Briefly

FRANCE

Sluggish start for 2nd round of regional polls

France was voting in the second round of regional elections on Sunday after a first round that saw a drubbing for President Emmanuel Macron's ruling party, disappointment for Marine Le Pen's far-right and a record-low turnout. The first-round results marked a boost for the traditional right-wing The Republicans as well as the Socialist Party. Four hours after polls opened, turnout on Sunday stood at the same dismal 12.66 percent as during the first round.

UNITED STATES

Chauvin gets more than 22 years in jail

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced on Friday to 22½ years in prison for the murder of George Floyd, whose dying gasps under Chauvin's knee led to the biggest outcry against racial injustice in the US in generations. The punishment is one of the longest prison terms ever imposed on a US police officer in the killing of a black person.

EGYPT

Sisi's Iraq trip builds on improving ties

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi arrived in Baghdad on Sunday, becoming the first Egyptian head of state to travel to Iraq since 1990. Relations between the two countries have been steadily improving in recent years, with many senior officials from both countries exchanging visits. Sisi's visit to Iraq is part of a summit between Egypt, Jordan and Iraq meant to strengthen security, trade and investment cooperation.

Agencies Via Xinhua