Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has confirmed its acquisition of a 2.987 per cent stake in Ireland’s national carrier, Aer Lingus.

Etihad said the purchase reflected its desire to forge a commercial partnership with Aer Lingus, believing this could lead to significant commercial benefits for both airlines.

Etihad Airways operates 10 flights a week from Abu Dhabi to Dublin and has carried more than 750,000 passengers between the two destinations since it began flying the route in July 2007.

Economic activity in the US manufacturing sector expanded in April for the 33rd consecutive month, according to the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.

The Institute for Supply Management index of manufacturing activity rose to 54.8 last month, from 53.4 in March. An index figure above 50 indicates growth. The ISM's measure of employment in the sector also rose to a nine-month high.

UK-based Sirius Minerals has announced plans for a potash mine in North Yorkshire, following the completion of a detailed scoping study (DSS).

The company said that York Potash has the potential to become one of the world's most important mining and fertilizer projects. Funding options are now being exploredfor the first $2.7 billion development phase.

The project will be sited between Whitby and Scarborough, although Sirius has not yet specified a precise location.

Horizon Milling announced its intention today to invest in its Saginaw flour milling facility, the largest flour mill in Texas, to enhance milling efficiencies and capabilities.

Pending civil and regulatory approval, the project is slated to begin this summer and be completed in summer 2013.

Australia’s Woodside Petroleum has begun producing LNG from its Pluto LNG Project near Karratha in Western Australia, the company announced today.

Woodside will soon be loading its first cargo aboard the Woodside Donaldson LNG tanker for shipment.

The project processes gas from the Pluto gas field, located in the Carnarvon Basin about 190 kilometres north-west of Karratha.

Ford Motor Company has reported 2012 first quarter pre-tax operating profit of $2.3 billion, and net income of $1.4 billion, led by a strong performance in North America.

The overall results are down from 2011 first quarter pre-tax operating profit of $2.8 billion, and net income of $2.6 billion, partly due to weaker economic conditions in Europe, and partly due to tax considerations and special charges, such as buyouts of hourly workers in the US in accordance with the 2011 UAW agreement.

Vancouver-based Methanex, the world’s largest supplier of methanol to major international markets, is to relocate one of its plants from Chile to Louisiana in the United States.

Methanex has four plants at its Cabo Negro complex in southern Chile, but they are operating significantly below capacity, mainly due to curtailments of natural gas supply from Argentina.