#HEADLINES

= Aviation Minister Stella Oduah will not appear before the House of Representatives today despite the house threatening to impose sanctions on her if she fails to make herself available to answer questions over an alleged purchase of N255 million bullet proof cars for the Minister by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

= Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Prof Sola Adeyeye  has advised the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) against the rigid compensation system it is demanding from the Federal Government.

= The Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led new Peoples Democratic Party suffered a major blow to its ranks as one of its back bones, Niger State governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, has reportedly pulled out citing his discomfort with the faction as reason for his action.

= Another air disaster was prevented at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Abuja yesterday as a Med-View Airlines aircraft from Lagos suddenly took to the air again at the point of landing in Abuja.

= The United Nation's special envoy in the Democratic Republic of Congo has told the organization’s Security Council that the M23 rebel movement is all but finished as a military threat.

= Pressure is growing on the White House to explain US intelligence gathering and why President Barack Obama appeared not to know the extent of operations. The intelligence agency head and other officials are to testify before the House of Representatives later today.

= World record signing Gareth Bale is on the 23-man shortlist for the Fifa men's world footballer of the year award. The 24 year old forward scored 26 goals for Tottenham last season before an £85million pounds move to Real Madrid in the summer.

= In the English League Cup, fourth round matches tonight Manchester United welcome Norwich City to Old Trafford; Arsenal play Chelsea at the Emirates; and West Ham United travel to Turf Moor to take on Burnley. 

= US R’n’B singer Chris Brown's felony assault charge has been reduced to a misdemeanour assault charge after he reportedly got into a fight and punched a man outside the W Hotel in Washington, DC, on Sunday.