site.btaToday's Observances: May 13

The world:

1981: Assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II, who is shot in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City by Turkish national Ali Agca. 

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1879: Postal service is established. First Bulgarian stamps, printed in Saint Petersburg, are put into circulation.

1888: Sofia Zoo is established.

1957: Polytechnical Museum is established with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

1999: Hristo G. Danov National Award is instituted by Culture Ministry, National Book Centre and Plovdiv Municipality.

2007: Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev breaks ground for Vidin-Calafat bridge over the Danube.