Government is to take further steps to protect children from the pornographic evils of the Internet through the establishment of a Child Online Protection Advisory Group.

The new task force, which includes representatives from a broad range of Government departments as well as the Police, will meet on a weekly basis to examine laws and practices from other jurisdictions in the hope of making legislative recommendations to the Ministry of Telecommunications.

The Committee will look at areas such as internet access for children, parental involvement, filtering software solutions, school supervision, law enforcement and public awareness.

Telecommunications Minister Michael Scott was yesterday keen to acknowledge the urgency of on-line protection legislation to safeguard Bermuda's youth. "The Internet is an exciting and incredibly valuable tool for the children of Bermuda," he said.

Draft legislation will be available some time this summer, Mr. Scott added.

No bus drivers are being put out of a job after Easter Sunday's shock arson at the Somerset bus depot ? a fire which reduced seven buses to ash and scrap metal.

Though the details are still being worked out, Government is forming a comprehensive plan to keep the buses running, Acting Transport Minister Dale Butler said.

The Ministry of Transport is also moving to increase security around bus depots ? but Mr. Butler was keeping a tight lid on how. "We don't want to give away our plan," he said. If troublemakers know how the security system works, it is easier for them to devise ways around it ? not to mention the obvious: "We're hoping the Police can catch the arsonists".

It will take nine months to get replacement buses to the Island, and it is still not clear yet how much of the cost of those buses will be covered by insurance. "We've been meeting with the insurers, Argus," Mr. Butler said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry is scrambling to come up with a solid plan for the next nine months ? one that will tackle staffing, budgeting, and fill the gaps in service which will become more apparent during the summer months. A spokeswoman said yesterday that no bus drivers will be out of a job. Transport is considering supplementing service with ferries and/or taxis among other plans.

"We're obviously very, very concerned," Mr. Butler said. "We're also very grateful, very thankful, for all the support, and the help from residents."

North Rock have launched a new 'Europe Toll-Free' long distance service to people travelling in Europe.

The service allows customers to charge long distance calls to their local account. Calls can be made back to Bermuda or to the rest of the world. North Rock General Manager Vicki Coelho said: "The Europe Toll-Free service is designed to eliminate expensive calling cards and cellular roaming charges from Europe and the UK. The service is easy to use and convenient, with costs lower than many competing products."

To access the service, subscribers dial the toll free number in any of the nine countries that the service is available from. Once dialled, customers will be able to enter their account number and PIN to place long distance calls that will be billed to their account in Bermuda.

Travellers can use North Rock's Europe Toll Free service in: France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, UK, Portugal including the Azores.

Mrs. Coelho added: "The prompts you hear in Europe are the same as you would receive in Bermuda. They are in English and easy to understand no matter which country you're in."