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Republican congressman Trey Radel admits cocaine charge

A Republican congressman has been sentenced to one year’s probation after pleading guilty to cocaine possession.

First-term Florida Representative Trey Radel, 37, learned his fate at a Washington DC court.

The father of one said he was “disappointed” with himself. He had faced a maximum sentence of 180 days in jail and a $1,000 (£620) fine.

Radel admitted purchasing 3.5g (0.12oz) of the drug from an undercover agent on 29 October.

Federal officials told Radel he would face criminal charges the same evening.

The charges were made public on Tuesday.

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Obama in gun law plea after Washington Navy Yard deaths

President Obama: “No other advanced nation endures this kind of violence. None”

President Barack Obama has renewed calls for changes to US gun laws at a memorial service for the victims of last week’s shooting at the Washington Navy Yard.

Mr Obama said tears were “not enough”.

The president told mourners Americans must insist that “there is nothing normal about innocent men and women being gunned down where they work”.

Twelve people were killed last Monday by contractor Aaron Alexis, who was himself shot dead by police.

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John Kerry says bigger risk not taking action over Syria conflict

US Secretary of State John Kerry has warned that not responding to the alleged use of chemical weapons by Syrian forces would be riskier than taking action.

He was speaking in London before returning to the US to urge Congress to back launching military strikes.

Russia has appealed to Washington to focus instead on peace talks.

Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad has said if the US does attack militarily, it should “expect every action”.

The US accuses Mr Assad’s forces of killing 1,429 people in a poison-gas attack on 21 August on the outskirts of the capital, Damascus.

Wrapping up a tour of European capitals, Mr Kerry said that if there was to be no response to the attack, then Damascus would think it could intimidate anybody.

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Brazil and Mexico probe claims US spied on presidents

Brazil and Mexico have both demanded an explanation from the US over claims that the National Security Agency (NSA) spied on their presidents.

Internet data from Brazilian leader Dilma Rousseff and Mexico’s Enrique Pena Nieto was intercepted, journalist Glenn Greenwald told Brazil’s TV Globo.

Mr Greenwald obtained secret files from US whistle-blower Edward Snowden.

Brazil said data interception would represent an unacceptable violation of sovereignty. Mexico called for a probe.

“You cannot allow… a US agency, or someone that has been hired by the US government, to follow what any Brazilian citizen is doing,” Brazilian Senator Eduardo Suplicy told the BBC’s Newshour programme.

Both the Brazilian and Mexican governments summoned their respective US ambassadors. Mexico requested an “an exhaustive investigation” to determine who may be responsible for the alleged spying on Mr Pena Nieto’s emails before his election last year, the AFP news agency reported.

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Vodafone sells Verizon stake for $130bn

Vodafone has sold its 45% stake in Verizon Wireless to US telecoms group Verizon Communications in one of the biggest deals in corporate history.

The $130bn (£84bn) deal was announced by Vodafone after the close of trading on the London Stock Exchange.

The company will return £54bn to its shareholders, of which £22bn will go to shareholders in the UK.

Vodafone will also invest money in its business, with funds earmarked for high speed mobile phone networks.

It said that by 2017 its main five European markets would have almost complete 4G coverage.

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