Nora Rahm

It's Black Friday, the traditional start to the holiday shopping season, which retailers hope will put them in the black for the year.

The National Retail Federation expects sales to top $1 trillion for the first time.

But a recent report from the Conference Board finds consumer confidence has fallen.

NPR's Alina Selyuk explains.

NPR's Alina Selyuk.

Last night, President Trump announced that National Guard Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom had died after being shot Wednesday near the White House.

National Guardsman Andrew Wolfe remains in critical condition.

Both grew up in West Virginia.

NPR's Dave Mistage went to the Martinsburg area to see how the community is doing.

Federal prosecutors say the suspect in the shootings will be charged with first-degree murder.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he remains open to elements of a new U.S.

plan to end the war in Ukraine, but he says the war will continue if Ukraine refuses to make key concessions.

NPR's Charles Mainz has more.

This is NPR News.

The death toll continues to rise in Hong Kong where a major fire swept through a high-rise apartment complex Wednesday.

Officials now say at least 128 people died and that number could rise.

About 200 people are missing.

So far, 11 people have been arrested in connection with the fire.

Storms continue to cause widespread death and destruction in Southeast Asia.

Officials say at least 145 people have died in the past several days in Thailand.