News Information and Media Site: Nightly Rundown: Omicron ‘variant of concern’; New U.S. travel restrictions; Dow drops 1,000 points; Black Friday frenzy; Red flag warnings in California; FDA: Merck Covid pill effective; Old Spice recall; FedEx packages dumped

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By Dan Donahue, NBC Nightly News

Good Friday afternoon. The World Health Organization has labeled the new Omicron variant a "variant of concern," the Dow sank to its worst day of the year, and shoppers are returning to stores for Black Friday deals.

Here is what's in our Nightly Rundown.

U.S. to ban travel from African countries due to "Omicron" variant

The U.S. is implementing a new travel ban on several southern African countries, citing the threat of a dangerous new Covid variant in South Africa.

Beginning Monday, travel will be restricted from South Africa and seven other countries: Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Malawi, senior administration officials said.

Canada, and several European and Asian counties have also restricted flights from southern Africa.

U.S. restricts travel from 8 African nations after Covid variant detected

The World Health Organization classified the new B.1.1.529 variant, first reported two days ago in South Africa, as "variant of concern," naming it "Omicron."

The Omicron variant has "a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning," the WHO said in a statement.

Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with the Omicron variant, as compared to other variants of concern, the WHO said.

This variant has been also detected at faster rates than surges in the past, suggesting that "this variant may have a growth advantage," according to the WHO.

Dr. Ashish K. Jha, Dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, tweeted it's "too early to tell" whether the new variant causes more severe disease, but added that he has concerns about its transmissibility and potential for evading vaccines.

The discovery of the new Omicron variant also shook the market.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped about 905 points, or 2.5 percent, for its worst day of the year, after falling more than 1,000 points at session lows.

The S&P 500 fell 2.3 percent and the Nasdaq Composite plunged 2.2 percent.

Trading was shortened today due to the Thanksgiving holiday, with the markets closing at 1 p.m. ET.

Black Friday is in full swing, as stores welcome back shoppers after the pandemic put a damper last year on the post-Thanksgiving sales frenzy. Here are some of today's best deals.

Holiday sales are expected to jump at a record pace this year, between 8.5 to 10.5 percent, according to the National Retail Federation.

But it comes as rising inflation and the supply chain crisis drive up prices for toys, clothes, electronics, and other top gifts.

A number of retailers are also ramping up security this year, after a series of flash mob-style robberies across the country.

Malls increase security after flurry of smash-and-grab thefts

17 million people are under red flag warnings in Southern California, as the powerful Santa Ana winds raise the risk of fire danger.

Tens of thousands remain without power in Los Angeles and surrounding counties, and power could be shut off to more than 120,000 customers in wind-prone areas.

Several areas saw wind gusts over 70 mph on Thanksgiving, and the windiest location had a gust up to 89 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

Engine strike teams are positioned in key areas to respond to wildfires if they break out, fire officials said.

The FDA says Merck's experimental pill to treat Covid is effective, ahead of a meeting of outside experts next week to determine its safety.
Procter & Gamble has issued a voluntary recall for some Old Spice and Secret aerosol spray antiperspirants that may contain the cancer-causing chemical benzene.
Sharbat Gula, known as the green-eyed "Afghan Girl" from National Geographic's 1985 magazine cover, has left Afghanistan and taken refuge in Italy.
Authorities in Alabama are trying to find out how hundreds of FedEx packages ended up at the bottom of a ravine.