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The government does not need a search warrant when it taps the phones or checks the e-mails of suspected terrorists who are outside the U.S., even if Americans may be overheard on the calls, a special intelligence court ruled in an opinion released Thursday. The decision confirms what Bush administration officials and some legal experts have long argued. Although the Constitution protects the privacy rights of Americans against "unreasonable searches and seizures," this principle does not bar U.

Eight years ago, George W. Bush's stay-at-home proclivities, seen by some as evidence of a lack of interest in the world beyond U.S. borders, became a troublesome issue as he ran for the White House. As the president approaches his final year in office, his agenda is so heavily booked that he is already scheduled to touch down on every continent except Australia and Antarctica.

Global economic growth will slow for a second straight year in 2008 as tighter credit conditions and higher oil prices weaken expansions in the U.S., Japan and Europe, the World Bank said in an annual forecast. The world economy will grow 3.3% this year, down from an estimated 3.6% pace in 2007 and 3.9% in 2006, the bank said. The U.S. economy, the world's largest, will expand 1.9%, compared with 2.2% last year, it said. Japan's gross domestic product is forecast to increase 1.

General Electric Co. reported that fourth-quarter income rose 4% to $6.7 billion, or 66 cents a share, compared with $6.44 billion, or 62 cents, in the year-earlier period. The rise reflects strong global demand for its power system products such as jet engines and turbines. Earnings at GE's NBC Universal entertainment division, showing no slowdown because of the Hollywood writers strike, jumped 10% to $923 million for the quarter ended Dec. 31. Revenue climbed 8% to $4.55 billion from $4.

Sanctions weren't supposed to hurt Majid Taleghani. But the Iranian book publisher says they have forced him to increase prices and scale back the number of titles he issues. "In the past few weeks, the price of South Korean paper has soared at least 25%," Taleghani complained, chain-smoking nervously. "Why? South Korean banks refuse to open letters of credit. They won't work with Iranian banks anymore." President Bush's recent tour through the Middle East was meant in part to rally U.S.

Dubai slowed, New Delhi wobbled and Irvine inched along. Two cables carrying Internet traffic under the Mediterranean Sea were snapped Wednesday, disrupting business half a world away. The Internet's speed and resilience have fueled the globalization of many kinds of work, such as call centers, software development and data entry. But the rare Internet traffic jam or accident can wreak havoc in far-flung places. In Irvine, Anjay Bajaj's business felt the effects immediately.

Exxon Mobil Corp. won a round in its bitter fight against Venezuela's state oil company Thursday as courts in several countries said they would freeze $12 billion in international assets held by Petroleos de Venezuela. Last year, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez nationalized a heavy oil field in eastern Venezuela, and Exxon Mobil has been seeking to recover the value of its investment in the site ever since.

Although U.S. companies' international theme parks contain many of the elements that made them famous, they all have to adapt -- at least in some way -- to the local culture. Consider Disney's learning experiences: When its Paris park opened, it banned alcohol but offered a variety of gourmet, sit-down restaurants. But Parisians wanted their Chardonnay -- and American fare. "They wanted what Americans do: hot dogs," said Al Lutz, editor of the Disney fan website Miceage.com.

Early Monday, 41 foreign ambassadors and their spouses caught flights from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles to "Experience America." "Washington, D.C., is not America," said Ambassador Kailash Ruhee of the Republic of Mauritius. "D.C. is the center of power for the U.S., and it's extremely important, but also it's extremely important to know what else is happening in the other states." U.S.

This week, when Barack Obama campaigns in Ohio and Colorado, John McCain will be visiting Colombia and Mexico. It's an unusual path for McCain to follow. But even more, it's a risky strategy for his presidential campaign. Not since Richard M. Nixon traveled to all 50 states in 1960, fulfilling a pledge he came to regret, has a presidential candidate followed an itinerary that appears so at odds with his political needs.