site.btaObservances: July 20

The Orthodox Church marks the feast day of the Glorious Prophet Elijah.

The world: 

- National Day of Colombia: Independence Day (1810).

On this date in Bulgarian history:

792: Khan Kardam defeats the Byzantine army at the frontier stronghold of Marcellae near today's Karnobat.

1878: The Bulgarian armed forces are set up by order of Prince Alexander Dondukov-Korsakov, head of the Russian administration in Bulgaria.

1963:  Bulgaria's second electric railway line - between Gorna Oryahovitsa and Rousse - goes into operation.

1975: In Edirne, State Council Chairman Todor Zhivkov meets with Turkish Prime Minister Suleyman Demirel. The cable system connecting the power grids of Bulgaria and Turkey opens.

1990: The 7th Grand National Assembly imposes a moratorium on the death penalty until the issue of the capital punishment is resolved.

2007: The Bulgarian Association of Regional Development Agencies and Business Centres (BARDA) and the International Asset Bank sign an agreement to extend aid to small and mid-sized enterprises and municipalities.

2011: Bulgaria recognizes the independence of South Sudan.