Three Things for February 10

1. SpaceX admits to taking away access to Starlink network from Ukraine

On Wednesday, Feb. 8, SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell held a press conference admitting the company had been limiting Ukrainian access to the Starlink satellite network. Shotwell claims the reason behind this is because the Ukrainian military has been using the network for military purposes, which goes beyond the original agreement SpaceX made with the government. 

Late in 2022, Ukraine began experiencing connection outages in relation to Starlink.

When asked about this at the conference, Shotwell responded by saying, “I don’t want to answer it because I’m not sure I know the answer.”

For more information about SpaceX involvement in the Ukranian war, click here.

2. Aid convoy sent to Syria after earthquake

On Feb. 9, the United Nations announced the first aid convoy since the Feb. 6 earthquake in Turkey and Syria has crossed into Syria, through the Bab al-Hawa crossing in the Idlib region.

This was not an emergency aid package, but a standard humanitarian aid which was scheduled to be delivered before the earthquake happened. It’s delay in delivery was due to damage to the roadways caused by the earthquake. 

Local rescuers in the area expressed disappointment at the lack of specialty supplies and equipment which would help in finding more survivors.

"More help is on the way, but much more is needed,” said UN Secretary General António Guterres.

Harsh weather conditions have complicated relief efforts as Syria is currently experiencing extreme cold. Power outages and fuel shortages are also overwhelming hospitals. The UN Special Envoy for Syria has stated areas in the country affected by the earthquake have been receiving "nowhere near enough" lifesaving aid and warned that assistance must not be “politicized.”

The revised death toll has now passed 21,000 and thousands more have been injured.

For more information about relief efforts in Syria and Turkey, click here.

3. Journalist arrested in Ohio while reporting on press conference

On Wednesday, Feb. 8, NewsNation correspondent Evan Lambert was arrested by authorities after he began reporting live at a press conference in Ohio.

The conference was by Governor Mike DeWine regarding a train derailment which caused hazerdous chemicals to be spilt. After being arrested, Lambert was placed into a county jail and held there until bail was posted late on Wednesday night. 

“No journalist expects to be arrested when you’re doing your job, and I think that’s really important that that doesn’t happen in our country,” Lambert commented.

According to Columbiana County Sheriff Brian McLaughlin, Lambert was arrested and placed into custody for “criminal trespass and resisting arrest.” Video from the scene shows that Officers approach Lambert shortly after he begins his broadcast, and ask him to end said broadcast. Lambert repeatedly identifies himself as being a reporter as he is pushed to the ground by officers and placed in handcuffs before being escorted out of the gymnasium where the press conference was being held.

“That person had a right to be reporting. They should have been allowed to report. If they were in any way hampered from reporting, that certainly is wrong and it’s not anything that I approve of. In fact, I vehemently disapprove of it,” DeWine said.

For more information about the press conference, click here.