site.btaToday's Observances:October 16

The world:

- World Food Day (honours founding date of UN Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945).

Bulgaria:

- Aviation and Air Force Day.

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1896: State School of Drawing (since July 21, 1995: National Art Academy) is inaugurated in Sofia.

1912: Bulgarians Radoul Milkov and Prodan Tarakchiev perform Europe's first airplane reconnaissance flight in combat conditions. During First Balkan War (1912-1913), they fly Albatros plane over Adrianople Fortress.

1929: World's most famous airship, the Graf Zeppelin LZ 127, overflies Bulgaria.

1989: First Meeting on the Protection of the Environment under Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe opens in Sofia (until November 3).

1990: Diplomatic relations established with Qatar.

1995: Radio France Internationale launches Bulgarian service, transmitted from Sofia (RFI Bulgaria is broadcaster's first affiliate with editorial offices outside Paris). Discontinued due to budget constraints at end-2009.