Further interest-rate cuts and heavier public spending on construction and defence, and possibly more tax cuts, should support the economy by next year.

ECONOMIST: World economy

U.S. Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said in Washington that the Pentagon planned to begin construction next April for missile defence tests that could violate the treaty.

CNN: Moscow fear over U.S. missile memo

President Clinton may attempt to have it both ways: decide this year in favour of deploying a national missile defence, but declare that construction next year does not violate the treaty.

ECONOMIST: Letters

But it is also vital that progress be made towards the construction of an effective global defence against missile attack.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: 'Courage'

Both the defence and housing ministries, which must approve construction in the occupied territories, have gone to pro-settlement activists.

BBC: New Israeli government sworn in

The first stage of the development will include extensive work to waterways, including the construction of river walls and flood defence walls.

BBC: 2012 Olympic master plan revealed

When the US embarked in the 1950s on the construction of the 42, 795-mile National System of Interstate and Defence Highways, Americans applauded.

BBC: Killer on the road: why mass murderers haunt US highways