New stimulus deal? Brace yourselves
Pressure is mounting Friday as Congress and the White House enter yet another round of negotiations to help counter the coronavirus pandemic's economic impact. Policy priorities for Democrats and Republicans are more apparent in the latest package, as members of both parties huddle in their respective political corners. Democrats are pushing a $3 trillion plan while Sen. Mitch McConnell's $1 trillion offering he unveiled this week is being rejected by some in his own party who say it's too much. Another key sticking point in negotiations? Whether to extend an additional $600 that about 30 million unemployed Americans received as part of their unemployment benefits.
- Meadows: 'Not optimistic' on COVID-19 stimulus deal, as lawmakers debate unemployment boost
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Newly formed Hurricane Isaias eyes East Coast
After lashing portions of the Caribbean with rain and wind, Isaias formed into a hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center. Isaias had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 kph) early Friday and was centered about 45 miles (70 kilometers) southeast of Great Inagua Island in the Bahamas, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. It was moving northwest at 18 mph (30 kph). On Thursday while still a tropical storm, Isaias knocked out power, toppled trees and caused widespread flooding and small landslides in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, where at least 35 people were rescued from floodwaters and one person remained missing. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said residents could feel the impacts from the storm into early next week. He encouraged everyone to prepare by having at least seven days of supplies.
- How to make sure your home is ready for a hurricane
Eid-ul-Adha celebrations begin globally
Muslims around the globe this week will start Eid al-Adha celebrations Friday. Eid al-Adha is Arabic for “festival of sacrifice” and is the second of two major Muslim holidays (the other being Eid al-Fitr). It is the holiday that marks the end of the hajj season, or pilgrimage season, that is performed in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Eid al-Adha commemorates the "sacrifice" that was asked of Abraham by God, to sacrifice his son, only to have God intervene and substitute a ram (or lamb) instead. In present-day, animals, usually goats, cows and lambs, are still sacrificed to mark the occasion. The meat from the animals sacrificed is shared with the community and food banks areas where there are impoverished or food-insecure Muslims.
'Black is King' comes to Disney+
Beyoncé's visual album "Black is King" was released early Friday on Disney+, featuring a star-studded cast that will include her 8-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy Carter. Other famous faces you can expect to see making an appearance: Jay-Z, Naomi Campbell, Lupita Nyong'o, Pharrell Williams, Kelly Rowland and Beyonce's mother, Tina Knowles-Lawson. "Black is King," dubbed a "celebratory memoir for the world on the Black experience," features videos for the songs "Already," "Brown Skin Girl," "Mood 4 Eva" and "My Power." The visual album "reimagines the lessons of 'The Lion King' for today’s young kings and queens in search of their own crowns."
Ready for more? NBA restart moves forward with jam-packed schedule
OK, so the TV viewer experience was a bit unusual. But it's great to have the NBA back. Thursday's return featured two thrillers – Utah defeated New Orleans 106-104 and the Los Angeles Lakers edged the Clippers 103-101. Given the circumstances of a global pandemic and the league trying to do everything it can to finish the season safely and limit COVID-19 cases on its Disney campus, we can still enjoy fanless games — in all their awkwardness. Friday's lineup is stacked with six games, including a huge Eastern Conference clash between the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
- NBA picks: Predictions for regular-season awards, 2020 champion
- NBA schedule of seeding games to finish regular season in Orlando
Contributing: The Associated Press
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