Russian court to announce verdict in US journalist Evan Gershkovich espionage trial
CNN
A verdict is expected in the coming hours in the case of Evan Gershkovich in Russia, the first American journalist to be arrested on spying charges in the country since the Cold War.
A verdict is expected in the coming hours in the espionage case of the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, with Russian prosecutors seeking an 18-year prison sentence in what his employer and the US government have dismissed as a sham trial. The court in Yekaterinburg will announce the verdict on Friday at 5 p.m. local time (8 a.m. ET), the court’s press service has said. Proceedings have reached the final stage, the Sverdlovsk regional court added. Earlier Friday, the court heard closing arguments and Gershkovich delivered his closing remarks behind closed doors. The judge then retired to the deliberation room to consider the verdict. The state prosecution service has requested 18 years in prison for Gershkovich, according to state news agency TASS, citing the court. Gershkovich pleaded not guilty, TASS added. The trial resumed on Thursday after being brought forward at the request of his defense.
Nippon Steel is expected to re-file its application for a national security review by American regulators of its $15 billion takeover bid of US Steel, sources familiar with the matter told CNN on Tuesday, buying Japan’s largest steelmaker an additional 90 days to close its acquisition of an American rival after political opposition emerged in an election year.
So far, the attacks that targeted Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah members through their pagers have had devastating consequences. At least nine people, including an eight-year-old girl, were killed, and at least 2,800 were wounded. Over 150 of those injured are in critical condition, according to the Lebanese health minister.