After making a flurry of moves this summer, the Houston Rockets are hoping a revitalized roster would make them a genuine playoff contender. In what was the most exciting piece of business during the off-season, the Rockets acquired restricted Jeremy Lin over from New York Knicks with a $25 million offer sheet. They followed that up by acquiring the services of Omer Asik on another offer sheet worth $25 million for three years. 
Yogurt lovers can take their obsession to the next level with the grand opening of the Chobani flagship store this week in New York City. The first of it’s kind, you can get handcrafted yogurt creations made before your eyes, in the new SoHo shop. Today I stopped by to try out a few of the custom flavors that are carefully crafted so you don’t wind up creating a calorie-loaded mess (you know you add one too many toppings when left to your own devices). 
With a growing population and booming economy to cater for, Turkey’s food industry is in excellent health. But it is also highly competitive and fragmented. Just 22 food and drink manufacturers are listed on the Istanbul stock exchange and there are relatively few well-established brands. The market is dominated by a large number of small and medium sized family run companies, buffeted by widely fluctuating margins. 
Empire State Development approved a grant of up to $1.5 million for Chobani Inc., a manufacturer and top seller of Greek-style yogurt in the United States, for the installation of new machinery in an 80,000-square-foot addition to the company’s existing plant in New Berlin in Chenango County.
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. (8316), Japan’s second-largest bank by market value, is in talks to expand in Turkey as an accelerating economy stokes demand for bank services, two people familiar with the situation said. Sumitomo Mitsui and the Ankara-based Investment Support & Promotion Agency are working on an accord for the Tokyo-based lender to expand from a representative office of its unit Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. in Istanbul, said the people, declining to be identified because the process is confidential. 
NEW YORK, Jul 17, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Turkish Investment Fund, Inc. TKF -0.84% (the "Fund") announced today that, in accordance with the Fund's tender offer for up to 1,123,817 of its issued and outstanding shares of common stock, which expired at 11:59 p.m. New York time on July 10, 2012, the Fund has accepted 1,123,817 shares for payment on July 18, 2012, at $15.31 per share, which is equal to 98.5 percent of the Fund's net asset value per share as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on July 11, 2012. The 1,123,817 shares represent 15 percent of the Fund's outstanding shares. A total of 3,609,210 shares were properly tendered and not withdrawn by July 10, 2012, the final date for withdrawals. Therefore, on a pro rata basis, after making the odd-lot adjustment, approximately 29.70 percent of the shares so tendered by each tendering stockholder have been accepted for payment. 
Coca-Cola Co. (KO), the world’s largest soft-drink maker, reported second-quarter profit that topped analysts’ estimates, helped by pricing increases in North America late last year. Net income was little changed at $2.79 billion, or $1.21 a share, compared with $2.8 billion, or $1.20, a year earlier, Atlanta-based Coca-Cola said today in a statement. Excluding some items, profit totaled $1.22 a share. Analysts projected $1.19, the average of 14 estimates compiled by Bloomberg.
Istanbul Convention and Visitors Bureau (ICVB) exhibited at International Pavilion of this year's AIBTM Americas Meetings Week which was held in Baltimore. ICVB General Manager Elif Balcı Fisunoğlu represented ICVB at AIBTM 2012. Reed Travel organized Market Europe Focus Event where a lucky draw took place. ICVB attended the lucky draw with Istanbul Familiarization Trip Package as part of its 15th year celebration. ICVB and Turkish Airlines will host 15 international hosted buyers in Istanbul. The familiarization trip includes Turkish Airlines round trip ticket, 3 days FAM trip featuring 3 night five-star accommodation, transfers, meals, site visits and city tours. 
SPARKS, Nev., July 11, 2012 -- /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Sierra Nevada Corporation's (SNC) Space Systems has successfully completed testing of the nose landing gear for the Dream Chaser® orbital crew vehicle. This milestone evaluated the impact forces experienced by the landing gear at the front of the vehicle, the nose, in order to ensure safe runway landing capability of the Dream Chaser during approach and landing tests, as well as future orbital flights. Test results were presented to NASA on June 25, 2012, and the successful milestone review was completed the same day.
The Congressional Caucus on U.S.-Turkey Relations and Turkish Americans (Turkey Caucus) welcomed its 155th member. With this newest addition, the Turkey Caucus now includes Members of Congress from all six territories and 45 of the 50 states, encompassing every major region in the country. Additionally, the Turkey Caucus now ranks among the top three Congressional caucuses that seek to strengthen bilateral ties between the U.S. and various international allies. 
2011 was a year of growth for the Turkish Cultural Foundation (TCF), both in terms of the new programs that TCF undertook and the grants it awarded to numerous organizations and individuals that share the vision of TCF. In 2011, TCF allocated a total of $6,303,366 in grants and direct disbursements to pursue its mission. An exciting development in 2011 was the move of TCF to its prestigious new location in Washington, DC. The TCF office in the nation's capital joins the Boston and Istanbul offices with a growing team of professionals, interns and volunteers, who implement the mission and undertake the expanding international work of the Turkish Cultural Foundation. 
ISTANBUL, Turkey, July 11, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Turkcell TKC -1.01% (ise:TCELL), the leading communications and technology company in Turkey, has been honored by The League of American Communications Professionals LLC ("LACP") for its 2011 Annual Report. 
The President of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA), Ergun Kirlikovali, met with the top Republican Leadership in New York. Participating in the meeting were also the President of the Federation of Turkish American Associations (FTAA) Ali Cinar, President of the Turkish American Businessmen's Association (TABA) Ekim Alptekin, President of the Turkish American Business Forum (TABF) Mehmet Kirdar, President of the Turkish American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TACCI) Celal Secilmis, and General Counsel to the Turkish Union of Chambers of Commerce and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB-USA) Gunay Evinch. 
