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Megan Thee Stallion is a Houston-native rapper that's known for her phrase "hot girl summer" and her music, which includes hits like "Girls in the Hood" and "WAP."

Unless youve been living under a rock, youve heard of the name Megan Thee Stallion. She's a 25-year-old rapper who entered the music scene in 2017 with her debut album Make It Hot and is now known for her hit single Savage, which catapulted into a viral TikTok dance.

The dance relieved thousands of people from the stresses of the impending pandemic and even landed in the consciousness of Beyonc, who delivered a remix just as successful as its predecessor. It grabbed the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and gave rise to a new dance routine on TikTok.

Stallion is a new albeit important force in the music industry. The Houston native started out as a teenager posting raps on SoundCloud and went on to launch social trends and garner hit singles like Savage, Hot Girl Summer and Girls in the Hood.

She's known for exhibiting her sexuality and inner confidence through impressive freestyles. But, her success didnt come without personal loss. She lost both her mother, who had introduced her to hip-hop, and her grandmother in March 2019, just as she was reaching the brink of her success. Stallion said it was difficult balancing her booming career with such a grave loss that she and her family were shouldering, according to Rolling Stone.

Soon after, she coined the gender-neutral catchphrase hot girl summer, which was an ode to her fanbase, the Hotties, and signified loving who you are, living unapologetically and disregarding what anyone else thinks. Anybody, regardless of gender, can have a hot girl summer. The phrase was a declarative movement in 2019, inspiring Instagram captions and a collaboration with Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign.

This past summer, Stallion teamed up with fellow exuberant rapper Cardi B on WAP, a celebration of their bodies and female sexuality. The stars exchanged bars filled with sexual innuendos over a blaring beat. WAP was embraced by pop-music lovers, but critiqued by men who were offended by their sexual bluntness, which sparked yet another conversation about double standards that persist between male and female rappers.

Stallion had this to say in response to the backlash: Although we have so many incredible women in hip-hop killing it right now and in the past, theres still a shift (that needs to happen) around the perception of a woman owning her sexuality. Powerful women who have agency over their bodies arent something to look down on.

We cant recognize her impact on pop culture without the grievances she, a young Black woman, has experienced and witnessed in the past few months.

Stallion revealed back in July that she suffered gunshot wounds and had to get them surgically removed. She later alleged in an Instagram live that the person in question who shot her was rapper Tory Lanez, in efforts to dispel false rumors. She described it as the worst experience of her life and emphasized that Black women go unprotected in many situations in response to those that were mocking her.

What a lot of people dont know is that Stallion is also a part-time student, studying health care management at Texas Southern University. She has had research papers intermingled with photoshoots on the same day, but she is determined to finish her degree. The singer is also outspoken about human rights. Shes fought hard for the Black Lives Matter movement, consistently posting information and resources on social media, attending protests and donating to bail funds to aid Houston protestors.

The voices of Black women have always been salient, but are now being more popularly acknowledged and celebrated. Their experiences have long been repressed or discredited, but the impact Black hip-hop stars have had on culture and empowerment is undeniable. Stallion is someone who has accumulated incredible loss, but also strength and influence with her catchy raps and loud platform, which echoes through the waves of the music industry.

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Why we love Megan Thee Stallion - RU Daily Targum

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Top peacekeeping and humanitarian affairs officials warned the Security Council during a 9 September videoconference meeting* that wide-ranging implications of the COVID-19 pandemic could erode peace and push more conflictaffected nations onto its agenda.

Mark Lowcock, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, briefing the Council on the implementation of resolution 2532 (2020) that called for a global ceasefire amid the pandemic, said the weakest, most fragile and conflict-affected countries will be those worst affected by COVID-19 in the medium and long term. Woefully inadequate economic and political action will lead to greater instability and conflicts in the coming years; more crises will be on this Councils agenda, he said. While we may have been surprised by the virus, we cannot say the same of the security and humanitarian crises that most certainly lay ahead if we dont change course.

With more than 26 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 globally, he said the virus is everywhere. More than 860,000 people have died, roughly a third of these cases and fatalities in countries affected by humanitarian or refugee crises, or those facing high levels of vulnerability. Indirect effects of the crisis will be higher poverty, lower life expectancy, more starvation, less education and more child death. Likewise, given recent research findings, the risks of conflict, instability, insecurity, violence and population displacement are rising, he said, adding that the agenda of this Council, which you may think is big enough already, is set to grow; that may be one of the main lasting effects of the pandemic.

In addition, these indirect consequences are dwarfing the impact of the virus itself, he cautioned. Vaccination campaigns have been disrupted in 45 countries facing humanitarian or refugee crises or high levels of vulnerability from other causes, putting more than 80 million children under the age of one at risk of vaccine-preventable diseases. Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report that food insecurity is spiking, with 27 countries at risk. More than half a billion children in humanitarian crises and fragile contexts have been affected by school closures, many girls now unable to go to school will never go back and gender-based violence is increasing as services have been curtailed.

There is little dispute about what ought to be done, he said. While the Group of 20 and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations have adopted $10 trillion in domestic stimulus measures to protect their populations, low-income and fragile countries do not have the resources. They rely on support from elsewhere, but only 7 per cent of the $143 billion in financing from the international financial institutions has been committed to lowincome countries. This alarmingly low level of support increases the likelihood of the pandemic generating dangerous long-term consequences, he said, underlining the critical role international financial institutions can play. Indeed, recent experience has shown that costs to taxpayers are minimal because the resources can largely be generated off the international financial institutions own balance sheets.

Turning to the response of humanitarian agencies, he said the SecretaryGenerals launch in March of the United Nations coordinated Global Humanitarian Response Plan for COVID-19 now seeks $10 billion over the next six months to support 250 million people in 63 countries. Expressing appreciation at having raised around $2.4 billion since March, he outlined some ongoing efforts, including personal protective equipment for 730,000 health workers, information on the virus and protection instructions for more than 1 billion people in nearly 60 countries and distance learning for almost 100 million children. However, the Secretary-Generals repeated calls on Member States and others to facilitate the movement of humanitarian personnel and cargo have not been adequately heeded, violence against health workers is rising and aid workers are also vulnerable to the virus. The number of confirmed cases among United Nations staff alone runs into the thousands, and the death toll is mounting. Where possible, those who are most sick are evacuated to places where they can get good medical care, but, too often, that does not happen, he said, paying tribute to those taking extraordinary risks with their own welfare in the desire to help others.

Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, highlighting increased political risks during the pandemic, said the erosion of trust in public institutions increases fragility and has the potential to drive instability in settings where people perceive authorities have not addressed the pandemic effectively or have not been transparent about its impact.

The aggravation of certain human rights challenges also fuel conflict during the pandemic, she said, citing increased discrimination, gender-based violence and disproportionate impacts on women, as well as a rise in stigma and hate speech, especially against migrants and foreigners. Tensions are seen rising about decisions to postpone elections or to proceed with a vote, she said.

Despite these risks, she said that the dynamics of several ongoing armed conflicts have not changed as a result of COVID-19, with some situations having deteriorated largely due to other drivers. In the Sahel, the risk remains that parties to conflict use the uncertainty created by the pandemic to press their advantage.

In the short term, the pandemic could also derail fragile peace processes and conflictprevention initiatives due to restrictions on travel and in-person contacts, she continued. Our own ability to support political processes has certainly been limited by such restrictions, she admitted. With many of our engagements moving online, we have had to develop our digital skills and work even harder to nurture the trust and willingness to compromise that are at the heart of preventive diplomacy and mediation.

Turning to the status of the Secretary-Generals global ceasefire call on 23 March, she said that the initial response was encouraging, with several temporary truces announced, from Colombia to Ukraine, and from the Philippines to Cameroon. However, many expired without extensions, resulting in little improvement on the ground. Recalling the Security Councils backing for the ceasefire call in resolution 2532 (2020), she said leadership from the Council and the support of Member States with leverage are essential to changing the calculations of conflict parties, opening the space for dialogue and ending wars.

The United Nations has adapted operations amid the pandemic, including the creation of a joined-up support structure for missions. The cross-departmental field support group on COVID-19 has been working to strengthen United Nations risk management systems and to protect personnel and their capacity to continue critical operations, and missions are strongly committed to aid host countries in their COVID-19 response.

To mitigate COVID-19-related risks in situations of armed conflict and prevent the possible deterioration of other situations into instability and violence, the collective and individual engagement of Council members is indispensable, including in a follow up to the Secretary-Generals ceasefire call. The better the global response to the pandemic, the better our prospects for the prevention, management and resolution of armed conflicts around the world, she said.

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, said the Councils ongoing support will be indispensable as the world continues to address challenges posed by the pandemic. Briefing on measures being taken to address challenges facing peacekeeping operations and the countries where they are deployed, he said the pandemic has had a significant impact and has complicated efforts to support national authorities and other actors while discharging mission mandates. With the guidance and support of United Nations Headquarters and the Security Councils unified and consistent backing, peacekeeping operations have quickly and effectively put in place a range of measures to ensure operational continuity and ongoing mandate implementation, he said, highlighting a strategy set up in April that focuses on supporting national authorities, protecting personnel, mitigating the virus spread and ensuring operational continuity.

However, he cautioned, many countries where peacekeeping operations are deployed suffer from a combination of weak health and governance structures and a lack of the resources required to effectively combat the pandemic. As such, the spread of COVID-19 can lead to exacerbated socioeconomic tensions, undermine governance and local institutions, slow down or derail fragile political processes, worsen alreadyvolatile security situations and contribute to a recurrence of intercommunal conflict. The overall effect can be to further destabilize these countries and erode peace gains. The pandemic has also given rise to hate speech, incitements to violence and harmful misinformation. Moreover, heavier burdens face Governments already under pressure to deliver on political processes. In South Sudan, a considerable slowdown of implementing a ceasefire agreement is partly due to an increased focus on COVID-19-related challenges, at a time when parties have been in a three-month-long deadlock over appointing governors and have yet to reconstitute Parliament.

While these combined effects of the pandemic can negatively impact the missions mandate implementation, he said that helping to prevent and contain the virus spread where peacekeeping operations are deployed is not only a moral imperative, but also a political priority and an operational requirement. Measures are already contributing to preventing and containing the spread among field personnel, he said, noting that, as of today, across all field missions and their more than 100,000 personnel, a total of 1,049 cumulative cases had been recorded, with 609 recovered, 440 active cases and 18 deaths. The rotation and repatriation of uniformed personnel have resumed in close coordination with both police- and troop-contributing countries, and all missions have been provided with a COVID-19 risk mitigation plan. Peacekeeping operations continue to find innovative and proactive ways to implement their mandates, including a recent agreement in Sudan among transitional authorities and participating armed groups.

As the COVID-19 crisis abates in certain parts of the world, he said, missions see opportunities to achieve more. In Cyprus, for example, the quarantine and closure of crossing points restricted movement between the north and south of the island, and now both sides are working on the reopening together. Missions also continue to prevent and respond to threats to civilians, which have not decreased in the past six months despite the Secretary-Generals global ceasefire call, including in the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mali. In operational terms, the pandemic has, however, affected the footprint of United Nations missions, and to a certain degree, their capacity to perform patrols or monitoring activities. Peacekeeping missions have been approaching their protection of civilians activities primarily through the lens of do no harm, prioritizing the need to prevent the virus from spreading among the local populations. Reductions in mission capacities have also affected the effectiveness of situational awareness tools, such as the use of air assets for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

During the pandemic, regular meetings have been held virtually, he said. The integrated effort by the Secretariat in support of peacekeeping operations is complemented by strengthened synergies with the United Nations country teams and sister organizations, including the World Bank, and with partner organizations on the ground, including the African Union and European Union. The role of women peacekeepers is key to addressing the COVID-19-related challenges to mandate implementation. As part of the response to the pandemic, the comprehensive performance assessment system has aided several missions in planning, tracking and showing the impact of their efforts to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in their area of operations. This has strengthened their capacity both to support the host countries efforts and ensure continuing delivery of mandated activities.

Council members, commending peacekeepers and partners assisting in COVID-19 response plans, agreed that resolution 2532 (2020) is a step in the right direction, with many urging all parties to respect the Secretary-Generals call for a global ceasefire. Some shared concerns about escalating violence and the fragility of some States that are struggling to address the pandemic while brokering or building peace.

Tunisias delegate said that, while resolution 2532 (2020) marks the Councils clear engagement, two months after its adoption, more must be done to translate its provisions into concrete reality on the ground. Todays debate is a timely opportunity to reiterate the Councils resolve, but the ceasefire appeal needs stronger diplomatic efforts. On the humanitarian front, the impact of COVID-19 on conflict-affected settings has been much worse than expected, he said, adding that: If we fail to provide a coordinated international response to the pandemic, we would risk losing gains on health, poverty, education, womens empowerment, development and stability. Solidarity and unity at the international, regional and national level must guide the world though this volatile and unstable new phase, where assumptions about threats to international peace and security must evolve as humanity faces new types of enemies that are invisible, transboundary and global. To do this, he said, we cannot face such dangers using the same instruments we have inherited from the old times. As the nature and scope of threats evolve, it is imperative to rethink security and adapt approaches and tools. For its part, the Council must discuss these issues to be able to deliver on its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.

The representative of France said it is time for a collective awakening, with the top priority being the implementation of a cessation of hostilities and a humanitarian pause. Ending hostilities is an indispensable condition for an effective fight against the pandemic. While the Secretary-Generals appeal was supported by more than 180 countries, more than 20 armed groups and numerous regional and civil society organizations, much remains to be done, including in Syria, Yemen, Libya, Afghanistan and the Sahel. The Council must continue to support peacekeeping operations by enabling them to fully implement their mandates despite the pandemic. Turning to other concerns, he said the Council must collectively support the full and complete implementation of the Global Humanitarian Response Plan for COVID-19. France will continue to work to that end, he said, calling attention to the European Unions efforts, including the coordination of more than 65 flights as part of a humanitarian airlift. Everything must be done to ensure safe and unimpeded humanitarian access and to protect aid workers and medical personnel. Stability and peace also depend on the resilience of health systems. The World Health Organization (WHO) must be strengthened in its normative, warning and coordinating role. Resolution 2532 (2020) recognizes the essential role that women play in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the negative and disproportionate effects that this health crisis has on women, girls, refugees and displaced persons, he said, noting that France and Mexico will organize the Generation Equality Forum in the first half of 2021, in partnership with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women).

The representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines said resolution 2532 (2020) marked an important milestone for the Security Council and the wider multilateral system by successfully navigating divisions and divergent views to deliver a clear message of unity and hope. But, more must be done to preserve hard won gains across the peace-security-development nexus, especially since many parties have disregarded calls for a global ceasefire. Addressing COVID-19-related challenges will require the political will to fully implement resolution 2532 (2020). Approaches to managing the COVID-19 crisis must be conflict-sensitive and sovereignty supporting, she said, reiterating calls on all parties to abandon unilateral actions. She appealed for greater regional and international cooperation to better tackle arms trafficking, illicit exploitation and trade of natural resources and other activities that embolden armed groups and organized criminals. Only through a total cessation of hostilities will conflictaffected countries be able to manage this health crisis as they mend their social fabrics, advance peace processes and strengthen governance, she said, underlining the need to amplify calls for a global ceasefire and to strengthen capacities to assist those made most vulnerable.

The representative of the United States said that, in the early days of the virus, the Chinese Communist Party hid the truth about the outbreak from the world and prevented researchers from accessing vital information. The result was innumerable deaths that could have been prevented. The Party must answer to the parents around the world trying to home-school their children while working fulltime jobs from home, those mourning loved ones without the ability to honour them with a funeral and those who have lost their jobs or their businesses. WHOs failures in the early days of the pandemic also contributed to needless suffering and the worsening of this pandemic. The agency needs to reform, including by demonstrating its independence from China. Describing how significantly his country contributes to counter the pandemic, including the development of vaccines, he stressed that the Administration of United States President Donald J. Trump will continue to lead on this issue and will work hard to make the world safer and more secure from infectious disease threats.

Indonesias representative highlighted the need to step up calls for a global ceasefire, support the work of United Nations missions on the ground and ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Council resolution 2532 (2020) is merely a first step in addressing the impacts of COVID-19 to international peace and security, he said, emphasizing the importance of following it up with concrete actions. In the longer term, it is essential to ensure that disruptions created by the virus will not reverse the gains achieved in countries in conflict and postconflict situations and think beyond pandemic response towards a comprehensive strategy. Indonesia, with five other United Nations Member States, took the initiative to launch the first General Assembly resolution on global solidarity to fight COVID-19, standing ready to contribute further in this concerted effort.

South Africas delegate said the Secretary-Generals call for a global ceasefire has not been broadly respected, the pandemic has burdened countries affected by conflict, and some armed groups and terrorists have taken advantage of the impact of the coronavirus to intensify activities and launch attacks. South Africa urges parties to conflict to heed the call for a ceasefire, prioritize efforts to consolidate durable peace and stability, and allow for the safe delivery of, and access to, humanitarian assistance. Noting improvements to fasttrack applications for humanitarian exemptions, he said the impact of sanctions and its resultant socioeconomic effects are preventing countries from effectively combating the pandemic, exposing alreadyvulnerable civilians. As such, he called on Council members to continue their efforts in this regard. He also supported the Secretary-Generals call to lift sanctions, given the broader impact of unilateral coercive measures. It is vital that the Security Council remains steadfast in its support of countries experiencing armed conflict, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has illustrated that it is imperative for countries to cooperate closely in the face of global public health and other emergencies.

The representative of Niger, Council President for September, spoke in his national capacity, saying that the adoption of a resolution is never an end in itself. In fact, the adoption of a resolution on the COVID-19 pandemic, which echoes the SecretaryGenerals call for a global ceasefire, calls for a sustained follow-up in more ways than one, because the political, economic, and above all, security repercussions will continue to manifest themselves in the years to come. In the Sahel, a region affected by climate change, armed conflicts and fragile health systems, the pandemic has added a new layer of challenges. The campaign of disinformation and stigmatization carried out by terrorist groups does not facilitate State efforts. The pandemic is seriously affecting the economies of African countries in general, and the Sahel in particular. Electoral processes under way in the region must receive greater support to avoid pre- and postelectoral crises. Resolution 2352 (2020) offers an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of international cooperation, multilateralism, the role of such global organizations as WHO and regional and subregional organizations in the fight against this pandemic. The cacophony and blame games at the beginning of the pandemic must give way to an awareness that all are potential victims unless stakeholders work collectively to find a vaccine against this dangerous virus. We hope that, once a cure is found, it will be accessible to the weakest and the less fortunate, he said, thanking China for its renewed commitment to this goal.

Also participating in the meeting were representatives of Belgium, China, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Germany, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and Viet Nam.

*Based on information received from the Security Council Affairs Division.

For information media. Not an official record.

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Weakest, Most Fragile States Will Be Those Worst Affected by COVID-19 in Medium, Long Term, Humanitarian Chief Tells Security Council - World -...

September 09, 2020 12:08 ET | Source: Integrated Partners

photo-release

Josh Bodenstadt, CPA

Kris Lindley, CFP

San Diego, CA, Sept. 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IntegratedPartners,a national financial planning and registered investment advisory firm, is pleased to announce a partnership with Duffy Kruspodin (DK) LLP, a southern California accountancy. The combination of DK and Integrated is the latest union of financial specialists under theIntegrated CPA Alliance, a program that has aligned CPAs and financial advisors together since 1996 in service to high net worth and business owner clients.

The newly formed partnership is led by Josh Bodenstadt, CPA for DK, and Kris Lindley, CFP, for Integrated and will operate asDK Wealth Management, LLC.

When financial advisors and CPAs join forces for the benefit of their complex, high net worth and business-owner clients, its a win-win-win, saidPaul Saganey, founder and CEO, Integrated. A large part of the Integrated Partners model, if not the cornerstone of the entire model, is our unique ability to identify synergies between advisors and CPAs, and then to facilitate their ongoing collaboration on behalf of clients weve been doing it for twenty-five years.The benefits to all parties are undeniable.

The announcement of the partnership coincides with DKs celebration of thirty years in business.The CPA firm has consistently ranked among the top firms in southern California and has perennially earned high praise from business owner clients.

As CPAs for businesses and families with complex financial needs, suffice to say we take an immense amount of pride in our ability to serve those clients as true partners, saidJosh Bodenstadt, partner, DK. We dont refer clients to other professionals lightly and when we do, were watching like a hawk our reputation is of paramount importance. Integrated and Kris Lindley in particular impressed us from the outset, and they have delivered for us, and our most trusted client relationships.

Lindleyadds: I made the decision to join Integrated in large part because of the opportunity to partner with CPA partners when you are trusted to deliver for another firms longstanding clients, there can be no half-measures, nor nebulous promises.Failure is not an option.With Integrated riding shotgun and DK involved every step of the way, weve formed what I consider to be an elite team of financial professionals with one mission delivering the very best fiduciary client care available.

DK has offices in Woodland Hills, Beverly Hills, and the San Diego area, with one hundred and eighty (180) employees and fifteen partners.Integrated, headquartered in Boston, and with a regional sub-headquarters in San Diego, is home to one hundred and fifty (150) financial advisors and one hundred and twenty-seven (127) CPA firm partners.The Integrated CPA Alliance was formed in 1996 and has acted as an advisor/CPA growth-catalyst ever since.

Integrated is looking for advisors and CPAs in search of tangible, measurable growth, and true partnership.Our advisors maintain control of their businesses, while harnessing a variety of Integrateds growth-oriented service offerings.Our CPA partners trust us to deliver consistently for clients, and remove the trepidation typically associated with making a referral to an un-proven organization.

Media inquiries: Jason Lahita jason.lahita@integrated-partners.com

To discreetly inquire about what joining our growth-oriented culture can look like for you as a CPA, or a financial advisor, please contact: Rob Sandrewrob.sandrew@integrated-partners.comor Keith Frasierkeith.frasier@integrated-partners.com

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About Integrated Partners

Since 1996, Integrated Partners has been helping financial advisors to achieve their entrepreneurial vision.We offer comprehensive business building services, designed with the truly independent advisor in mind.With one hundred and fifty advisors, one hundred and twenty-seven CPAs and forty-five regional offices across the United States, and more than seven billion in brokerage and advisory assets, Integrated has built our reputation advisor by advisor, client by client.Constructed and grown upon a foundation of empowerment, integrity, and trust, we believe in the incredible power that financial advisors have to make a positive impact on peoples lives. Integrated supports advisors by offering a completely customizable open architecture business environment: technology, investment management, advanced planning, CPA partner program, family office platform, custody, marketing, public relations, M&A, succession planning and comprehensive business counsel.

About Duffy Kruspodin

Duffy Kruspodin, LLP has been providing personalized financial guidance to local individuals and businesses for more than 30 years. We hire seasoned tax and accounting professionals who are driven and dedicated to helping our clients plan for the future and succeed in their industries. With locations in both San Diego and Los Angeles, plus several international affiliations, our team of experts is committed to personally supporting your needs and financial goals to keep your business moving forward. We take the stress off your plate so you can concentrate on what you do best and continue to move with positive momentum.

Our firm was founded in 1990 and since then, weve grown into four locations with a team of more than 180 individuals. With multiple locations in Southern California, we are regional leaders and trusted advisors in financial, tax and accounting services and can provide personal, financial guidance with a local perspective.

The financial consultants of Integrated Partners are also registered representatives with, and securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Integrated Financial Partners, a registered investment advisor and separate entity.

We believe in advisors, and CPAs and have been connecting them successfully for twenty-five years.Weve proven it to them.Let us prove it to you.

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Integrated Partners and Duffy Kruspodin, LLP Align to Create DK Wealth Management, LLC - GlobeNewswire

Written by Jayashree Narayanan | Pune | September 10, 2020 5:30:08 pm Many elderly have taken to online workout classes and videos amid pandemic. (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

On the suggestion of her US-based daughter-in-law, 72-year-old Harinder Ahluwalia finally started taking online fitness classes to lose weight when the coronavirus lockdown was first imposed in Delhi. Months later, Ahluwalia, a retired nurse with 38 years of experience, has managed to shed about 20 kilos. I initially thought it would be challenging to work out while continuously looking at a screen. But the trainer first demonstrates and makes sure practitioners understand the exercises before doing them, said Harinder, who attends one-hour-long exercise sessions of yoga and cardio, six days a week on HealthifyMes HealthifyStudio that offers curated live workout sessions catering to the special needs of senior citizens. On Sundays, there are half-hour sessions of chair exercises. This is coupled with one and a half hours of walk and a controlled diet.

I feel energetic when I work out. Given the pandemic, online classes are good. I enjoy group workouts since other people are there to interact and learn from, said Delhi-based Ahluwalia, who earlier used to practice yoga to ease knee pain.

Many senior citizens, aged 60 and above, suffer from chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, hypertension, and diabetes, which require long-term medication. In such a scenario, regular exercise is considered useful. In its health advisory for elderly population, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India stated that elderly people are at a higher risk of COVID-19 infection due to their decreased immunity and body reserves, as well as multiple associated co-morbidities like diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and the severity of the disease can be detrimental. It advised senior citizens to exercise and meditate.

According to experts, exercise can help boost the bodys immune functions, decrease inflammation, and also has mental and emotional benefits.

Rishabh Telang, fitness expert, Curefit, said, Exercise is important for people irrespective of age or fitness background purely because movement ensures increased blood flow in the muscles and joints and keeps one protected for a longer period of time besides providing many other benefits such as improved heart health. The idea of exercise is to ensure smooth functional movement patterns at any age and more and more people falling under the category of older adults have realised the benefits of engaging in exercises such as walking, yoga, basic strength training and more.

The Union Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry in April 2020 issued advisory for senior citizens to stay at home, avoid visitors, maintain one-metre distance, if necessary, but remain active inside their homes, including doing light exercises and yoga, given that they are considered more vulnerable to the respiratory infection.

In fact, in a short study published in JMIR Publications in May 2020, Impact of home quarantine on physical activity among older adults living at home during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Qualitative Interview Study, despite the decline in their participation in group physical activities before the quarantine, older adults expressed the need to perform physical activity at home. There is a need to help older adults integrate simple and safe ways to stay physically active in a limited space, observed the study.

ALSO READ | Exercise in middle, old age reduces time spent in hospital, says study

Call it the effect of such advisories, more time during the lockdown, or to keep themselves physically active, senior citizens have been taking online sessions. While most of them may not be new to exercising, it is the first time that they have gone online

Sixty-one-year-old Nasik-based Rajesh Shankarrao Girme had been working out in a gym set up for the past 35 years, but lockdown put a stop to that. However, instead of online classes, he used his Gold Gyms membership to avail workout videos that enabled him to continue doing functional training as well as yoga on alternate days for an hour. It is the motivation to keep staying fit, lockdown or not that pushed me to watch these videos and practice. Before the lockdown, I never ever practiced with a video playing in front of me, said Girme, who has been doing Mixed Martial Arts, yoga and crossfit among others.

Sarmila Bhowmik, 63, who flew to Kolkata from Pune just before the lockdown was announced in March 2020, was trying to figure out ways to keep herself active. A homemaker, who has been gymming for almost 25 years now, Bhowmik was initially not too happy with online workouts as she is used to hardcore gymming. But the sheer energy of a group workout motivated her to continue. We dont have any other activity at home. I dont feel inspired to exercise on my own. But with a group, it is far more streamlined. While being in a gym is an experience I miss, online classes have been a boon amid the lockdown, especially with no facilities available, remarked Sarmila.

Not just online platforms, but even yoga experts like Ira Trivedi, are conducting virtual workout sessions via Zoom to help senior citizens get back on their fitness routines. She limits her classes to 20-25 people to ensure personal attention and care.

Notably, The Seniors Covid-19 Pandemic and Exercise study undertaken by the University of Victoria and sponsored by the University of British Columbia is ongoing with an aim to evaluate different types of exercise programs (virtual group-based exercise program; personal exercise program; wait-list control) across 12-weeks on the physical and mental health of older adults during the current Covid-19 pandemic. The study is expected to be completed by September 30.

ALSO READ | International Yoga Day: In lockdown, yoga has emerged as a promising career, say experts

So, is a personal training module as part of a guided exercise module more effective than self-exercising? Ashish Rawat, founder, Oga Fit- an interactive digital workout platform, agrees. Immunity and ensuring a basic level of fitness is extremely crucial as one grows older. Given the current situation and the impact of Covid-19 on our immune system, it is paramount to be fit and healthy. For senior citizens, guided yoga and basic cardio exercises after consulting their doctor is crucial. Our platform allows users to choose workouts basis their fitness levels and pace. Our proprietary technology helps ensure that the movements are being done accurately. Physical and mental fitness can go a long way in making people stronger and healthier, described Rawat.

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From live sessions to workout videos: Senior citizens take the e-route to stay fit amid pandemic - The Indian Express

The great thing about online education is that no matter where you feel you need to shore up your skill sets, there's a package of coursework that can help get you there. You just have to know where to look.

Skillingo assembles those training packages, grouping up series of classes all directed toward some area of self-improvement, from skills training to health and wellness instruction.

Right now, you can train up in several of those potential development spots with these Skillingo Course Packs.

If you're looking to start a new business, the Online Business Mega Course Bundle ($99) is an insightful starting point. Over 28 hours of video instruction and 62 ebooks, you'll master the tactics for setting up and running a successful online business today, including stocking digital products, leveraging platforms like Amazon FBA and Shopify to open storefronts, even productivity and mindset goals to carry off your endeavor without a hitch.

The skills for developing a powerful business persona are under even heavier focus in The Ultimate Entrepreneur Course Pack ($199). From sales and marketing to personal development to your own individual health, both physical and mental, it's all tackled in this 56-hour, 86-course collection with over 140 ebooks of intensive learning.

If your methods for reaching potential customers could use some improvement, The Marketing Master Mega Course Bundle ($49) will turn you into a marketing pro. With 20 video courses and 33 eBooks, this bundle covers all areas of modern online marketing, from mastering Facebook, Instagram, Google, Twitter, and YouTube advertising; to learning about chatbots and AI to drive traffic; to how to market to social media channels like TikTok.

With your professional house in order, The Self Development Mega Bundle ($99) seeks to do the same for you personally. Over 35 video courses and 73 ebooks, you'll examine how to improve your health and fitness, your mental well-being, stress and anxiety management, even yoga and meditation.

Finally, the Healthy and Happy Living Course Bundle ($29) takes that introspection even further, with another 10 hours of video content and almost 40 more ebooks looking to help you unlock your true self and become the healthiest, happiest you possible.

Right now, each of these expansive self-improvement bundles are over 90 percent off their regular price.

Prices are subject to change.

Do you have your stay-at-home essentials? Here are some you may have missed.

"This is increasingly sounding like a Black Mirror episode"Elon Musk, introducing Neuralink. Elon Musk's brain-computer-interface venture today unveiled a prototype that involves a pig with a computer chip implanted inside their brain. The coin-sized device is implanted beneath the creature's skull. "It's like a Fitbit, but in your skull," says Musk, and it's implanted by []

A reported UFO in the Congo turned out to be a Loon Balloon, floated 20km up to provide cellular internet out in the sticks. The operators neglected to tell the relevant authorities what they were doing; two UFO hunters ended up in jail while Loon, a subsidiary of Google holding company Alphabet, smoothed things out. []

Isolation.site does just one thing: it visits URLs that you want to check out but don't trust, and shows you what comes up. It's not just a convenient wrapper around the curl command-line tool, but generates a rendered snapshot of the site to look around. Protect your devices from web-transmitted infections (WTIs). Picked up some []

We all understand the healing powers of music. Putting on your favorite songs, zoning out, and letting the immersive sensation wash over you and carry you away is part of music's universal appeal. And the link between music and feeling good isn't just anecdotal. In four separate research trials, music therapy was found to reduce []

What's on the nightstand by your bed? Probably a lamp, maybe a clock, your phone, a tablet, a pair of glasses, some books you haven't read yet, some tissues, a remote control, and likely at least a few other personal items. Before you realize it, you've stacked up a lot of stuff on that tiny []

In case you haven't tried an electric board before, know this it's not a toy. With 2800 watts of power, the beefy 36V, 4.4 Ah battery propels the Flowdeck X at a respectably speedy 20 mph with real stability. In fact, the motors have so much zip that they can easily shoot a rider []

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Take your career to the next level with this hands-on entrepreneur training - Boing Boing

Berkshire Hathaways CEO Warren Buffett is an icon of simple living and high thinking. Amidst all the mayhem life brings, a simple living and high-thinking lifestyle can set you up for success while fully helping you live your life. Simplicity is the affinity with minimalism, while high thinking is about attaining a deeper understanding of yourself and valuing things that matter in the long run. Pastor Mike Signorelli helps people find a life that works for them, including simple living and a high thinking lifestyle. In a conversation with Insider Monkey, Mike shares that its crucial to improve yourself and your lifestyle using daily habits that make you richer, in its true sense.

Pastor Mike Signorelli

IM: Good to connect with you, Mike! How can people simplify their lives?

Mike: To adapt to a simpler life, I recommend that you must embrace a minimalist approach. Be it your wardrobes, gadgets, luxuries, or people, pen down what you need in life to make minimal choices, reduce chaos, and live a simplified and less stressful life.

IM: Are there any steps one can follow to begin on this path of self-improvement?

Mike: There are three habits that I believe help people improve their lives significantly. To start treading on the path of high thinking, the first habit you can develop is being grateful. This is one of the first things I teach people from all walks of life. Keeping a gratitude journal is a great boost to your mental well-being.

Secondly, one must strive for positivity. Instead of being worried about the future, you can be excited about what's coming for you. It allows you to give less weight to negative thoughts. Faith is one of the best ways to develop a positive outlook on life.

The last tenet of high thinking is probably the most surprising and the most difficult for some people. Im a big advocate of valuing the hardships youve had in your life. Difficult situations help make you who you are today. You might also find that what makes you happiest is also hard work. Easy things arent always the best for us.

IM: People often lose path while chasing other materialistic goals in life; what do you recommend?

Mike: We need to understand that it takes time to make these tiny changes in your life, but it will be worth it in the long run when you reap the benefits and live a happier life. The best way to move forward is one positive habit at a time!

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Mike Signorelli Shares 3 Habits That Develop Simple Living & High Thinking Lifestyle - Yahoo Finance

Self-confidence is crucial in the modern world. Finding success will be very difficult if you dont feel good about yourself, and those with low self-esteem often struggle to do the things that others find easy. Of course, as a big part of this, you have to work hard to make sure that you feel confident about yourself, and the way you look can play a big role in shaping this aspect of your life.

Photo, Caique Silva.

To help you to overcome the issues that surround your appearance, this post will be exploring some of the easiest ways to improve the way you look, making you feel more confident in the process.

Hair Styles: Your hair is fundamental to the way you look, and therefore an important element in the way you feel about your appearance. Many people undervalue their hair, ignoring the impact it can have on their confidence in daily life. Choosing to change your hair for a style that you prefer can be both terrifying and liberating. You have to be brave, trusting that the new style youve chosen will work with your appearance, but will also get to enjoy the confidence boost you get from the whole thing. Of course, you can always talk to your friends and your barber for advice when youre approaching something like this.

Clothing: The clothing you wear is another part of your appearance that can alter the way you feel about yourself. Making small changes to your wardrobe can give you a huge confidence boost, with many people finding themselves feeling a lot better about themselves when they wear an outfit for the first time. You can easily improve your wardrobe by looking on platforms like Instagram for inspiration. There are a lot of trends available in the modern world, providing you with the opportunity to choose clothing that works for your body shape.

The world of fashion has changed quite a bit over the last couple of decades. Gone are the days when all of the models you could find around the web were stick-thin and perfectly sculpted. Instead, people want to see normal bodies wearing the clothing they buy, and this means that there are a lot of popular models that share your body type. This gives you the chance to see what looks good on them, transferring this knowledge to your own outfits when it comes to shopping for them.

Photo, Lesly Juarez.

Teeth: Its hard to feel confident when you dont like your teeth. Underbites and overbites, chipped or broken teeth, and a huge range of other dental issues can leave people feeling unhappy with this part of their body. Thankfully, there are loads of ways to solve problems like this, and it can often be as simple as choosing the right product to help you. Veneers are often a good solution to dental issues, adding a layer to your teeth that will make them look good no matter their condition.

Photo, Carlos Vaz.

Glasses: Glasses are very common in the modern world, providing countless people with improved sight. Of course, though, a lot of people dont like their glasses, and this can make it hard to feel confident when wearing them. Finding a pair of glasses that you like is similar to choosing the right clothing to wear. There are loads of options on the market, and you can use the likes of Instagram to see people with the same face shape as you wearing the glasses you like. Alongside this, many online glasses retailers will happily send you pairs to try on.

While this route will work for some, others will prefer to look for ways to get rid of their glasses entirely. Contact lenses can be good for this, giving you a cheap way to hide your glasses without having to compromise on your vision. Alternatively, you could also think about the idea of laser eye surgery. This sort of option is expensive and often viewed as extreme, but it could improve your vision for decades to come.

Weight: Being under or overweight is very common, with most people finding it hard to strike the right balance with their weight. Thankfully, there are a lot of tools out there that can help with this, and more and more communities are emerging as time goes by that can provide support and make you feel better about this aspect of your life. Losing weight is very difficult, and you need to have the right balance of diet, exercise, and things like sleep in your life to make sure that you can achieve your goals.

Photo, Annie Spratt.

Gaining weight can often be just as hard as losing it, but this side of health is often overlooked. There are a lot of supplements and meal plan options that are designed to help people to reach a healthy weight without having to eat more than they usually would. This can make this process easier, ultimately making you feel a lot more confident about the way your body looks. Of course, though, this sort of improvement will also come with health benefits.

Dating: While it may sound strange, going on dates and talking to new people can be an excellent way to improve your self-confidence. Spending time with people that find you attractive will always make you feel better about this aspect of your life, and its nice and easy to set up this sort of meeting in the modern world. Apps like Tinder are filled with people looking for dates and the chance to meet new people, opening the doors to an endless stream of people that will like the way you look.

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to take on the challenge of improving your confidence in your appearance. This sort of process can be hard, with a lot of people struggling along the way. If you put the right effort into it, though, you should be able to push your confidence further than ever before.

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Small Changes That Can Improve Your Confidence In Your Appearance - We Heart

There are a multitude of apps and tech innovations out there designed to help people find their dream job. (Shutterstock)

Looking for work can be a stressful experience, and may even end up feeling like a full-time job in itself.

With a global pandemic throwing the nation into a recession, job hunting has become quite a lot harder for many. However, there are a multitude of apps and tech innovations out there designed to help people find not just their next job, but their dream one.

One such innovation is Ready For Business (R4B), a digital platform created by techentrepreneur and ex Silicon Valley executive, Dave Evans, during lockdown.

The platform specifically helps people from deprived backgrounds come together with business experts who can mentor, motivate and guide them in their chosen career.

Whether it's the music industry, life sciences or manufacturing, R4B aims to provide a vital link between aspiring, talented youngsters and accomplished professionals.

R4B was also co-founded by Laura Jordan Bambach, who spearheaded Barclays Life Skills.

Barclays Life Skills is a digital source for all things self improvement, offering three main hubs to choose from, including the educator hub, the young people's hub and the business hub.

It also has a section for adults, under the title changing worklife, which provides articles on skills for the workplace which are aimed to help you find tips and guidance in order to improve your career prospects.

It also features a CV builder to help you ensure you are putting your best self forward in your applications.

LinkedIn offers a sleek all in one job-search, giving you the chance to virtually network with people in your industry, discover industry related news, keep up to date with specific companies job postings through tailored notifications, as well as searching for jobs more generally.

However, the tool is also widely used by recruiters, so they can find you, instead of you doing all the hard work.

After setting up your account, make sure to add your CV history to your profile and change it to open to job opportunities, which will make you visible to recruiters and allow you to be sent news of opportunities straight to your InMail box.

When you are unemployed you can sometimes feel like you are on a tight deadline to get your next role. Hirewire is an app that aims to get you a job in 24 hours.

Hirewire has worked to streamline the job hunting process and make it as efficient as possible.

Instead of asking you to merely upload a CV, it asks you to build an interactive profile to let employers check you out, and gain a fuller picture of who you are. It also has built-in tools for scheduling interviews, and video and text chat with local businesses.

CareerBuilder.com is a digital platform which facilitates the job hunt, and it also has its very own app.

With an easy to use interface, the app gives users instant access to millions of job postings where they can filter searches by a range of needs, such as qualifications and salary expectations.

It is compatible with Android and Apple devices, and can be downloaded from the App store or Google Play store.

Indeed.com is a well known job searching website that also boasts its own app. The app has proved popular among job seekers with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from nearly 1.2 million reviewers in the App store.

Its functions are fairly similar to the website, giving users the ability to search for millions of postings in seconds with the use of a keyword and location, and the ability to apply for a role with the click of a button.

Excerpt from:
6 apps and tech innovations that could help you find your dream job - Northumberland Gazette

Wellness By Nina Odongo

Like a financial audit, a life audit is a way of taking stock of our lives. It helps you see what youre doing with your life, where youre headed, and how that ties in with your goals and dreams.

Start by determining what areas of your life you want to audit. Examples could be family, health, skills, productivity, relationships etc. Basically, any part of your life can be audited.

Compile your data using a list of questions you can either prepare yourself or find online. There is no one way of doing it but ultimately you want to score yourself on all areas. You can ask a friend to co-audit you if you need to.

Life audits often reveal more than one area that need addressing so once you have determined what these are, it is important to create an action plan, prioritizing the most important and laying out specific remedies.

Life audits can be daunting but ultimately the goal is self-improvement through self-reflection. What's your favourite type of weather?

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Gain clarity with a life audit - Eve Woman - The Standard

Grupo Bimbos (OTCPK:BMBOY) (BIMBOA.MX) mascot Osito may finally be coming out of hibernation, at least in the U.S., as recent market trends indicate that the company has regained some pretty meaningful share in the last couple of quarters. Whether that lasts, though, and allows the company to drive long-awaited margin leverage in North America is still a big question, and theres still a lot of work for management to do to improve its Latin American business outside of Mexico, to say nothing of driving enough share growth and volume in other geographies to justify the investments made there.

These shares havent done much since my last write-up, which is basically what I expected, and they have lagged the likes of Gruma (OTC:GMKKY), Flowers (FLO), and Mondelez (MDLZ) over that time. I still have pretty mixed feelings about the company. Although the ROIC has been pretty reliably in the double-digits, the companys growth by M&A strategy has produced mixed results at best, and progress on various self-improvement initiatives has been slow. If management can get FCF margins back into the mid-single-digits on a reliable basis, I think theres value here, but thats still a work in progress.

The changes in consumer patterns that have accompanied COVID-19 have benefited Grupo Bimbo, as consumers stay at home and eat and load up their shelves with comfort foods.

Revenue growth has accelerated from a 2% contraction in the fourth quarter to 7% growth in the first quarter, and 20% growth in the second quarter, with U.S./Canada the main driving force (with revenue up 36% in the second quarter). Granted, currency has played a significant role there, but sales were still up more than 11% in the second quarter in local currency, with the company seeing high single-digit volume growth in the first half of the year.

What I find encouraging is that the Bimbo seems to be benefiting from more than just an overall shift in consumer spending. Nielsen data has shown significant share growth, with Bimbo basically doubling the growth of the underlying bread, baked goods, and cakes in the second quarter. That outperformance has slowed since, but Bimbo is still gaining share. Ive seen some speculation that when people feel nervous they stick to (or go back to) brands they recognize and have long personal histories with, and I suppose the data support that. The big question, though, is whether Bimbo can hold that share growth after COVID-19 fades the companys market share had been weakening through 2019, and Bimbos core products arent exactly in keeping with the healthy eating and low-carb trends that are supposedly still popular.

In the near term, at least, Bimbo is leveraging this improved volume into better margins. There were still some opportunities left for Bimbo to optimize its supply chain and logistics, as well as introduce more automation into its plants, but as you might imagine, COVID-19 has put those plans on the back burner for the time being. Still, the added volume leverage did boost gross margin by three points in the second quarter, helping to drive better than 50% EBITDA growth and a 150bp improvement in EBITDA margin. The U.S. business is still far less profitable than Mexico in terms of operating margin and EBITDA margin, but better is still better.

While Bimbo seems to be benefiting from a shift toward comfort food in the U.S. and Canada, the business has faced greater challenges in Mexico (where the company still generates almost 30% of its revenue). Revenue in Mexico rose 4% in the fourth quarter of 2019 and 6% in the first quarter of 2020 before declining 1% in the second quarter, and EBITDA margin has fallen from 19% to 17% over that time.

Although they dont help, I question whether new labeling laws (which highlight the elevated calories, sugar, salt, and fat content of many of Bimbos products) in Mexico are making much of a difference. Instead, I think the weakness in channels like foodservice, vending, and convenience stores (FEMSAs (FMX) same-store traffic was down 24% in the second quarter) is likely the bigger driver. The Mexican business is far more leveraged towards sweets and snacks than the North American business, and I think Mexican consumers behave more or less the same as Americans do we may exercise discipline in the grocery store, but our self-control fades when its late afternoon and we pass a vending machine or a rack at the gas station.

I also believe there could be a modest economic impact here. Bimbos products are more luxuries than staples, and Mexicos economy is struggling, which may create some demand destruction at the margin. Still, Im not concerned about this business on any sort of long-term basis, and I expect volumes to start recovering as movement restrictions in Mexico have meaningfully eased.

Outside North America, theres a lot more work to do. Margins are still weak in Latin America (ex-Mexico) and Europe, with operating scale and operating leverage an issue in both regions. Bimbo still has fairly weak SKU breadth in Latin America and its distribution/logistics remains quite inefficient as a result. In Europe, the company just doesnt have all that much traction the company has a couple of brands that have some value here and there, but its still more of a hodgepodge business, and one that doesnt generate attractive margins at this scale.

I think the companys real problem areas are likely to remain so for a while. The company has given no indication that theyre seriously considering pulling out of any markets (or not to a meaningful extent), and its going to take time to build brand value. Along those same lines, I dont rule out the possibility (or risk, depending upon your point of view) of the company doing more deals to acquire more brands and improving operating scale/leverage in Europe.

Im looking for Bimbo to generate revenue growth on the lower end of the mid-single-digits. I do still see share growth opportunities in Latin America and Europe, as well as some incremental growth opportunities in North America, though product development/innovation will be essential to generating real organic growth above underlying volumes in the U.S.. I do expect Bimbo to generate better margins over time, but Im not going to give the company full credit for whats possible at this point until I see sustained improvement. Even so, mid-single-digit FCF margins can drive double-digit FCF growth.

With mid-single-digit revenue growth and mid-single-digit FCF margins (a roughly 150bp improvement over the trailing decades average) Bimbo looks priced for mid-to-high single-digit annualized total returns, and the shares look more undervalued on an EV/EBITDA basis, even with a lower multiple than I use for Gruma. I dont really love Bimbo, but I do think theres a fair price for almost any going concern, and with Bimbos market share growth and long-term FCF growth opportunity not fully reflected in the share price, there could still be some opportunity in this relatively defensive name.

Disclosure: I am/we are long FMX. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Editor's Note: This article discusses one or more securities that do not trade on a major U.S. exchange. Please be aware of the risks associated with these stocks.

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Grupo Bimbo May Be Coming Out Of Hibernation, As Improving Market Share Can Drive Better Margins And Stock Multiples - Seeking Alpha