Xinhua world news summary at 0900 GMT, Dec. 15

MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed "urgent issues" in bilateral diplomatic relations and the situation on the Korean Peninsula in a phone call Thursday, the Kremlin said in a statement.

"At the initiative of the American side, urgent issues of the bilateral agenda were discussed, as well as the situation in hotspots with a focus on the settlement of the Korean nuclear crisis," the statement read. (Russia-Putin-Trump)

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HAVANA -- The XVI Political Council of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) met here Thursday and expressed its support for Venezuela and President Nicolas Maduro amid an "imperialist campaign" to derail his government.

Maduro, along with Cuban President Raul Castro, chaired the closing ceremony of the ALBA political council, commemorating the 13th anniversary of the founding of the bloc. (Cuba-Venezuela-ALBA)

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NEW DELHI -- Indian main opposition Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi Friday said she would retire after her son Rahul Gandhi takes over the reins from her Saturday.

"My role now is to retire," the 71-year-old Italy-born politician told media in Delhi, putting to rest all speculation about her future role in India's grand old party. (India-Sonia Gandhi)

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SEOUL -- South Korea's unification ministry confirmed its position Friday that it will continue efforts to peacefully resolve the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

Lee Yu-jin, deputy spokesperson of the unification ministry, told a press briefing that there has been no change in the government's position to continue efforts for the peaceful resolution of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue in cooperation with the international community. (S.Korea-DPRK) Enditem