Today's Headlines and Commentary

Saudi Arabia’s public prosecutor announced on Thursday that he is seeking the death penalty for five people accused in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, reports the New York Times. He says the 15-man team had orders to take Khashoggi back to Riyadh but made an independent, on-the-spot decision to kill Khashoggi after he resisted.

The United Nations has lifted an arms embargo, travel ban and asset freeze on Eritrea, says the Washington Post. The sanctions were imposed almost a decade ago over concerns that Eritrea was arming al-Shabab.

The Ebola outbreak in northeastern Congo is now the nation’s largest in last four decades, and the U.S. currently has no plans to send personnel to fight to outbreak on-the-ground due to the worsening security situation in the area, says the Washington Post.

The Australian Defense Minister said that the country would purchase U.S.-made reaper drones and may also station warships in Papua new Guinea in an effort to bulk up in response to escalating threats in the region, reports the Wall Street Journal.

The Saudi-led military coalition has temporarily paused its assault of the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah to facilitate UN aid workers and evacuation operations amidst of increasing international pressure on Saudi Arabia and its allies to make peace in Yemen, reports the Journal.

The UK is facing political turmoil as two cabinet members, including the Brexit chief negotiator, resigned in the wake of Prime Minister Theresa May’s draft Brexit deal, which the British cabinet agreed to on Wednesday, says the Times.

ICYMI: Yesterday on Lawfare

Lila Margalit argued that the Israeli Supreme Court’s ruling in favour of Lara Alqasem doesn’t mean it will strike down Israel’s anti-BDS law. Meanwhile,Michael N. Barnett explored how Canary Mission ultimately undermines the Israeli cause.

J. Dana Stuster posted this week’s Middle East Ticker, which covered shifting U.S. support for Saudi intervention in Yemen, the escalating violence in Gaza and the Trump administration’s approach to the Khashoggi murder.

Matthew Kahn shared the Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel’s memo defending the legality of Matthew Whitaker’s designation as acting attorney general.

Benjamin Wittes announced an important new hire: David Preiss is coming on board as the Chief Operating Officer for Lawfare. Wittes also flagged the opening of Lawfare’s new swag shop.

Sarah Grant shared the government’s request for expedited decision in the transgender servicemember ban cases Karnoski v. Trump and Doe 2 v. Trump, and the plaintiff’s response in each case.

Preston Lim and Rachel Brown posted the newest edition of SinoTech, which features a discussion on the Department of Justice’s new initiative to address Chinese economic espionage.

Stewart Baker posted this week’s episode of the Cyberlaw Podcast, a deep dive into new investment review regulations for CFIUS.

Jen Patja Howell posted this week’s Rational Security, in which the gang discusses Whitaker’s appointment as acting attorney general and North Korea’s actions in nuclear weapons negotiations.

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