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North America is a continent in the Earth's northern hemisphere and almost fully in the western hemisphere, bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southeast by the Caribbean Sea, and on the south and west by the North Pacific Ocean; South America lies to the southeast. It covers an area of about 24,480,000 km² (9,450,000 sq mi), or about 4.8% of the planet's surface. As of July 2002, its population was estimated at more than 514,000,000. It is the third largest continent in area, after Asia and Africa, and is fourth in population after Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Etymology

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A number of theories exist regarding the naming of North and South America. The most widely recognized is that they are named after Amerigo Vespucci, who was the first European to suggest that the Americas were not the East Indies, but a New World, previously undiscovered by Europeans. The second and less generally accepted is that the continents are named after an English merchant named Richard Amerike from Bristol, who is believed to have financed John Cabot's voyage of discovery from England to Newfoundland in 1497. A third and minutely explored belief that has been advanced is that America was named for a Spanish sailor bearing the ancient Visigothic name of 'Amairick'.

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NYT > U.S.

Panel Convicts bin Laden Driver in Split Verdict
Thu, 07 Aug 2008 06:38:12 -0000
Salim Ahmed Hamdan was convicted of one war crime but acquitted of another charge, arguably more serious, in the first military trial at Guantánamo Bay.
Little Pieces of Politics, Some Obscure, Lure Collectors
Thu, 07 Aug 2008 06:18:34 -0000
Collectors of campaign memorabilia meet in Las Vegas at the 2008 American Political Items Collectors National Convention.
Officials Say Documents Tie Scientist to Anthrax Attack
Thu, 07 Aug 2008 06:40:23 -0000
Bruce E. Ivins sent e-mails with wording nearly identical to language used in deadly anthrax-laced letters, the documents say.

Christian Science Monitor | Top Stories

FBI: Ivins held identical anthrax strain
The scientist was the sole custodian of anthrax spores genetically identical to the powder used in 2001 attacks, say documents unsealed Wednesday.
Verdict in bin Laden driver war crimes trial
The jury in the Hamdan case gives a mixed result, but it's seen as a victory for Bush administration.
Spain, Italy: Two tactics for tackling illegal immigration
Italy is using state of emergency powers, while Spain has introduced measures that include paying jobless immigrants to go home.

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