6.9 Quake Shakes Peru

A 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit the South American country of Peru Friday at 2:54 pm EDT.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the quake’s epicenter was near the coastal city of Ica in central Peru, 178 miles from the capital city of Lima.

RPP Noticias, a Peruvian new organization, reported that in Ica, people fled to the streets where there was some structural damage due to a previous earthquake in 2007.

The quake was also felt in Cusco, about 400 miles away.

No immediate tsunami warning was issued.

White House Pursues Job Creation With New Online Initiative

The White House announced Friday that they will be establishing a new online initiative aimed at easing small businesses’ access to government resources.

Entitled “BusinessUSA,” the proposed site will “disseminate core information regarding the Federal Government’s programs and services relevant to small businesses and exporters” as it’s first step.

The site was established via Presidential memorandum as part of the administration’s new strategy of sidestepping Congress by utilizing the authority of the Executive branch.

“With too many families struggling and too many businesses fighting to keep their doors open, we can’t wait for Congress to take action,” Obama said in a statement.

According to the language of the memorandum, the online platform will be up in 90 days.

Advocates Rally To Protect Benefits As Supercommittee Deadline Approaches

By Janie Amaya

During a briefing on Capitol Hill Friday, Social Security advocates argued that Social Security should not be part of the deficit reduction discussion amongst the members of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, also known as the Super Committee. 

Expressing urgency to stray away from the idea, Max Richtman, President and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare Foundation, said Social Security has a long-range problem that deserves attention but doesn’t have to be fixed until 2036.

“The trustees tell us [Social Security] is sound and able to pay everybody, every penny they are entitled to until the year 2036, and after that there will be a shortfall of about 22 percent,” Richtman said. “This doesn’t have to be fixed by Thanksgiving.”

The supercommittee is required to have a proposal to save $1.2 trillion over the next decade by November 23rd. If it fails to move forward, automatic cuts will be made across the U.S. government.

Joining Richtman were representatives from the Hispanic advocacy group the National Council of La Raza and the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center whom also spoke about the danger of cutting these programs for Americans who are not employed by pension-granting employers.

Obama's Approval Rating Inches Up

President Barack Obama’s approval rating has seen a slight increase, according to a new Gallup poll.

The survey shows that the President now stands with 43 percent approval, a 5 percent increase from the 38 percent he charted just earlier this month.

The polling agency says that the increase could be attributed to the death of Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi, the new plan to remove U.S. troops from Iraq by year’s end and improvements in the stock market.

The poll was conducted October 24th through the 26th among 1,565 adults.

Obama Encouraged By Euro Debt Deal

President Obama told reporters Thursday that he is pleased with the ability of European leaders to come to terms on a plan to bail out financially troubled nations across the Atlantic.

Speaking in the Oval Office before a meeting with Czech Republic Prime Minister Petr Necas, Obama called the deal “an important first step.”

“There’s no doubt that it’s progress,” Obama said. “So the key now is to make sure that there is strong follow-up, strong execution of the plans that have been put forward.”

Necas, who was involved in negotiations in Brussels, did not comment on the plan while reporters were in the room.