*) Israel's Gaza invasion amounts to ethnic cleansing — report

Israel's invasion in northern Gaza, including the destruction of hospitals, amounts to "ethnic cleansing," says the Tel Aviv-based media outlet-Haaretz.

In its editorial article, the paper criticised the Israeli army's tactics as an effort to depopulate the area, violating the Fourth Geneva Convention's wartime hospital protections and forcing displaced Palestinians south for medical care.

*) UN official urges global medical professionals to boycott Israel

Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, is urging global medical professionals to cut ties with Israel, condemning the destruction of Gaza's healthcare system.

Albanese also called for the release of detained Palestinian doctor Hussam Abu Safiya, amplifying the Free-Doctor-Hussan-Abu-Safiya-campaign.

*) Court issues arrest warrant for South Korea's Yoon Suk-yeol

A South Korean court has issued an arrest warrant for suspended President Yoon Suk-yeol over his brief and contentious bid to impose martial law.

The Seoul Western District Court approved the warrant, requested by the Joint Investigation Headquarters, marking the nation’s first-ever arrest warrant for an incumbent leader.

Yoon now faces criminal investigation for possible insurrection charges.

*) Russia and Ukraine swap 300 prisoners of war

Russia and Ukraine have exchanged three-hundred prisoners of war, according to the Russian Defence Ministry.

One-hundred-fifty-Russian servicemen have been returned and are receiving medical and psychological support in Belarus.

The exchange, facilitated by the United Arab Emirates-saw the return of One-hundred-fifty-Ukrainian personnel as well.

While Moscow has announced the exchange, Ukrainian authorities have yet to confirm the news.

*) Syria appoints first female to hold keys to the money

Syria's interim government has appointed the first female governor of the central bank in over 70 years.

Maysaa Sabrine steps into the role after Bashar Assad's December 8 ousting, replacing Mohammed Issam Hazime.

Since then, the bank has taken steps to liberalise an economy that was heavily controlled by the state, including cancelling the need for pre-approvals for imports and exports and tight controls on the use of foreign currency.

Despite holding 26 tonnes of gold, foreign reserves have plunged to two-hundred-million dollars, a far cry from pre-war levels of eighteen-billion-dollars—all under the shadow of US sanctions.