CANADA

Hurricane Irene strengthened to a major Category 3 hurricane over the Bahamas on Wednesday as it roared up from the Caribbean on a path expected to swipe the East Coast from the Carolinas upward at the weekend.

The Hurricane Irene path was a Category 2 hurricane Tuesday morning with about 100 mph winds, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Hurricane Irene's path is plodding toward a possible direct strike on the New York area. Forecast models show the storm could hit Long Island late Sunday or Sunday night at Category 1 strength, packing winds of 80 miles per hour or more.

Most of the damage and loss of life occurred in New England (particularly Rhode Island); however Long Island and New York City were not completely spared.

The social media company sent its own Tweets following Tuesday's earthquake.

New York survived an earthquake that shook buildings and rattled nerves on Tuesday. Now, America's largest city is bracing for assault from Hurricane Irene, taking dead aim at the metropolitan area. The latest forecast models show Irene could make landfall late Sunday at hurricane strength, packing winds of 80 miles per hour or more.

New York area surfers know they are flirting with danger when a major tropical storm or hurricane approaches the area, but they also know they can catch California-like waves or better. Hurricane Irene promises to bring a prime surfing opportunity to the area this weekend but the storm is so powerful the surf may be too dangerous.

Hurricane Irene has regained its strength and is expected to strike southeastern and central Bahamas Wednesday, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.

The Washington Monument will be closed indefinitely to the public after engineers found cracks in the stones at the top of the structure.

The Group of 20 leading and emerging nations has not done enough to correct global imbalances, and this could provoke more financial instability, a top Bank of Canada official said Wednesday.

Hurricane Irene strengthened back into a Category 2 storm as it approached to the Bahamas early Wednesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Hurricane Irene, growing dangerous by each passing day, left the northwestern Caribbean, triggering high waves and heavy downpours which left about one million people in the dark in Puerto Rico. According to official storm predictions, the United States' Southeast region is under threat of a potential landfall towards the end of the week.

A truck driver featured on the America's Most Wanted TV show has been arrested in California over the 1999 killing of his ex-girlfriend in Canada, U.S. authorities said on Tuesday.

Hurricane Irene could reach the New York area by Sunday night or Monday morning, and residents should prepare, officials say.

Disruption of cell phone service by a rare East Coast earthquake on Tuesday prompted renewed calls for Congress and regulators to provide a dedicated wireless network for emergency workers.

A strong earthquake rattled the U.S. East Coast on Tuesday, sending tremors as far as Canada, shaking the nation's capital and scaring thousands of office workers who fled onto the streets.

Hurricane Irene weakened to a Category 1 hurricane and is bearing down on parts of the Bahamas as it inches away from the Caribbean and proceeds toward the East Coast of the United States.

In an unprecedented several hours, earthquake struck the East Coast, sending tremors from Virginia to Canada, just hours after a separate earthquake rattled Colorado.

Hours after a 5.8 magnitude earthquake shook the East Coast, the Washington, D.C. area was still experiencing aftershocks of considerable magnitude.

The 5.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked Virginia Tuesday, centered 300 miles from New York City, occurred at a shallow depth in the crust, implying considerable aftershocks. The massive earthquake shook areas from North Carolina to Ottawa, Canada.

An earthquake struck the East Coast on Tuesday, shaking buildings in many cities, delaying flights and trains and sending thousands of frightened workers into the streets.