And 10.5% Katherine Kelly is the NRF senior director of industry and consumer insights She says after dealing with COVID restrictions last year many people are anxious to return to the store as this holiday season People like shopping in stores for gifts because it lets them touch and feel a product be it in person Cullen says an estimated 158 million people plan to shop either in store or online over the Thanksgiving weekend I'm Mike Hempen The World Health Organization is hosting a special meeting on a worrying new COVID-19 variant Advisers are holding the session to fresh out information about the variant that emerged in South Africa though its impact on COVID-19 vaccines may not be known for weeks the technical advisory group on the evolution of COVID-19 is meeting virtually to discuss the so called B one one 5 two 9 variant This caused stock markets to swoon and led the EU to recommend a pause in flights to Southern Africa The group could decide if it's a variant of concern the most worrying type like the well-known delta variant or a variant of interest and whether to use a Greek letter to classify it I'm Charles De Ledesma The European Union says it's planning to stop air travel from Southern Africa to counter the spread of a new COVID-19 variant as the 27 nation bloc is battling a massive spike in cases EU commission president Ursula van der leyen is proposing in coordination with the member states to activate the emergency brake to stop air travel from the southern African region while Germany's health minister says the last thing we need is to bring in a new variant that will cause even more problems with the nation facing a massive spike in delta variant cases already Germany says vandalize proposal could be enacted as soon as Friday night I'm Charles De Ledesma AP news for this Friday November 26th I'm Jackie Quinn a new variant of COVID-19 is spreading alarm around the world and prompting travel restrictions The U.S. Monday will impose a travel ban from South Africa and 7 other African nations with exceptions for U.S. residents trying to get back home more from our Ben Thomas The World Health Organization has named the new variant on Macron declaring it a highly transmissible virus of concern When European Commission president Ursula von der leyen was proposing activate the emergency brake on travel from countries in Southern Africa and other countries affected Meanwhile financial markets fell sharply around the world the Dow lost more than 905 points or 2.5% while the price of oil fell about 13% I'm Ben Thomas Cases have spread from Southern Africa into Belgium Israel and Hong Kong through people traveling Health officials caution more research is needed into this variant and whether current vaccines will be effective Authorities arrested a man in noura's town Pennsylvania for fatally shooting a man who was inside his home eating his Thanksgiving dinner the suspect had been arguing with people out on the street a stray bullet went inside the victim's home There was a shooting at a North Carolina shopping mall three people were injured and Durham police say they have a suspect in custody with more expected Shoppers were out in force on Black Friday although fewer in years past when it was a giant event to scoop up bargains In California Christian MacDonald was disappointed he couldn't find the game console he had been looking for The new switch I let in stock but they didn't So I'm just going to go home I guess Music theater legend Stephen Sondheim has died He was 91 years old This is a P news This is disturbing to hear as holiday shipping begins hundreds of FedEx packages had been found in the Woods of Alabama An estimated 300 to 400 FedEx packages were found dumped in a ravine near the small town of Hayden Alabama on Wednesday The blunt county sheriff's office said deputies were sent to guard the scene until FedEx workers could arrive to pick up the packages Sheriff Mark moon said FedEx was sending multiple trucks and drivers from across the south in a statement FedEx said it is reviewing the situation and will take appropriate action I'm Mike Gracia Ukraine's president Vladimir zelensky says that his country's intelligence service has uncovered plans for a Russian backed coup to occur next week allegedly involving one of Ukraine's richest oligarchs President Biden has expressed concern about this potential threat and renewed U.S. support for Ukraine's sovereignty and self government I'm Jackie Quinn a P news Living.