Government is to set to announce the latest in the Berkeley saga this morning after negotiations with contractors ProActive who are also lining up a separate noon briefing.

Last week Works and Engineering Minister Ashfield DeVent revealed the company had submitted a claim against Government as he announced Government was setting aside another $13 million after announcing the secondary school project will be delayed for at least another year.

It is unclear if contractors ProActive will carry on after netting the contract in 2001 at $68 million. Government said total funds allocated had now hit $101 million, although some of this figure covers fixtures and fittings not in the ProActive mandate.

ProActive will make their announcement at the BIU building.

Air arrivals in January have slipped back against last year by 4.5 percent, according to Department of Tourism figures released on Tuesday.

There were 7,825 arrivals last month compared with 8,194 in 2003.

The Department of Tourism has resorted to releasing figures on a monthly basis after giving the data out on a quarterly basis last year.

Firefighters used 1,500 gallons of water to extinguish a brushfire near Devonshire Marsh on Monday afternoon.

"It took four firefighters 40 minutes to get the blaze under control," said Bermuda Fire Service spokesman Lt. Dana Lovell. "The fire, which got out of hand, was on an area of about 100 feet by 50 feet."

Lt. Lovell said firefighters also responded to a fire involving three 50cc cycles and the doors of a carpentry shop on Cedar Avenue, Pembroke, in the early hours of yesterday.

"The fire consumed all three bikes and caught the carpentry shop doors on fire," said Lt. Lovell.

"The doors and plaster was scorched and there was light smoke damage throughout the apartments. We estimated the damage at about $9,000."

Lt. Lovell said there were three appliances and nine firefighters used to bring the fire under control, which started at about 2.25 a.m.

Bermuda has been given a boost by Travel Management Daily which has named the Island as one of the world's top luxury destinations.

The assessment was made by analysis of GOGO Worldwide vacations ? which sells to Bermuda and the Caribbean ? whose revenue was up 20 percent last year.

Tourism Minister Renee Webb said: "It is very gratifying that Bermuda continues to hit a positive chord with the markets we are aiming for.

"Clearly this kind of recognition is excellent for the Island in terms of acceptance of our tourism product. As we strive in the upcoming season to bring awareness about Bermuda to our key markets, it reinforces that our marketing efforts are paying off."

Although it's soft and usually would not break things in your home, the Nerf Big Play Football has been recalled by its manufacturer.

The Department of Consumer Affairs announced that "the hard plastic interior frame can pose a risk of cuts to a child's face, hands or eyes". The frame may become exposed when the ball is thrown and a little flip top opens.

The Nerf Big Play Football is red with a silver flip open top that reveals an erasable writing pad to plan football plays on in the centre of the ball. The Nerf name, NFL logo and a large black 'X' are on the silver region. Atlanta Falcons' quarterback Mike Vick's signature and photo is on the packaging.

For further information, contact the Department of Consumer Affairs on 297-7627.

Vandals tearing down no-parking signs are costing the Corporation of Hamilton dearly.

City engineer David Graham said as many as ten signs a week are going missing.

He said: "It's been an on-going problem for some reason, maybe people don't like them and remove them or tear them down. It's a constant job replacing them."

Mr. Graham said he did not know what proportion of the $20,000 a year signs budget was being spent on replacing vandalised notices.

He said the problem was widespread throughout the city but he was at a loss to say how it could be stopped.

One trouble spot is Court Street between Church Street and Reid Street where signs stopping rush hour parking on the side heading towards Front Street were regularly coming down, effectively reducing the two lanes of traffic to one.

The Ministry of Health and Family Services has a new Director of Financial Assistance.

Although appointed on December 15 of last year, Government only announced the appointment of Dianna Taylor to the post this week.

Ms Taylor works under the direction of the Permanent Secretary. Programmes she is responsible for include Social Assistance, Housing Assistance, Grants in Aid and Support Services of Investigations and Social Work.

She is responsible for managing and administering the Financial Assistance Programme.

Ms Taylor, a graduate of Central State University and the University of Pittsburgh, holds a BS (Hons) in Social Work and Education and a Master's Degree in Social Work.

She initially worked as a clinical psychiatric social worker at St. Francis Medical Centre in Pittsburgh for 11 years before returning to Bermuda in 1988 and joining the Department of Family Services as a line worker.

In 1998 she became the coordinator of the Intake Team and in 2003 was appointed coordinator of the Foster Care Team.