US President Barack Obama welcomed the appointment of the EU's first president Thursday, saying it would make Europe an "even stronger partner" for the United States.

Editorial Roundup: Excerpts From Recent Editorials in Newspapers in the US and Abroad. Excerpts from recent editorials in newspapers in the United States and abroad:

Closing arguments were to begin Friday in the trial of American student Amanda Knox for the 2007 murder of her British housemate in the Italian university town of Perugia.

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said it is too soon to set a timeline for shifting security duties from NATO-led troops to Afghan forces, as proposed by Britain.

Australia has recruited successful German consultant Andreas Abold to orchestrate its bid for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup, reports said on Friday.

Today in History - Nov. 20. Today is Friday, Nov. 20, the 324th day of 2009. There are 41 days left in the year.

Latin American art decorates the Big Apple, breaking down cultural stereotypes. The only art fair in the United States featuring works exclusively from Latin American artists is under way in New York and drawing artists, collectors and museum representatives from around the world to the PINTA art fair.

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said it is too soon to set a timeline for shifting security duties from NATO-led troops to Afghan forces, as proposed by Britain.

EU leaders on Thursday picked little known Belgian prime minister Herman Van Rompuy as Europe's first president with a mission to give the continent a greater world profile.

Increasing numbers of radical Islamic Web sites are spreading al-Qaida's message in English. Increasing numbers of English-language Web sites are spreading al-Qaida's message to Muslims in the West. They translate writings and sermons once largely out of reach of English readers and often feature charismatic clerics like Anwar al-Awlaki, who exchanged dozens of e-mails with the Army psychiatrist accused of the Fort Hood shootings.

EU leaders picked little known Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy as Europe's first president with a mission to give the continent a greater world profile.

Analysis: US approach to Iran is toughening but outlook for harsher anti-nuke sanctions is dim. The Obama administration is shifting the focus of its Iran policy from talk to sanctions, but the prospect of winning early international support for toughened new penalties appears dim.

An MP, charged with probing expense claims of colleagues, quit his position as a newspaper Friday raised allegations about his own expenses worth thousands of pounds.

Newspapers attacked on Friday the appointment of the European Union's first president and foreign policy chief, some calling them lightweights who could struggle on the world stage.

In a landmark decision, Israel's supreme court has thrown out a law allowing privately-run prisons, arguing that running jails for profit would be a "grave" violation of inmates' human rights.

Henry's 'Hand of Shame' sparks debate on cheating, replays and Irish calls for playoff rerun. Irish soccer officials accused Thierry Henry of damaging the integrity of the game when he blatantly handled the ball to set up the goal that booked France's place at next year's World Cup in South Africa.

LONDON (Reuters) - The European Union's new foreign affairs chief on Friday dismissed criticism of her lack of experience and said her role would strengthen Europe's voice in the world.

Car production dropped by the smallest monthly amount so far this year during October thanks to the government's old-for-new scheme, industry data showed on Friday.

General Motors expects a plan for its European operations by mid December. General Motors Co. said it expects to release a full restructuring plan for its Opel and Vauxhall operations in mid December, but did not specify the amount of cuts to capacity and jobs it would seek.

Iran has not yet provided a "final answer" to a "unique" international nuclear fuel offer, Mohamed ElBaradei, the outgoing head of the UN nuclear watchdog, said on Friday.