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Sep 8, 2023 • 4 min read

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Starlink Satellites:

Following recent reports by media outlets claiming SpaceX CEO Elon Musk intentionally deactivated Starlink satellites over Crimea during a critical Ukrainian operation against Russian warships (last year), Musk addressed these allegations on Twitter.
Contrary to media reports, Musk clarified that the Starlink satellites in that region were never active to begin with. Upon receiving an emergency request from Ukrainian officials to activate them, SpaceX declined.
Musk emphasized that the decision stemmed from SpaceX's intention to avoid entanglement in the conflict. Furthermore, Musk shared that the primary use case of these satellites would have been to aid Ukraine in an offensive against Russia's naval fleet.
SpaceX now operates over 5,000 satellites, making Starlink the largest satellite constellation in orbit. This number surpasses even the largest constellations held by individual governments, highlighting SpaceX's significant presence in satellite technology and power. Below are the relevant tweets and statements for reference.

China Bans Government iPhones:

In recent developments, China has implemented a ban on central government officials using iPhones and other foreign-branded devices. This directive was relayed to officials through chat groups and meetings. China's intention behind this is to bolster its information security measures and curb potential data leaks to the U.S. etc, while also encouraging the growth of its high-tech sectors, particularly in semiconductors and AI.
These decisions could also be China's countermove in response to actions by the US that restricted Chinese tech giants like Huawei and TikTok. Given that around 20% of Apple's revenue originates from China, this ban could notably affect Apple's financial performance in the Chinese market. Apple has yet to issue an official statement regarding the matter.
The situation underscores the escalating tensions between the U.S. and China. Both nations have expressed security concerns, with the U.S. focusing on potential threats from Chinese tech products like TikTok (by banning it on government devices).

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