What's trending worldwide

BEIJING, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- The following is a selection of the latest world news published by Xinhua News Agency.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a signing ceremony for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, Dec. 20, 2019.(Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Trump administration remains tough against Iran amid lawmakers' criticism

WASHINGTON -- "Our intelligence made it very clear that the risk was much greater if we did nothing than if we took the action that we took last week," said Pompeo in an interview with Fox's "Sunday Morning Futures."

The U.S. is "preparing for all kinds of various responses" from Iran, he added. xhne.ws/ICpFz

People wear facial masks as protection against bushfire smoke as they walk by Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, Australia, Jan. 5, 2020.(Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)

Hundreds more homes feared lost in Aussie bushfire crisis, 23 killed so far

SYDNEY -- Australian bushfire has caused at least 23 people dead, two missing, 500 million animals perished and 6 million hectares of land scorched. The government and public are taking various relief measures to fight the fire. xhne.ws/roZHR

Official image of the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, speaking during the 2019 New Year's Eve Salutation to the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), in Caracas, Venezuela, Dec. 28, 2019. (Xinhua/Presidency of Venezuela)

Venezuelan president recognizes National Assembly's new board of directors

CARACAS -- The election of Luis Parra as president of the country's legislative body is a blow to opposition leader and self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido, who was hoping to be re-elected head of the National Assembly, which began its 2020-2021 legislative period on Sunday. xhne.ws/Am5Ow