A NEW Credit Suisse report has predicted an astonishing 300,000 jobs could be lost in Singapore this year and next.

Most of the affected would be foreigners, who would then have to leave the country, leading to a drop in Singapore's population, it said.

But other economists and industry body heads say the Credit Suisse figure is extreme, even in an unprecedented crisis such as this one.

KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA'S deputy prime minister Najib Razak Tuesday said the ruling party's negative image and the perception that its leaders were unfriendly caused its defeat in a key by-election last week.

Mr Najib, deputy president of the dominant United Malays National Organisation (Umno), said the party which had ruled Malaysia for more than half a century had to change its culture and image to win back political support.

MOSCOW - SUPPLIES of Russian natural gas piped to Europe through Ukraine resumed on Tuesday, signaling an end to the EU's worst-ever gas crisis which has deprived millions of heat in the depths of winter.

The chairman of Slovakia's largest gas importer said gas was flowing again at a key transit point on the country's border with Ukraine, two weeks after it was halted amid a bitter dispute between Moscow and Kiev.

DESPITE the severe impact of inflation, Singaporeans were bettter off last year. Their family income rose across the board.

A key reason for the increase was the buoyant labour market, which saw more people with jobs and drawing higher salaries.

Latest official figures show the average monthly income for all Singapore households went up by about $700 in a year, from $6,300 in 2007 to $7,090 last year.