Seattle, WA

India set to open new consulate in Seattle area, with a focus on tech industry

Published

5 months ago

December 21, 2023

India set to open new consulate in Seattle area, with a focus on tech industry

Prakash Gupta, a longtime diplomatic leader for India, is heading up the country’s new consulate in the Seattle area. (GeekWire Photo / Taylor Soper)

Seattle’s tech industry could get a boost from the new consulate of India set to open soon.

Technology will be a key focus for the Seattle-area consulate, said Prakash Gupta, consulate general of India for the new hub.

“There are a lot of brilliant, sharp minds here at the cutting edge of the next frontier of technology,” Gupta told GeekWire.

Gupta, a longtime diplomat for the Indian Foreign Service who previously did stints in New York City, Shanghai, and Jakarta, arrived in Seattle last month. His team is seeking a permanent office in the Seattle region, and plans to have 25-to-30 employees once everything is up and running.

Discussions about the consulate have bubbled for years, but were fortified earlier this year during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the White House in June.

Technical cooperation was a point of emphasis in the meeting between Modi and President Biden — and will be a top priority for the Seattle outpost as well, given the strength of the region’s tech ecosystem that includes Microsoft, Amazon, and hundreds of other companies.

“This is the tech hub of the Pacific Northwest,” Gupta said.

The consulate hopes to serve as a resource for tech companies, investors, and workers in both Seattle and India.

“We see our role as a bridge,” Gupta said.

The Seattle area has one of the highest Asian Indian populations in the U.S.
There are more than 83,000 residents in King County that were born in India, which ranks No. 1 among other countries, according to Census data cited by the Seattle Times.
More than 40% of foreign-born IT workers in the Seattle area hail from India, the Seattle Times reported.
The Asian community is the single largest racial and ethnic minority group within Microsoft, and nearly 70% identify as South Asian, according to the company’s latest diversity report.

Many tech workers from India use H-1B visas — and having a consulate nearby could be helpful.

“It will be a great opportunity to be close to a strong diaspora and be able to provide services in a timely manner that will be a win-win for the community and the two countries.” said S. “Soma” Somasegar, a former Microsoft exec and managing director at Madrona Venture Group.

Gupta also pointed to trade — Washington exports 40% of apples going to India, he said — and higher education as other priorities for his team.

“An Indian consulate in the Pacific Northwest will strengthen cultural, business, and trade ties between the world’s two largest democracies, deepen our region’s partnership on critical leading-edge technologies, and allow easier access to locals seeking consular services,” Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), a former RealNetworks exec, said in a statement to GeekWire.

Washington state Rep. Suzan DelBene, a longtime tech exec at Microsoft and other companies, told GeekWire that the opening of the consulate “further underscored that our region is a hub for inter-cultural dialogue and economic activity between our two nations.”

The consulate will serve nine states: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

It will be India’s sixth consulate in the U.S. Other locations include San Francisco, New York City, Atlanta, Chicago, and Houston.

Seattle Deputy Mayor Greg Wong told GeekWire that the consulate is a reflection of the “growing bond between the Pacific Northwest and India.”

“Seattle is home to a growing Indian community, with increased economic, cultural, and social ties,” he said in a statement. “Seattle is a stronger and better place because of the Indian diaspora’s unique and valuable contributions to the city.”

Gupta has spent the past few weeks meeting with city leaders, including Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and Bellevue Mayor Lynne Robinson. It’s not clear where exactly the consulate will be based — in Seattle, Bellevue, or another city. Government leaders from Bellevue, where Amazon is growing rapidly, sent a formal letter of interest in July.

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Seattle, WA

Surging Pride seek 1st victory in Seattle

Published

7 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Press Room

Surging Pride seek 1st victory in Seattle

By Kyle Foley

Orlando Sentinel Correspondent

The Orlando Pride will be out in Seattle on Sunday looking to make it 10 games in a row undefeated, including a six-game winning streak.

Vying for the top spot in the NWSL, the Pride (6-0-3, 21 points) will take on the Seattle Reign FC (2-6-1, 7 points) at Lumen Field (Bally Sports Florida, 6).

The Pride have a 2-7-7 record against the Reign and have never won in Seattle.

“I think Seattle’s a really good team. We respect them a lot,” Pride midfielder Morgan Gautrat said. “For us, obviously, we’ve been in a good run and we’re on a roll and I feel like for us, we’re in a confident space and I think we’re just looking to go cross country and get three points.”

While Barbra Banda and the Orlando attack have rightfully been the center of attention for the Pride, it has been their defense that has been most impressive. Orlando has allowed just seven goals all season, the second-fewest in NWSL, despite struggling with injuries.

Head coach Seb Hines said he believes that such success is the product of squad depth and the ability of players to fill in holes whenever they are called upon.

“We can rely on anyone who has to go in and do a job in those positions,” Hines said. “So it’s made easier for me because our principles, our culture has been terrific and they do whatever it takes to get the three points at the end of the game.”

Up next

Pride at Seattle

When: Sunday at Lumen Field, 6

TV: Bally Sports Florida

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Seattle, WA

Seattle Mariners at Baltimore Orioles odds, picks and predictions

Published

14 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Press Room

Seattle Mariners at Baltimore Orioles odds, picks and predictions

The Baltimore Orioles (28-14) welcome the Seattle Mariners (24-21) to Oriole Park at Camden Yards for the 2nd game of their 3-game series. First pitch is set for 4:05 p.m. ET (FS1). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Mariners vs. Orioles odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Orioles lead 1-0

The Mariners lost to the Orioles to open the series 9-2 Friday, failing to cover as run-line underdogs. They closed +117 on the moneyline. Seattle has won 3 of its last 5 games yet is just 6-8 over its last 14. The Mariners have struggled offensively, scoring just 2 runs in 2 of their last 3 games.

The Orioles have won 2 straight and 5 of their last 7. However, they are just 1-4 against the spread (ATS) in their last 5 games (23-19 ATS on the season). Baltimore is the 7th-best home team in MLB with a 16-9 record.

Mariners at Orioles projected starters

RHP Luis Castillo vs. TBD

Castillo (4-5, 3.31 ERA) makes his 10th start. He has a 1.12 WHIP, 1.8 BB/9 and 10.6 K/9 through 54 1/3 IP.

Last start: Win, 6 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 0 BB, 8 K in an 8-4 home win over the Oakland A’s Friday
Career vs. Orioles: 1-0, 1.50 ERA (6 IP, 1 ER), 2 H, 2 BB, 8 K in 1 start
2024 road splits: 2-2, 2.92 ERA (24 2/3 IP, 8 ER), 2 HR, .189 opponent batting average (OBA) in 4 starts

While the Orioles have yet to announce a starter, 30-year-old Cole Irvin seems on deck and could’ve started Friday. It was noted he didn’t start due to injury, so he’s a likely option for Baltimore.

Irvin 2024 home stats: 2-1, 3.22 ERA (22 1/3 IP, 8 ER), 1.12 WHIP in 4 starts

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Mariners at Orioles odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:45 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Mariners -106 (bet $106 to win $100) | Orioles -110 (bet $110 to win $100)
Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Mariners -1.5 (+158) | Orioles +1.5 (-192)
Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Mariners at Orioles picks and predictions

Prediction

Marines 5, Orioles 3

Moneyline

BET MARINERS (-106).

Castillo struggled to start the season, but he has been on fire over the last month. He has pitched 32 2/3 innings and has 6 ER. During that span, in his starts, the Mariners have road wins over the Rockies and Rangers and home wins over the Braves and A’s. Seattle is 4-1 over his last 5 starts.

It has also scored at least 4 runs in 3 of its last 5, so it has sustained some success offensively. The Orioles blasted the Mariners in the first game and are 16-11 after a win. Seattle is 13-7 after a loss. Considering those trends and Seattle’s pitching edge, take MARINERS (-106).

Run line/Against the spread

PASS.

There’s no value here. The Mariners are too risky as run-line favorites, while the Orioles are far too expensive as run-line underdogs. Ultimately, the moneyline has the only team-specific value here.

Over/Under

LEAN OVER 7.5 (-110).

Both teams have had success on the Over as of late. The Mariners are 8-2 O/U in their last 10 games and have scored at least 6 runs in 4 of those.

The Orioles have tallied at least 7 in 3 of their last 9 and are 5-4 O/U in that span. Baltimore is 21-17-3 O/U on the season. The recent trends point to the Over, so back OVER 7.5 (-110).

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Seattle, WA

Seattle Storm fall in 2nd OT as Napheesa Collier's 29 points give Lynx 102-93 win

Published

21 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Press Room

Seattle Storm fall in 2nd OT as Napheesa Collier's 29 points give Lynx 102-93 win

article

Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) controls the ball against Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd (24) during a WNBA basketball game, Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Seattle. (Alika Jenner / Getty Images)

MINNEAPOLIS – Napheesa Collier had 29 points, nine rebounds, five assists and six steals, Kayla McBride added 19 points and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Seattle Storm 102-93 in double overtime on Friday night.

Minnesota led 78-67 with 3:22 left in regulation before Seattle scored the next 11 points.

McBride missed two free throws with 24.1 seconds left in regulation and she fouled Jewell Loyd on a 3-point attempt at the other end. Loyd made all three free throws to tie it at 78-all. Courtney Williams missed a baseline jumper for Minnesota and Loyd was off on a jumper at the other end to send it to overtime.

Collier made the first of two free throws to tie it at 88-all with 2.7 seconds left in the first overtime. But she missed the second free throw and Seattle was unable to get a shot off before the buzzer.

Collier and McBride each made a 3-pointer on back-to-back possessions to start the second overtime to put Minnesota ahead 94-88. Alanna Smith made Minnesota’s 13th 3-pointer with 1:25 left to seal it.

The teams combined for 52 turnovers, 38 steals, and 54 free-throw attempts.

Smith finished with 16 points and six blocks and Williams added 10 points for Minnesota (2-0), which was coming off an 83-70 win at Seattle on Tuesday.

Nneka Ogwumike had 24 points, 11 rebounds and five steals for Seattle (0-2). Skylar Diggins-Smith added 22 points and Loyd finished with 20 before fouling out with 59.2 seconds left in the first overtime.

Ogwumike scored the opening points of the first overtime to give Seattle its first lead since it was 4-2.

Loyd struggled again from the field, combining to go 7 for 40 in two games.