Good evening
A quick browse of the main news as reported by Malta’s News portals follows in our Evening News Roundup.
Perhaps the most serious story that emerged from today’s court sessions through the media is the one where two men charged with raping and trafficking a 14-year old homeless girl have been remanded in custody after denying the charges in court. Ismael Alirou, 28, from Niger, was arrested and arraigned alongside Adama Tonkara, 28, from Mali. The two face multiple charges related to the trafficking, rape and corruption of the young girl. They were also jointly charged with participating in sexual activity with a minor, selling her into prostitution and knowingly living off the earnings of prostitution. The Times stresses the case and the fact that the girl was ‘homeless’. Net News highlights the fact that the girl was saved by the Police from the street.
The Times reports that prosecutors’ decision to drop domestic violence charges against a man who fired a gun inside their home has been slammed by human rights advocacy groups. Sean Anthony McGahren, 43, was let off a fine after his partner withdrew her complaint and renounced all action against him. Mr McGahren had allegedly fired a revolver inside a penthouse while arguing with his partner, injuring her and breaking two window panes in the process.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, a group of nine NGOs and two activists said they were gravely concerned by the way things had unfolded in court, with the message being that “aggressors can get away with almost anything when committing an act of domestic violence.”
iNEWS also leads with a story from the Court. Proceedings against Kevin Micallef from Gharghur in relation to murder of his mother and aunt continued today. The court, heard how Antonia was continuously mentioning her son’s name on her way to the hospital. Her sister was found dead at home. Both died after they succumbed to the injuries caused by stab wounds.
The sea slime that has appeared on vast stretches of Maltese coasts is coming from fish farms, said Minister for the Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Jose Herrera when speaking to The Malta Independent. Steps will be taken if irregularities were committed by fish farm operators. In the meantimethe portal reportsthe Maltese Federation for Aquacultural Products announced on Wednesday that it had reached an agreement with four out of the five fish farm operators to regularise their procedures between August and the end of October so to have cleaner seas for all.
The federation said that it had reached this agreement after noting people’s complaints and the challenge that the government has to keep a general balance between the industry and the public. Similar news is reported on other portals. This is Lovin Malta’s report on the issue.
On a similar note, Maltatoday reports that activities had to be cancelled below Żonqor Point in Marsaskala as an oily sludge polluted the coastline of the seaside locality on Tuesday. The slime was visible along large stretches of the coastline inside Marsaskala bay with reports suggesting that it also washed inside St Thomas Bay.
TVM reports that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this morning met with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe in Tokyo. The meeting took place as part of the visit by the Maltese PM to Japan together with a trade delegation. One reported that Malta will be leading a number of EU states to rarify the UE – Japan agreement reached earlier last month.
Newsbook reports that a man from Zurrieq has pled guilty to beating and terrorizing his own mother . The 23-year old man appeared in front of Magistrate Monica Vella to testify on how he made his mother live in constant fear. He was also accused of slightly injuring her.
