An island or isle is any piece of land that is completely surrounded by water. Very small islands are called islets. It is also proper to call an emergent land feature on an atoll an islet, since an atoll is a type of island, although this convention is seldom adhered to. A key or cay is another name for a relatively small island or islet. The word island derives ultimately from the Old English word igland. It was originally spelled phonetically: iland. The letter "s" was added out of a mistaken belief that the word derived from isle (< Old French < Latin insula) + land, although no such etymological relationship existed.

There are three main types of islands: continental islands, river islands, and volcanic islands. There are also human-made or artificial islands. A grouping of related islands is called an archipelago.

Continental islands

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Continental islands are bodies of land that lie upon the continental shelf of a continent. Examples include Greenland and Sable Island off North America, Barbados and Trinidad off South America, Sicily off Europe, Sumatra and Java off Asia, New Guinea and Tasmania off Australia.

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BBC News | Europe | World Edition

Ukraine 'must live without fear'
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:59:32 -0000
The US vice-president reassures Ukraine that the US has a "deep and abiding interest" in the country's security.
US delivers aid to Georgian port
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:36:33 -0000
A US Navy warship carrying humanitarian aid arrives in the Georgian port of Poti, where Russian troops are still deployed.
Swede 'held in cabin for years'
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:29:15 -0000
A woman may have been locked up in a cabin in southern Sweden for nine years, local newspapers report.

NYT > Europe

Cheney Backs Membership in NATO for Georgia
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:47:28 -0000
Vice President Dick Cheney was in Georgia, where his words of support placed him on a direct collision course with Russia’s leaders.
Russia’s Oligarchs May Face a Georgian Chill
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:09:19 -0000
Some policy makers are starting to suggest that the best way to influence the Kremlin would be to put more pressure on the Russian business community in Europe.
Spain Moves Toward Amending Legal Restrictions on Abortion
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:59:43 -0000
Spain’s move seeks to address one of the major elements in a drive for sweeping social change in this traditional, Roman Catholic country.

L.A. Times - Europe

He's just not the same old Roger Federer
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:11:00 -0700
The Swiss star, who used to be the best tennis player in the world, keeps winning but without the same veracity. Something is wrong. Something is missing. The road is bumpy. The clutch is sticky. The searing hot dominance isn't quite as torrid as it used to be.
Vice President Cheney arrives in Azerbaijan
Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:12:00 -0700
Vice President Dick Cheney arrived in Azerbaijan today, part of a tour of three ex-Soviet republics wary of Russia's intentions following last month's war between Russia and neighboring Georgia.
Visiting Georgia, Dick Cheney assails Russia
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700
The U.S. vice president, appearing with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, pledges continued U.S. support for reconstruction. Appearing alongside beleaguered Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, Vice President Dick Cheney on Thursday criticized Russia's conduct in its short war with Georgia and pledged to continue American support for reconstruction and humanitarian aid.

UN News Centre - Europe

Security Council lauds launch of negotiations in reunifying Cyprus
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500
The Security Council today warmly welcomed the launch of full-fledged negotiations between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, aimed at the reunification of the island.
UN welcomes ‘historic' launch of negotiations to reunify Cyprus
Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed today's launch of full-fledged negotiations between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities that are aimed at reunifying the island of Cyprus.
UN sounds alarm on humanitarian conditions in Georgian city
Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today expressed concern over the humanitarian conditions facing people in and around the town of Gori, which lies just south of the border of the separatist region of South Ossetia.

Europe - International Herald Tribune

Cheney pledges U.S. support for Ukraine
By STEVEN LEE MYERS AND ALAN COWELL Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:33:42 -0000
As tensions with Moscow continue over Russian moves into Georgia last month, Vice President Dick Cheney asserted that the United States would act as a guarantor for the country that was part of the former Soviet Union.
Cheney backs membership in NATO for Georgia
By Steven Lee Myers Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:14:02 -0000
Vice President Dick Cheney was in Georgia, where his words of support placed him on a direct collision course with Russia's leaders.
Russia says U.S. fanning Georgian aggression
By Tabassum Zakaria Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:10:26 -0000
Russia accused the United States on Friday of encouraging Georgian aggression by supporting Tbilisi's NATO membership bid.
U.S. defends Georgia's right to join NATO
By STEVEN LEE MYERS Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:33:42 -0000
Vice President Dick Cheney delivered a forceful American pledge to rebuild Georgia and its economy, to preserve its sovereignty and its territory and to bring it into the NATO alliance.
Nicaragua recognizes independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:15:48 -0000
Nicaragua has recognized the two breakaway Georgian regions, backing the Russia and siding with other leftist Latin American countries to defy Washington.
Ukraine government near collapse
By CLIFFORD J. LEVY Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:33:42 -0000
The Western-leaning governing coalition in Ukraine, which has endured repeated tumult since the Orange Revolution in 2004, appeared once again near collapse.

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