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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Millions of people are packing shopping malls and stores

across the nation today to take advantage of deep discounts on this Black Friday. Online shoppers are

setting records this year, spending almost 9% more this Thanksgiving compared to last year. NPR's Alina Selyuk reports, more shoppers are also expected to hit the stores.

It's a chilly day in suburban Maryland, but this outdoor outlet mall is teeming with cars and pedestrians.

In surveys this year, more shoppers said they plan to go to physical stores than they had in recent years.

In fact, generally, more people are expected to shop, whether in person or online, during this year's long weekend from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday.

Top items are expected to be classics, electronics, close, Adobe Analytics, which tracks online purchases,

predicts that top toys

will include Legos, Hot Wheels, Barbies, and slime kits for adults, dice and hair devices,

fitness trackers, gaming consoles, and pickleball paddles.

Alina Selyukh, NPR News, Clarksburg, Maryland.

Human rights groups say dozens of people have been killed in heavy fighting today in and around

Syria's second largest city, Aleppo. NPR's Lauren Frire reports it's the latest round of

fighting that began with Syria's civil war in 2011 and has continued off and on since.

Opposition forces have been battling their way toward Aleppo for days and have now entered the city.

It's the first such attack since 2016, when insurgents were ousted from the city by Syrian government forces with help from Russia and Iran.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says insurgents blew up two car bombs on Aleppo's western edge and have issued a call to residents to cooperate.

State media say insurgents projectiles hit a university campus killing students and that the government conducted air strikes in response.

This attack coincides with a ceasefire in neighboring Lebanon between Israeli

troops and Hezbollah militants who are also supported by Iran. Lauren Freyer and PR News, Beirut.

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