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First Move with Julia Chatterley
Italy Celebrates Euro Victory, the Match though Marred by Racism; Branson's Success and Virgin Galactic Shares into Orbit; Marvel's "Black Widow" becomes a Streaming Smash. Aired 9-10a ET
Aired July 12, 2021 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[09:00:36]
JULIA CHATTERLEY, CNN BUSINESS ANCHOR, FIRST MOVE: Live from New York, I'm Julia Chatterley. This is FIRST MOVE, and here is your need-to-know.
Football frenzy and fury. Italy celebrates the Euro victory, the match though marred by racism.
Space surge. Branson's success and Virgin Galactic shares into orbit.
And Venom victory. Marvel's "Black Widow" becomes a streaming smash.
It's Monday, let's make a move.
Welcome once again to a new week on FIRST MOVE, but not before, of course, we have discussed an incredible weekend of sport and space. The first
billionaire blast off beyond the sky, and England's players should hold their heads up high. Football may not be coming home, but the Cup does head
to Rome, and so shall we later in the show.
Congratulations to a triumphant Italy and congratulations, too, to Richard Branson, also safely home after his risky space endeavor. We'll have all
the latest on that.
Plus, have you ever wondered about the risks of collisions in space? Well, we'll discuss with the CEO of space junk tracker, LeoLabs.
Now from daring risk takers to a risk off Monday for global stock indices, the U.S. and Europe consolidating after last week's gains, though we do
begin at record highs and I sound like a broken record, major banks among the big winners last week, up four percent Friday ahead of the start of
earnings season this week and lots of important data and commentary coming up, too.
Fed Chair Jay Powell would testify before Congress midweek. We have all important U.S. consumer price inflation data on Tuesday, and China's second
quarter growth numbers coming up, too. Expect a sharp slowdown from the first quarter's 18 percent spike. Yes, you heard me right.
Nothing slow though about Asia's gains driven by China's move late Friday to help boost bank lending. UBS says the additional liquidity could give
all global stock markets an overall boost. I think that's a welcome offset to the cybersecurity crackdown that's unsettling Big Tech.
U.S. listed Chinese stocks are now down more than 10 percent this month after China tackled DiDi Global. We are live in Shanghai for all the latest
details on that, too. So, lots to discuss. Let's get to the drivers.
In the end, it is coming home, but it's coming to Rome. Italian footballers are back home celebrating their European Championship victory with the
nation after edging England on penalties in a nail biting final.
Barbie Nadeau is in the Italian capital for us, and Barbie, incredible scenes -- incredible scenes of celebration yesterday, I have to say after
18 months of suffering and struggle, it was a heartwarming moment I have to say.
BARBIE NADEAU, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Oh yes, I mean the city erupted last night. The entire country erupted. You know, this has been a very tense
couple of months, you know, trying to understand if they could have this tournament, if they could do it in front of live audiences. And then to
have it started to Italy and to have it end here in terms of bringing home that cup.
Let's listen to what a couple of the excited fans had to say last night right after the win.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Infinite joy. It reminds us of 2006 when we beat France.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): And in the penalty shootout. After 15 years, the penalty shootout is always more beautiful, magnificent.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NADEAU: Now, you know, when you listen to these fans, they're not talking about what happened last night, they are talking about what happened every
single possible match until last night, and they'll be discussing it until they get out there again.
You know, this is a win not just for this team, it is for the country that feels united. And for the first time in 18 months, you feel optimism in
Italy -- Julia.
CHATTERLEY: As I say, a heartwarming thing to behold, and 2006, the World Cup victory of course, and the World Cup next year. So yes, we'll be back
again. England will be back.
Barbie Nadeau, thank you so much and enjoy the celebrations -- safe celebrations, we hope.
Meanwhile, in Britain, there's been condemnation at racism level towards some of the England players after Sunday's defeat. Salma Abdelaziz is in
London for us.
Salma, it is really sad. It should be welcome home victory for heroes that did incredibly well to get to the finals, instead of which, everyone is
talking about the racism that some of those penalty takers faced afterwards.
[09:05:00]
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: Julia, I think a lot of us woke up today to almost a sort of double heartbreak. Not only did England lose that match,
this morning now, the backlash. Three of those players, Sancho, Marcus Rashford, and Saka, who missed those penalty kicks are now facing vile,
racist abuse online.
Over a thousand tweets have been deleted, that's what Twitter told CNN. They also told CNN that several accounts have been suspended for again,
engaging in this terrible racist attack against these players, but this is bigger than that.
We all expected, I have to say, I for one expected when those penalty kicks were lost that this is exactly how it is going to turn out. But what's new
here, Julia, is this England team. They have from day one said they are going to use their platform, they're going to use the spotlight they have
to really push for change and to push for reforms that are near and dear to their heart.
That's something that the manager, Gareth Southgate had penned a letter to the country essentially saying, I want to have a new form of nationalism
through this team. I want one that is progressive, that is inclusive, I want my players to follow their social causes that are important to them.
And of course, that is racial equality and social justice.
Take Marcus Rushford, for example, again, one of the people facing abuse online today, he had advocated for free school meals for the poorest in
this country during coronavirus, something that he faced off with in the government.
And this is not an isolated incident, Julia, I think that's what's really tragic here. There's been a very violent backlash against the Black Lives
Matter movement. Critics will tell you that backlash really starts at the very top with Prime Minister Boris Johnson's administration, an
administration that refused to condemn fans when they were booing players for taking a knee, an administration that has failed to recognize that
systemic racism exists in this country.
So, there's really a sense that this honeymoon period that we had with an England national team that was proud, that was inclusive, that was
progressive, this #ChooseLove, the images of the players coming from all different backgrounds with slogans like "Immigration brought this team
together." That really, it feels so far today, Julia, and I would think everyone is asking the question, is that vision of a more inclusive
nationalism, will that survive even if the team lost the game?
CHATTERLEY: Yes, such a great point. I love the words of Manchester United as well when they said look, we look forward to welcoming Marcus home, one
kick won't define you as a player or a person, and nor this unforgiveable abuse.
Salma Abdelaziz, thank you for that report there.
Space tourism is one step closer to becoming reality. British billionaire, Richard Branson, has successfully reached the edge of space on a rocket
plane he helped fund. His flight on Sunday opens the door to potential commercial flights in the future.
CNN's Rachel Crane reports.
RACHEL CRANE, CNN BUSINESS INNOVATIONS AND SPACE CORRESPONDENT: This flight was nearly two decades in the making and the company saying that
Richard Branson's maiden flight was flawless and nobody more excited about that than the company's founder and new astronaut, Richard Branson himself.
I had the opportunity to speak with him following the flight about the excitement and the energy of it. Take a listen to what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD BRANSON, FOUNDER, VIRGIN GALACTIC: I've dreamt of going to space since I was a kid. I've always pictured what it would be like, and it was
just far more extraordinary than I could ever, ever imagined from the -- from going naught to 3,000 miles an hour in seven or eight seconds, being
pressed back into the seat, the roar of the -- the roar of the rocket to arriving in space and the silence.
And you know, to looking out of the window, to seeing our glorious, glorious Earth, the colors of the sky, to unbuckling and floating just
literally lifting -- lift -- just going off to the ceiling and floating, looking back down in these big windows that are now the spaceship is upside
down facing back down to the Earth, seeing these three float around underneath me like giant fish, get out of my way, I want to see the Earth,
and then of course, you know when we came back into the Earth's atmosphere, the shuddering as you -- as the spaceship comes back in -- anyway, we just
had a pretty extraordinary day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CRANE: But luckily for him, this was not a dream. This was reality and space enthusiasts all around the globe are celebrating. That's because
Virgin Galactic and Branson hope that this fourth manned spaceflight will help usher in a new era of space travel.
The company is saying that they expect to start their commercial operations in early 2022. That's when people like yourself and I could potentially one
day hop a flight on their vehicle, but it's going to cost us.
Right now, those tickets selling for around $200,000.00 a pop, a cost that Virgin Galactic has said might go up before it comes down.
[09:10:13]
CHATTERLEY: And CNN's Kristin Fisher is with us now from New Mexico. Kristin, great to have you with us. You know, I love that scene when his
granddaughter met him, and he said in that press conference where he was clearly emotional, his three-year-old granddaughter said "Papa's been to
the moon," and he didn't have the heart to correct. So, just incredible scenes this weekend.
KRISTIN FISHER, CNN SPACE AND DEFENSE CORRESPONDENT: They really were incredible scenes. I got a kick out of that, too, because it's such a
common mistake that not just kids, but adults make and you know, one of the big differences about what Virgin Galactic and Richard Branson did
yesterday to compare to what most people think about when they think of space is, he is not going to the moon. He was not even going fully into
orbit, which means you're actually you know, orbiting the planet.
This was just a suborbital spaceflight, which means you go up, you go down. And a lot of people think, wow, you spend all this time, money, and energy
just for, you know, a few minutes of weightlessness. Why?
And I think Sir Richard Branson said it pretty well when he said, you know, the reason I'm doing this is for my grandkids who thought I was going to
the moon, it's for your grandkids, it's for everyone, because he wants humanity to get a chance to experience what astronauts call the overview
effect, and that is when you see Earth from afar, and most astronauts talk about when you see it, what a profound impact it has on you as a person,
because you can see just how fragile our planet is, how fragile humanity is.
But you also realize that there are no boundary lines between countries, you can't see that. You can also see how thin and fragile the Earth's
atmosphere is. And many astronauts come back to Planet Earth when they land and try to become more of an environmentalist and preserve the planet any
way they can.
So, that's the ultimate goal here. And of course, hey, flying into space at Mach 3, it probably sounds pretty fun, too.
CHATTERLEY: Exactly, it certainly does. He said, he is going to give it a break for a while, or at least give his family a break from the tensions of
it. And of course, to get through Jeff Bezos going up in less than two weeks' time as well.
Kristin, great to have you with us. Thank you and welcome to CNN, Kristin Fisher. Great to have you.
FISHER: Thank you. Thanks.
CHATTERLEY: All right, let's move on. China is further tightening its grip on homegrown tech companies. It has proposed a new rule for firms looking
to go public on overseas stock markets. Any Chinese company with over a million users will have to undergo a cybersecurity review before IPO-ing.
David Culver joins us now. I think DiDi is probably saying at this stage, David, now, you tell us. That remains an open question here. But we've
always said data is the new oil, and I think this really brings it home. Data is critical, and it is everything to China.
DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you mentioned DiDi, Julia, and they felt yet another round of punishment from the cyberspace administration
over the weekend. Twenty five of the other apps that they run here in China, have likewise been banned from the App Store. Now that follows of
course, what was their ride-hailing app, their main one here, likewise, getting pulled from the App Store, and then you also had the halting of any
new users being added.
But the Cyberspace Administration is really carving what many are looking at as rather new territory here. They are exerting more and more control.
It's putting Beijing certainly in the power play here. And they're going after these tech companies, with as you point out, these intricacies of
proposals, though, it's not really clear if it is actual proposal so much as an implementation of a new policy.
They'd like to frame it as though there will be public opinion moments, in which case that policy could be then changed a bit, and the measure could
take different shape. But as of now, this seems to be where they're going, and that is one of two.
First, as you point out that any company looking to list overseas, and they have more than a million users, are going to have to subject themselves to
some of the scrutiny of the Cyberspace Administration. And the second part of that will be any company who has IPO material and is looking to go
forward with that same procedure will likewise have to submit for a review.
A lot of this is of course, following DiDi's -- what has many have looked at to be heavy scrutiny and really, really understood by many of the
analysts that we speak with that it's kind of unknown where it's going to go from here because you have other companies, not just DiDi, other ride-
hailing services, truck-hailing services, online recruitment apps, who are starting to feel it as well.
And then you can separate out the Cyberspace Administration and go to another agency that's coming down hard on Tencent, because they over the
weekend were told that two of the top video game streaming apps that they had hoped would be part of a massive merger here can no longer come
together.
The concern from the State Council was that that would perhaps monopolize the marketplace.
[09:15:10]
CULVER: There's a lot of uncertainty and a lot of folks are perhaps looking at this more so as Beijing exerting its power, Julia, but at the
same time, you have some who say, well, this is an industry that also sometimes needs regulation, and perhaps this is it here in China.
CHATTERLEY: Yes, no one is bigger than Beijing, and this is a real rocker, I think to Big Tech, which to your point as well, I think this is
important. It provides clarity.
If your company is this big, you're going to be scrutinized by the cybersecurity regulators and also for U.S. investors. At least you know,
this will be done before you ever come to market, not happen after the event. It has happened with DiDi.
David, great context, as always. Thank you. David Culver there.
All right, here are some of the other stories making headlines around the world. Cuba has seen its biggest anti-government protest in years.
Thousands of people marched in cities across the country on Sunday. Many said they were speaking out about the lack of freedom, a worsening economy,
and the government's response to the pandemic.
Some even called on the President to step down.
Unrest in provinces near Johannesburg, South Africa intensified today with police firing rubber bullets and teargas at looters. Protesters are
reacting to the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma, who is serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court. Mandatory forces will be
deployed to quell the activity.
Police in Haiti have arrested a man they say helped to orchestrate the assassination of President Jovenel Moise. The suspect allegedly worked with
a Florida-based Venezuelan security firm to recruit 26 Colombian mercenaries and two Haitian-Americans. A manhunt is underway for five more
suspects.
All right, still to come here on FIRST MOVE. Earth's orbit is getting more congested and not just with billionaires, I speak to the CEO of LeoLabs,
which steers Musk and co safely through 250,000 pieces of space junk.
And "Black Widow" bites, the opening weekend breaks pandemic records, a marvel exception or is the summer blockbuster back? That's next.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHATTERLEY: Welcome back to FIRST MOVE. The dawn of the space tourism era this weekend and the dawn of a new trading week on Wall Street just ahead,
the NASDAQ set to hit fresh records and an added kicker, the E.U.'s decision to pause digital tax talks in order to sweeten global tax reform
negotiations.
[09:20:08]
CHATTERLEY: Reopening winners like travel, tourism, and energy are weaker premarket as the delta variant spread continues. Reflation stocks bearing
the action in the bond market, too, where yields are lower, ahead of a busy week on U.S. Treasury auctions as well. Lots of issuance this week.
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, meanwhile, set to announce later today that further easing of coronavirus restrictions will go ahead, but he will
implore citizens to remain vigilant.
Pfizer, meanwhile, set to meet with U.S. officials today over plans to develop COVID booster shots and whether they are in fact needed so soon.
There's no debate though about the desperate need for initial vaccine doses in the developing world, something the I.M.F., the World Bank and the World
Health Organization have said could be tackled by creating technology transfer hubs, training facilities where nations are equipped with the
skills and the science to produce their own.
In South Africa, a biopharmaceutical company called Biovac is set to be part of this process. It is hoping to soon make mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from
start to finish in the country.
Dr. Morena Makhoana is the CEO of Biovac and he joins us now from Cape Town. Sir, fantastic to have you with us. Just start by explaining what
Biovac already does prior to the pandemic and how and what role you were playing in distributing vaccines across South Africa and beyond.
DR. MORENA MAKHOANA, CEO, THE BIOVAC INSTITUTE: Thank you, Julia. So, we are a fairly young company in the vaccine space. We established about 17
years ago, and the aim of having Biovac was to revive vaccine manufacture in South Africa. As you may know, and your listeners may know well, that
Africa does not have much vaccine capacity.
So, our company was actually founded on the back of establishing -- re- establishing vaccine manufacture because South Africa used to have vaccine manufacturing for many decades, but all of that ceased towards the end of
apartheid. So, the aim of the company was to revive vaccine manufacture. And I think we probably now know through COVID why it's so important to
have vaccine manufacture on the continent.
CHATTERLEY: Yes, we heard last week on the show, more than 90 percent of vaccines that are distributed across the continent are imported. So, the
challenge is truly very clear, I think.
Talk about the role that you're likely to play in these transfer -- these technology transfer hubs, because this feels like a critical part of
growing some greater independence over vaccines in the future.
MAKHOANA: Yes, so maybe I'll start answering your question by talking about how we've been going about building vaccine manufacturing capacity
and where this hub would fit in.
So, as you can imagine, in South Africa, and in Africa, it's quite difficult, you know, in terms of funding for R&D, like you would typically
have in Europe or in the U.S. So, we started the vaccine manufacturing capability on the back end with importation of vaccines, and this was for
routine vaccines. And we then got into sterile manufacturing, which is typically called full finish manufacturing capability, or it's also called
drug product manufacturing capability. So, Biovac and others in South Africa do have full finish capability.
What is really lacking is the drug substance, which is the active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacture. And you can either enter into tech
transfers with those that would be willing to transfer that drug substance to you, for you to be able to manufacture vaccines from scratch, or you can
develop them from scratch.
So, the W.H.O., the World Health Organization, then came up with this concept of setting up a hub, where we could start from the bottom up and
really develop mRNA vaccines starting with COVID, and not only have them for South Africa, but it would serve as a hub that would develop the
vaccine, and also serve as a training hub and share with others.
So, you would have what they call a hub and spoke model where the hub would really be the initial recipients of the technology, develop the vaccine,
and then share the technologies with others, which would be the spokes.
So, other countries on the continent, or even beyond the continent would be able to then be recipients of the technology that would come from the hub.
And that is broadly the concept of what the World Health Organization has put together, and they then selected South Africa as the first country to
host this hub. And we're very fortunate that our company is one of those that will be participating in there.
CHATTERLEY: I mean, there's two things here for me and you said it, there's been a lack of investment in the research, in the development. Do
you have, in South Africa, the capabilities of creating your own vaccines from your own research with the mRNA vaccine platform? Or does it require
at least in the short term, borrowing the technology and patents in order to be able to create the vaccines that have already been developed by the
likes of Pfizer or Moderna? Where are we today? Because there's a short term demand, and then there's the longer term play.
[09:25:29]
MAKHOANA: Absolutely. Even before I talk about mRNA, I think where South Africa has always stood in terms of its strength has been on the downstream
manufacturing side, as I say, you know, with sterile manufacturing capability.
And then the other strength that the country has is on the universities with the knowhow, and the skills that will come from an academic
perspective.
What is missing is the link between the upstream academic side and to take the products right through to commercialization, and it is that missing
piece, middle piece that has been missing. And so, in order to fulfill that missing pieces, that we then have to embark and take the production right
from academia right through, that's one model.
The easiest, Julia, would be if we were to have others that would share the technology so that we can be able to call it plug and play, and that would
be the quickest scenario.
So, the World Health Organization is working on two scenarios. One way, nobody wants to share technology with the hub. And therefore, would need to
develop from scratch using local academia and also overseas academia and others that are in the industry to start from scratch. That would take a
little bit longer than a company or an organization sharing the technology as some guys have come this far with the technology.
I mean, clinical trials have even commercialized it. Here's the technology of willing to share with you. That would be the quickest way. But we have
to work on both scenarios. And W.H.O. is working on both scenarios, hoping that the one that would take us to commercialization sooner would come into
being but if not, there is a backup option.
CHATTERLEY: How optimistic are you? And all those conversations being had with the current holders of the patents of this technology? The Pfizer's,
the Moderna's of the world? How optimistic are you that they will provide the information and let you get cracking on making these vaccines?
MAKHOANA: Well, I think what is encouraging and really is that the W.H.O. that is spearheading these discussions. The discussions are being had. So,
people are willing to have the discussions.
Now, what I don't know is what the conclusion of those discussions are, and I think we'll have to wait a few weeks to see to what extent those are
willing, but I know that, you know, more than five organizations, those with either commercially available mRNA or those that are still in
development, so that multiple discussions are being had.
As I say that that is -- I don't know how those will end, I'm hoping that they would, you know, that would end well. But as I say that if those don't
work out well, then the knowhow would need to be bought from scratch.
I think mRNA technology from what all of us have now learned and I think a lot of us have undergone a crash course over the past 12 months about mRNA,
is certainly -- it's certainly possible. And even infrastructure-wise, I think, you know, I think, as a country, we can do it.
What we need to work out is a few issues, firstly, around patents; secondly is around the inputs. So, it requires quite a lot of raw materials that
would have to be coordinated to get through. And some of those come from only a few suppliers.
But technically, we've learned that it is certainly feasible to do mRNA if the missing pieces were to come together. Obviously, working with a partner
that's already in the space would be much better, but if that doesn't happen, I think we are all prepared to go on the long road and hopefully
learn and ultimately have not only a product, but have the full capability to respond even beyond COVID.
CHATTERLEY: Morena, I have about 10 seconds. How long if you have to go it alone and do it yourself, are we talking years? Will it take years?
MAKHOANA: It would probably take us about two to three years even if we had to go on our own. You know, this is a 12 to 18 month process with a
partner.
CHATTERLEY: Wow, we need to work out a way to compensate the producers of these mRNA vaccines for their intellectual property and get the information
to you ASAP.
Sir, thank you for your work, to you and your team, and for joining us on the show today. And we'll stay in touch.
The CEO of Biovac there. Great to have you on.
MAKHOANA: Thank you. It's a pleasure.
CHATTERLEY: Thank you. The market opens next. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:32:52]
CHATTERLEY: Welcome back to FIRST MOVE. It's the first trading day of the week and tech is leading the charge once again, soaring to new records. We
are up some four-tenths of one percent.
The E.U. as I mentioned helping sentiment after putting on hold digital tax talks on some of the tech giants that was set to take effect this month,
that's the hope -- is that they can facilitate the broader tax talks across the G-20.
Chinese tech remains under pressure, meanwhile, with DiDi Global down some 3 percent in early trade after last week's 22 percent drop. The ride-
hailing giant warning today that Beijing's move to pull 25 of its apps from mobile stores will have a quote, "adverse impact on revenues."
And from DiDi gloom to Virgin Galactic investors over the moon. This weekend's test flight with Branson on board moves the company one step
closer to ferrying paying customers into near space, shares giving up some of their recent gains in early trade, which are still up more than 100
percent year-to-date, and therein lies the key.
Tesla shares higher, CEO Elon Musk is set to defend Tesla's purchase of solar panel firm, Solar City, in court today. A shareholder lawsuit claims
the deal turned out badly for investors and was filled with conflicts of interest.
Consolation prize, England may be suffering the heartbreak defeat in the Euro 2020 Final, but the government is still planning to declare Freedom
Day next week.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to confirm that all remaining legal restrictions in England will end on July 19th.
And in France, later today, President Emmanuel Macron will address the nation to lay out his plans for the next stage of the response to the
pandemic. Melissa Bell joins us live from Paris.
Melissa, glad to have you with us on this. I have to say, I know a lot of people there that are looking at their COVID cases rising, not seeing
hospitalizations rise at the same time, but they are worried about the prospect of restrictions being announced today. What do we expect?
MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT: That's really what we're seeing in Europe-wide, Julia, is this race against the delta variant, which is
expected to represent 90 percent of cases here in Europe by the end of August and a vaccination program that is simply not going fast enough to
prevent further restrictions being introduced in some countries.
[09:35:06]
BELL: As you say, we're waiting to hear from the British Prime Minister about that potential full reopening, the Step Four of his program, next
Monday. What we think we'll get is really an encouragement for people to get vaccinated.
We saw that it was already delayed by one month. In that one month delay, seven million extra doses, whether they were first or second were
delivered. So, that is a crucial part of the British strategy.
What we expect from Emmanuel Macron is also an insistence on the idea that people really need to go out and get vaccinated. And this because really,
in a number of European countries, we're seeing that vaccination campaign really coming up against the vaccine hesitancy we've been talking so much
about these last few months, Julia, that is such a feature of Europe, the European Union generally.
Then there's a question of the campaigns themselves. We heard Ursula von der Leyen, the E.U. Commission President boasting over the weekend that 70
percent -- there have been enough vaccines I'm sorry, delivered and more than 70 percent of the E.U. adults could be vaccinated by the end of the
month. She said that on Saturday.
But there's a big difference as we've seen, Julia, between the delivery of vaccine to E.U. states, and then them being able to get jabs into arms. And
this of course with various differences across Europe. We've heard from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control last week that was
warning that look, 30 percent of European over 80 is yet to be fully vaccinated, 40 percent of European over 60 is yet to be fully vaccinated,
and this, with a variant that is progressing fast, and as we've seen, can infect people who've had one single dose.
So, very much a race against time, and I think what we're seeing across Europe is that race in some countries, really on the verge of being lost
countries like The Netherlands, Portugal announcing first restrictions, Norway announcing that it is delaying its restrictions, a doubling of cases
in Italy compared to last week. Seventy four percent rise week-on-week in Belgium.
The numbers are rising and the vaccination campaigns appear to be getting to the end of where they go naturally with those people who would rush to
get vaccinated really having done so already -- Julia.
CHATTERLEY: Yes, Melissa Bell there, thank you very much. And despite the concerns, I am soothed once again by looking at your apartment while you
speak. Thank you for that.
I can't help myself. It's really beautiful.
Okay to Tokyo now where a state of emergency takes effect just 11 days ahead of the start of the Olympics. COVID-19 infections are surging in
Japan with new cases running at around 2,000 a day. The vaccination rate now stands at around 17 percent.
Will Ripley joins us live from Tokyo. Will, I have to say, 17 percent vaccination rate and that's fully vaccinated, a lot higher than what you
and I were talking about back in May. But these restrictions for me seem to focus on alcohol, they want people to stay at home and watch the games and
not go out and congregate in places.
WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's absolutely right, Julia. And I think the prime example of that is what we're seeing with the
first eight days of the Olympic torch relay. They've actually moved it off public streets. So, now you don't even have the ability to stand on the
sidewalk and watch the Olympic torch go by if you live here in Tokyo, unless you are invited to these private areas where only family and close
friends of the actual torch bearers along with a handful officials are allowed.
There was a big storm that moved through here yesterday. We're standing right in front of the Olympic rings. This is one of the primary television
positions for The Games. And you know, within a matter of minutes, there was this thunder and there was this lightning and there was a lot of
chatter on Japanese social media that this storm is a metaphor for these Games and what they could potentially mean for Japan because starting
really tomorrow, when they open up the Olympic Athletes Village, closed off to the media, by the way, they're moving in the athletes in an area that's
going to be far separated even from television cameras, not even disclosing how many athletes are arriving.
People in Japan are still worried that these measures that Japan is taking won't be enough to keep the general public safe. Yes, the vaccination rate
is slowly going up. It took a long time for Japan's vaccine rollout. But people still feel overwhelmingly in public opinion polls that the Olympics
shouldn't be happening at all.
They're fearful really, that their health could be put at risk, despite the fact that their own tax dollars paid for these multibillion dollar Olympic
venues that are now going to sit largely empty aside for a handful of VIPs, you can probably hear their own echo when they applaud during the events.
CHATTERLEY: It's not going to be the same, is it? It was interesting to see Wimbledon winner, Novak Djokovic, saying he was 50/50 on going to The
Games himself. I mean, obviously, tennis is a specific example. But what are the other athletes saying, Will, just quickly, any concerns from them?
RIPLEY: Yes, I mean, and it is funny you mentioned tennis because Serena Williams also wasn't going to The Olympics. Although, she made that
decision before they announced about the spectators. There was an Australian tennis player who said specifically the spectator ban was the
reason why he didn't want to come because athletes really feed off the energy of the crowds.
I was speaking with an Indian wrestler just yesterday, who is going to come here and compete. She actually recovered from COVID, but she said it was a
really big disappointing blow not to be able to have her family and her supporters there in the stands cheering her on.
But you know, for some of these big name athletes, you know who maybe have to worry about the size of their entourage and that might be a reason for
them not to come, but for the Olympians that are sometimes working two or three jobs to pay for their training to get here, they're going to come
here and try to compete at their very best level no matter what.
But not having that energy from the stands is certainly going to be a factor, particularly in some of these sports where there really is a lot of
crowd interaction.
[09:40:24]
CHATTERLEY: Yes, an Olympics like none other. Will Ripley, great to have you with us there. Thank you.
All right, up next, navigating the new space race as billionaires reach for the stars or at least Low Earth orbit. Someone has got to keep them and
steer them clear of space junk. That company is LeoLabs, and the CEO joins us next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHATTERLEY: Welcome back to FIRST MOVE. Space is getting busy, as Richard Branson recovers from a trip, Jeff Bezos prepares to launch. Meanwhile,
Elon Musk's Starlink has shot nearly 2,000 satellites into orbit in the last year alone. That's a lot of traffic for a place called space. And
remember, there's already a lot up there.
There is an estimated 250,000 dangerous quote, "manmade objects" orbiting Earth, estimates LeoLabs. The company is like the Google Maps of Low Earth
orbit. It uses a network of radar to map and track space junk and to help private companies and governments steer clear.
Joining us now is Daniel Ceperley, he is the CEO and co-founder of LeoLabs. Daniel, fantastic to have you with us. What was mind blowing for me was
actually seeing that graphic that we just produced there just to give people a sense of actually what's going on in Low Earth orbit. How big is
the risk or the lack of data that prior to you guys setting up we had?
DANIEL CEPERLEY, CEO AND CO-FOUNDER, LEOLABS: Julia, it's a pleasure to be here. Actually, there's a big challenge in Low Earth orbit that we simply
don't have enough information about what's going on. There's a data deficit about what's being launched into space, what that stuff is doing, and where
all the debris is.
As you mentioned, there are 250,000 objects, some as small as a golf ball, and they're all moving faster than a speeding bullet. So, if we have a
collision, it can create a huge mess in space.
CHATTERLEY: You're now the largest collector of data in the world. Just explain how you're collecting this data.
CEPERLEY: Yes, so our whole purpose is to inform the space agencies and the commercial satellite operators around the world, and to do that, we
have three pieces to our technology.
[09:45:06]
CEPERLEY: We have a network of radars located on the ground that watch the sky around the clock. We have a Cloud-based software system that analyzes
all that data, and then we have a set of applications and data feeds that go off to customers.
So, those radars that are located on the ground, they're tracking thousands of satellites and pieces of debris per hour.
We're quite proud that we were the first to build a radar in the Southern Hemisphere with the New Zealand space radar, and we also recently opened
our newest radar near the equator in Costa Rica.
CHATTERLEY: Has the necessity for this accelerated with all the interest that we've seen in space and the investment, particularly the private
investment that we've seen over the last several years? I mean, I mentioned Starlink with Elon Musk, when you're talking about over a thousand
satellites in the space of one year going up, we're sort of accelerating the amount of debris surely that we're creating, and also heightening the
risks of some collision?
CEPERLEY: Yes, we're actually in the middle of a new space race. In this time, the race is commercial. The majority of all the satellites in orbit
are owned by companies, not by government space agencies, or not by militaries. So, all this new commercial investment is driving that new
space race.
You know, it's just amazing yesterday to watch Virgin Galactic successfully reach the edge of space, a huge milestone in the space industry. And it
really speaks to the growing commercial activity in space.
You know, we're seeing new tourism companies. We're seeing broadband Internet access delivered around the world from companies like SpaceX
Starlink, and others. We're seeing a lot of safety services being delivered from space. So tracking ships, tracking airplanes and the like.
So basically, we're building out a brand new economy, and it is here in Low Earth orbit.
CHATTERLEY: Did you speak to Virgin Galactic before this launch? Because you do provide system warnings for people to say, look, you're at risk of
some kind of collision. I mean, you can explain that technology, too, for your customers. But did you have a conversation? Are you talking to SpaceX?
To Blue Origin as well, Jeff Bezos's company before his launch?
CEPERLEY: Yes, so we actually very publicly, we've been supporting SpaceX for well over a year now, with all of their Starlink satellite launches.
So, when those satellites get launched into space, we pick them up within a few hours at our radar systems and help them navigate safely and smoothly
off to the final orbit that they're headed to.
You know, the whole topic of collision avoidance is a really critical one. Space traffic management is a core thing that we do, and one of the
principal challenges is making sure we're protecting satellites from all the debris that's up there and the numbers are quite impressive.
So as you mentioned, there's about 250,000 pieces of debris down to the size of a golf ball. But actually, most of it is not tracked today, about
five percent of it or 17,000 objects are tracked today. And so there's a big lift to actually make sure we track all the small stuff as well.
On top of that, another number that's really interesting is there's only about 2,500 active satellites. So, there's about a hundred times more
debris up there than active satellites. And it's critical that we don't make any more debris because that debris stays in orbit for decades.
So basically, as we build out space, we're also building out a legacy for our kids. And so we need to make sure it's a good one that they can
continue to use space like we do.
CHATTERLEY: Are we being vigilant? Are the private companies that are putting satellites into space are being far more vigilant about not leaving
debris behind to your exact point? And how should this be regulated?
I remember Elon Musk a couple of weeks ago being furious about a SpaceX launch being delayed because he said that there's this gigantic area where
you have a no fly zone, and if someone enters, the space launch gets delayed.
But I mean, this for me seems like a critical thing that regulators should be tackling, too. Are they? What more needs to be done?
CEPERLEY: Yeah, actually, there aren't really rules of the road up there yet. There's a big discussion about how we need to update those, and more
broadly, how we need to update a lot of the systems that are supporting the space industry.
Right now, you're actually seeing the rollout of a new generation of infrastructure. You know, for the past, say 50 years, the space industry
has been all about exploration, really going somewhere new. You can almost think of it as Lewis and Clark exploring the West.
You know, and after the exploration was underway, then we saw the construction. Then we saw the new towns, the roads, the telegraphs, and the
like, that's what's happening with the space industry right now. We're seeing the beginnings of this construction phase and it hasn't yet reached
the Mars or the moon. But it's here in the closest part of space, low Earth orbit.
[09:50:02]
CEPERLEY: And really updating those systems, solving this data deficit, getting more information out there is going to drive a new round of
evidence based policymaking. And that's going to be absolutely critical so that it provides this stable investment climate. These companies know what
the rules are, they know how to keep their satellites safe, and how to protect the space environment.
But we're just at the beginning of that. There needs to be a big focus on it.
CHATTERLEY: Yes, I mean, it clearly requires a lot more investment to your point, and we just have to understand what's out there first, which we
don't yet, we're just at the beginnings of it. So, exciting times.
Daniel, fantastic to have you on the show. Daniel Ceperley there, the CEO and co-founder of LeoLabs. Great to have you on the show.
CEPERLEY: Thank you very much, Julia.
CHATTERLEY: Okay, "Black Widow" strikes at the box office, Americans are flocking back to the movie theaters to see Marvel's new blockbuster. Is the
recovery well on track? We'll discuss. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHATTERLEY: Welcome back to FIRST MOVE. Summer blockbusters shining bright and fresh signs of recovery in the United States.
Marvel Studios' long delayed "Black Widow" rocked the box office this weekend setting North America's pandemic record.
Paul La Monica joins us now to break down the numbers. Never mind that, it wasn't just about the box office, Paul, it was also about the streaming
capabilities. It seems like if you get the movie right, you can make money with both and that's the key here surely.
PAUL LA MONICA, CNN BUSINESS REPORTER: Exactly. This was I think the important lesson, Julia. You've had $80 million in box office at the
theater, so people definitely willing to go see this long awaited movie live at a theater and get that cinematic experience, but for $29.99, if
you're already a Disney+ subscriber, some people felt that they were happy to just watch it from the comfort of their home in their living room, $60
million more coming in from Disney+ revenue. So, that's that $140 million total amount for the box office, if you want to call it that.
I'm not sure we can technically say that $60 million from people watching it at home is box office per se, but it's all money flowing to Disney
corporate cash and you know coffers and Disney investors.
CHATTERLEY: I'll be bold enough at this stage to say this could be the new normal where Hollywood is just going to have to get used to the idea of
streaming and theatrical releases perhaps at the same time. Or maybe, it is movie specific.
Did you see it by the way? Did you watch it?
LA MONICA: I haven't had a chance to see it yet. I am looking forward and having decided whether or not going to go to a theater or watch it at home.
But I don't think we can safely say yet that this is going to be the new normal.
"Black Widow" was clearly eagerly anticipated by the legions of Marvel fans and as you point out, this movie has been delayed several times, so there
had been a lot of hype building up around it. But Disney which also owns Pixar, they streamed "Luca" to Disney+ subscribers for free and skipped
theatrical releases.
[09:55:08]
LA MONICA: So, I think Disney is still experimenting with what the model in the post-pandemic world is going to be. Our parent company, WarnerMedia,
HBO Max also rankling a lot of theater owners because they are letting HBO Max subscribers for free get their new movies of Warner Brothers this year,
as well as putting them in the theater.
So, the new "Space Jam" movie for example, you can go see it in a theater when it comes out, or you can just watch it for free if you're already an
HBO Max subscriber. They are not charging people extra the way Disney did with "Black Widow."
CHATTERLEY: Yes, and you raised a great point as well. We lack comparable data. The only reason perhaps why we are seeing this is because the numbers
are so good, so we need more breakdowns and more of the movies.
Paul La Monica, great to have you with us. Congratulations, by the way, on Italy, boohoo for England. So, congratulations.
LA MONICA: I wasn't going to mention it.
CHATTERLEY: Okay, and finally, on FIRST MOVE, one of the dresses worn by Judy Garland in the "Wizard of Oz" and was lost for years has now been
found.
[VIDEO CLIP OF MOVIE "WIZARD OF OZ" PLAYS]
DOROTHY GALE, FICTIONAL CHARACTER PLAYED BY JUDY GARLAND: Lions, and tigers, and bears. Oh, my. Lions, and tigers and bears.
Oh my.
Lions --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHATTERLEY: The dress that is a prized piece of movie history was found in a plastic bag at the Drama Department at the Catholic University in
Washington, D.C. It turns out, the dress had been donated to the school back in the early '70s and then got lost.
And there's her name tag as well. There is no place like home.
Stay safe. "Connect the World" with Becky Anderson is next, and we'll see you tomorrow.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:00:00]
END
