site.btaToday's Observances: August 19-20

August 19

The world:

- World Humanitarian Day.

- World Photography Day.

- National Day of Afghanistan: Independence Day (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs in 1919).

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1892: Second Lieutenant Vassil Zlatarov ascends in Eugene Godard's hot-air balloon La France above First Universal Agricultural and Industrial Exposition in Plovdiv, pioneering Bulgarian aviation.

1899: Bulgarian Apiarists' Union is established.

1963: Radio Deutsche Welle begins Bulgarian-language broadcasts (discontinued July 1, 2011).

August 20

The world:

- National Day of Hungary (Feast Day of King St Stephen I).

On this date in Bulgarian history:

917: Bulgarian Tsar Simeon I defeats Byzantine army at mouth of River Achelous in huge battle involving more than 120,000 soldiers. In aftermath of battle, Bulgarian State acquires complete military and political hegemony in Southeastern Europe.

1887: Prime Minister Stefan Stambolov forms cabinet (in office until May 19, 1894).

1935: Bulgarian Georgi Dimitrov is elected Secretary General of Communist International (Comintern) (until organization's dissolution on June 10, 1943).

1988: Bulgarian athlete Yordanka Donkova sets women's 100 m hurdles world record,12.21 sec, at event in Stara Zagora (Southeastern Bulgaria) (broken by Kendra Harrison of US in London, July 22, 2016).

2004: 23.5-carat gold, 672 g life-size mask of Thracian King Teres I (d. 445 BC) is unearthed during archaeological excavations near Shipka, Central Bulgaria.