Author Archives: Danzig

Join the first after the legalization gambling exhibition Ukrainian Gaming Week 2020 – CalvinAyre.com

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The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Razumkov signed the draft law 2285-d about legalization of gambling business, which was adopted at second reading on July 14, 2020, according to the publication on the governmental website. On July 28, the document was sent to the President Volodymyr Zelensky for signature.

The large-scale industry exhibition Ukrainian Gaming Week 2020 organized by Smile-Expo will be the first big gambling event after the legalization. The event will take place in Kyiv on October 6-7. Exhibitors will present cutting-edge gambling solutions, discuss subtleties of the Ukrainian gambling law, advantages and prospects of the market.

Conference and top speakers

The event will offer an industry-specific conference, featuring international gambling experts, Ukrainian lawmakers, and representatives of specialized organizations. Top speakers are:

Participants of the exhibition

The exhibition with the total area of 5,000 square meters expects 100 exhibitors and 3,000 attendees.

Exhibitors will include software developers, gambling hardware manufacturers, affiliate networks and programs, banks, payment aggregators, gambling operators, bookmakers, marketing and SEO agencies, consulting, law companies, and many others. Some of them are:

Digital Chain a full-cycle agency that offers customers a wide range of efficient marketing solutions that allow achieving different business goals will act as an exhibitor and Badge Sponsor.

Alpha Affiliates will play the role of a Bracelet Sponsor of UGW 2020. This affiliate program works in the gambling niche with offers from direct advertisers and focuses on foreign markets.

The exhibition will also involve a lecture session, where speakers will present reports with functional case studies, present new products, as well as presents from exhibitors and sponsors will be drawn.

UGW Awards

Besides, Ukrainian Gaming Week 2020 will select the best companies in the sector. Winners of UGW Awards in 12 nominations will be awarded at the huge party on October 6.

Organizer and venue

The international company Smile-Expo that has been hosting events about innovations, including gambling events, for 14 years worldwide is organizing the exhibition.

Ukrainian Gaming Week 2020 will take place at Kyiv-based International Exhibition Centre, pavilion 4-B on October 6-7.

Program and event highlights.

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Join the first after the legalization gambling exhibition Ukrainian Gaming Week 2020 - CalvinAyre.com

Gambling Market : Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, and Threats 2022 Kentucky Journal 24 – Kentucky Journal 24

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This market research report includes a detailed segmentation of the global Gambling market by Casino, by Lotteries, by Poker, by Betting and by Bingo & others. The market research reports 888 Holdings, Bet-at-home.com, Betfair Entertainment, Ladbrokes Betting & Gaming, and Unibet as the major vendors operating in the global gambling market.

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Gambling Market Overview:

Infoholics market research report predicts that the global Gambling market will grow at a CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period. The market for Gambling industry is expanding all around the globe as many governments are making extra efforts to increase tax earnings and attract an increasing number of tourists. Many countries have already legalized and some on the verge of legalizing the gambling industry due to the economic benefit it offers. The gambling market is mostly observed in developed countries where proper compliance is present and strict regulations are followed.

According to the Gambling industry analysis, Asia Pacific accounted for the largest share of the global Gambling market in 2016. The reason for the markets growth in the Asia Pacific is due to the emergence of major casinos in the region that are operated by the US-based companies which divert some of the US overseas-derived businesses to the region. North America has the second largest market share after the Asia Pacific among all the regions.

Competitive analysis and key vendors

The gambling industry is growing at a rapid pace in the last few years with people showing tremendous interest in playing games for entertainment all around the world. The gaming activities which were traditionally played in casinos, game parlours, bookmakers are now increasingly being played online. This has paved the way for online gaming to be one of the fastest growing segments in the gambling industry.

The gambling market is extremely dynamic in nature with business models changing at a rapid pace. This has led to many software and technology companies, regulators, attorneys, operators, media, payment solution providers, and investors to majorly focus on this industry. Many countries are coming forward to develop the gambling industry and encourage its growth because it generates tourism revenue for the country.

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Some of the key vendors in the Gambling market are:

Gambling Market Research by Types

Gambling Market Research by Product

Geographical segmentation

The gambling market is analyzed by six regions North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. These regions will grow at an impressive rate during the next five years. Asia Pacific is a high growth region in this market due to the emergence of major casinos in the region that are operated by the US-based companies which divert some of the US overseas-derived businesses to the region. The regions are analyzed according to the types and product category. Country-wise analysis of leading countries in these regions is covered in the report.

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Benefits

The report provides detailed information about the usage and adoption of Gambling market in various applications and regions. With that, key stakeholders can find out the major trends, drivers, investments, vertical players initiatives, government initiatives toward the product adoption in the upcoming years, along with the details of commercial products available in the market. Moreover, the report provides details about the major challenges that are going to have an impact on market growth. Additionally, the report gives complete details about the business opportunities to key stakeholders to expand their business and capture revenues in the specific verticals. The report will help companies interested or established in this market to analyze the various aspects of this domain before investing or expanding their business in the Gambling market.

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Gambling Market : Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, and Threats 2022 Kentucky Journal 24 - Kentucky Journal 24

UK Gambling Venues to Remain Closed for At Least Two More Weeks – Casinos Real Money News

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Just like many other parts of the world, the United Kingdom is still reeling from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic despite the progress that has been made with regards to its containment. The number of casualties has been slowly decreasing and plans for the possible reopening of various parts of the economy were already underway. One of the most notable ones was the reopening of gambling venues that was scheduled for August 1. This did not come to pass.

A statement released by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday revealed that, as part of the measures to ensure the virus is fully contained, the countrys government will be postponing some of the plans to reopen. This will remain so for at least two weeks as revealed by the Prime Ministers statement.

Casinos, bowling alleys, skating rinks, and remaining close contact services must remain closed. Indoor performances will not resume.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the steps being taken by the government are a heavy blow to many people but he has promised that all the relevant data will be taken into account as the country plans the next reopening phase. Already things are shaping up as expected and it will not be long before a new plan is announced.

Now, while two weeks may seem like a relatively short time, the Betting and Gaming Council has expressed some concern regarding the impact that the postponement will have on the gambling industry. According to Michael Dugher, the BCG chief executive officer, the decision is highly illogical especially because of the financial implications.

He stated that over 5 million ($6.5 million) will be lost for each week that the gambling venues and entertainment destinations remain closed. This is pretty big especially considering that other fleeting changes have also had an impact on the industry.

Moreover, about 6,000 jobs would be lost due to the extension of the closure of the gaming venues in the country. These, he believes, are totally avoidable costs especially considering the fact that casinos reportedly posed much less risk than other venues that have since reopened.

We made the all necessary preparations for safe reopening and we were given the green light by Public Health England on the basis of the significant investment made by operators, and having been told by the Government themselves that casinos posed a negligible risk compared with the tens of thousands of other places that have been reopened.

In the United Kingdom, the gambling industry employs 14,000 people in casinos and an additional 4,000 in the supply chain. The industry is also a major contributor to state tax coffers and therefore its closure would also impact that particular revenue stream for the government. Online gaming may still be a great choice but it can not totally make up for the lack of retail options.

Even so, it seems like the containment of the pandemic is the main agenda at the moment, and perhaps the losses are a risk the countrys government is willing to take.

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UK Gambling Venues to Remain Closed for At Least Two More Weeks - Casinos Real Money News

Ohio bookmaker to pay restitution for running illegal gambling operation, laundering proceeds, filing false income tax return – The Highland County…

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Justin Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced recently that Ryan Driscoll, age 48, of Aurora, was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to forfeit $628,950 in cash seized during a search warrant and pay $208,693 to the IRS as restitution after entering a plea of guilty on Jan. 15, 2020, to running an illegal sports gambling business with others, laundering the proceeds and filing a false income tax return.

Not only did this individual try to enrich himself illegally, but he also attempted to avoid paying taxes on these ill-gotten proceeds in order to further profit and conceal his crimes, said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. This substantial forfeiture and restitution reflect the nature and great lengths that Driscoll went to avoid paying his duly owed income taxes.

Individuals are required to pay taxes on all sources of income, even income earned from illegal gambling, said Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office. Ryan Driscoll also attempted to launder the profits from his offshore illegal gambling business, but the IRS followed the money trail, which was vital to dismantling his criminal conduct.

According to court documents, from July 2015 to August 2019, Driscoll operated as a bookmaker for his clients and provided them with access to offshore sports gambling websites. The websites allowed Driscolls clients to place bets on sporting events and track wins and losses and monies due. Driscoll paid out winnings and collected losses locally.

During this time, Driscoll concealed the fact that the majority of his income came from the illegal gambling business and hid the proceeds as large bundles of cash in $10,000 increments in his home.

In 2019, Driscoll made a payment for membership at a country club using the proceeds from the illegal gambling business. This transaction was designed to conceal and disguise the nature and source of the illegal funds. Between 2014 and 2017, Driscoll also deposited approximately $167,827 in cash into his personal bank accounts and used an additional $197,879 in cash and money orders to make payments on vehicles and his country club membership.

For the tax years 2014 through 2017, Driscoll underreported his income by approximately $825,323.00, which resulted in additional tax due and owing of approximately $208,693.00. In 2018, Driscoll knowingly submitted a false income tax return that grossly underreported his income and failed to disclose proceeds made from the illegal gambling business.

This case was investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigation and U.S. Secret Service. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex A. Abreu, Robert E. Buford and James L. Morford and former U.S. Attorney Carmen E. Henderson.

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Ohio bookmaker to pay restitution for running illegal gambling operation, laundering proceeds, filing false income tax return - The Highland County...

The link between loot boxes, gaming, and childhood gambling – The Independent

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At the age of 13, Jonathan Peniket begged his father to allow him to spend his pocket money on Fifa. He wanted to buy packs for his team, a random selection of players which he could trade, or use to play online. His dad said no, that it was gambling. But eventually Jonathan got his way. He didnt regard it as gambling. To him, it seemed no different to buying Pokmon cards or football stickers. It was only when hed spent more than 3,000 at the age of 18 that he realised the insidious nature of loot boxes.

Jonathan was first introduced to video games when he was a child. His older brother had a GameBoy and Jonathan would watch over his shoulder and occasionally have a go. Then one Christmas, when Jonathan was about eight, the pair were bought a PlayStation 2 as a shared present. It wasnt much longer before Jonathan bought a second-hand edition of Fifa 2005.

Gaming became part of his life and, while he didnt consider it a problem, several times his parents were worried he had become addicted. But what Jonathan was becoming addicted to was perhaps more harmful. When Fifa first introduced its Ultimate Team mode in 2009, it swiftly became a topic of conversation with all his school friends. The conversation turned away from who beat who 4-0 online last night, and instead became about who had which players in their teams, and who had the better virtual cards.

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The link between loot boxes, gaming, and childhood gambling - The Independent

‘Almost like the mob’: Companies among assets seized in Ontario illegal gambling probe – London Free Press (Blogs)

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In the latest Operation Hobart busts on Wednesday, four other people were charged with bookmaking, commission of an offence for a criminal organization, proceeds of crime, money laundering and tax evasion. Three others were charged with money laundering and proceeds of crime. They are all to appear in court in Brampton Sept. 17.

Among those charged was Douglas English, 38, of London. Hes charged with bookmaking and the possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking. He is not a member of the Hells Angels, Wade said.

Police swooped down on locations in London, Oakville, Toronto, Pickering, Welland and Thornbury on Wednesday and seized three residences, one vacant vacation property and eight vehicles, including sports cars, a vintage automobile and a Harley Davidson motorcycle, OPP said.

Officers say they also seized $82,590 in Canadian cash and $23,398 in U.S. cash, about seven kilograms of Psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and half of kilogram of marijuana with a combined value of $66,986.

But the seizure of the financial assets of three land development companies, which included building lots in the Collingwood area and a $7 million, newly-built house on one lot, stand out. None of the residences seized, nor development companies, was in London, police say.

The violence is because of the profits. If we only arrest people and if we dont seize the profits, were only doing half the job, Wade said.

Property and violence have been front and centre in Operation Hobart, and Barlettas name keeps popping up.

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'Almost like the mob': Companies among assets seized in Ontario illegal gambling probe - London Free Press (Blogs)

Glasgow to lead the way with gambling study as event ‘kick-starts conversation’ – Glasgow Times

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PEOPLE who have faced gambling issues are invited to take part in an event organised to kick-start the conversation on protecting others from harm.

Gambling, which has been labelled a public health issue by medical professionals and academics, can cause money problems, relationship breakdowns, stress and anxiety.

Glasgow is leading the way on combating the issue, with lessons learned in the city to be used to shape future work across Scotland and the UK.

Experts by experience can join Glasgow City Council staff and councillors, the NHS, charities and leading researchers at an online event, via Zoom, on Thursday (August 6) at 6.30pm.

READ MORE:Study to look at online gambling in Glasgow during Covid-19 lockdown

It will be hosted by Public Health Scotland and the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE).

Will Griffiths, programme manager at the ALLIANCE, said: It is crucial that people with lived experience are involved in shaping work to reduce gambling harms across Glasgow.

The person centred approach proposed by the Glasgow Gambling Harms Group is timely and there is scope for strong engagement with people with lived experience, third sector, public health colleagues and other statutory partners to reduce the harm gambling cause across the city.

This event will be a vital starting point to ensure that people with lived experience of gambling harms will be at the heart of co-producing the implementation of the work in Glasgow.

Phil Mackie, a consultant at Public Health Scotland, said: People can experience a wide range of harms linked to gambling, including money problems, relationship breakdown, stress and anxiety, and, in some extreme circumstances, suicide.

For every person that experiences problems with gambling, on average six other people in their lives will be negatively affected.

Whilst anyone can be affected at any time, we know that some people and communities are more vulnerable to gambling harm than others.

He added: This situation has, in all likelihood, been exacerbated by the social and economic impacts of Covid-19.

READ MORE:Calls for city to lead the way in battle against harmful gambling

As we move from managing the pandemic towards renewal and recovery, taking action now to tackle gambling harms will help make Glasgow a better, fairer place to live, work and play.

The event is the first of many ways for people to get involved in a three-year project funded by the UK Gambling Commission.

It aims to understand how people and communities experience harm through gambling and decide what action should be taken in Glasgow.

Bailie Annette Christie, convener for wellbeing, empowerment, community and citizen engagement at the city council, said: As Scotlands largest city, Glasgow must tackle gambling harms head on.

There has been a massive rise in recent years in online gambling, gambling advertising and marketing, coupled with a growing conflation between gaming and gambling and the gamblification of sports.

We need to understand the impact of these changes on vulnerable people, especially young people, and their future potential.

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Glasgow to lead the way with gambling study as event 'kick-starts conversation' - Glasgow Times

Tesla Vs The Short Sellers: The Battle Is Never Over – InsideEVs

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This article comes to us courtesy ofEVANNEX, which makes and sells aftermarket Tesla accessories. The opinions expressed therein are not necessarily our own at InsideEVs, nor have we been paid byEVANNEXto publish these articles. We find the company's perspective as an aftermarket supplier of Tesla accessories interesting and are willing to share its content free of charge. Enjoy!

Posted onEVANNEX August 04, 2020byCharles Morris

Now that TSLA stock has soared higher than $1,600, and the company appearspoised to join the S&P 500, its game over for the short sellers, right? Not so fastdespite losing whole closets full of shirts, some of the shorts are still hanging on, and they arent expected to fold up their tents just yet.

Theres no question that the rain has been pouring on the shorts parade.Securities Lending Timesreported in late July that short interest in Tesla was at its lowest level since 2015. According to S3 Partners, short interest decreased by 13.80% over the month prior to July 15. The shorts have lost a collective total of over $20 billion so far this year.

"Elon Musk is the lead actor in the biggest financial soap opera that's ever been. He makes roofs, rockets and cars, and it's a controversial bet. People doubt him but he performs," S3 Partners founder Bob Sloan toldBloomberg. "The short sellers are a really stubborn bunch."

Many shorts have been squeezed out of their positions, but as of July 15, Tesla short interest stood at $19.79 billionstill a colossal figure. Many market watchers believe the battle is far from over. Jacob Wolinsky, writing inValueWalk, cited data from Ortex Analytics showing that there were still over 11 million Tesla shares held in short positions as of July 23.

Tesla is the largest domestic equity short Ive ever seen...and the first US equity short with over $20 billion of short interest, says S3 Partners Managing Director Ihor Dusaniwsky. Only Apple has ever come close to attracting the same levels of short interest.

The short sellers interest in Tesla is not only due to skepticism about the companys prospectsaccording to Securities Lending Times, its partly inspired by a never-ending series of controversies and conspiracy theories having to do with Elon Musk, which arespreadvia social media and online forums.

Elon Musk has been quick to claim victory over the short sellers, however, this doesnt quite paint the full picture, says Peter Hillerberg, co-founder of Ortex Analytics. It is highly likely that what weve seen over recent weeks is at least in part a short squeeze, whereby the Tesla share price has been pushed higher by short sellers closing their positions. For high-conviction short sellers, this will just have been a further signal to hold tight and wait for an opportunity to take profit.

Furthermore, with the companys expected addition to the S&P 500 index, along with itslong-awaited Battery Day, coming up, it will surely be regularly featured in the headlines over the next few months feeding what some stock analysts call a hype premiumsomething that short sellers tend to see as an opportunity.

Whichever way you look at it, the battle of wits between Tesla and its short sellers is far from over, says Hillerberg.

===

Sources:Securities Lending Times,Bloomberg,ValueWalk; Video:Wall Street Journal

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Tesla Vs The Short Sellers: The Battle Is Never Over - InsideEVs

Check Out This Tesla Model S With A Rotary Engine: First EV Converted To Rotary? – InsideEVs

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This story began when Kyle Conner showed us a post from The Vehicle Finderon Facebook. No info, just images. Some of them just presented a Model S being apparently repaired, but then we saw the one you have above: the Tesla had an engine on its front axle. If you look closer, youll see it is a Mazda 13B rotary engine with a turbo helping it breathe. We had to find out more.

The guys at The Vehicle Finder were accommodating to point us in the right direction. The car is a work from Reuben Bemrose, a shop owner in New Zealand. Rs Garage once made headlines by putting a 13B on a Ferrari 456 body. There was a rumor that Ferrari threatened to sue him for that, but Bemrose denied this happened. He still has that sports car, apparently.

We have tried to contact him both in his personal Facebook profile and also on the garage page last August 2, but have not heard from him. His Instagram profile tells us a little more about the plans for this car.

From what this image shows, it seems that Bemrose bought the body of a Model S that suffered a front crash. In another Instagram post, he mentions that carrying it was interesting, as you can see below.

His Instagram description talks about his cars. Apart from the Ferrari, he also mentions a 17 Tesla P100D 13BPT. Thats undoubtedly his new project.

As soon as we saw the picture, we wondered if the idea is to make a range extender of some sort. Now that we know a little more about the guy behind the 13B conversion, we believe his goal is to create a fast combustion-engined car that looks like a Tesla.

If you know Bemrose, tell him we have sent him a message to learn more about the project. If it has no battery, as we are almost sure that is the case, our friends at Motor1.com would still be interested in talking about his future creation.

Source: The Vehicle Finder

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Check Out This Tesla Model S With A Rotary Engine: First EV Converted To Rotary? - InsideEVs

Here are Monday’s biggest analyst calls of the day: Nikola, Merck, Yum! Brands, Tesla & more – CNBC

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Patrick T. Fallon | BLoomberg | Getty Images

(This story is for CNBC PRO subscribers only.)

Here are the biggest calls on Wall Street on Monday:

UBS upgraded the social media service company after its strong earnings report and said it sees several long-term positives for the stock including the "offline to online ad shift" among other things.

"While we think the Q2 report contains many positive rate of change narratives, our rating change to Buy is not short-term but longer in duration driven by key themes - PINS remains in a unique position at the intersection of two secular tailwinds: 1) the offline to online ad shift & 2) the blurring of lines between digital ad & eCommerce. In particular, our higher conviction in the monetization path is reflected in our raised multi-year revenue forecast."

Note: this call occurred after the bell on Friday.

Bernstein said in its upgrade of the stock that it's bullish on the upcoming 5G cycle and sees a more "positive" risk/reward.

"Given a cleaner outlook around customer and regulatory disputes, potential further upside from possible Huawei chip sales, accelerating economics as AAPL reenters the model, and subsequent potential for multiple expansion we judge QCOM's risk-reward to be more positive than it has been in a long time."

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Here are Monday's biggest analyst calls of the day: Nikola, Merck, Yum! Brands, Tesla & more - CNBC

Tesla Model Y drive, Fisker and VW, the potential of bi-directional charging: Today’s Car News – Green Car Reports

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Volkswagen isnt yet saying yes to Fisker. U.S. city grids need some smart upgrades. Electricity could be the new currency of parking garages. And we take the Model Y for a drive. This and more, here at Green Car Reports.

The Tesla Model Y is going to be the benchmark for a generation of compact electric crossovers, including the Volkswagen ID.4, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and Volvo XC40 Recharge, among many others. One of our editors took the Model Y out for an afternoon drive to see what the buzz is all about.

Fisker has been seeking to use Volkswagens MEB platform for electric vehicles for the upcoming Fisker Ocean crossover. However negotiations with VW are now reportedly on pause according to an SEC document filed Friday.

A study from a Department of Energy lab suggests that if electric-vehicle adoption is strong, some U.S. cities grids might feel the squeeze from EVs unless they help enable smart charging and grid upgrades.

And could electricity from your electric vehicle serve as a currency for parking in the future? Nissan is already offering that to EV drivers at its new Pavilion exhibition space in Japan

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Tesla Model Y drive, Fisker and VW, the potential of bi-directional charging: Today's Car News - Green Car Reports

Chinese Tesla rival Xpeng Motors in talks over $300 million in funding ahead of U.S. IPO, sources say – CNBC

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Xpeng Motors latest electric car is called the P7.

Xpeng Motors

Xpeng Motors, one of Tesla's rivals in China, is in talks to raise around $300 million in funding ahead of an initial public offering (IPO) in the U.S., two sources familiar with the matter told CNBC.

Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, theQatar Investment Authority, is one of the investors in the funding round, the sources said. Alibaba, which is already an investor in Xpeng, also joined the round, one of the people said.

The final amount raised might be higher than $300 million as a number of investors are still in discussions to put money into Xpeng, the sources,who wanted to remain anonymous because the discussions are private, added.

Xpeng Motors declined to comment. The Qatar Investment Authority was not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC.

Alibaba confirmed to CNBC that it was involved in the funding round.

"Through our investement in Xpeng, Alibaba aims to leverage our established expertise in digitalization to support the advancement of the smart electric automaker industry," a spokesperson said in a statement.

The electric carmaker's latest cash injection is part of the same $500 million round of funding it raised earlier this month from investors including Aspex, Coatue, Hillhouse Capital and Sequoia Capital China. And it follows a$400 million investment in Novemberfrom investors that included Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi.

Xpeng Motors has also confidentially filed for an IPO in the U.S., but has not decided which exchange to list on yet, the sources told CNBC.

The potential listing in the U.S. comes amid rising tensions between America and China which could impact foreign firms listed on Wall Street. In May, the U.S. Senate passed legislation that would increase scrutiny on Chinese firms trading on American exchanges which carries the threat of delistings for some foreign firms.

China has spawned a number of electric car companies thanks to favorable policies for the sector including subsidies. While some have collapsed, others such as Xpeng, are looking to push forward and grow.

This month, the car start-up started deliveries of its new P7 sedan which is seen as a competitor to Tesla's Model 3. In January, Tesla began rolling out Model 3 carsmade in its Shanghai factoryto customers in China.

China's electric vehicle sector has been hurt by the coronavirus outbreak. Sales of so-called new energy vehicles fell 33.1% year-on-year in June, according to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. However, sales have been rising month-on-month as theChinese economy showssigns of rebounding.

Earlier this year, the Chinese government unveiled policies it hoped will boost demand for electric cars. Some new energy vehicle subsidies and tax break policies that had been set to expire this yearwere extended to 2022. And nationwide charging infrastructure got a 2.7 billion yuan ($387 million) investment.

If Xpeng does go public in the U.S., it will join fellow Chinese electric carmaker NIO, which listed in September 2018. And on Thursday, Li Auto, another Chinese electric automaker started trading on the Nasdaq, raising $1.1 billion.

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Chinese Tesla rival Xpeng Motors in talks over $300 million in funding ahead of U.S. IPO, sources say - CNBC

Don’t Wait: Ten Reasons To Buy The Tesla Cybertruck NOW! – InsideEVs

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Are you thinking about getting a Tesla Cybertruck and still haven't put in your reservation? If so, the Cybertruck Truck Guy has some advice: Don't wait any longer.

With reservations rapidly approaching one million units, you're already going to be waiting a few years to get your Cybertruck even if you order it today. Tesla has even begun taking Cybertruck reservations in China, although we're unsure how much demand for it will be in that market. Seeing Cybertrucks shipped to China while you're waiting for yours will only add to your frustration if you want one and wait too long to reserve it.

While it's true that many (some guess as much as 50%) of the Cubertruck reservations won't convert to sales, there are already so many reservations that even if only half of them convert, Tesla may have a production backlog of about three to four years once they begin manufacturing the vehicle.

In the video, the Cybertruck Truck Guy offers his list of top ten reasons why you shouldn't wait to add your name to the reservation. Interestingly he includes some information that many may not have considered. For starters, he cites a research firm's study that revealed 20% of the Midwest construction companies that they surveyed offered that they planned to buy an electric pickup truck as their next work vehicle.

It's been generally thought that construction professionals may lag behind early adopters for electric pickup trucks to wait and see if the vehicles are capable of performing their required work duties. So a study like this, albeit a small one, is quite surprising.

The host also explains how Full Self Driving availability will cause additional demand (although I'm still not buying that FSD will be available anytime soon). He also includes how Tesla's upcoming Battery Day could also cause a spike in orders if Elon delivers on his promise that this event will be one of the most important days in tesla history.

Here's where to jump to in order to find the 10 reasons listed in the video:

Another reason Todd, the host mentions is that once customer deliveries begin, demand will go through the roof, and that's definitely something that I agree with. But I'll take that one step further. I think that as Tesla's new factory in Austin, Texas begins to take shape, and also once we see some Cybertruck prototypes driving around during the validation process, the excitement will climb and reservations will definitely spike.

We agree with Cyber Truck Truck Guy on this one. If you have even the slightest interest in getting a Cybertruck, it's probably worth the $100 reservation, which is fully refundable if you do change your mind. Agree? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

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Don't Wait: Ten Reasons To Buy The Tesla Cybertruck NOW! - InsideEVs

Tesla Gets Yet Another Electric Vehicle to Compete With Ahead – 24/7 Wall St.

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When DiamondPeak Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: DPHC) came public early last year as a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC), the company raised $250 million it planned to use to form just about any business combination, with just about any kind of company, but that it intended to focus its search on a business with a real estate component.

Its possible to argue (barely) that Tuesdays announcement that DiamondPeak is combining with privately held Lordstown Motors fits that focus. Lordstown Motors acquired General Motors Lordstown assembly plant, where the company plans eventually to build some 60,000 all-electric (EV) pickup trucks annually. Theres the promised real estate.

What makes the deal noteworthy, though, is Lordstowns product. The companys planned EV, the Lordstown Endurance, is planned to begin production in the second half of next year, a full year earlier than the Cybertruck from Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA). Another EV pickup, the R1T from another well-funded startup, Rivian, originally was planned to begin production late this year, but the company has delayed the start until 2021, blaming the COVID-19 outbreak for forcing a break in retooling Rivians assembly plant in Illinois.

Other recent initial public offerings (IPOs) for semi-tractor (Class 8) maker Nikola Corp. (NASDAQ: NKLA) and Workhorse Group Inc. (NASDAQ: WKHS), which makes delivery vans, have sent the EV sector soaring.

Last month, another SPAC, Tortoise Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: SHLL) announced a planned reverse merger with Hyliion, a Class 8-electric power-train maker that uses a natural gas generator to recharge its batteries. Nikola also offers an all-electric semi along with an electric-hydrogen hybrid.

In another deal announced earlier this month, Spartan Energy Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: SPAQ) announced its intention to do a reverse merger with Fisker, an EV maker that filed for bankruptcy in 2013 after selling a handful of its Karma sports cars.

Thats a lot of action, and while it would all seem to be aimed at Tesla, the reality is that the losers stand to be GM, Ford and Volkswagen.

Nikola and Hyliion are targeting the heavy-duty Class 8 sector that the Tesla Semi is also aiming at, but with different powertrain systems. The Workhorse van is addressing a sector that Tesla is not competing in, and in the passenger car sector, none of the traditional carmakers comes close to Teslas combination of price and range, the two options most important to mainstream vehicle buyers.

That leaves pickups, the gasoline-powered vehicles that perennially lead all vehicles in U.S. sales, making it an obvious target for a new entrant. Lordstowns Endurance is aimed at commercial fleet buyers and the company announced more than 27,000 pre-orders valued at $1.4 billion.

With so many new competitors and the traditional heavyweights in the wings, is Tesla really under an existential threat? Probably not.

On Teslas second-quarter conference call, CEO Elon Musk said that the companys goal is to be slightly profitable and maximize market share. Right now it owns 80% of the U.S. EV market according to Loup Ventures analyst Gene Munster.

By 2030, Tesla could be producing (and selling) 15 million vehicles a year. Those vehicles will be getting better, and the recharging stations needed to override consumers range anxiety will become ubiquitous. GM, Ford and VW may only be able to compete on price and that, Munster believes, is a battle they cant win.

As for startups like Rivian and Lordstown that are targeting the light-duty truck sector, they may have an easier time of it than traditional carmakers because there is a big market for pickups and sport utility vehicles (Rivians other vehicle is the R1S SUV). But can either of these companies compete with the EV market share leader that is also a leading battery maker?

Whether Tesla, Rivian, Lordstown, or another truck maker wins the pickup battle is almost irrelevant to Teslas future. As Loup Ventures Munster points out, [T]he long-term value of Tesla will not lie in its initial business; rather, the long-term value will include renewables, batteries, and repurposing those technologies into new markets, potentially HVAC, small aircraft, and others.

Teslas stock rose by about 3.8% on Monday to close at $1,485.00, in a 52-week range of $211.00 to $1,794.99. The price target on the stock is $1,239.11.

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Exclusive: Panasonic aims to boost energy density in Tesla batteries by 20% – executive – Reuters

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TOKYO (Reuters) - Panasonic Corp (6752.T) plans to boost the energy density of 2170 battery cells it supplies to Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) by 20% in five years and commercialize a cobalt-free version in two to three years, the head of its U.S. EV battery business said.

FILE PHOTO: A Panasonic Corp's lithium-ion battery is pictured with the Tesla Motors logo during a photo opportunity at the Panasonic Center in Tokyo, Japan, November 19, 2013. REUTERS/Yuya Shino

This is the first time Panasonic, a leading cell provider for the worlds top electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla, has outlined these targets, putting down a marker in a highly competitive sector to stay ahead of the game.

Panasonic introduced the 2170 lithium-ion cells, with the nickel-cobalt-aluminium (NCA) cathode chemistry, for Teslas Model 3 in 2017. Researchers say it already has the highest energy density at above 700 watt-hour per litre.

With an even higher density, these cells could help increase how much an EV can run on a single charge, while also paving the way for smaller batteries and roomier car interiors.

A cobalt-free version on the other hand would cut reliance on a costly and controversial component, which makes batteries stable but poses ethical issues given controversial labour conditions in top producer the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has long said he wants to move to zero-cobalt battery cells.

Panasonic has already cut cobalt content to under 5% in the NCA cathode and plans to improve its batteries in stages, its U.S. EV battery chief Yasuaki Takamoto told Reuters.

But the firm has declined to link its battery roadmap to Teslas future models.

Panasonic recently lost its status as Teslas exclusive battery supplier. The U.S. firm has partnered with South Koreas LG Chem (051910.KS) and Chinas CATL (300750.SZ).

CATL is supplying Tesla with low-cost lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries that contain no cobalt.

According to Takamoto, the average density of LFP battery cells is less than half the level of Panasonics latest NCA batteries. He did not name any companies.

Panasonic has already developed technologies resulting in a more than 5% increase in the energy density of 2170 cells.

From September, the firm will start converting lines at its factory in Nevada that it operates with Tesla as it prepares to further boost the energy density of the cells, Takamoto said.

To control safety risks associated with higher density and less cobalt, Panasonic is adjusting the composition and design for better thermal stability, Takamoto said.

He also noted there will be various battery requirements coming into play as EV usage diversifies.

Teslas Musk has promised to reveal significant battery advances during a Battery Day presentation scheduled for Sept 22. Tesla plans to introduce an EV battery that will last one million miles later this year or early next, which it jointly developed with CATL.

Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki, additional reporting by Norihiko Shirouzu; Editing by Himani Sarkar

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Power of 5am thoughts – The New Indian Express

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Express News Service

BENGALURU: Every day, about 600 people across the world are setting up their alarms for 4.45 am to wake up, and join Kartika Nair, coach, trainer and manifestation practitioner, for her 5 am club. A group meditation, chant, affirmations, dream discussions... is what Nair calls The Magic Morning Manifestation Club from 5 am to 6 am.This 29-year-old brought up in Bengaluru says the Covid-19 times has seen a surge in the number of people watched her videos on YouTube, who attended her webinar and signed up for her course. In these trying times, self-love is most important to stay safe and sane. The 5 am club is about self-healing with a mix of self-worth, she says.

A firm believer in the Law of Attraction, manifestation and visualisation techniques to realise dreams, Nair believes that her life itself has been the greatest teacher, besides of course, the online training certifications she has obtained. She says that she is an introvert who suffered from Panic Disorder. My panic disorder was so severe that I could not even step out of the house. Even the rustle of a leaf sounded like an earthquake rumble. I had many such issues. In fact, 2013 was the year I hit rock bottom.

My self-esteem was zero. I undertook all possible therapies for the next three years, but it was the book Power of Now The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment is a book by Eckhart Tolle. The book is intended to be a guide for day-to-day living and stresses the importance of living in the present moment and transcending thoughts of the past or future. It changed my life. I started believing reading and practising mindfulness, positive thinking, manifestation etc.

Nair then started sharing her knowledge through YouTube videos through her channel called Synchroshakti. People started watching my videos and started messaging me for details or for guidance. Today I have 142K subscribers but I get over 1.2 million views for some videos such as Hooponopono, a Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and forgiveness. But what about those who debunk theories such as Law of Attraction or that we attract everything in our life based on our vibrations? How does she convince people who do not believe in such easy peasy solutions? Nair states firmly that she is not here to prove a point to anyone. If someone thinks, this is all pop psychology, so be it. This is what I believe in. And 600 others who spend time and money to join me every morning. Obviously, they are getting the results, she adds.

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India is a spiritual country, but we’re still not taking the wealth of the Bhagavad Gita: Vedanta scholar Jaya Row – The New Indian Express

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Though India is perceived as a spiritual country at the heart of it, there's still a lot more that its citizens can and ought to draw from the Bhagavad Gita, said renowned Vedanta scholar Jaya Row. "We are still not taking the wealth of the Gita and are still looking westward. We are only taking concepts from the surface that have been marketed. The modern world is promoting and nourishing desire and the financial world is based on desire," said Row, during e-expressions, a virtual dialogue organised by The New Indian Express. The session also included TNIE's Editorial Director Prabhu Chawla and AUthor and Journlaist Kaveree Bamzai.

She also spoke about how they were trying to reach more people through sensible influencer targeting, "We should look at COVID as nature's way to course-correct. If a few leaders of society do it then the rest will follow. It's like promoting veganism. The goal was to get the top 7% of America to do because they knew the world will follow. We are trying to reach thinkers and intellectuals so that more people follow the path," she added that, "Hollywood stars like Will Smith and Julia Roberts have said that they are reading the Gita."

Row, who is an established lecturer and speaker who has served as the Managing Trustee of the Vedanta Trust, said that she had faith in the country because of its deep spiritual ties, "I am optimistic because of the aspirations of people. There are people in small towns who will work to realise their aspirations. This is what is keeping India going. India is still a spiritual country. Talk to people about it and it will touch a chord. This will not happen anywhere else in the world." This spirituality is vital, according to her, in keeping your immunity up during these troubled pandemic times, "We have spiritual immunity, especially among the poor, that is helping them cope. I think it's positive where people understand challenges will come and that it will pass.

Responding to a question about why people only turn to spirituality when hit by personal loss, she explained that it was inevitable as it was hardcoded into human nature, "The majority of people turn to spirituality when they face some loss or bereavement or tragedy in life."

But will this lockdown and the threat of COVID have steered more people towards embracing their inner spirituality? Row confessed that she had cautious optimism in this regard, "I'm not sure if people will return to nature. I think it is a temporary hiatus and that people will resume their life with a bang. There are people who have used this opportunity to do things they have never had the time to. Even businessmen have turned to the path of enlightenment. Vedanta has a longlasting effect on people even if they are materialistic, to the extent they are receptive and use it."

When asked what her number one lesson from this lockdown was, Row who is currently in Mumbai, said, "There are so many things denied to us during the lockdown and yet life moved on. The lesson is that we don't really need it. It has helped us to look inward to find happiness." And is there a secret formula to achieve happiness? She promptly replies, "The Gita gives a formula for happiness: Happiness = Number of desires fulfilled/Number of desires harboured. If you bring down the denominator to zero, you hit infinity!"

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India is a spiritual country, but we're still not taking the wealth of the Bhagavad Gita: Vedanta scholar Jaya Row - The New Indian Express

The Sacrifice of All Doubts – Kashmir Reader

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Abid Hussain Rather

The Islamic calendar starts with the month of Muharram and ends with the month of Dhu al-Hijjah. When we look at these two months, both are marked with acts of sacrifice. On the 10th of Muharram the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) Imam Hussain (RA) and his 72 companions sacrificed their lives for the sake of Islam. During Dhu al-Hajj, Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) agreed to sacrifice his beloved son, Ismail (AS). The story is narrated in the Quran as:When he was of an age to work with him, he [Ibrahim] said, My son, I saw in a dream that I must sacrifice you. What do you think about this? He [Ismail] said, Do as you are ordered, father. God willing, you will find me steadfast. Allah ransomed him with a mighty sacrifice. So pray to your Lord and sacrifice. Quran (108:2)Allah accepted Ibrahims sacrifice and put a ram in place of Ismail. We can therefore say that the sole purpose of our life is complete submission before Allah. We should always sacrifice our will before the will of the Almighty, without any doubts or disputes. The Arabic term Islam itself means surrender. A true believer is always ready to surrender his will before Allah and the event of Eid-ul-Azha reminds us of this fundamental duty.When we trace the history of sacrifice in Islam we find that it were the two sons of Prophet Adam (AS), Habil and Qabil, who were first asked by Adam (AS) to make a sacrifice to resolve a different between them. Habil sacrificed his best, well-fed and healthy animal, as he was a shepherd, while as Qabil, who was a land tiller, unwillingly sacrificed some produce grown from his land. Allah accepted Habils sacrifice as he was pious and righteous while Qabils sacrifice was rejected as he was without righteousness and had not made his sacrifice with sincerity. Habil explained to his brother that Allah accepts sacrifice of only those people who have Taqwa. This story illustrates that sincerity and purity of intention are the most important part of the sacrifice. Almighty Allah is not a human being and He doesnt need flesh, blood or meat of the animal. Rather, the essence of sacrifice lies in Taqwa righteousness and piety which has to be attained through the spirit of devotion and sacrifice. It is clearly mentioned in Quran:Their meat will not reach to Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you Quran (22:37).Sacrifice in Islam is a spiritual activity and a beautiful chance to draw us closer to Almighty Allah. Love lies at the roots of sacrifice and love for Allah and His Prophet (PBUH) is vital for a believer. It is the piety of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) which needs to be celebrated rather than the sacrifice of animals.Though the concept of sacrifice in Islam has been criticised by many non-believers, particularly in the Christian world during the age of enlightenment, for example by Immanuel Kant, who argued that Ibrahim (AS) should have been certain about his own moral sense and suspicious about an ostensibly divine voice commanding him to do something as cruel as sacrificing his son. Though Kant was not necessarily advocating defiance of God, he was empowering human reason. The argument of Kant clashes with the basic tenets of Islam where a believer is asked for complete submission. Whenever the will of a believer clashes with the will of the Almighty or with the basic principles of Islam, he has to sacrifice his own will and follow the greater principles. A believer should always believe that Allah has bestowed him with limited knowledge while only Allah has infinite knowledge. So, even the apparently wrong judgements of Allah are never wrong in the true sense. Sacrifice in Islam teaches us to slaughter our innate hatred, jealousy, pride, greed, animosity, and doubts before the will of Almighty Allah.

The writer teaches Geography at GDC, Kulgam. rather1294@gmail.com

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The Sacrifice of All Doubts - Kashmir Reader

View the awe-inspiring Hermitage of St. Sava – Aleteia IT

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For eight centuries the Hermitage of St. Sava has clung to the sides of Radoelo Mountain as an enduring testament to the Christian faith of Serbia. The site is named for the patron saint of Serbia, who lived there for much of his later life while he was pursuing his mission to evangelize the Serbian people.

There are few records that remain from the construction of this hermitage, but it is generally agreed that the hermitage sprang up at about the same time as the nearby Studenica Monastery, which Atlas Obscura explains, was commissioned by Stefan Nemanja, the medieval Grand Prince of the Serbian Grand Principality. St. Sava was Stefans son, making him a prince of Serbia, and he went on to become the first Archbishop of Serbia.

The breathtaking mountainside structures stand at 300 feet above sea level, which gives the Hermitage an awe-inspiring view of the surrounding canyon landscape. StudenicaInfo, a website dedicated to the Studenica Monastery, explains that the Hermitage of St. Sava is only accessible by a difficult foot trail up the canyon wall. This path has remained unchanged since the time of St. Sava and offers pilgrims the opportunity to experience the same walk as the saint.

Once in the Hermitage, which is still home to monks, pilgrims and visitors can explore the historical grounds, including monksquarters, the scriptorium, St. Savas cave, and a well spring from which ice cold water can be drawn. The Hermitage played an important role in the enlightenment of Serbia, as St. Sava led his monks to produce literature of an edifying nature. The saint himself is said to have written two of his works at the hermitage: Studenica Typikon and Life of St. Simeon.

While the many sights of the Hermitage of St. Sava are worth a trip all on their own, pilgrims may find the most spiritual value in the long walk up the mountain through serene scenery. The quiet one might find at the mountainside property makes it an exemplary place for meditation or reflection.

For a view of the Hermitage of St. Sava, in Serbia, take a look at the short video featured above, and then check out our slideshow.

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View the awe-inspiring Hermitage of St. Sava - Aleteia IT

What planets should we search to find alien life? – Astronomy Magazine

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Just add starlightWhen contemplating what types of planets might harbor life, scientists first consider their host stars. High-mass stars live fast and die young, blazing with tremendous energy but burning out in just a few million to a few hundred million years. Thats probably not long enough for life to really get going on any orbiting planets.Stars with just a few solar masses or lower produce less radiant energy and thus have smaller habitable zones, defined as the region around a star where a planet can sustain temperatures conducive to hosting liquid water on its surface. But these stars longer lifespans give their planets billions of years for any primitive life to evolve into complex forms. The Sun, for example, has given terrestrial life plenty of time, and life has needed that time to express its full potential. Multicellular life didnt emerge until Earth had been around for roughly 3.5 billion years. And advanced plants and animals didnt arise until Earth was 4 billion years old, after oxygen had built up in the atmosphere. This highly reactive element provided the required energy for more dynamic metabolism. A major question mark centers around the lowest-mass stars, red dwarfs. They comprise three-fourths of our galaxys stars and live for trillions of years. But their feeble energy outputs ensure small habitable zones nestled very close in to the star. This proximity subjects planets to bombardment from powerful flares, which can erode their atmospheres. But red dwarfs calm down over time, potentially giving planets time to regenerate a gaseous envelope. Most of these stars habitable-zone planets are tidally locked, with one side always facing the star and the other in permanent night. But thick greenhouse-gas atmospheres and raging winds could smooth out the hemispheric temperature differences that result from tidal locking.Even the concept of the habitable zone is overly simplistic. As traditionally conceived, the Suns habitable zone currently encompasses Earth and extends to roughly the distance of Mars. And in fact, NASA missions have returned overwhelming evidence that Mars once had rivers, lakes, and oceans of liquid water.

Whether a planet has liquid water on its surface is a function of both surface temperature and atmospheric pressure. For example, water boils on Mars today despite the cold temperatures because of its very low atmospheric pressure. Mars originally had a thicker atmosphere, which allowed it to have liquid water on its surface. But the Red Planet lost most of its atmosphere long ago, partially because it is a low-mass planet. If Mars had higher mass, it could have hung on to its atmosphere for a much longer period of time, perhaps all the way to the present.

That raises intriguing questions about whether planets of certain sizes and masses are best suited for life. Ren Heller of the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research has argued that Earth is not necessarily the most habitable type of planet. After all, large tracts of Earths surface are nearly devoid of life, such as deserts, the poles, and nutrient-poor oceanic regions. Everybody is crazy about the most Earth-like planet, says Heller. But from a more general, more reflective perspective on the question of life in the universe, I dont see any reason why Earth should be the optimal place for life to form and evolve. There might even exist planets that have more benign environments for life to develop and to diversify.

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What planets should we search to find alien life? - Astronomy Magazine