OTKONNECT

NEW YORK -- If worries about Ebola continue to spread, more U.S. consumers may decide to skip the mall altogether and do more of their holiday shopping online this year. Internet shopping already is grabbing a bigger share of overall retail sales. According to Census Bureau data, e-commerce sales rose 4.9% in the second quarter from the first-quarter, more than double the 2.3% increase for all retail sales. E-commerce sales also were up 15.7% when compared with a year earlier and accounted for 6.4% of total retail sales. Growing worries in the U.S. about Ebola and the possibility of travel restrictions could stifle traditional holiday shopping such as long lines on Black Friday. That would then weigh on sales at brick and mortar stores, and push demand onto online stores and mobile apps. So far retailers haven't changed their plans, but they're keeping watch. In a phone interview with TheStreet, a Target spokesperson said it's "monitoring" the Ebola situa...

Demands are rising in Washington for the U.S. to ban travelers from countries in West Africa, but the Obama administration is resisting and says the screening measures already in place for travelers are more effective. There are no direct flights from Liberia, Guinea or Sierra Leone to the U.S. Officials say that about 150 passengers a day arrive in the U.S. from those countries after making a connecting flight, usually in Europe. Most arrive at one of five airports, where screening for fever — a symptom of the disease — began this week. Here's what different countries are doing about travel to and from the Ebola hot spots: EUROPE: United Kingdom: No formal ban. No direct flights from the three affected countries to London's Heathrow Airport since British Airways suspended service there in August due to the outbreak. There is passenger screening at Heathrow and soon at two other airports. Germany: No ban and no plans for one. There is no formal monitoring or...

Nigeria’s Health Minister Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu has revealed that students could go back to school by Mid September in the country and not October 12.

Nigeria’s Health Minister Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu has revealed that students could go back to school by Mid September in the country and not October 12.

Ebola This is to inform you all that Ebola cannot be prevented bathing with salt and water. If you receive any message telling you to bath with salt and water please discard it because using salt to bath is not good for the skin. The hoax message spread like wild fire on the 8 June which caused panic in countries where Ebola has claimed some lives.