WASHINGTON (CNN)   -- President Bush signed a controversial bill Sunday that temporarily revises federal electronic surveillance laws. "This law gives our intelligence professionals this greater flexibility while closing a dangerous gap in our intelligence-gathering activities that threatened to weaken our defenses," Bush said in a written statement issued by the White House. The new law gives the attorney general or the director of national intelligence the authority to approve surveillance of suspected terrorists overseas. The bill went through Congress over the weekend after heavy pressure from the Bush administration, which demanded that lawmakers remain in session until it passed. Congress responded by approving the revisions for six months. The measure updates the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which governs electronic surveillance in intelligence cases.  Watch how the House was pressured to pass the bill ». "Over the past three decades, this law has not kept pace with revolutionary changes in technology," Bush said. "As a result, our intelligence professionals have told us that they are missing significant intelligence information that they need to protect the country." Bush sought changes to FISA after a classified ruling by a court set up under the law to hear wiretap requests. That ruling concluded that FISA required a warrant for eavesdropping on communications between people overseas because so many phone calls and e-mails are sent through U.S. switching centers, U.S. officials said. The administration initially proposed to give the authority only to the attorney general, but agreed to add the director of national intelligence after Democrats objected to putting more power into the hands of embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Top Democratic and Republican senators have accused Gonzales of giving misleading testimony to Congress about a U.S. no-warrant eavesdropping program, the existence of which Bush acknowledged in 2005. Critics say the program -- which included the monitoring of communications into and out of the United States by people suspected of having links to the al Qaeda terrorist network -- violated FISA. FISA was passed in 1978 after Watergate-era abuses by intelligence and law enforcement agencies that were wiretapping within the country. Early this year, the Bush administration agreed to submit the program to the FISA court. Bush insists the program protects the civil liberties of Americans. But Democrats and the American Civil Liberties Union objected to provisions in the GOP-backed bill that grant the attorney general and the director of national intelligence the authority to approve all wiretaps -- even if one party is in the United States -- with minimal court oversight. Bush said Congress will need to pass a more comprehensive reform bill when it reconvenes in September after its August recess. Congress will be called to address what Bush called "meaningful liability protection" for those who took part in the eavesdropping program. The ACLU says the administration's proposals would effectively "gut" FISA. And Rep. Rahm Emanuel, the third most powerful Democrat in the House, said lawmakers "are not going to leave Alberto Gonzales as the gatekeeper on American civil liberties." "That's the fundamental problem, and we're going to fix it when we come back," Emanuel told reporters Sunday. "We had to do it. We did what we needed to do. The Democrats are united in fixing this flawed law." E-mail to a friend.

Write highlights.
New law gives AG right to OK surveillance of suspected terrorists overseas. The director of national intelligence will also have this authority. The bill passed Congress over the weekend. Critics say the new law makes it possible to abuse Americans' civil liberties.

By. Anna Edwards. PUBLISHED:. 07:00 EST, 16 March 2013. |. UPDATED:. 07:00 EST, 16 March 2013. Police have passed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service after a Red Arrows aerial display team pilot died after he was ejected from his cockpit while on the ground. Lincolnshire Police confirmed they have handed over the file concerning the death of Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham. Iraq war veteran Flt Lt Cunningham, 35, was a highly-regarded and experienced pilot with the RAF's aerial display team but was fatally injured after being ejected from his Hawk T1 aircraft while on the ground at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire, on November 8, 2011. Charges could be brought against the MoD after Iraq veteran Sean Cunningham was killed when he was ejected from his Hawk T1. The parachute on the ejector seat did not deploy and the South African-born airman later died in hospital. Following the incident, the RAF grounded all non-essential flying of aircraft fitted with the Mk10 Martin Baker-built ejector seat 'as a precaution', but flights later resumed in December 2011, with air chiefs saying they had 'no remaining safety concerns'. A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said: 'A file has been submitted for consideration by the CPS and as soon as we're in a position to update on that, we will. 'We are not speculating on the matter of any possible offences.' Paramedics were called to the team's world-famous aerobatics base in Lincolnshire after the ejector seat in the Hawk T1 aircraft was deployed. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed it was aware a police file was now with the CPS but would not comment further. It is understood the police are expecting a response from the CPS by the end of the month on whether any criminal charges should be brought in relation to the incident. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed it was aware a police file was now with the CPS but would not comment further. An MoD spokesman said: 'We are aware that a referral has been made to the CPS in relation to the civil police investigation into this incident. 'It is not appropriate for the MoD to comment on such matters, any questions should be directed to the civil police and/or CPS. 'Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Flt Lt Sean Cunningham.' An inquest was told that Flt Lt Cunningham had completed ground safety checks when the ejector seat of his Hawk jet was deployed. The main parachute did not deploy and the pilot did not become separated from his seat during the incident, the hearing was told. He landed on the ground still strapped into his seat. An ambulance was called and Flt Lt Cunningham was taken to Lincoln County Hospital where he was confirmed dead in A&E. A post-mortem examination was carried out and the cause of death was given as multiple injuries due to a fall from height following ejection from an aircraft. The Red Arrows lost two pilots in 2011, after pilot Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging, 33, from Rutland, was killed when his Hawk aircraft came down after performing at an air show near Bournemouth airport in Dorset in August. An inquest later heard the likely cause of the crash was that he lost consciousness due to the G-Force.

Write highlights.
Lincolnshire Police pass file to CPS over death of Flt Lt Sean Cunningham. Iraq veteran died after ejector seat deployed and parachute did not open.

Southampton will offer Toby Alderweireld a four-year contract to to secure the defender's long-term future this month. The Belgium international has been excellent for the Saints this season following his loan move from Atletico Madrid, playing a key role in the club's push for Europe. Manager Ronald Koeman wants to make the loan switch permanent this month as he looks to avoid a battle for his signature in the summer. Toby Alderweireld (right) celebrates scoring against Crystal Palace on Boxing Day. The defender, on loan from Atletico Madrid, has been in fine form for the Saints this season. The Saints have opened talks with Atletico regarding a move this month, with the Spanish club keen to recoup as much of the £6.2million they paid Ajax in 2013. Should the two clubs reach an agreement, Saints will offer Alderweireld a four-year deal, though they will be unable to match his current £75,000-per-week wages. Alderweireld's loan deal expires at the end of the season. Alderweireld was a key part of the Belgium side that reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup.

Write highlights.

Toby Alderweireld is on a season-long loan at Southampton. Southampton boss Ronald Koeman wants to make the move permanent. Saints hoping to conclude deal with Atletico Madrid this month.