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MPs Unite for World Alzheimer’s Month, Wearing Forget-Me-Not Pins to Support 700,000 People in Canada Living with Dementia

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OTTAWA, ON, Sept. 20, 2024 /CNW/ – This September, Members of Parliament are showing their solidarity with the 700,000 people in Canada living with dementia by wearing Forget-Me-Not pins during World Alzheimer’s Month. In a collaborative effort led by the Alzheimer Society of Canada, MPs are invited to wear the pins on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, as part of a special day of recognition in Parliament.

Dementia, a condition affecting millions of people globally, is a rapidly growing health crisis in Canada, projected to affect 1.7 million people in Canada by 2050. The personal and financial toll of dementia is immense, with costs exceeding $10 billion annually in Canada alone.

The Alzheimer Society uses the Forget-Me-Not flower as a symbol of memory loss– one of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Wearing the pin serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing need for advocacy, research, and support for all of those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Dr. Luca Pisterzi, Vice President, Research Programs and Evidence at the Alzheimer Society of Canada, highlights the importance of this gesture:

“By wearing the Forget-Me-Not pin, MPs and Canadians alike are sending a clear message: we stand with families and caregivers impacted by dementia, and we are committed to raising awareness and advocating for greater support.”

MPs across all political parties will come together in a unified display of support, with additional calls for members to share their personal messages of solidarity on social media, helping spread awareness to their constituencies and beyond.

The Growing Global Dementia Crisis: Findings from the World Alzheimer Report 2024

The global burden of dementia continues to worsen,  as highlighted in the World Alzheimer Report 2024, published by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) and the London School of Economics (LSE). The report found that:

80% of people incorrectly believe dementia is a normal part of ageing, a significant increase from 66% in 2019.65% of health and care professionals also hold this misconception, up from 62% in 2019.88% of people living with dementia report experiencing discrimination due to their condition, an increase from 83% in 2019.

These alarming figures highlight the importance of challenging stigmas associated with dementia. Paola Barbarino, CEO of ADI, stressed the need for better education around dementia as a medical condition:

“This inaccurate view of dementia is a major concern, particularly from healthcare professionals, as it can delay diagnosis and access to the right treatment, care, and support.”

Stigma around dementia is leading to increasing social isolation, with 31% of people living with dementia avoiding social situations due to concerns about how they will be perceived, while 47% of caregivers report declining invitations from family and friends. This isolation not only affects emotional well-being but can also exacerbate symptoms of dementia, creating a vicious cycle that hinders the quality of life for those affected.

“Despite these challenges, there are reasons for hope. Public confidence in tackling dementia-related stigma has grown, with 64% of respondents in high-income countries feeling more empowered to challenge discrimination than in 2019,” says Dr. Pisterzi. “By coming together, we can create a movement that drives meaningful change, supporting those affected and pushing for advancements in research, care, and understanding.”

Canadians can participate in World Alzheimer’s Month by sharing their support on social media using the hashtags #WorldAlzMonth, #TimeToActOnDementia and #TimeToActOnAlzheimers.

About the Alzheimer Society of Canada

The Alzheimer Society’s mission is to alleviate the personal and social impacts of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and to promote the search for causes, treatments, and a cure.

Website: alzheimer.ca
Instagram: instagram.com/alzheimercanada
X: twitter.com/AlzCanada

SOURCE Alzheimer Society of Canada

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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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