While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Feb 23, 2026
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On Feb 20, the US Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump had exceeded his authority in imposing tariffs under a 1977 economic emergency powers act.
PHOTO: AFP
US says trade deals in force despite court ruling on tariffs
US trade deals with the European Union, China and other partners remain in force despite the Supreme Court ruling that struck down many of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, a top official said Feb 22. READ MORE HERE
“So we’re having active conversations with them. We want them to understand that these deals are going to be good deals,” US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on the CBS program “Face the Nation.”
He added: “We expect to stand by them. We expect our partners to stand by them.”
Strong quake hits off eastern Malaysia
SCREENGRAB: USGS
A strong 7.1-magnitude quake struck early on Feb 23 off Malaysia’s Sabah state on Borneo island, US seismologists said. READ MORE HERE
The epicentre of the quake was located less than 100 kilometres northeast of the coastal state capital Kota Kinabalu at a depth of 619.8 kilometres, the US Geological Survey said.
The quake struck at 12:57 am (1657 GMT Sunday).
UK protection officers instructed to guard 2010 Epstein dinner party, reports say
PHOTO: REUTERS
London police officers assigned to King Charles’ younger brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor were instructed to provide security for a dinner party at Jeffrey Epstein’s residence in New York in 2010, British media reported on Feb 22. READ MORE HERE
The Sunday Times, which first reported the story, cited emails from the Epstein files that appear to detail arrangements for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to stay with the late convicted sex offender in December 2010, along with his two protection officers from London’s Metropolitan Police force.
In an email sent the night before the event with the subject line “Security for party”, a staff member informed Mr Epstein the two officers had been given “instructions on the door”.
Gaza ‘genocide’ comment prompts walkout by German minister at Berlinale
PHOTO: AFP
A Palestinian-Syrian film director accused Germany of being “partners in the genocide in Gaza by Israel” at the Berlin Film Festival, prompting a German minister to walk out of the awards ceremony. READ MORE HERE
The remarks by Abdallah Al-Khatib, whose Chronicles From the Siege won the Berlinale’s Perspectives section for emerging filmmakers, capped a politically charged festival, with organisers facing criticism from actors and directors for not taking a stance on the war in Gaza.
Discussions about Israeli actions are particularly sensitive in Germany, which has become one of Israel’s staunchest supporters, principally because of historical guilt for the Nazi Holocaust - a policy known as the “Staatsraison”. The German government has said Israel has a right to self-defence after the Oct 7, 2023, attack by Hamas.
Eze’s derby double gets Arsenal title bid back on track
PHOTO: REUTERS
Eberechi Eze timed his return to the Arsenal scoresheet to perfection with two goals in a 4-1 derby rout of Tottenham Hotspur that calmed his side’s Premier League title nerves on Feb 22. READ MORE HERE
The forward had not scored since a hat-trick in the reverse fixture in November but struck in each half while Viktor Gyokeres also netted twice as Arsenal moved five points clear of second-placed Manchester City.
Eze, who almost signed for Tottenham last August, volleyed in a 32nd-minute opener only for Randal Kolo Muani to equalise two minutes later after a mistake by Declan Rice.
