The Know Daily - Monday 23 February 2026

_{Read in 4m 19s ∙ Listening to Noah Kahan ∙}

Giant tortoises have returned to the Galápagos island of Floreana for the first time in more than 180 years. 158 have been released in total and we can’t wait to see them thrive! 💚

☮️ The Board of Peace

The first meeting of the new Board of Peace took place in Washington on Thursday, bringing together a coalition of countries backing a US-led plan to help rebuild Gaza after the war.

How did it come about?
The Board of Peace was launched earlier this year as part of a reconstruction proposal initiated by US president Donald Trump. The idea is to create a group of countries willing to pool funding, personnel and political support to help stabilise and rebuild Gaza. It was discussed at international gatherings, including the World Economic Forum in Davos, before being formally convened for the first time last week. 

So who’s involved?
Countries including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait have pledged financial backing, alongside Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Morocco. Some nations – including Indonesia, Kosovo and Albania – have offered to contribute personnel to a proposed multinational stabilisation force. Others, such as India, attended Thursday’s meeting as observers. But a lot of big Western powers such as the UK, France and Germany aren’t involved.

What’s the goal?
The Board says its aim is to co-ordinate international support for Gaza’s recovery – from rebuilding infrastructure and homes to supporting policing and basic governance. Supporters argue that a focused group from different countries could speed up decision-making and funding. 

What happened at the first meeting?
It was mostly about securing commitments from countries and setting out the structure of the plan. Member states pledged around $7 billion collectively toward reconstruction and humanitarian relief, while the US announced a further $10 billion commitment, but there’s no details on what this will be spent on.

There were also discussions about establishing a stabilisation force to support security during the rebuilding phase, and about training local police units. Officials described the meeting as the start of a phased recovery plan, with working groups expected to follow up on the finer details of funding, security and governance support.

What’s the reaction been?
Critics say the Board of Peace has yet to win over many democracies around the world, with some viewing it as a strongly US-driven initiative that might not work alongside existing UN-led efforts. There are also questions about how much input local Palestinians will have in shaping the plans that affect them, especially in the long term. Experts say wider consultation and clearer coordination will be important as the initiative moves forward.

What happens next?
The Board will now be looking to move into the practical stage – turning pledges into projects. How quickly funds are delivered, and how the initiative fits into the wider diplomatic landscape, will determine how significant a role it ultimately plays in Gaza’s reconstruction.

💰 Money Monday: Big news in the resale world – eBay is buying Depop, the popular second-hand fashion app.

• The bigger story: eBay has agreed to buy Depop from Etsy for about $1.2bn – less than the roughly $1.6bn Etsy paid for it in 2021. Depop, which has around 7 million active buyers (about 90% of them under 34), will keep its brand under eBay’s ownership. For eBay, it’s likely to strengthen its position in the fast-growing resale market and help the platform reach younger shoppers. 

🎭 A British newcomer took home the Best Actor gong at the BAFTAs last night – check out all the other winners here.

🎿 Norway has topped the Winter Olympics medal table after securing 18 gold medals and 41 in total. 

👩‍🎓 Student loan interest will be cut if the Conservatives win the next election, their leader Kemi Badenoch has said. You can read our full explainer on the debate here. 

💞 Singapore’s tourist board is offering US citizens the chance to apply for blind dates in the city-state, but the matchmaking is done by “aunties” instead of dating apps or algorithms.

🚇 London Underground prices are set to rise next week – see how your zone will be affected in this handy table.

🪐 A planet parade is building this week, with its peak expected to take place on Saturday when six planets should be visible from Earth. Time to dust off those binoculars you were given for your 13th birthday!

Help your friends feel better about the news. Get them to sign up using your personalised code 👉 https://theknowmedia.beehiiv.com/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER

⭐ Get clicking - this tells our partners that readers are interested in The Know. Let’s get started with this one!

⭐ Add us to your contacts or primary inbox - this makes sure we reach your inbox (and everyone else’s) each morning.

The Know is on a mission to help everyone start their day feeling informed and hopeful. We only recommend things we genuinely love but sometimes we make money from the links and content we share. This directly supports keeping our journalism free for all.

Trivia answer: B) The church's central piece now towers 566ft above the city… and there’s more to come!

How did you find today’s email?
😍 Loved it! | 😕 Could be better…

Need fewer emails? Click here to hear from us once a week.