Trade groups expect the British government to roll out new coronavirus travel restrictions on Sunday, including a quarantine for out-of-country arrivals. And they're already pushing back publicly.

NPR's Scott Simon talks with economist William Rodgers about the spiraling U.S. job losses due to the pandemic. The unemployment rate is now the worst since the Great Depression.

With social distancing, many people are speaking less and their voices sound raggedy. NPR's Scott Simon talks with speech pathologist Sandy Hirsch, about keeping the voice sounding as it should.

The Thai stock market has finished lower in back-to-back sessions, surrendering more than 40 points or 3.1 percent along the way. The Stock Exchange of Thailand now rests just beneath the 1,260-point plateau although it may find traction on Friday.

Asian stock markets are higher on Friday following the positive cues overnight from Wall Street on upbeat corporate earnings results and continued optimism about easing COVID-19 restrictions. A continued decrease in the number of new jobless claims in the U.S. also boosted sentiment. Investors now look ahead to the release of the U.S. jobs data for April later today.

Asian stocks moved mostly higher on Friday as trade-war fears receded and investors awaited the latest U.S. jobs report to gauge the economic impact of the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

The China stock market had climbed higher in three straight sessions, collecting almost 70 points or 2.5 percent in that span. The Shanghai Composite Index now rests just beneath the 2,880-point plateau although investors may cash in on Thursday.

The South Korea stock market has finished lower in two of three trading days since the end of the three-day winning streak in which it had collected almost 60 points or 3.1 percent. The KOSPI remains just beneath the 1,930-point plateau although it may bounce higher again on Friday.

Ahead of Thursday's holiday for Vesak Day, the Singapore stock market had moved higher in two straight sessions, collecting almost 30 points or 1.2 percent along the way. The Straits Times Index now rests just above the 2,590-point plateau and it may add to its winnings on Friday.

Indian shares opened lower on Wednesday as investors react to the latest developments related to earnings and the coronavirus crisis.

Asian shares ended broadly higher on Wednesday as several countries announced plans to ease lockdown measures amid falling coronavirus infection rates.

Indian shares rose on Wednesday, with banking and auto shares gaining ground on hopes for economic recovery after the country eased some lockdown restrictions.

The South Korea stock market bounced higher again on Wednesday, one session after it had ended the three-day winning streak in which it had collected almost 60 points or 3.1 percent. The KOSPI now rests just beneath the 1,930-point plateau and it may inch higher again on Thursday.

Foreign trade data from Germany is due on Friday, headlining a light day for the European economic news. At 2.00 am ET, Destatis is scheduled to issue Germany's external trade figures for March. Exports are forecast to fall 5 percent on month, in contrast to an increase of 1.3 percent in February. Imports are expected to drop 4 percent.

Hungary's consumer price inflation eased to the lowest level in two years in April, data from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office showed on Friday.

Taiwan's trade surplus decreased in April as exports declined more than expected amid rising imports, figures from the Ministry of Finance showed on Friday.

First-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits pulled back further off their recent record high in the week ended May 2nd, according to a report released by the Labor Department on Thursday, although claims remain at an elevated level and came in above economist estimates.

The average of household spending in Japan was down 6.0 percent on year in March, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said on Friday - coming in at 292,214 yen.