Grand Croix of the Légion d'honneur

France's right-wing parties, led by former president Nicolas Sarkozy, edged out the far-right National Front to take first place in local elections on Sunday, in a crucial test ahead of 2017 presidential elections.
      

The conservative party of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy came in the lead at the local elections in the country on Sunday.

The National Front party, led by Marina Le Pen, on the other hand, achieved a stable result with approximately a quarter of the votes. Some of the main positions of the nationalists in France involve anti-immigration and anti-EU proposals.

France's National Front, one of the most powerful populist far right parties in Europe, eyed strong gains against the ruling socialists of President Francois Hollande in regional elections March 22.
     
The election's first round got underway at 8:00 am (0700 GMT) across 101 "departments", which control issues such as school and welfare budgets.
      

Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he would take a 10% pay cut, as the country's economy continues to stagnate due to European economic sanctions.

However, it is highly doubtful that he will even notice the impact of such a cut, as he doesn't even know the exact amount of his salary, according to his own statements to members of the press.

French President Francois Hollande has been seen for the first time in public with his new love, Julie Gayet, in the Elysee Palace.
The images of the couple sitting in presidential residence’s gardens come on the heels of a “kiss-and-tell” book by former first lady Valerie Trierweiler, entitled: ‘A story of love, power and betrayal’.

French president sees Russia as "friendly country"

PARIS -- France sees Russia is a friendly country, French President Francois Hollande has told the magazine Society in an interview.

"For me, Vladimir Putin is above all the president of Russia. When I talk to him, I talk to Russia, and it is a country I respect, a great country and a friendly country," said Hollande.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that he will attend the ceremony in Yerevan to commemorate the 1915 events.

According to a statement issued by the Russian Presidency, Putin told his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisian by telephone on March 12 that he would join the commemoration ceremony scheduled for April 24 in Yerevan.

Russia has significantly built up its military capabilities in Crimea since the peninsula was incorporated into its territory following a local referendum, NATO officials say.

The processes there "are easy to describe as militarization", NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Philip Breedlove has told Ukraine's 1+1 TV channel.

Putin reveals how Crimea was "returned to Russia"

MOSCOW -- Russia's Rossiya-1 broadcaster has announced it will soon air a documentary called "Crimea. Homeland-bound."

The television interviewed President Vladimir Putin, who revealed some details about the operation that returned the peninsula to Russia, Russian news agencies are reporting.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on March 6 he was cutting his salary by 10 percent as well as the earnings of several top government officials, as the country's economy reels from the collapse of the ruble.