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BANGKOK (BLOOMBERG) - Thailand, already facing its worst coronavirus outbreak since the start of the pandemic, is considering cutting its prison population by as much as 16 per cent to counter the rapid spread of infections among inmates and workers in overcrowded facilities. More than 10,000 new Covid-19 cases have been reported in about a dozen densely packed Thai prisons. These latest clusters have pushed the country's daily case count to record highs twice in the past week, including on Monday (May 17) when more than two-thirds of the 9,635 infections were reported in prisons, official data showed. The outbreak in the correctional system reflects conditions in many parts of metropolitan Bangkok, where infections have spread quickly in dense slums, crowded construction sites and even a government-housing complex. The slow rate of vaccinations has added to the challenge facing the authorities. "If we can't get enough vaccines or if we can't contain the spread quickly, we'll have to think about reducing the number of inmates in the system through early release," according to Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin. "They're already incarcerated. They shouldn't have to suffer more than that." With about 311,000 inmates, Thai prisons are running at 5 per cent above official capacity. More than 80 per cent of those incarcerated face charges for narcotics violations. The Justice Ministry is looking at a special early-release programme for about 50,000 inmates, that could include the use of electronic-monitoring systems and adjustment of criteria. However, Mr Somsak said that the ministry's current priority is to administer vaccines to inmates and correctional officers to cut infections. In the longer term, Thailand's drug laws will be changed to allow shorter jail sentences for minor offences and to focus more on rehabilitation, which will reduce overcrowding and costs, he said. if anyone recall the news a few years ago... thailands prison conditions damn atrocious 2019 jail conditions....................... if the 2021 jail condition is not any better then........................................ https://mothership.sg/2019/12/thailand-prison-video-leak/

The Bloodhound SSC is out to beat the world land speed record, but it can't do it all on its own. The team is going to need a motorcade of support vehicles, like this specially equipped Jaguar F-Type. Outfitted by JLR Special Vehicle Operations with radio equipment and a unique livery, the Bloodhound SSC rapid response vehicle is based on the latest F-Type R AWD coupe. It'll serve a similar role that a pace or safety car does for a race, and be called into service in case of a high-speed emergency. The Bloodhound SSC itself will likewise be equipped with the same 5.0-liter supercharged V8, its 542 horses powering the jet-car's hydraulic system and oxidizer pump. The special F-Type will mark its debut at the Coventry MotoFest later this month (appearing again at Goodwood next month) alongside a '56 Long-Nose D-Type, the one-of-a-kind '66 XJ13, a '76 Broadspeed XJ12 Coupe, and the XJR-9 that won Le Mans in 1988.

uh oh.... i/r going up anytime soon? High debt-GDP ratio could hurt in face of global slowdown Bylivia yap THE rapid rise in household debt here, coming amid the uncertainty of global financial markets, has been red-flagged. Kelvin Tay, the regional chief investment officer for the Southern Asia-Pacific for UBS Wealth Management, said the high household debt levels, coupled with high property prices, could make Singapore vulnerable to a rise in unemployment, a reduction in incomes and asset deflation if a slowdown in global economic markets happens. Singapore's household debt - total consumer loans of Domestic Banking Units - stood at 279 per cent of the total gross domestic product in the first quarter of this year, up from 177 per cent in the corresponding quarter in 2007. The 279 per cent figure is even higher than the 198 per cent recorded in the first quarter of 2009, after the 2008 financial crisis. Mr Tay said 80 per cent of household debt here is made up of mortgages, which, coupled with the climb in property prices since 2009, explains why household debt as a percentage of GDP shot up so sharply from 2007. He said: "With (household debt) at such significant levels, it will be difficult for the government or policy makers to stimulate demand to offset the sluggish exports we are currently experiencing." This has been worsened by panic selling of risk assets, such as US high yield and Asian local currency bonds, since the US Federal Reserve's indication last week that it might start tapering its bond-buying programme later this year. Mr Tay said a rise in US treasury yields usually leads to a rise in Singapore government bond yields. As the USD is a major component in the basket of currencies used to manage the SGD, interest rates here usually follow the trends of USD interest rates. "Given the sharp rise in credit growth over the last few years, I would not be surprised if an increase in interest rates is followed by deterioration in the loans portfolio of banks and other financial institutions; this would in turn lead to a tightening of credit supply and a higher cost of financing for credit in general." He still believes the Asian market will continue growing, despite the impending halt of liquidity from the Fed. He rejects the notion that this could lead to a repeat of the Asian financial crisis "because the circumstances of both the global economy and, more importantly, the Asian economies, are now very different from 1994". Mr Tay said the Asian economies, excluding Japan, have strong fundamentals, with total foreign exchange reserves comprising more than half the world's GDP (52 per cent), much higher than in 1994 (23.6 per cent). Corporate balance sheets are similarly healthy, and although the net debt-to-equity ratio increased to 26.1 per cent from 18.3 per cent after the Lehman Brothers' crisis in 2008, this is still well below the 41.8 per cent in 1994, when the Fed began to raise interest rates. Despite a relatively sharp rise in debt over the past few years, the gross debt-to-GDP ratio for Asian economies excluding Japan averaged 46.4 per cent, with GDP growth for this year and the next likely to average 6.3 per cent. This is well above the 3 per cent growth rate for the world. Mr Tay said: "In short, the Asian story not only remains intact, but is also more attractively valued than before. "Compared to the years just before the Asian financial crisis, Asia excluding Japan has significantly more FX reserves, lower net debt-to-equity levels and sovereign debt levels and healthy growth rates."

The 2014 model year of the European spec Skoda Rapid is set to go on sale on 5th August 2013 with a series of updates. Most importantly, the compact Czech sedan will receive a new engine option in the form of a 1.6-litre TDI engine which is good for a modest 90bhp. The diesel engine will be mated to either to a seven-speed dual clutch automatic of a five-speed manual gearbox. An optional Green tec package adds green technologies such as low-rolling resistance tyres, brake energy regeneration and start/stop system. The 1.6-litre TDI Green Tec is said to return a fuel consumption figure of 3.9L/100km and emits CO2 at 104g/km. With the new engine, the Rapid is now available with two diesel engines and four petrol units. The refreshed Skoda Rapid will be offered with optional Xenon headlights. On the inside, the 2014 Rapid gets a new three-spoke steering wheel with four trim options, namely Graphite-Metallic, Silver Brushed, Piano White and Piano Black. Speaking of the Rapid, Skoda Singapore

The Skoda Rapid Sport concept will make its world premiere at the Worthersee tuning show in Austria. The concept gives the plain looking Rapid sedan an extreme makeover and turns it into a boy racer's fantasy. The Sport Concept is painted in two-tone metallic Steel Gray and Corrida Red and wears aggressive 19-inch red alloy wheels. The exterior is complimented by a body kit and twin exhausts pipe at the rear. The darkened side mirrors, head lights and grille remind us that this is a rapid sedan from the dark side. The recessed hood completes the external updates. According to Skoda, the sporty layout continues in the interior of the car, with a sports type steering wheel, Recaro seats and illuminated door sills. No engine details are available at the moment but given its promising looks, anything less than a 2.0-litre TSI would be a disappointment. Marking the 32nd year of the Volkswagen Group event, the 2013 Worthersee show takes place in Reifnitz, Austria between 8th to 12th May. Skoda will display the Fabia RS Motorsport, Citigo Motorsport and an accessorised 2013 Octavia Combi alongside with the Rapid Sport Concept.

[extract] Skoda has unveiled the estate version of the Rapid sedan ahead of its world premiere at September

Skoda's new compact sedan, the Rapid, has been caught naked on the Nurburgring with testers pushing the car to the limit. The crucial new model will slot into the Czech automaker's global portfolio between the Fabia and Octavia, and will play a lead role in its ambitious plans to almost double global sales by 2018. Based on the MissionL design concept and looking like a downsized Octavia, the car is expected to compete against the likes of the Mazda3 and Ford Focus. It is likely that the car will be built on a stretched Volkswagen Polo underpinnings rather than the larger Golf platform. You may ask if the Rapid will cannibalize on the sales of the Octavia. That is the question on my mind too. According to Matthew Wiesner, Director of Skoda Australia, the company planned to grow the Octavia into a true medium-size car to better take on the likes of the Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat. But does that mean Skoda will upsize the Superb or do away with the nameplate? No one has that answer now. The new Rapid will be revealed this summer with its world premiere to take place at the 2012 Paris Motor Show in September before it goes on sale across Europe this fall. Other parts of the world would get it in 2013. Expect the car to be powered by a range of 1.2-litre to 1.4-litre TSI engines with DSG transmission. MissionL Concept

[extract] Skoda has released initial details and photos for their all-new Rapid compact sedan that sits between the Fabia and the Octavia models. The new model was conceptualized by the MissionL concept at last year

[extract] Aston Martin will reduce the production volume of the Rapide saloon in order to match supply with a decreased demand. Production will be cut to only 1,250 cars a year or 24 cars per week, which is slightly over half of the 2,000 cars initially planned in 2007/08. Several sources imply that volume could even be dropped to 10 per week but the automaker is insistent that it won

Super pics of how they transformed the dodgy looking Rapid into the Rabbit AK-47 Links Transformation Glamour Shots

ST, 27/09/06 Firm will improve training and review resource allocation: Camry chief engineer TOYOTA Motor expanded too rapidly and, as a result, did not devote enough time to maintaining quality for some of its products, admitted the carmaker's chief engineer for the new Camry. Mr Yasuyuki Kawamoto, who unveiled the new executive sedan at the Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore yesterday, said rapid expansion was the reason for the spate of recalls that Toyota had to initiate in the last few months. 'I believe we've expanded fast, and as our volume increased, our development work could not catch up,' said the 48-year-old, who is one of Toyota's youngest chief engineers. From being the world's fourth-largest vehicle maker in 1999, Toyota has overtaken Volkswagen and Ford to become No. 2. It is now on the verge of beating No. 1 General Motors (GM). To achieve this, it makes cars in various countries, primarily the United States, Europe, Thailand and China. More than half of the nine million vehicles it produces are made outside of Japan. Mr Kawamoto said that maintaining consistent quality is a top priority. 'This is the main challenge of globalisation. 'Whether we overtake GM is not that important. We must have the range of cars that people want and maintain our standard of quality.'' He added that Toyota has realised its mistake and is making 'drastic adjustments' to address the quality issue. 'If there are models we can delay, we will delay. Also, we are reviewing our allocation of resources,' he said, referring, in particular, to outsourcing. 'Some of these outside resources are not used to the Toyota way.' From within, the company will raise efforts to nurture and impart know-how to younger workers whom, he admitted, were 'a little different' from the older generation. There had been reports blaming Japan's quality lapse on the country's repudiation of lifelong employment and a seniority-based system for American-style performance-based rewards. This had apparently led to workers taking a short-term view of their careers, with little or no loyalty to the company. Meanwhile, quality lapses have prompted the Japanese government to call on Toyota and Sony - which had to recall faulty laptop batteries - to buck up. Influential motoring quality consultants JD Power has even placed South Korea's Hyundai ahead of Toyota at the top spot for the first time in a recent poll. Mr Kawamoto said, however, that the Camry is still one step ahead of the Hyundai Sonata - its direct South Korean rival. 'Before Hyundai made the new Sonata, it studied the previous Camry closely. But before we made the new Camry, we studied the new Sonata closely. On the surface, the quality of the two cars looks very similar. But deep down, the Camry has better durability,' he said. Buyers here seem to agree. Since Toyota agent Borneo Motors started taking orders for the car in June, it has collected more than 1,300 bookings - or 350 units a month. In the first eight months of the year, Hyundai sold 560 Sonatas, or about 70 a month.