160th founding anniv. of Union of Romanian Principalities marked in Bucharest

People wearing vintage military uniforms participate in an event marking the 160th founding anniversary of the Union of the Romanian Principalities in Bucharest, capital of Romania, Jan. 24, 2019. On Jan. 24 160 years back, two Romanian principalities -- Wallachia and Moldavia -- formed a Union by electing Colonel Alexandru Ioan Cuza as the common ruler. The unification generated a favorable framework for the modernization of the Romanian society. Romania became a national unitary state on Dec. 1, 1918, when Transylvania also joined in to form a Greater Union. (Xinhua/Cristian Cristel)