Leading economists had mixed views today about whether a recession could spread around the world.

The Democratic victory in the US elections was seen in Asia as a well-deserved rejection of the war in Iraq, but was not expected to have a major impact on American foreign policy.

China’s growing thirst for oil will place a greater strain on the world’s top supplier, Saudi Arabia, at the very time doubts are being raised about the kingdom’s ability to substantially increase production.

A top Chinese Communist Party official has flown to North Korea, where he was expected to urge the isolated government to resume stalled talks on its nuclear weapons programs.

CHINA said yesterday that hard-liners in Taiwan were playing a deceitful and dangerous game by seeking independence, and appealed to the United States to oppose those seeking to split the island from the mainland.