The first Industrial Automation North America (IANA) trade show has completely sold out of exhibitor space.

Organized by Hannover Fairs USA, Inc., a subsidiary of Deutsche Messe AG, one of the world’s top trade fair organizers and exhibition centers, IANA debuts this year in conjunction with the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) at Chicago’s McCormick Place from September 10-15, 2012.

Rig operator Prosafe has been awarded a contract by an undisclosed client for the provision of the Safe Scandinavia accommodation support rig at a project in the UK sector of the North Sea.

The firm period of the contract is 187 days, with on-site operations planned to commence in April 2013.

The total value of the contract for the firm period is approximately $58.1 million.

Renewable energy developer Mainstream Renewable Power has submitted an application for a 450MW offshore wind project off the Fife coast in Scotland.

Newmont Mining Corporation, one of the world’s largest producers of gold, has announced its results for the second quarter of 2012.

Attributable net income from continuing operations of $279 million, or $0.56 per share, was down 47 percent from $523 million, or $1.06 per share in the second quarter of 2011. Adjusted net income was $294 million, or $0.59 per share, compared with $445 million, or $0.90 per share, for the prior year quarter.

The World Bank has approved US$85 million of funding to help the government of Senegal and the Senegal National Power Utility (SENELEC) to improve electricity services in the country.

The financing will be used over a five-year period to upgrade and modernise electricity transmission and distribution components; create more transparency and accountability within the energy sector; develop a medium and long term strategy for the energy sector; and upgrade SENELEC billing systems to reduce high collection costs and losses related to fraud.

Australian airline Qantas has confirmed it is in discussions with a number of other airlines about potential alliances.

Shares in the national carrier have soared after it confirmed the rumours, adding that one of the airlines it is engaged in talks with is Dubai-based Emirates.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based LB Foster has been awarded a $60 million contract—its largest ever for rail products—for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project.

The contract has been awarded by Kiewit/Kobayashi, a joint venture for the county-wide construction of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) passenger transit system.

Submarine fibre-optic cables are helping Africa keep up with rapacious growth in consumer demand and fulfil the ambitions of the Connect Africa Summit.

Africa experienced an explosion in demand for mobile voice services in the first decade of the 21st century, but if broadband Internet access is to come of age in the second decade, it will require a considerable amount of investment in infrastructure.