* Putin steps up missiles warning Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that US plans to build a missile defence system in eastern Europe would raise the risk of “mutual destruction”.

* Catholic bishops to face anti-Semitism The need to step up the fight against anti-Semitism will be a key issue for the world’s Roman Catholic bishops at a meeting at the Vatican next year.

* Blair wants end to “abstract” EU The EU needs to focus on issues of concern to its citizens, rather than spend years on “abstract constitutional debate”, the UK prime minister says.

* Turkish government slams army threat Turkey’s Islamist-rooted government sharply criticised an army threat to intervene in domestic politics and said on Saturday the military must remain under civilian control.

* Global net use makes rapid rise The net is helping to close the digital divide between industrialised nations, suggests a report.

* A 10-day attack could delay Iran’s nuclear race by years “Iran’s nuclear program can be thrown back by years in a ten day attack using thousands of Tomahawk cruise missiles,” Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said.

* EU warns Turkish army over vote The European Union has warned Turkey’s military not to interfere in politics, amid a row over the Islamist-rooted ruling party’s candidate for president.

* Saudi king refuses al-Maliki Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah has denied Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki entrance into Saudi Arabia.

* Saudis say terror sweep nets 172 extremists Saudi Arabia announced that an anti-terrorism sweep netted 172 Islamic extremists and stopped plans to mount air attacks on the kingdom’s oil refineries, break militants out of jail and send suicide attackers to kill government officials.

* Dollar at record low against euro The US economy grew at its weakest pace for four years during the first quarter of 2007, figures from the US Commerce Department show.