Schneider Electric has announced the 12 teams that will compete in the final round of the company's Go Green in the City competition. The competition objective is for students from around the world to find innovative energy solutions for smart cities. [ + ]

A surge in building construction activity is delivering multiple benefits to Australia's economy, especially around construction industry employment. New building activity data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows that to the March 2016 quarter, a record number of unit projects were underway. [ + ]

Finally, some good news. Australian business confidence has jumped to the highest level in over five years, according to the latest Sensis Business Index (SBI) survey. [ + ]

General Cable Corporation has announced that it will close its operations in Australia over the remainder of 2016 and manage ongoing sales in this market from its regional headquarters in New Zealand. [ + ]

nbn's new satellite, Sky Muster II, will blast off 5 October this year from the French Guiana Space Centre in South America. The company says it weights 6.400 kg, making it one of the world's largest communication satellites, and it is set to orbit 36,000 km into the sky. [ + ]

Not content with its worldwide user base of 1.6 billion people, Facebook is investing heavily in technology that the company says will potentially bring the internet to every corner of the globe, opening up access to even the most remote parts of Earth. [ + ]

Azeez Mohammed has been appointed president and CEO of GE Energy Connections' Power Conversion business. [ + ]

Redback Technologies will partner with Indigenous renewable technology company AllGrid Energy to address the energy reliability access issues facing Australia's remote communities. [ + ]

New legislation, due to come into effect in December this year, will make it illegal for provisional (P-plate) drivers in NSW to use mobile phones in any capacity. [ + ]

Philips Lighting has announced the appointment of Stéphane Rougeot as chief financial officer, effective 1 September 2016. Rougeot succeeds Rene van Schooten, business group leader Lamps, who, in addition to his current role, has held the position on an interim basis for nine months. [ + ]

Dingo CEO Paul Higgins has been recognised recently as one of the most innovative players in the mining sector — but the Australian IT entrepreneur has been shaping the future of the industry for 25 years. [ + ]

Defence Housing Australia (DHA) is leading the way in sustainable residential building, with the new Shout Ridge project at Crimson Hill in Sydney receiving a 6 Star Green Star - Multi Unit Residential Design V1 certified rating. [ + ]

With a little over two months until the legendary Deni Ute Muster kicks off, Milwaukee has announced that the Tradie Challenge will once again be part of the fun. [ + ]

Microbiologists are a clever bunch. A team from Oxford University has discovered that the natural movement of bacteria can be harnessed to assemble and power microscopic 'wind farms' or other man-made micromachines such as the components used in smartphones. [ + ]

Master Builders Australia (MBA) has said that Prime Minister Turnbull's new ministry is a reflection of his commitment to delivering on the policy agenda the Coalition took to the election. Wilhelm Harnisch, CEO of MBA, believes that it represents a clear mandate to drive a stronger economy, bring back the ABCC, lift productivity and create livable communities. [ + ]