South Korea says North Korea has launched multiple ballistic missiles toward the North’s eastern waters. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff says the launches happened on Sunday morning from the North’s eastern Sinpo area. It says South Korea has bolstered its surveillance posture and is closely exchanging information with the U.S. and Japan. Japan’s Defense Ministry also says North Korea has fired a suspected ballistic missile.
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President Donald Trump has signed a bill extending a controversial surveillance program until April 30. The bill was approved by the Senate on Friday in a last-minute scramble to prevent Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act from expiring on Monday. Trump and Republican leaders pushed for its renewal, calling it a matter of national security. Critics are concerned about its impact on civil liberties. The program permits the CIA, National Security Agency, FBI and other agencies to collect and analyze vast amounts of overseas communications without a warrant. In doing so, they can incidentally sweep up communications involving Americans who interact with foreign targets.
AP Wire
Congress has approved a short-term renewal of a controversial surveillance program used by U.S. spy agencies just days before it was set to expire. A bill extending the program until April 30 cleared the Senate by voice vote Friday as Congress raced to send it to President Donald Trump for his signature. Lawmakers turned to a short-term extension of the program after an attempt to pass a five-year renewal failed in a late-night House vote. The short-term fix sets the stage for another showdown in a matter of weeks. The program permits key national security agencies to collect and analyze vast amounts of overseas communications without a warrant.
Senate extends surveillance powers until April 30 after collapse of longer renewal in the House.
House extends surveillance program through April 30 after Republicans revolt against five-year plan.
AP Wire
Trump urges extending foreign surveillance program as some lawmakers push for US privacy protections
There's been a holdup on Capitol Hill in advancing the renewal of a program that lets U.S. spy agencies pore over foreigners’ calls, texts and emails. House Republican leaders hoped to advance the legislation Wednesday, but an initial procedural step has been delayed. Rank-and-file members have pushed back despite a pressure campaign that included a trip to the White House and direct involvement from CIA Director John Ratcliffe. A key part of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act allows American spy agencies to collect and analyze overseas communications without a warrant. The program expires Monday. Critics want changes to safeguard Americans’ communications.