Bitcoin was struggling to climb above $30,000 on Friday, as weak trade continues in the cryptocurrency market that saw approximately $1 trillion getting evaporated in recent weeks.

Bitcoin, the world’s biggest crypto by market cap, was trading at $29,260 at 9.17 a.m. EDT (1317GMT) for a daily gain of 3.7%.

The world’s largest altcoin, Ethereum, also was below the key resistance level of $2,000, as it was trading at $1,810 at the time for a 3.9% daily increase.

The total value of the crypto market stood at $1.22 trillion at the moment.

The crypto market saw almost half of its value evaporate in the past six weeks, as its total loss stood at $970 billion, from the figure of $2.19 trillion recorded on April 4./aa

A senior World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Friday that there is no need for mass vaccinations against the monkeypox virus that is currently affecting parts of the world.

Dr. Sylvie Briand, the director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention at the WHO, was speaking at a special briefing for the organization’s member states at the 75th World Health Assembly on the “Multi-Country Monkeypox Outbreak.”

“This is a zoonotic disease, which means that it's transmitted from animals. But unfortunately, we don’t know yet, what the animal reservoir is for this virus,” she said.

Briand said the disease is endemic in more than nine countries in Africa, where there have been outbreaks in recent years.

"We have been advised so far that there is no need for mass vaccination, and there is no need for large immunization campaigns," she added.

She noted that nearly 200 cases have so far been reported all over the world, and said that the number may increase in the coming days as this is “the very, very beginning of this event.”

“We don't recommend travel bans or restriction and we need to continue to communicate about what we know what is being done, and really reassure the public. The point is that we need just to take the right measures,” the WHO official added./aa

The TRT World Citizen Humanitarian Film Festival opened Thursday in Istanbul, providing a platform for filmmakers to explore global humanitarian issues from a unique and creative perspective. 

The festival is being organized by TRT World Citizen, the philanthropic arm of TRT.

Many events, including film screenings and interviews, will be held during the two-day festival, where the issue of being refugees, hunger, war and humanitarian issues will be discussed.

Photographer, writer, producer and director Rasit Algul, who participated in the festival with his short film Ronaldo, told Anadolu Agency that the film he shot in 2020 was shown at online festivals due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Featuring the story of a child refugee, Algul said "the movie is based on an incident which actually happened to me. I was in Bodrum in 2019 for a job, and there was an intense migration flow by sea. Everything was happening in front of our eyes. We couldn't do anything. We were just watching. I was very impressed by the news that came out there. I developed such a scenario."

"There were great tragedies then. We were losing a lot of people and it was very sad. I shot the movie to draw attention to this.”

He toured many festivals around the world.

“I hope my message has been delivered," he added.

Also, expressing his happiness, Algul said: "I will watch my film on the screen for the first time here because all previous festivals were held online. It is very nice to be here now."

- Festival dedicated to human rights

Participating in the festival from Canada with the film Air Show, director Maya Bastian said It is a drama showing how refugees are affected by an international air show.

"In Toronto, we have an annual air show. They fly bombers and planes over the city for fun. But we also have many, many refugees. And so how are they affected when they come from a country that has bombing? How are they affected by this fun air show that everybody goes to enjoy?" Bastian added.

Highlighting the importance of the Humanitarian Film Festival, she said: "I think this is a wonderful festival. It's very rare in the world that you see a festival dedicated to human rights.”

"So it has been amazing to meet all these filmmakers and directors and actors who are very invested in human rights, because it's so important for the world. And it's something that the entire world can understand and needs to think about," she said.

A total of 16 films from various parts of the world, including Turkiye, Iran, France, Canada, Italy, Spain, the US and Senegal, will be screened.

Also, interviews with the directors of the semi-final films will take place in the festival's workshops program.

At the end of the second day, the top three films will receive awards./aa

The Russian president on Thursday said his country is ready to help overcome the global food security crisis if Western sanctions imposed due to its war with Ukraine are lifted, the Kremlin said in a statement.

"Vladimir Putin stressed that the Russian Federation is ready to make a significant contribution to overcoming the food crisis through the export of grain and fertilizers, provided that politically motivated restrictions from the West are lifted," Putin said in a phone talk with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, according to the statement.

The Russian leader said supply chains have been disrupted because Russia has been cut from global logistics and financial systems by the US and EU, making it impossible for Russia to transport food, and fertilizers, and conduct the related financial transactions.

"When discussing the issues of energy security, the Russian side confirmed its intention to continue to ensure uninterrupted supplies of natural gas to Italy at the prices fixed in the contracts," the statement added.

Putin and Draghi also spoke about the situation in Ukraine, and the Russian president briefed the Italian prime minister about the steps Russia is taking to restore life "on the liberated territories."

The West has imposed an array of sanctions on Russia following its war on Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24.

Besides casualties and an exodus of millions of people seeking safety in other European countries, the war has caused a disturbance to the world’s food supply chains as the two countries are top global exporters of wheat, essential oil used in cooking and preparing food, corn, and mineral fertilizer.

Looming food crisis

At a later press conference in Rome, Draghi said he decided to contact Putin due to the massive food crisis that could be sparked by the war in Ukraine.

"I called Putin to ask if something could be done to unlock the wheat that is now blocked in Ukraine's warehouses because a food crisis is approaching -- in some African countries it is already present -- and will have gigantic proportions and terrible humanitarian consequences," the Italian premier said.

Draghi added that a first initiative could be to cooperate to unblock ports on the Black Sea currently obstructed by Russian forces.

Though it remains unclear whether this attempt will be successful, he said he saw room for negotiations and that he expects to call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to see if he would agree to move forward in this direction.

Draghi said he also stressed to Putin that the reason for the Western sanctions against Russia was Moscow's war against Ukraine./aa

The World Health Assembly called on Russia to immediately cease attacks on hospitals and other healthcare facilities in Ukraine, urging it to fully respect and protect all medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties.

More than 50 nations, including the US, EU countries, and Japan, sponsored a resolution by Ukraine that "urges the Russian Federation to immediately cease any attacks on hospitals and other healthcare facilities."

The vote in favor of the Ukraine resolution was 88 in favor with 12 against. Those opposing the motion include China and North Korea, while 53 countries abstained, mostly from Africa and western Asia.

Thirty countries were absent from the voting.

The resolution also urges Russia "to fully respect and protect all medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment."

The WHA meets once a year and is the decision-making body of the World Health Organization, which said Wednesday that since Russia launched its war in Ukraine on Feb. 24, health facilities in the country have suffered 256 attacks, leading to 75 deaths.

Russia, Belarus, and Syria proposed another resolution supported by North Korea, which Ukraine's envoy to the UN in Geneva said was based on Russia's "own reality" and was "shamefully dishonest."

Ukraine ambassador

Yevheniia Filipenko, Ukraine's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, told delegates that "Russia's invasion" of her country has caused "a health and humanitarian crisis on a huge scale, with grave health impacts within and beyond Ukraine."

"We have witnessed attacks destroying health facilities, thousands of civilian deaths, deeply irresponsible attacks near nuclear facilities, and a huge disruption to health services across Ukraine," said Filipenko.

She underlined that the risks of infectious disease outbreaks have skyrocketed during the conflict in the middle of a global pandemic.

"Millions of tons of grain sit in Ukrainian grain silos and ports, unable to be exported. A global food crisis that existed before the invasion has been made far worse and threatens millions more with starvation."

Filipenko said the blockade would affect the world's poorest and most vulnerable the hardest, as Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta had alluded to in his opening speech of the WHA on Sunday.

Resolution 'politicized,' says Russia

Alexander Alimov, Russia's deputy ambassador to the UN in Geneva, said during the debate prior to the resolution's passage that Russia rejected the allegations made by the Ukrainian envoy against his country.

"The draft resolution prepared by Ukraine and a number of states is not at all acceptable to us. It is politicized. It is one-sided and biased in its assessment of the situation," he said.

Alimov also argued that the draft resolution ignores eight years of aggression by Kyiv on the residents of Luhansk and Donetsk, two regions in the Donbas.

Turkiye calls for protection of civilians

Sadik Arslan, Turkiye's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, underlined that Ankara values the monitoring activities undertaken by the WHO, adding that a "regrettable humanitarian crisis" was taking place in Ukraine.

"We are deeply concerned about the disruption of health services in the country. We highlight the importance of the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure."

Bathsheba Crocker, the US envoy said: "According to the WHO, nearly 170,000 people in Mariupol alone are without access to safe water and at risk of a major outbreak."

"There is no reason for any of this. It is wanton destruction of health care, services, and life for purely political aims, justified on the basis of lies and disinformation," she added.

A recent report submitted to the WHO by its Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said that the war in Ukraine has had devastating effects on the country.

"As of 18 May 2022, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reported 7964 civilian casualties, comprising 3,778 killed and 4,186 injured, though the actual toll is certainly much higher."

Tedros said that the current number of internally displaced persons fleeing the ongoing hostilities is estimated at 8 million and a further 6.3 million people have crossed into neighboring countries of Ukraine.

Counter resolution

A Russian counter resolution to Ukraine was defeated in a later vote at the assembly with 66 votes to 15, and with 70 abstentions.

One clause in the Russian resolution expressed "grave concern at reports of civilian casualties, including children, in and around Ukraine."

Russia's deputy envoy Alimov, said it was "unacceptable to use the WHO as the basis for stigmatizing one country in the interest of preserving a global dominating power or other groups of countries."

"Any attempt to isolate or to blame the Russian Federation, specifically for the health situation in the country, is unacceptable. This works against the progress of the health of all regions of the world. Russia is bringing peace to Ukraine, and we are continuing our humanitarian assistance."

Jerome Bonnafont, France's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, said the Russian proposal was "illegitimate in nature."

"As an aggressor, recognized by the (UN) General Assembly, as well as the Human Rights Council, the International Court of Justice, and other bodies, the Russian Federation has no legitimacy to propose such a 'solution' to a situation that it has itself created."/aa

Current and future operations across Turkiye's southern borders do not target its neighbors' territorial integrity, but are necessary for the country's national security, the Turkish National Security Council said on Thursday.

"It was stated that the operations being carried out to clear our southern borders of the threat of terrorism, as well as those that will be carried out, in no way target our neighbors' territorial integrity or sovereignty and are a requirement of our national security needs," the council said in a statement following its meeting.

These operations will "significantly contribute" to the peace and security of neighboring countries, it added.

On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country would take steps to complete the remainder of a 30-kilometer (18-mile) safe zone along its southern border.

Turkiye borders Syria and Iraq to its south and has worked to eliminate existing terrorist bases and prevent new ones that would threaten its national security and the safety of locals across its borders.

The council also urged countries violating international law by supporting terrorism to "put an end" to this attitude.

Underlining that Turkiye always fulfills the spirit and law of alliance in the international blocs where it is a member, the council said Ankara expects the same responsibility and sincerity from its allies.

As Sweden and Finland pursue NATO membership, Ankara has repeatedly called for the two countries to decisively cut off links with terror groups.

Sweden and Finland formally applied to join NATO last week -- a decision spurred by Russia's war on Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24.

But Turkiye, a longstanding member of the alliance, has voiced objections to the membership bids, criticizing the countries for tolerating and even supporting terrorist groups.

The National Security Council also discussed Turkiye's ongoing anti-terror operations and other measures, said the statement.

'Needs for comprehensive cease-fire'

On Russia's war on Ukraine, the council stressed the need for a comprehensive cease-fire without delay, underlining that a solution to be reached that provides for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity would lay the groundwork for lasting peace in the region.

Also touching on "increasing provocative actions" by neighboring Greece, the National Security Council highlighted that Turkiye would maintain its determined stance on protecting its rights and interests.

It also referred to the recent burning of the Muslim holy book in some European nations, the council urged authorities in those countries to take action against rising Islamophobia.

The council also emphasized the importance of preserving the stability achieved in Libya, protecting the country's territorial integrity, and avoiding steps that may lead to new conflict.

At least 3,974 civilians have been killed and 4,654 injured since the war in Ukraine began on Feb. 24, according to UN estimates. The true toll is believed to be much higher.

Nearly 6.6 million people have fled to other countries, while more than 7.7 million have been internally displaced, according to the UN refugee agency./aa

Using police dogs and other violence, Bulgarian authorities are “brutally mistreating” Afghan and other asylum seekers and migrants before pushing them back to Turkiye, an international rights group said on Thursday.

“Bulgarian authorities are brutally and summarily pushing back migrants and asylum seekers across the land border with Turkey,” Michelle Randhawa, refugee and migrant rights officer at Human Rights Watch (HRW), said in a statement.

According to the statement, the rights group interviewed 15 Afghan men between November 2021 and April 2022, adding that 14 of the 15 men said that Bulgarian police, or men they believed to be Bulgarian police, beat them either when they were detained in Bulgarian territory, and/or in the course of forcibly returning them to Turkiye.

“Ten of the men said Bulgarian authorities stole their belongings and stripped them of their clothes, in some cases leaving them without shoes, only in underwear and t-shirts in freezing temperatures,” it said.

A 27-year-old Afghan man told HRW: “They were kicking us like soccer balls. They kicked me on every part of my body, I was just able to protect my head. They were wearing … [heavy] boots … and the toe of the boots was made of steel. On the border, they beat us again … and they told us, ‘Don’t come back again’.”

The HRW official called on the EU to ensure that Bulgaria immediately stops the “illegal and dehumanizing pushbacks” at its borders and allows asylum seekers access to fair asylum procedures.

“At a time when Bulgarian officials are welcoming Ukrainian refugees by disseminating information to them about temporary protection and living in Bulgaria, they are brutally mistreating Afghans and other asylum seekers at their border,” she added./aa