World News Roundup: South Korea, Canada agree to step up cooperation on critical minerals, security; France's Sarkozy loses corruption appeal, to challenge at highest court and more

Trudeau arrived in Seoul on Tuesday in the first visit in nine years by a Canadian leader as the two countries explore ways to expand security ties, while navigating a rivalry between the United States and China. Russia's war on Ukraine latest: Crunch time for talks on grain deal set to expire Last-ditch talks were under way to renew the Black Sea grain deal that has allowed wartime exports of Ukrainian grain, before it expires on Thursday with Russia demanding more support for its own sales of fertiliser and food.

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

South Korea, Canada agree to step up cooperation on critical minerals, security

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed on Wednesday to enhance cooperation on critical minerals and continue joint efforts to fend off North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. Trudeau arrived in Seoul on Tuesday in the first visit in nine years by a Canadian leader as the two countries explore ways to expand security ties, while navigating a rivalry between the United States and China.

France's Sarkozy loses corruption appeal, to challenge at highest court

Former president Nicolas Sarkozy lost his appeal against a 2021 conviction for corruption and influence peddling at the Paris Court of Appeals on Wednesday, prompting his legal team to promise a challenge at France's highest court. The appeals court upheld a three-year prison sentence. In line with the initial ruling, it said two of those years were suspended and that Sarkozy would wear an electronic bracelet instead of going to jail for the remaining year.

Russia's war on Ukraine latest: Crunch time for talks on grain deal set to expire

Last-ditch talks were under way to renew the Black Sea grain deal that has allowed wartime exports of Ukrainian grain, before it expires on Thursday with Russia demanding more support for its own sales of fertiliser and food. GRAIN DEAL

Ecuador president dissolves legislature, bringing elections forward

Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso dissolved the National Assembly in a decree on Wednesday, bringing forward legislative and presidential elections, a day after he presented his defense in an impeachment process against him. Lasso denies the accusation, saying his administration made changes to the contract signed years before he took office, in order to benefit the state, on advice from Ecuador's comptroller.

Turkey opposition contests thousands of ballots after election

Turkey's main opposition party said on Wednesday it had filed complaints over suspected irregularities at thousands of ballot boxes in Sunday's landmark elections, in which President Tayyip Erdogan performed better than expected. However, opposition party officials said the objections were unlikely to alter the result of the presidential vote, which is headed to a runoff on May 28 between Erdogan and challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

Spanish Socialists' lead over conservative opposition narrows in poll

Spain's ruling Socialist Workers' Party would win a general election by a small margin over the main opposition, while a new left-wing coalition is poised to overtake the far right in third place, an opinion poll showed on Wednesday. A general election is expected to be held in December at the latest, with local and regional votes on May 28 helping to gauge levels of support for each party.

Analysis-Jet-setting Lula risks losing focus on Brazil issues, allies say

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's focus on foreign policy and a relentless schedule of trips abroad risks distracting him from tackling thorny domestic issues, two senior allies of the leftist president told Reuters. Their frank comments, expressed on condition of anonymity, hint at growing discomfort within Lula's camp at his pace of travel and his commitment to brokering peace between Russia and Ukraine at a time when there is great pressure to quickly deliver results or risk handing advantage to former President Jair Bolsonaro and his right-wing supporters.

Sudan aid needs surge as fighting rages on in Khartoum

The United Nations said on Wednesday more than half Sudan's population now needed aid and protection, as civilians sought shelter from air strikes and sporadic clashes between rival military factions in the Khartoum area. Residents said power had been cut, food was in short supply, and drinking water scarce due to the violent power struggle, now in its second month despite international mediation efforts.

At Japan's G7 summit, the big elephants are China and Russia

The longest shadows at the Group of Seven (G7) leaders' summit this week will be cast by two countries that weren't even invited to the Hiroshima gathering: China and Russia. As the heads of the world's advanced democracies meet for three days from Friday in the western Japanese city, they will need to overcome some differences of their own, officials say, as they aim to project unity against challenges from Beijing and Moscow.

Ukraine denies Russia destroyed Patriot missile defence system

Ukraine denied on Wednesday that a Russian hypersonic missile had destroyed a U.S.-made Patriot missile defence system during an air strike on Kyiv. Russia's defence ministry made the assertion on Tuesday after an overnight air attack on the Ukrainian capital. Two U.S. officials later said a Patriot system had probably suffered damage but that it did not appear to have been destroyed.