Today's Headlines and Commentary

The Commerce Department has put Chinese semiconductor company Fujian Jinghua on a list of companies that are no longer allowed to purchase some U.S. exports of components, software and technology goods, reports the Japan Times.

A group of U.S. evangelical leaders made a trip to Saudi Arabia to meet with crown prince Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday amidst questions over Washington’s relationship with Riyadh in the wake of Jamal Khashoggi’s death, reports the Washington Post.

A U.S.-backed Saudi-led coalition launched attacks and airstrikes in Yemen just two days after the U.S. and UK called for a ceasefire in the country, says the Post.

President Trump spoke with Chinese president Xi Jinping, and both said on Thursday that the talk had gone well, and that they were working towards meeting face-to-ace at the Group of 20 summit in Argentina this month, reports the Post.

The Egyptian government has arrested 19 human-rights lawyers and activists this week; the arrests reflect a broader trend of Cairo’s crackdown on dissidents and critics, reports the Wall Street Journal.

The Trump administration announced its reimposition of sanctions on Iran on Friday, while Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the administration’s intention to grant waivers to Iranian oil sanctions for eight (thus-far unnamed) “jurisdictions,” reports the New York Times.

Russia has reached out to senior Afghan officials to pursue talks with the Taliban in Moscow, but bypassed President Ashraf Ghani’s government in the process, says Reuters.

ICYMI: Yesterday on Lawfare

Jen Patja Howell posted this week’s edition of Rational Security, in which the gang discusses domestic terrorism, peace talks in Yemen and accusations against Robert Mueller.

Sharan Grewal analyzed how Tunisia’s new law criminalizing racism could be a model for the region.

Matthew Kahn shared the 44-count indictment against Robert Bowers, the man suspected of murdering 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.

Kahn also shared the indictment against Taiwanese and Chinese companies for stealing trade secrets form Micron Corporation, a U.S.-based chipmaker.

Scott Anderson and Benjamin Wittes examined the results from their FOIA request on ex-CIA officer and current congressional candidate Abigail Spanberger’s SF-86 form.

Anderson and Wittes also explored via FOIA what the Department of Justice thinks about President Trump’s desire to, using executive order, reverse the guarantee of birthright citizenship.

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