GLASGOW: Australian Commonwealth Games officials have quizzed organisers of the Glasgow Games about a last-minute change to the event’s opening ceremony which took place overnight Australian time.

A spokesperson for Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) said members of the national team were taken by surprise when they were told by an official at the Hydro Arena in Glasgow that they would not be marching in the opening ceremony under the Australian flag.

“Our flagbearer, track and field star Nina Kennedy, had the flag wrenched from her hands just before the march-on started,” the CGA spokesperson said.

“It was replaced with an effigy of former Victorian premier Dan Andrews which Glasgow Games staff then proceeded to douse in petrol and set alight. (main picture)

“This came as a surprise to Nina and everyone else in the Australian team because no other nation was subjected to any similar last-minute change.

“An Australian team manager quizzed a Glasgow official who gave a lengthy explanation for the change.

“We’re now just waiting for a translation of that answer to determine if we take any further action,” the spokesperson said.

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RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s government says it is unfazed by US President Donald Trump’s sudden demand that his previously agreed approval of a nuclear power program for the Middle Eastern kingdom is now contingent upon its recognition of Israel.

“President Trump is well known for declaring his status as a great dealmaker,” a Saudi official said. “But we’ll give it a few hours, maybe a day, and see what happens.”

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ADELAIDE: The 50th national conference of the Australian Labor Party in Adelaide is a surprise addition to the list of nominees in two categorises at next month’s TV Week Logie Awards.

Labor’s national secretary, Paul Erickson, said he was honoured on behalf of the party to accept the nominations.

A Logie organiser who did not wish to be identified said the Labor Party event had been entered into the “best scripted drama” and “best choreographed event” categories.

“It’s not the done thing for an insider like me to comment on a nominee’s chances, but I reckon Mr Erickson needs to make room on his mantel, if he has one, for two statuettes,” the organiser said.

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NEW YORK: Various US-based cryptocurrency blockchain exchanges have issued mandatory declarations identifying the government of Saudi Arabia as the entity making huge purchases of the $TRUMP meme coin.

A number of the declarations said record volumes of the cryptocurrency had been acquired from sellers with wallet addresses known to be associated with the Trump family.

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