National and World News Digest

Expert: UN workers likely cholera source

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti

A contingent of U.N. peacekeepers is the likely source of a cholera outbreak in Haiti that has killed at least 2,000 people, a French scientist said in a report obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press. Epidemiologist Renaud Piarroux concluded that the cholera originated in a tributary of Haiti’s Artibonite river, next to a U.N. base outside the town of Mirebalais.

Microsoft unveils new privacy feature

SAN FRANCISCO

An upcoming version of Microsoft Corp.’s Internet Explorer browser will let users add lists of sites that they don’t want tracking them, a peace offering amid uproar over the sneaky ways that websites watch their users as they bounce around the Internet. The new feature, however, won’t be as sweeping as a “do not track” option that the Federal Trade Commission is proposing to limit advertisers’ ability to do that. Users will have to create or find their own lists of sites they want to block.

US drops demand for settlement freeze

WASHINGTON

President Barack Obama has abandoned attempts to persuade Israel to slow West Bank settlement activity, officials said Tuesday, dealing a major blow to the resumption of Israeli- Palestinian peace talks and one of the president’s top foreign-policy initiatives. After months of trying to broker a formula under which Israel would impose a new, temporary settlement freeze in return for U.S. promises and incentives, two American officials said the administration has concluded that course won’t work.

FBI issues alert on ‘Barbie Video Girl’

SAN FRANCISCO

The FBI says it recently issued an alert about a popular Barbie doll with a hidden video camera that could be used to produce child pornography but stressed that the toy has not been linked with any reported crimes.

FBI spokesman Steve Dupre said Tuesday the alert last month was meant only for law-enforcement agencies to advise them not to overlook Mattel’s “Barbie Video Girl” during any searches. The alert was sent out by the bureau’s Sacramento office. It was then accidentally sent to some members of the media, Dupre said.

In a written statement, the FBI said that “the alert’s intent was to ensure law-enforcement agencies were aware that the doll — like any other video-capable equipment — could contain evidence and to not disregard such an item during a search.”

Iran agrees to 2011 talks in Turkey

GENEVA

Iran and six world powers concluded talks with an agreement to reconvene early next year in Istanbul, indicating Tehran may be willing to address concerns about its nuclear program. But Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned that unless U.N. sanctions are lifted, the six face failure in the next round.

Diplomats from delegations at the table with Iran said Tehran made no commitments to talking about U.N. Security Council demands that Tehran freeze uranium enrichment.

Church website aims at ‘grinches’

DALLAS

First Baptist Church of Dallas is making a list this Christmas, and lots of people will be checking it.

The Rev. Robert Jeffress, the church’s pastor, announced Tuesday the launch of www.GrinchAlert.com. There people can post on a “naughty” list names of businesses that aren’t acknowledging Christmas through store displays, advertising and greetings to customers.

The website also features a “nice” list for recognition of businesses that do observe Christmas.

Combined dispatches