Jockstrip: The world as we know it.

Underwear-clad man ignites fireworks

MOUNT ISA, Australia, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Authorities in Mount Isa, Australia, said a man was arrested after he allegedly ran down the street in his underwear with firecrackers strapped to his head.

Mount Isa Superintendent Les Hopkins said the 22-year-old man allegedly ran up and down Camooweal Street in the city center wearing only his underwear and a bicycle helmet with detonating firecrackers bound to it, The (Brisbane, Australia) Courier-Mail reported Monday.

"He was running close to one of our main roads, where the big road trains travel," Hopkins said. "It could have been quite tragic."

The man was charged with possession of fireworks and being a public nuisance. He was released after posting bail.

Man, 78, allegedly attacks golfer

TEQUESTA, Fla., Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Authorities in Martin County, Fla., said a 78-year-old man allegedly struck and choked another elderly man on a golf course.

A Martin County Sheriff's Office report said John Paul Flanagan, 78, was arrested and charged with battery of a person over 65 after he allegedly hit the other golfer in his right eye near the 18th hole of the Riverbend Golf Club, TCPalm.com reported.

Witnesses said Flanagan went into his condo near the course, emerged a few moments later and began choking the other man.

Flanagan was released after posting $2,500 bond.

The report said Flanagan told Deputy Jeff Smith he has had an ongoing dispute with the victim because the other man does not pay to play golf and does not own property at Riverbend.

Plans for national British day rejected

LONDON, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's plan for a national day in Britain aimed at celebrating everything British will not be introduced, an official says.

Constitution Minister Michael Wills says the national day proposal offered by Brown in 2006 and recommended by former Attorney General Peter Goldsmith will not become a reality any time in the near future, The Daily Telegraph said.

"A number of Lord (Peter) Goldsmith's recommendations merit further consideration across government and will be taken into account in discussion and debate on policy development in these areas," Wills said during a recent meeting of parliament members. "However, there are no plans to introduce a national day at the present time."

The proposal would have created a holiday on which all British residents would celebrate their favorite thing about Britain.

Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Herbert told the Telegraph the proposal's failure is another negative result for Brown's "Britishness agenda."

"First a national motto, then an oath of allegiance, now a patriotic day -- one token initiative after another in Gordon Brown's Britishness agenda has sunk without trace," Herbert said.

Award in vacuum-attack case upheld

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- A Swedish appeals court has upheld a $600 award to an intermediate-level student who was attacked by a vacuum-wielding teacher.

The Court of Appeal upheld a ruling by the District Court in Uppsala after the office of the Child and Pupil Ombudsman, which had demanded more than $3,000 for the boy in the suit against Grundstens school, complained that the damages called for by the lower court were too low, Swedish news agency TT reported Monday.

The suit said the student was caught playing with the vacuum cleaner when he was supposed to be using it to clean up sawdust during woodworking class in June 2006. The teacher then slammed the student's head down on a table and used the vacuum cleaner to suck his face and mouth, the suit said.

The victim's father said the student had difficulty sleeping after the incident and was afraid to go to class.

School officials said the teacher apologized to the student and was put on sick leave for the remainder of the school year. The teacher is no longer employed by the district.