May 17 - GSD Claims Government Spin is 'Out of Control'
The GSD has today said that the attempt by the Government to justify refusing to answer questions on the Washington visit on grounds that it has been “seized upon by our nation’s political opponents” is nothing more than another smokescreen to justify closing the shutters on legitimate Opposition questions. This unfortunately is becoming a habit for this “New Dawn” Government.
The Opposition has also said that if “our nation’s political opponents” have “seized upon” anything it is the Government’s own spin in relation to the visit that clearly run out of control following the Government’s Press Release headlined “Chief Minister Meets President Obama During Washington Visit” on 23rd January 2013 and the subsequent release of the Obama photograph by the Government. That press release and photograph were reported and carried in Spain and led to the Spanish Government delivering a protest to Washington. It will be recalled that this then resulted in Mr Picardo having to quickly play down his Washington visit in an interview with El Pais on 4 March 2013 on the basis that it was not an official but a private visit.
In a rather amusing press statement released by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office today, a number of particularly bizarre requests made by British holiday makers have been outlined in a bid to educate the public on what they can and cannot ask the British Consulate when holidaying abroad. Some of the more comical requests include on Brit asking the FCO staff in Rome, whether they could translate a phrase for a tattoo that he wanted. A tourist in Tel Aviv questioned whether consular staff could order her husband to get fit and eat healthily so that they could have children, another man in Stockholm asked consular staff to check the credentials of a woman whom he had met online.
Minister for Sport, Steven Linares, yesterday sent his best wishes to the Gibraltar Darts Association who are competing in the 14th Darts Mediterranean Cup in Ankara, Turkey this week. 
The Special Olympics European Football Week with support from UEFA Respect is getting under way in Gibraltar from May 18th to May 26th 2013. More than 15 athletes from Special Olympics Gibraltar will participate in two events.
