Controversial US program ends because of congressional squabbling

After its midnight deadline, the US Senate voted to reauthorize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ( FISA), which protects the privacy of Americans’ data. “In the nick of time, we are reauthorising FISA right before it expires at midnight,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said. Earlier, a group of progressive and conservative lawmakers had refused to accept the House’s version of the bill.