Estrada declares his good health MANILA (AFP): Philippine President Joseph Estrada went on nationwide radio on Thursday a day after minor surgery, declaring he is in good health and dismissing rumors he had liver failure. A presidential palace statement said Estrada's left eye was covered by a bandage during the interview. He had undergone minor surgery on Tuesday night to remove excess skin on an eyelid which aides said was impairing his vision.

Measles outbreak hits C. Java SEMARANG, Central Java: Ten babies have died of measles and 224 children under five are suffering from the disease, Central Java provincial health official Soedjono said on Thursday. "Two regencies have been hit by the contagious disease. In Wonogiri, there are 161 patients and one fatality, while in Kendal nine children died and there are 63 patients still being treated." He said both regencies lacked immunization programs.

Car Price Correction: The price of the Opel Blazer Montera car in a photo caption appearing in the Business and Investment section on Tuesday should have read Rp 131.15 million (off the road), not on the road. -- Editor

Nuriyah laments Islamic women's groups YOGYAKARTA (JP): A Muslim woman activist has lamented the failure of Islamic women's organizations to address issues such as gender equality, leading to ignorance among activists.

Export gallery to open in Denpasar JAKARTA (JP): A Jakarta-based trading company, PT Mega Milenia, will open the Indonesian Export Gallery (IEG) in Denpasar, Bali, which will display a wide range of handicrafts and furniture, on Saturday. Chairman of the Jakarta branch of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin Jaya), Pungky Bambang Purwadi, said on Thursday that about 100 small and medium-scale companies would display their products in the permanent exhibition center.

Bulog to import more rice JAKARTA (JP): The State Logistics Agency (Bulog) announced on Thursday it would import 800,000 metric tons of rice through two foreign companies at US$216.90 per ton in the period between August and May next year. The two companies, IndSingThai Trading of Singapore and Kin Sun Co., of Hong Kong, outbid other companies during earlier selective bidding, according to a Bulog statement.