Militants, Israel exchange fire; 10 die

Militants, Israel exchange fire; 10 die

JERUSALEM

Israeli aircraft struck at Palestinian militants in Gaza on Saturday who responded with a volley of rockets, which rained on southern Israeli towns, Israeli and Palestinian officials said. Palestinian officials said nine militants were killed, while on the Israeli side, one civilian was killed and four others were wounded.

Exchanges of fire are common between southern Israel and the Gaza strip controlled by the militant Hamas group, but this is the worst in months.

Bangkok defenses hold off peak tides

BANGKOK

Defenses shielding the center of Thailand’s capital from the nation’s worst floods in nearly 60 years mostly held at critical peak tides Saturday, as the waters began to recede after killing almost 400 people. But the threat to central Bangkok was not over, the prime minister said, and the city’s northern districts remained submerged along with much of the countryside.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra urged citizens to let the crisis run its course as the floodwaters slowly drain to the sea, with Bangkok lying in their path. The floods that have besieged central Thailand for weeks submerged entire towns across the country’s heartland and shuttered hundreds of factories over the past two months.

Records: Boy Scouts didn’t report abuser

LOS ANGELES

Boy Scout officials in the U.S. and Canada not only failed to stop an admitted child molester in their ranks but sometimes helped cover his tracks, according to confidential records, court files and interviews with victims and their families.

A Los Angeles Times and Canadian Broadcasting Corp. investigation published Saturday finds Scout leader Rick Turley molested at least 15 children over nearly two decades, most of whom he met through American and Canadian Scouting beginning in the 1970s.

Boy Scouts of America officials didn’t call police in 1979 after Turley acknowledged molesting three Orange County boys, records show.

Obamas hand out Halloween treats

WASHINGTON

Turns out, the White House did not get egged.

Trick-or-treaters marched up the White House driveway on a wet, snowy Saturday, past the spider weblike gauze, the pumpkins and the costumed actors to the mansion’s north portico where President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama handed out treats, an annual tradition.

And yes, the sweets included signature boxes of White House M&Ms, signaling a temporary respite from the first lady’s healthful- eating campaign. Dried fruit and White House-baked cookies rounded out the handouts.

Earlier last week, in an appearance on the “Tonight Show,” Obama joked to host Jay Leno that he had warned his wife that if she wanted to avoid Halloween mischief she might want to dole out more than just fruit and raisins.

“I told her the White House is going to get egged if this keeps up,” he said.

Qantas grounds fleet amid strike

CANBERRA, Australia

Qantas Airways grounded its global fleet Saturday, suddenly locking out striking workers after weeks of flight disruptions an executive said could close down the world’s 10th-largest airline piece by piece. The Australian government called for an emergency arbitration hearing, which was adjourned early today after hearing evidence from the unions and airline. It will resume this afternoon when the government will argue that the airline be ordered to fly in Australia’s economic interests.

Associated Press