site.btaToday's Observances: July 3

The world:

- National Day of Belarus: Independence Day (liberation of Minsk from German occupation by Soviet troops in 1944).

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1895: In Sofia's Rakovski Street, four assassins assault former prime minister Stefan Stambolov with scimitars, hacking at his head and cutting off his arms. Stambolov dies of his wounds three days later.

1949: A mausoleum of Communist leader Georgi Dimitrov goes under construction in Sofia's central square (built in record 6 days, demolished by controlled explosions between August 21 and 27, 1999).

1956: Diplomatic relations are established with Ethiopia at legation level (upgraded to embassy level on December 8, 1961).

2002: A Bulgarian Consulate in Yekaterinburg, Russia, opens for business.

2009: A customs post is inaugurated at Tsarevo to service Bulgaria's southernmost passenger seaport.