WASHINGTON: The Dalai Lama has sought US "help" in resolving the vexed Tibet issue as the Bush administration pressed China to open dialogue with the exiled spiritual leader. "At this moment we need your help," the 72-year-old saffron-robed spiritual leader told US special envoy on Tibet Paula Dobriansky as they met in Michigan, adding that the issue of Tibet was "very significant." Dobriansky said the meeting with the Dalai Lama provides a "timely opportunity" to discuss the situation in Tibet

SEATTLE, WA: A judge in Seattle has sentenced Luis Vazquez to 9 months in jail and 240 hours of community service for his hate assault on Sukhvir Singh last November. More than two dozen Sikhs from the Seattle community along with some members of the broader community attended the hearing in support of Sukhvir Singh and to send a strong message of standing up against racism and prejudice.

WASHINGTON: A Republican caucus has asked the Democrat leadership in the US House of Representatives to approve a proposed bill to nearly double the present "artificial" cap on H1-B visas, much sought-after by skilled professionals including Indians.

ST. LOUIS: An Indian origin doctor in Des Peres (near St. Louis), Dr Krishnarao Rednam, 38, was sentenced to six months in prison, followed by four months of home confinement, two years of supervised release and a $30,000 fine after he pleaded guilty to a federal felony charge that involved obstructing a health care fraud investigation.

SILICON VALLEY: The Dalai Lama has ruled out any more concessions" to China on Tibet and threatened to resign as leader of Tibet's exiled government if protests by his supporters go "out of control." "If violence becomes out of control then my only option is to resign," the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader told reporters on the sidelines of a five-day conference on compassion in Seattle

NEW YORK: Neil Suryakant Patel of Washington D.C. is one of the five individuals nominated by President George Bush to serve in his Administration.