LIMA, Peru — Sitting atop the world’s largest oil reserves and vociferously advocating for his “Bolivarian” brand of socialist revolution, Hugo Chavez’s re-election as president of Venezuela has implications that stretch far beyond his country’s borders. One of the US’s most outspoken critics, “el Comandante” is now set to continue his role as a thorn in Washington’s side — whoever is in the White House — while using Venezuelan crude and petrodollars to push his radical agenda across Latin America.

CARACAS — Chevron officials may share in the three-day mourning declared by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez over the country’s recent oil blast at Amuay, which killed at least 48 people. A new deal between the US oil giant and the South American country could be a sign of further loosening of the notoriously nationalized economy.

RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil’s rapid rise from developing country to global energy power is shaking up the international oil industry.