US Planes Searching For Nigeria Kidnapped Girls

The US is flying "manned" intelligence missions over Nigeria to try to track down nearly 300 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram fighters.

Washington has also shared "commercial satellite imagery" with the Nigerian military in the hunt for the missing teenagers, a senior US official said.

Experts are examining a new video issued by Boko Haram claiming to show about 130 of the youngsters, who the group claims have converted to Islam.

US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: "Our intelligence experts are combing through every detail of the video for clues that might help ongoing efforts to secure the release of the girls.

US Offers $23m For Boko-Haram Leader, Shekau, 4 Others

The US Government, Monday June 3rd posted up to $23 million in rewards to help track down five leaders of militant groups accused of spreading terror in west Africa.

The highest reward of $7 million is offered for the Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, who last week called on Islamists in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq to join the bloody fight to create an Islamic state in Nigeria.

The US State Department’s Rewards for Justice program also targeted Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), offering its first ever bounties for wanted militants in west Africa.

Immigration Reform: US Suspends Green Card Visa Lottery

Following the Boston Marathon bombings, masterminded by two immigrants (brothers) one of whom is in the USA on a student visa, American lawmakers are critically looking into immigration laws, and making reforms.

One of such reforms, which will leave many Nigerian hopefuls devastated, is the cancellation of the Diversity Visa or the DV Visa lottery programme. I also hear that student visas will now come with more stringent conditions than before. Read a comprehensive report from AFP.

Africans could be the big losers as the United States reforms its immigration laws and eliminates the green card lottery, of which Africans are the main beneficiaries. More after cut:

US Couple 'Rob Bank' While their Kids Waited In Car

A husband and wife bank robbery team have been arrested in Utah after they took their two children along on the heist, police say.

According to police records, the man and woman, both 27, were arrested during a traffic stop on Monday soon after a Wells Fargo bank branch was robbed.

Two children, ages 5 and 2, were in the back seat.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports the married couple told police they robbed the bank because they faced eviction and needed to pay medical bills.

Man Dies As Plane Crashes Into House

A US man died and another was injured when a small plane crashed into a house in Washington State.

Both were travelling in the four-seater, Cessna-type aircraft when it hit the home in Woodinville, King County, on Saturday afternoon.

Sheriff's office spokeswoman Cindi West said a man was declared dead at the scene and another was airlifted to Harborview Medical Centre.

No-one was hurt on the ground, she added.

It is understood the owners of the large, detached property were not in at the time of the crash.