The OC and the World blog is finished, done, outta here, perhaps to live another day.

For your daily nation and world news fix, please visit www.ocregister.com/nationworld.

Daily briefing from AP news — a feature designed to give you a synopsis of today’s top nation and world stories at a glance, over your morning cup of joe

VIDEOS:

Shiite militia mortar strikes Iraqi kindergarten

State Dept. encourages Tibetan dialogue

Today in history

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Drivers, eyeing gas prices now averaging $3.50 a gallon nationwide, say they feel squeezed

NEW YORK (AP) _ Cabbies here complain their take-home pay is thinner than it used to be. Trucking companies across the country are making drivers slow down to conserve fuel. Filling station owners plead that really, really, the skyrocketing prices aren’t their fault. Read the rest of this entry »

One in three people who were granted asylum in the United States during the last year had come from China, according to an annual report by the federal government’s Executive Office for Immigration Review, writes the Register’s Amy Taxin. Click here to read her full blog entry.

Yes, we’re talking piracy in the 21st Century. We don’t even have a category for this on our blog. Check out this New York Times report.

Daily briefing from AP news — a feature designed to give you a synopsis of today’s top nation and world stories at a glance, over your morning cup of joe.

VIDEOS: 

Carter: Peace process has regressed (Brief below)

Raw video: Malaysia welcomes Olympic torch

Royal flight: Prince William flies to girlfriend

Today in history

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Former President Jimmy Carter says Hamas willing to accept right of Israel to live ‘next door in peace’

JERUSALEM (AP) _ Former President Jimmy Carter said Monday that Hamas is prepared to accept the right of Israel to “live as a neighbor next door in peace.” Read the rest of this entry »

In this feature, most weekdays we bring you a slideshow of images from Orange County, the nation and the world. Enjoy

Click here to view a slideshow

Preparation of the household is an important part of the centuries-old celebration. Read Bill Cunningham’s full report and watch a video.

Here’s a look at international events in the coming week from the Associated Press. The Olympic torch relay winds through the Australian capital. Pro-independence Tibet protests are expected.

Monday:

SEBOKENG, South Africa – Trial for dormitory matron accused of abusing students at Oprah Winfrey’s school for disadvantaged South African girls. Faces charges of assault and criminal injury against six students, ages 13-15, and 23-year-old fellow dormitory matron.

MANAMA, Bahrain – Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice meets with foreign ministers from Gulf Cooperation Council nations, Egypt and Jordan for discussions on Middle East peace talks and Iraq. Rice travels to Kuwait on Tuesday for conference of Iraq’s neighbors. Read the rest of this entry »

In this feature, most weekdays we bring you a slideshow of images from Orange County, the nation and the world. Enjoy

Click here to view slideshow

A U.S. citizen was found guilty of conspiring to overthrow the Cambodian government and kill the country’s prime minister in an extensive plot that involved planning meetings and fundraisers in Long Beach, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. Read the full blog entry by Register reporter Amy Taxin.