Total and Petrobras agree strategic Brazil alliance

Brazil's Petrobras and France's Total oil companies announced a strategic alliance Monday for upstream and downstream projects as President Michel Temer pronounced Brazil's troubled economy reopened for business. The two corporate giants were to sign a memorandum of understanding "to jointly evaluate opportunities in Brazil and beyond in key areas of mutual interest... throughout the oil and gas chain," Petrobras said in a statement. The pact foresees alliances in exploration projects, including