WORLD BRIEFS

VENEZUELA

Search continues for Missoni

Boats and aircraft searched for a small plane that disappeared off Venezuela carrying the chief executive of Italy's Missoni fashion house and five other people. More than a day after the BN-2 Islander aircraft disappeared from radar screens on a short flight from the resort islands of Los Roques to Caracas, no sign of the plane had been found. The plane carried Vittorio Missoni, 58, his wife, Maurizia Castiglioni, two Italian friends and two Venezuelan crew.

SOUTH AFRICA: Mandela over his lung infection

Nelson Mandela has recovered from his lung infection and a surgical procedure to remove gallstones, President Jacob Zuma announced Sunday. The anti-apartheid leader, 94, was hospitalized for nearly three weeks until Dec. 26. Zuma's statement said Mandela "continues to receive high care" at his home in the Houghton suburb of Johannesburg. He has been reading newspapers, sitting up in bed and receiving visitors, according to media reports.

PHILIPPINES: 13 suspects killed by army, police

Army special forces and police killed 13 suspected criminals in a fierce gun battle Sunday in a northeastern province. A police officer was wounded in the shootout, which raged for 20 minutes in the coastal town of Atimonan in Quezon province, 90 miles southeast of Manila, police and the army said. The gunmen opened fire on more than 50 soldiers and police when their two black SUVs were flagged down at a highway checkpoint, sparking the firefight.