integrity

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October 27, 2026

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MARRAKECH, Morocco, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA), an independent and non-political anti-corruption organisation with over 190 member anti-corruption authorities (ACAs) worldwide, will co-host IAACA Annual Conference 2026 in Marrakech, Morocco next month together with the Independent Commission Against Corruption of Hong Kong, China (ICAC) and the National Authority for Probity, Prevention and Fight Against Corruption of Morocco (INPPLC) to chart a path for the global graft fight and explore cutting-edge approaches to tackle emerging corruption challenges.

Themed “Building on 20 Years of Legacy: Drawing Strength from the Past, Guarding Global Integrity for the Future”, the international event will not only mark the 20th anniversary of the IAACA, but also provide a dynamic forum for IAACA members to exchange insights and enhance co-operation.

Calling on international counterparts to participate in the conference scheduled for November 25, IAACA President Mr Woo Ying-ming, who also serves as ICAC Commissioner, said that “As the IAACA marks its 20th anniversary, the conference will bring together global anti-corruption community at a pivotal moment for collective action. I anticipate that the valuable insights and new approaches generated through the international synergy will chart a resilient strategic path for us to navigate integrity risks and draw strength from our shared legacy to guard global integrity for generations to come.”

During the conference, renowned international experts from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Basel Institute on Governance, the International Anti-Corruption Academy, and global anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies and institutions will shed light on harnessing artificial intelligence in the fight against corruption, safeguarding integrity within global climate and biodiversity frameworks and analysing global corruption measurement and systemic effectiveness.

Following the conference, the ICAC, the INPPLC, the IAACA and the UNODC will co-organise a training seminar on leveraging AI in combating corruption.

While the ICAC and INPPLC will share how AI and new technology can reshape the future of anti-graft enforcement and corruption prevention, the UNODC will provide a global perspective on using AI models in financial crime investigations and addressing the operational relevance, legal robustness and adaptability across jurisdictions.

For details of the conference and training, please visit:
https://www.icac.org.hk/icac/iaaca-morocco-2026/index.html

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SOURCE International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA)

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Viettel moves 100 million subscribers to home-grown cloud-native charging in three months – with zero downtime

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October 27, 2026

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HANOI, Vietnam, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Viettel High Technology Industries Corporation (Viettel High Tech), part of Viettel Group, has migrated more than 100 million subscribers and some 5,000 tariff plans at Viettel, Vietnam’s largest mobile operator, to vOCS 4.0, its in-house cloud-native charging system. The three-month cutover ran on a live national network with no service disruption.

Replacing a charging system is one of the riskiest projects an operator can undertake, which is why many stick with legacy platforms. Viettel High Tech reduced the risk through real-time data synchronization, parallel running and a phased cutover, with instant rollback at every stage.

The project won the Telecom Review Excellence Awards 2026 prize for Best Technology Deployment in Asia, a first for a Vietnamese company.

What it means for operators:

Scale: more than 300,000 transactions per second at latency below 5 milliseconds, across 2G–5G and fixed services on one platformLower cost: up to 50% less hardware investment than the previous generation, by sharing infrastructure with the networkAgility: new tariff plans in hours instead of days, new features three times faster and deployments about 30% fasterResilience: two active data centers about 2,000 km apart and automatic recovery in under two minutes

Viettel High Tech developed every core layer in-house, from a telecom-grade cloud-native platform and NFV-MANO orchestration to real-time charging, subscriber and balance management.

“Passing rigorous tests of real-time self-diagnosis and self-recovery is what allows an operator to keep its promise of 24/7 service to customers,” said Luu Manh Ha, CEO of Viettel Networks, which operates the system on Viettel’s network in Vietnam. “Above all, owning the charging system means an operator is not dependent on foreign vendors – it safeguards digital sovereignty and preserves business flexibility.”

“The charging system is where an operator’s business strategy turns into revenue in real time,” said Nguyen Minh Quang, CEO of Viettel High Tech. “We believe vOCS 4.0 is ready to help operators worldwide capture the value of 5G and digital services.”

In 2017, vOCS 4.0’s predecessor, vOCS 3.0, replaced a foreign vendor’s platform for 90 million Viettel subscribers. Across both generations, vOCS serves more than 220 million subscribers in 11 countries. Viettel High Tech now offers vOCS 4.0 to operators worldwide.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/viettel-moves-100-million-subscribers-to-home-grown-cloud-native-charging-in-three-months–with-zero-downtime-302920106.html

SOURCE Viettel Group

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