World/nation briefs

Final arguments in sweat lodge caseA lawyer for self-help author James Arthur Ray said in his closing argument that prosecutors had not proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Ray was responsible for the deaths of Liz Neuman, 49, of Prior Lake, Minn., and two others who died in a sweat lodge ceremony in 2009. Lawyer Luis Li said Ray gave the participants clear instructions on how to leave the lodge if necessary. But Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk contended earlier in the day that Ray recklessly and senselessly snuffed out the lives of the three people and should be found guilty of manslaughter.

Edwards wins delay in sex-tape caseJohn Edwards will not have to take part in a question-and-answer session under oath next week in the legal wrangle over a videotape that purportedly shows him having sex with his mistress. Judge Carl Fox allowed a delay in questioning of Edwards in a Raleigh court to protect the former presidential candidate from any possible self-incrimination in the federal criminal case against him alleging campaign funding violations. The civil case involves former Edwards aide Andrew Young and Rielle Hunter, Edwards' former mistress, who are battling for ownership of the tape.

Catholic bishops keep sex-abuse policiesU.S. Roman Catholic bishops voted overwhelmingly to retain their policies on sexual abuse by clergy with only minor revisions, disregarding victims' advocates who had called for a more substantial overhaul. The bishops, meeting in Bellevue, promised to reconsider the policies two years from now, after they receive recommendations from a national sexual advisory board.

Obama, advisers meet on Afghan strategyPresident Obama's top general in Afghanistan, David Petraeus, and other advisers gave him "a range of options" at a meeting Wednesday for withdrawing military forces as next month's deadline for starting the process approaches, an Obama spokesman said.

New Gaza flotilla gets a stern warningIsraeli officials made clear that if a new flotilla of pro-Palestinian activists seeks to break its naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military will use force again, as it did in a boarding that killed nine people last year. "We will do anything we have to," a naval official said. Activists, including U.S. writer Alice Walker, are scheduled to leave from European ports this month.

NEWS SERVICES