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The three native Nigerians that the US has in its sights are: Abubakar Shekau, 43, a Boko Haram leader who reportedly aligned himself with al-Qaida in a video message; Abubakar Adam Kambar, 35; and Khalid al-Barnawi, aged 36.
Designating them as terrorists will freeze any assets they have in the US and bar any US citizen from conducting transactions with them.
President Barak Obama and the state department have been under pressure to take act stronger against the Islamist terrorist sect for months and formally include it on its terrorist watch list.
Republican senator Scott Brown wrote to secretary of state Hillary Clinton, urging her to take action against the group. But 20 American experts on Nigerian politics warned that branding Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation would empower the group on an international level and enhance its profile among al-Qaida and other militant groups.
"The network's focus has been overwhelmingly domestic, despite an August 2011 attack on the United Nations office in Abuja," they said.
The suicide bombing in Abuja is being used by lawmakers as evidence of the armed group's willingness to harm American interests.
Nigerian officials are concerned that putting Boko Haram on the watch list will make it more difficult for Nigerian citizens to travel to the US and affect bilateral trade between the two nations.
Defence minister Bello Halliru Mohammed said the plan to list Boko Haram as a "foreign terrorist organisation" would also affect dialogue between the group and the government.
"We are looking at a dialogue to establish the grievances of the Boko Haram. The attempt to declare them an international terrorist organisation will not be helpful," Mohammed said
"Boko Haram is not operating in America and America is not operating in Nigeria. They are not involved in our internal security operations, so I don't think it would be of much significance really in that respect. But we don't support it."
Peace talks between the federal government and the sect, which wants to impose Sharia law across Nigeria, were halted when a Boko Haram spokesman claimed he could not trust the government.
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Iowa cereal workers win $ 241M lottery jackpot - USA Today
The winners, 18 men and two women ranging in age from 35 to 64, work in the shipping department of the cereal plant in Cedar Rapids. They chose to accept a $160 million lump-sum payout, with each receiving about $8 million before taxes, $5.6 million after, the lottery said.
The workers, members of the Retail, Wholesale, Department Store Union Local 110, chartered a bus that brought about 50 people to the lottery's headquarters. The Des Moines Register writes that they "had broad smiles as they got off the bus. They whooped and hollered. Asked how they felt, they responded 'Great!' and 'Awesome!'"
At least 11 of the winners indicated they would retire, says The Gazette of Cedar Rapids.
Although the Gang of 18 (two stayed home) showed up in Des Moines for the televised event, they want to remain anonymous and seek a court injunction to prevent the lottery from releasing their names, according to lottery officials and news reports.
"Obviously, we don't want people knocking at our doors. We're common people, simple people. We don't want the limelight. I don't want this, but I'm here," said the group's spokesman, identified only as Al, 61, who has been the designated ticket buyer for more than a decade.
The Iowa Lottery considers winners' names public information and has disclosed them in the past. Chief Executive Officer Terry Rich said he doesn't know of any instance when winners were not identified.
The lottery has given the group 10 business days to seek an injunction. TheDes Moines Register, published by Gannett, USA TODAY's parent, and the Cedar Rapids Gazette made requests for the names to be released under Iowa's Open Records law.
One winner named Mike, 55, who has worked at Quaker for nearly 35 years, said he plans to keep working and will take some time before making any big decisions.
"I think it makes my kids be debt-free, and that was my main goal," he said.
Another winner, Denise, 52, who has worked at the plant for nearly 34 years, said, "I'm just such in a fog, it's hard to describe everything. I'm shaking. It's hard to wrap your head around."
She said she plans to use her winnings to help her adult children. Her husband is also one of the 20, she added. Friday will be his last day at the plant.
The group's union issued a statement.
"These guys have worked very hard for many years, and they want to use their good fortune to make life better for others at the plant and in their community. This is a great American story but also a great union story. These are some of the most decent and generous people you'll ever meet, and all of our members couldn't be happier for them," said Al Hartl Jr., president of Local 110 of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.
Steve Carell Still Shops At Supermarket - femalefirst.co.uk
Steve Carell insists he hasn't let his fame and success change him as a person and he still does normal things like taking out the trash and going to the supermarket for groceries.
Steve Carell insists he is an "everyman" star and he still does his own shopping at the supermarket.
The comic actor - who appears opposite Keira Knightley in new movie 'Seeking a Friend for the End of the World' - doesn't let his fame stop him from doing normal things and insists he doesn't need a personal assistant to help him live his life.
He revealed: "Listen, I'm everyman. I take the garbage out. Roll bins to the curb. Separate recyclables. No personal assistant. It's what I know to do, and I do it.
"I go to the supermarket. We were out of nonfat vanilla Coffee-mate, so I ran in, and people say hello to me. Some guy pushing a cart nods to me and says, 'Nice.' "
Steve is married to actress Nancy Walls and the couple have two children, Annie, 11, and John, 8, and he admits his priorities in life shifted when he became a dad.
The 49-year-old funnyman's decision to quit his lead role as Michael Scott in 'The Office' after seven seasons was influenced by his desire to see more of his children.
When asked why he walked away from the series in an interview with the New York Post newspaper, he said: "I needed more time with my family. It sounds cliché, but it's true. Seven years I was gone all day, every day. My kids are 8 and 11, they are only little for a finite time. They were here, and I wasn't, so it was time to leave. I do sliding ponds, vacations, Disney World with them. Life's too short not to. Every morning I take them to school. I truly love it. I love them. I love my wife, Nancy.
"You know what? Career's luck. Right place, right time. I never lose sight of being fortunate."
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