DUBAI / Emirates Business The sovereign long-term commercial borrowing in the Middle East and North African (Mena) could increase by 25% this year after falling 38% in 2018, according to S&P Global Ratings. This is chiefly because higher oil prices and fiscal consolidation measures in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries significantly reduced GCC sovereigns’ funding needs in 2018. However, lower …

Bloomberg Italian Finance Minister Giovanni Tria cautioned that the Treasury will consider taking a stake in struggling airline Alitalia SpA only if talks between potential investors produce a strong business plan. Speaking to lawmakers in the lower house of parliament, Tria confirmed that talks are underway involving Delta Air Lines Inc. and UK discounter EasyJet Plc, with state rail operator …

Bloomberg An Atlas Air cargo plane with three people aboard plunged out of the sky and crashed into a Texas bay as it was preparing to land in Houston. The Boeing Co. 767-300, which had departed from Miami, lost radio contact about 30 miles (48 kilometers) from George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, the Federal Aviation Administration said. It fell …