Informing, engaging & connecting the people of the world. AUGUST 20, 2020

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Political conventions have always been considered a four-day television commercial for political parties and their presidential candidates. The 2020 Democratic National Convention is taking that to a new level with its virtual convention.

ON THIS DAY IN AMERICAN HISTORY On Aug. 20, 1975, NASA launches the unmanned Viking I Mars probe. Eleven months later, the spaceship enters Martian orbit and begins searching for a good landing spot. On July 20, its lander successfully touched down on the red planet’s Chryse Planitia region. The probe sent back the first photos of the barren, rust-colored Martian surface. While the Soviet Union successfully landed a probe on Mars in 1971, it stopped working after 14.5 seconds. Viking I continued to operate until Nov. 11, 1982.

As protesters continue to take to the streets in Belarus following a disputed Aug. 9 election, Europe says it will impose sanctions on the country’s officials it says were involved in vote-rigging and subsequent violent crackdown on opposition demonstrations.

Jared Kushner, the senior adviser to President Donald Trump, is calling on Iran to make peace with Washington, as Trump predicts there will be a quick return to U.S.-Iran negotiations if he is reelected in November.

VIDEO: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Iraq’s visiting foreign minister and promised continued U.S. support as Baghdad confronts threats from the Islamic State terror group and pro-Iranian militias. The pledge comes despite President Donald Trump’s desire to reduce American military presence in the country.

Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny was hospitalized in serious condition after falling ill aboard a flight from what his press spokeswoman said appeared to be deliberate poisoning.