South America is a continent situated in the western hemisphere and, mostly, the southern hemisphere, bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east by the Atlantic Ocean; North America and the Caribbean Sea lie to the northwest.

As part of the Americas like North America, South America is named after Amerigo Vespucci, who was the first European to suggest that the Americas were not the East Indies, but a New World unknown to Europeans.

South America has an area of 17,840,000 km² (6,890,000 sq mi), or almost 3.5% of the Earth's surface. As of 2005, its population was estimated at more than 371,000,000. South America ranks fourth in area (after Asia, Africa, and North America) and fifth in population (after Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America).

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L.A. Times - Latin America

Mexico president wants tougher punishments for kidnappers
Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:32:00 -0700
Felipe Calderon urges Congress to act on his proposal after a 14-year-old abductee was found dead. Amid broad outrage over the slaying of a 14-year-old kidnapping victim, Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Thursday urged Congress to toughen punishments for kidnappers to include up to life in prison.
As Mexican inflation soars, President Felipe Calderon shakes up Economic Ministry
Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Secretary of the Economy Eduardo Sojo is replaced by Gerardo Ruiz Mateo, Calderon's former chief of staff. As Mexico wrestles with soaring inflation and interest rates, falling oil production and shrinking remittances, or money sent home by Mexicans working in the U.S., President Felipe Calderon on Wednesday announced a shake-up at the Economic Ministry
World Briefing
Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Venezuela: Hundreds protest Chavez decrees / Middle East: Israel to free 150 Palestinians / Russia: Solzhenitsyn is buried / Afghanistan: Marine dies in blast / Malaysia: Ibrahim charged with sodomy VENEZUELA Hundreds protest new decrees
Another California Community Colleges board member steps down
Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Randal Hernandez withdrawals his application for reappointment. He is the fourth to leave in the year since the panel angered Republican lawmakers by supporting illegal immigration legislation. Long Beach businessman Randal Hernandez has become the fourth member of the state community colleges board to step down in the year since the panel angered Republican lawmakers by endorsing legislation giving illegal immigrants access to student financial aid.
Ronaldinho-Lionel Messi soccer matchup at Olympics still possible
Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Despite a ruling today saying Barcelona can recall Messi, Argentina's coach says the striker will play Thursday against Ivory Coast. The men's soccer tournament at the Beijing Olympics still has a chance of having two of the sport's finest players -- Brazil's Ronaldinho and Argentina's Lionel Messi -- squaring off for the gold medal.
Texas executes Mexican killer amid international protests
Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700
The U.S. Supreme Court refuses to grant a reprieve urged by Mexico and an international court. Jose Ernesto Medellin was convicted of raping and killing two Texas teens in 1993. Jose Ernesto Medellin, a Mexican national convicted of the 1993 rape and murder of two Texas girls, was executed Tuesday night in Texas after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to grant a reprieve.

UN News Centre - Americas

Five community groups honoured with UN-backed prize for AIDS activism
Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Five community organizations from Ghana, India, Iran, Malawi and Mexico have received special recognition as winners of the Red Ribbon Award, a United Nations initiative that honours outstanding local leadership and action in responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
General Assembly President wraps up South America visit with stop in Brazil
Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500
The President of the General Assembly held discussions on climate change, development and the food crisis with officials in Brazil, the last stop on a three-nation visit to South America that also took him to Chile and Argentina.
Ban helps open Global Village at Mexico AIDS summit
Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has helped officially open the Global Village at the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, which offers a space for communities living with and affected by HIV, policymakers, researchers and the general public to share information and ideas about the pandemic.

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