Iraq's oil ministry on Sunday called for bids for the construction of a new pipeline to allow oil exports to resume from the northern province of Kirkuk to neighboring Turkey.

The pipeline is to run for 350 kilometers (200 miles) and have a capacity of more than a million barrels per day, the ministry said.

Bitcoin prices suffered a dramatic plunge on Friday, dropping 20 percent at one point towards the $13,000-mark in volatile Asian trading.

Initial claims for U.S. unemployment benefits rebounded in the latest week, posting the biggest increase in three months, but the average remains near the historic low, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

German Ryanair pilots will strike for the first time Friday, union leaders said, dialing up the heat in a Europe-wide battle for recognition from the no-frills airline ahead of the busy holiday period.

Germany's powerful Cockpit union on Thursday said pilots would hold a four-hour "warning strike" at German airports after initial talks with the Irish carrier were canceled at short notice.

The Economist named France as its country of the year on Thursday, saying new President Emmanuel Macron had upset the odds to strike a victory for open societies and reform.

European stock markets mainly fell Thursday, after a mixed performance in Asia, as euphoria waned over US President Donald Trump's tax reform bill, dealers said.

The EU's top official for the euro single currency on Wednesday pressed European regulators to urgently update financial rules in order to face bitcoin's dizzying volatility.

Bitcoin prices plunged about 15 percent in Asian trade Wednesday before recouping some of the losses as investors apparently took fright at news that a South Korean exchange had been hacked.

The unit, which hit a record $19,500 at the start of the week, took a hit as it emerged that South Korean exchange Youbit had been hacked, leading the firm to say it will close and start bankruptcy proceedings, according to Bloomberg News.

Italian giant Eni and fellow petroleum company Shell will stand trial in Italy over allegations of bribery and corruption in the 2011 purchase of an offshore oil block in Nigeria.

Asian markets mostly fell on Wednesday as investors took a breather following recent gains, while US senators voted for a controversial tax overhaul which traders expect to boost corporate profits.