News Headlines - 15 November 2012

▽Israeli Strike Kills Hamas Commander - WSJ.com

Israel pounded the Gaza Strip with artillery shells and about 20 airstrikes on Wednesday, killing Hamas's top military commander and at least seven other people in the most violent assault on the coastal territory in four years.

▽Xi Jinping anointed China’s new leader - FT.com

Xi Jinping was anointed as the new head of the Communist Party of China on Thursday, taking charge of a relatively conservative leadership team that is considered reluctant to embrace any major new economic or political reforms.

▽Warning on ￡66bn public bank stakes - FT.com

Taxpayers may never see the return of the ￡66bn spent on shares in Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group four years ago, an influential group of MPs warns on Friday.

▽BP to Plead Guilty to Felonies, Pay $4.5 Billion in Spill - WSJ.com

BP PLC agreed to accept criminal responsibility for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster that killed 11 workers and to pay $4.5 billion in fines and restitution, the biggest penalty ever levied by the U.S. Justice Department.

▽Japan firms struggle to recruit foreigners

There are plenty of major Japanese companies that can offer decent pay, benefits and job security. But when it comes to attracting top young international talent, Japanese employers are aware that the tide is against them. This is especially true in the high-tech world where Japan is no longer considered to be on the cutting edge of cool.