US Congress votes to renew Patriot Act provisions
The US Congress has voted to renew three expiring provisions of the anti-terrorism Patriot Act which increase surveillance powers.
The four-year extension was approved in the Senate just hours before the deadline at midnight (0400 GMT).
The bill was then sent to the House of Representatives, where it passed by a 250-153 vote.
The Patriot Act was brought in under President George W Bush in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks.
US President Barack Obama is now due to ratify the bill, officials said.
With Mr Obama currently in France for a G8 summit, a spokesperson said the president would use an autopen machine that holds a pen and signs his actual signature....