Israeli authorities have told the Supreme Court that a ban on international media access to Gaza should remain in place, arguing it is necessary for security reasons, according to a government submission filed by the public prosecutor.

"Even at this time, entry of journalists into the Gaza Strip without escort, as requested in the petition, should not be permitted," said the government submission, a copy of which was obtained by AFP. "This is for security reasons, based on the position of the defence establishment, which maintains that a security risk associated with such entry still exists."

Turkey's annual inflation slowed in December to 30.9 percent, a fourth straight month of declines and well below the 44.4 percent posted in the same month of 2024, official figures showed Monday.

Vietnam said on Monday its economy grew 8.0 percent last year, thanks to gains in services, construction and exports and despite fresh U.S. tariffs taking effect.

"GDP in 2025 is projected to grow significantly at an estimated rate of 8.02 percent compared to the previous year," the General Statistics Office said in a statement.

A strike in south Lebanon has killed two people, with Israel saying it had struck a Hezbollah operative, the latest raids as Beirut seeks to disarm the Iran-backed group.

Despite a year-old ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, Israel carries out regular strikes on Lebanon, usually saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites and operatives, and has maintained troops in five areas it deems "strategic".

Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodriguez has called for a "balanced and respectful" relationship with the United States, a day after American forces attacked Caracas and captured leftist leader Nicolas Maduro.

"We consider it a priority to move toward a balanced and respectful relationship between the U.S. and Venezuela," Rodriguez, Maduro's vice president, wrote on Telegram.

Russia's overnight strikes on Kyiv province killed two people, Ukrainian authorities said Monday after a countrywide air alert was issued.

One person was killed in the capital, according to Tymur Tkachenko, the head of the city's military administration.

Iran accused Israel on Monday of trying to undermine its national unity after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed support for protests in the Islamic republic.

"The Zionist regime (Israel) is determined to exploit the slightest opportunity to sow division and undermine our national unity, and we must remain vigilant," foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said at a weekly press conference, before accusing Israeli and US leaders of "incitement to violence".

Venezuela's president Nicolas Maduro was in a New York jail on Sunday after a shock U.S. snatch-and-grab raid to remove him from power and assert Washington's control over the oil-rich South American nation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel stood in solidarity with the people of Iran as protests rocked several cities in the Islamic republic this week.

"We stand in solidarity with the struggle of the Iranian people and with their aspirations for freedom, liberty and justice," Netanyahu said at the weekly cabinet meeting.

Syrian Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi was in Damascus on Sunday for fresh talks with officials on integrating his forces into those of the central military, the Kurds' armed forces said.