site.btaToday's Observances: July 29-30

July 29

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1014: Byzantine troops defeat the Bulgarian army at the Battle of Belassitsa. By order of Emperor Basil II, some 15,000 Bulgarian soldiers are blinded; one in every 100 men is left with one eye to lead the rest to Tsar Samuel.

1967: A Guild of Arts and Crafts Masters is established in Sofia.

1992: The Bulgarian Association of Travel Agents (BATA) is established.

1998: The 38th National Assembly adopts the Grain Storage and Grain Trade Act, whereby a National Grain Service is set up (since June 12, 2003: National Grain and Feed Service under the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry).

2005: A Balkan Cultural Centre is set up on the initiative of the Balkanica Foundation, which presents a literary award to authors from countries in the region. 

2011: The Arena Armeec multifunctional sports hall opens in Sofia.

July 30

The world:

- National Day of Morocco: Throne Day (1999)

On this day in Bulgarian history:

1964 - A Higher General Technical Extramural Institute established, renamed Higher Machine and Electrical Engineering Institute in 1972 and Technical University in 1995.

1990 - Association of Bulgarian Ecologists set up.

1991 - The Grand National Assembly passes the Constitutional Court Act setting up the constitutional court as an entity independent from the legislative, executive and judiciary power.

2003 - Parliament approves the Organs, Tissues and Cells Transplants Act.