Newscast for Friday, October 5, 2012

In Syria, shelling hits Homs neighborhoods as concern rises about border attacks with Turkey

In Syria today, protesters marched through the streets of Aleppo, Deraa, Damascus and other cities and towns.

In a video posted online by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a small group of children marched with other protesters in Idlib. The Observatory said at least 40 people were killed throughout the country today, including in the city of Homs, where residents reported shelling and assaults from tanks. One activist in Homs told Al Jazeera that he counted five rockets per minute in his neighborhood during the bombardment today.

Tensions around the ongoing conflict have risen in the past 48 hours after the Syrian regime killed five civilians across the border in Turkey’s city of Akcakale and Turkey returned fire. On Thursday, Turkey’s parliament authorized the use of force. In response, thousands protested in Istanbul and Ankara last night.

One protester, Nevzat Evrim Onal, told the Telegraph that US interests played a role in Turkey’s decision.

“We are going through an ugly provocation of war. The Turkish and Syrian people are not enemies. The government is trying to drag us into a war with Syria in compliance with US interests.”

Turkey is sheltering nearly 100,000 refugees from Syria.

On Thursday, the UN’s Security Council condemned the shelling of Akcakale. The Council’s President for October, Guatemalan Ambassador Gert Rosenthal, called for restraint.

“The members of the Security Council underscored that this incident highlighted the grave impact the crisis in Syria has on its neighbors and on regional peace and security. The members of the council demanded that such violations of international law stop immediately and are not repeated.”

So far UN resolutions and peace efforts have failed to stop the bloodshed.

Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez faces strong opposition in bid for reelection

This Sunday, voters in Venezuela head to the polls for their presidential election. President Hugo Chavez is seeking a fourth term and faces what is being called the strongest challenge to his presidency so far. Opposition candidate Henrique Capriles has highlighted a crackdown on the media and violence rates in the country.  But Chavez still has strong support, especially among residents who have benefited from his broad social programs and those who share his criticism of American influence in the region.

For more we go to Caracas to speak with journalist Virginia Lopez, she’s been covering the upcoming election for the Guardian.

For more of Virginia Lopez’ reporting in The Guardian on Venezuela:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/05/venezuela-election-chavez-rally?INTCMP=SRCH

As US official unemployment dips below eight percent, economists question quality of new jobs

New government employment numbers released today showed the economy added about 114,000 jobs in September, while official unemployment rate dropped below eight percent for the first time since the beginning of 2009. But if underemployed and discouraged workers are included, the total unemployment rate remains unchanged at 14.7 percent. And some economists are questioning the quality of the jobs created. FSRN’s Alice Ollstein has more, in Washington, D.C.

San Francisco’s new archbishop draws criticism over anti-gay activism

At St. Mary's cathedral in San Francisco, the catholic church installed a new controversial archbishop Thursday. Salvatore Cordileone was one of the driving forces behind California’s 2008 voter-approved ban on same sex marriage, Proposition 8. A crowd gathered outside the invitation-only ceremony, some voiced support and others criticized the new religious order. FSRN’s Judith Scherr has the story.

Vigils in Canada draw attention to missing, murdered aboriginal women and girls

More than 150 vigils took place across Canada Thursday night to honor the lives of missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls. The Native Women's Association of Canada has documented nearly 600 cases of missing and murdered aboriginal women, the majority of which were reported within the past thirty years. Some elected officials and families of the victims say the government is not doing enough to address the issue. FSRN’s Tanya Castle reports from Ottawa.