Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Thursday, July 30, 2020:
TECH CEOS GRILLED: The CEOs of Google, Facebook, Apple and Amazon faced hours of aggressive questioning from both Republicans and Democrats as they defended the size, success and reach of their companies. The back-and-forths were often sharp and revealing, but sometimes awkward. House Democrats mostly criticized the CEOs for what they called anti-competitive business practices, while House Republicans focused more on what they said were efforts to stifle conservatives. Google’s Sundar Pichai took the most heat on questions of whether Google uses data to muzzle competitors. TAKEAWAYS
COVID-19: LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: The U.S. has surpassed 150,000 coronavirus deaths, with one American a minute dying of the virus on Wednesday. Even as the rate of new infections in some of the hardest-hit states is slowing, deaths are rising at their fastest rate in two months. President Trump has intervened in the negotiations over a new financial rescue package, all but assuring that the enhanced unemployment benefits run out at the end of the week. Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas, who has been working at the Capitol without a mask, tested positive just as he was about to fly on Air Force One with the president. He reportedly called his staff into his office to tell them in person he had the virus. POLITICO
TROPIC WATCH: Tropical Storm Isaias has formed in the Atlantic, becoming the ninth named storm of the season. Tropical Storm warnings are in effect in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands; the system is expected to strengthen as it approaches Florida. The state is closing all its government-run coronavirus testing locations as of 5 p.m today and will keep them closed until next Wednesday at the earliest. TRACK
FEDS TO LEAVE PORTLAND: The White House has reached an agreement with the governor of Oregon to withdraw most of the DHS officers stationed around the federal courthouse in Portland. At the same time, the Justice Dept. is deploying agents to Detroit, Cleveland and Milwaukee. Separately, in New York, the NYPD is facing questions after a viral video showed plainclothes officers pulling a protester into an unmarked minivan. The police say that the protester was wanted for vandalizing police cameras. OREGONIAN
U.S. TROOPS LEAVING GERMANY: The Pentagon is withdrawing a third of the 36,000 U.S. troops stationed in Germany. Defense Sec. Mark Esper says about half of the 12,000 troops will be redeployed elsewhere in Europe, while the rest will return to the states. President Trump said he wanted to take American troops out of Germany in retaliation for Germany not spending more on its own defense. NPR
KODAK'S MOMENT: Kodak shares are up more than 1,000 percent this week. The left-for-dead photography company has been on fire since it won a $765 million loan from the government to help it transform into a pharmaceutical company, to fight the coronavirus and help reduce the U.S. dependence on foreign drugmakers. Kodak stock was up more than 500 percent just on Wednesday, causing circuit breakers on the NYSE to trip 20 times. YAHOO FINANCE
MISSION TO MARS: NASA has launched an unmanned spacecraft to Mars from Cape Canaveral. The Perseverance rover is expected to reach the Red Planet next February, where it will collect samples and attempt to launch an experimental helicopter into the thin Martian atmosphere. SPACE.COM
NBA VS. MLB: The NBA season kicks off tonight, with the Pelicans playing the Jazz at 6:30 pm ET followed by Clippers vs. Lakers (TNT is carrying both games). So far, the bubble is holding. On the eve of tip-off, the league reported that no players have tested positive since July 20. Meanwhile, in the MLB, the sidelined Miami Marlins are up to 18 confirmed cases as reports suggest team members may have gotten infected when they went out on the town in Atlanta during exhibition play. BLEACHER REPORT
SPOTTED...
...Prince Philip making a rare appearance and looking, in the words of the Daily Mirror’s royal editor, “several decades younger” than his 99 years: SEE PICS
...Kendall Jenner, showing off her redesigned L.A. home to Architectural Digest: WATCH THE TOUR
LEFTOVERS: CABIN CLEANING: JetBlue is the first U.S. airline to start using a new kind of robot that disinfects surfaces using UV light. The robot looks like a beverage cart on steroids, and moves through the cabin while a robotic arm shines UV-C light on seats, trays and other places where coronavirus particles might stick around. The pilot program is taking place at JFK and Ft. Lauderdale airports. SEE IT
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