Lawmakers might stop ZTE deal

A Senate panel on Tuesday said it would not accept efforts by President Donald Trump to ease sanctions on Chinese smartphone maker ZTE. In a vote of 23 to 2, the Senate Banking Committee overwhelmingly approved an amendment that would block Trump from reducing penalties on ZTE without first providing Congress proof the company is following US laws. The panel's defensive action follows media reports that the Trump administration and China are nearing a deal to relax sanctions on ZTE in exchange for trade concessions from Beijing. The reason given for those who support the amendment is to stop President Trump from unilaterally exempting ZTE from penalties for their repeated violations of US laws. Because of the supposed law violations, The United States last month blocked ZTE from buying parts from American companies for seven years. ZTE relies on US tech for its products, sourcing chips from companies including Qualcomm and Intel. The ban brought ZTE's factories to a standstill. Beijing had been pressing Washington to lift the ban, and President Trump said last week he was willing to help ZTE get back into business. The US initially fined ZTE $1.19 million in March 2017 for violating sanctions against Iran and North Korea. But it then went a step further to impose the seven-year ban on US companies buying and selling ZTE products.

In Other News A 30-year-old man didn't get the message that it was time to move out of his parents' home, even after they left him five notices and an offer of cash to help find a new place to live. The New York family drama eventually rolled into the court system, where a judge on Tuesday ruled in the parents' favor and ordered Michael Rotondo to leave. Christina and Mark Rotondo of Camillus started the court proceedings earlier this month and filed evidence of five notices they served their son, starting in February. The fifth and final notice on March 30 presents Michael some options to get his broken down vehicle off their property, and in all the options his parents offer to help pay for the repairs. Since he still refused to leave, his parents filed for an ejectment proceeding. During the hearing on Tuesday, Michael represented himself. New York State Supreme Court Judge Donald Greenwood said, "I'm granting the eviction. I think the notice is sufficient.” Hopes for a historic summit next month between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appear to be dimming, at least for now. Trump questioned whether preparations for the June 12 meeting in Singapore could be completed in time, though he said things might be worked out "over a period of time." Secretary of State Mike Pompeo believes a summit can still happen.