STORM

Google Doodle honors Argentine Jorge Luis Borges, a Virginia earthquake rocks the entire East Coast, Hurricane Irene is upgraded to a Category 3 storm as it approached the United States, and more in today's Daily Scoop

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.

Here is a brief rundown of important events around the world Wednesday morning, August 24, 2011.

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.

Flushing Meadows reportedly felt aftershocks from the earthquake, originated in Richmond, Virginia, measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale, even as the authorities suspended play at the nearby New Haven Open tennis tournament in Conneticut.

With maximum sustained winds of 110 miles (175 kilometers) per hour, hurricane Irene is heading toward the Carolina states in the U.S. and is just 955 miles (1,535 kilometers) of North Carolina.

WPP, the world's largest advertising group, expects to feel the impact of the economic slowdown in 2012, it warned on Wednesday, as it reported strong first half results bolstered by emerging markets and digital.

WPP Plc, the world's largest advertising group, said it would plan for 2012 on a conservative basis, although strength in emerging markets has so far helped it to post 7-month growth broadly in line with its annual forecast.

Although the $70 million luxury home was completely destroyed, Branson made a promise to rebuild the place in time for his daughter's wedding in November.

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.

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

Though Hurricane Irene has weakened to a Category 1 hurricane, it is expected to hit along the North Carolina coast, heading north into Virginia and up the Chesapeake Bay by Sunday morning.

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.

Hurricane Irene has weakened to a category 1 storm, but it is expected to grow in intensity and follow a path up the East Coast of the United States this weekend.

Hurricane Irene may make landfall a day earlier than originally projected, according to updated forecasts from the National Hurricane Center. It is now expected to reach Morehead City, N.C., on Saturday.

The earthquake in Virginia that shook the east coast and the approaching Hurricane Irene storm remind us that mother nature is the most poweful force of all.

Hurricane Irene posed a potential threat to the entire U.S. East Coast from Florida to New England, U.S. officials said on Tuesday, as forecasters tried to predict where the powerful storm might hit over the next week.

Hurricane Irene, if it keeps to its projected path and hits Florida and North Carolina later this week, will become the first hurricane in three years to make landfall in the United States.

Basically, it's 'Mad Men', with boobs, quipped Joel McHale.