Most flights from Bali to resume as skies clear

DENPASAR • The Indonesian authorities at Bali's international airport tried yesterday to clear a backlog of almost 900 flights that were cancelled or delayed because of a volcanic eruption on Mount Raung on Indonesia's main island of Java.

Officials said, as the clouds of ash continued to drift away from Bali, that most airlines resumed their flights on Sunday evening, but Australian carrier Virgin Australia continued to cancel flights yesterday, saying that their forecasters had warned that conditions were unsuitable.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

China to track down expired-meat smugglers

SHANGHAI • China will launch a campaign to track down the international origins of smuggled frozen meat, after reports last month of 100,000 tonnes of "zombie meat" found to be many years beyond its expiry date. Police and Customs agents will work together to trace the smuggling routes, from production to shop front, in a bid to protect Chinese consumers and prevent the spread of disease, the country's food watchdog said in a statement on Sunday.

REUTERS

Storms batter Luzon, at least 8 dead

MANILA • Torrential rain has killed at least eight people in the Philippines, the country's disaster relief agency said yesterday, with the toll expected to rise as two tropical storms battered northern Luzon, the main island in the archipelago.

Four fishermen were missing after strong winds and giant waves destroyed their fishing boats and six smaller boats in Bolinao town on the north coast.

REUTERS