Indonesia ferry sinking: 2 found alive

JAKARTA • Two survivors were pulled from the sea in eastern Indonesia yesterday, three days after a ferry they were on sank in stormy waters, but a senior rescue official said he held out little hope for 74 other passengers still missing.

One of those found alive was the captain of the ship, which had 118 on board when it ran into trouble and went down last Saturday in the Gulf of Bone off Sulawesi island. A total of 41 were rescued, while three were confirmed dead.

One survivor, a woman who gave her name only as Bertha, told the TvOne news channel that passengers had heard a crashing sound, then the ferry jolted and water gushed in as it listed.

REUTERS

Philippine V-P leads opinion polls

MANILA • Philippine Vice-President Jejomar Binay has overtaken Senator Grace Poe as the top contender to win presidential elections next year in an opinion poll published yesterday.

The survey of 1,800 people, conducted by independent pollster Pulse Asia, showed 33 per cent of voters supported Mr Binay, a former human rights lawyer , compared with 23 per cent who backed the tough-talking, Davao city mayor Rodrigo Duterte. The poll was conducted between Dec 4 and 11.

REUTERS

New Vietnam leaders to be picked at meeting

HANOI • Vietnam's new leadership will be chosen at a Communist Party Congress next month, said an official statement late on Monday, as the country struggles with economic reform and strained relations with its biggest trade partner and neighbour China.

The key meeting determines who will be president and prime minister and sets the country's policy direction.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE