Top news: During her second day of talks in Beijing on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton raised two of the touchiest topics in U.S.-Chinese relations: the Syrian crisis and territorial disputes in the South China Sea. But public remarks by Clinton and Chinese officials suggest the two sides did not make much progress in reaching consensus on the issues.

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, for example, told a press conference that "history will judge that China's position on the Syria question is a promotion of the appropriate handling of the situation," eliciting a sharp response from Clinton. "It is no secret that we have been disappointed by Russia and China's actions blocking tougher U.N. Security Council resolutions," she noted.

Chinese officials also issued warnings about Washington's renewed focus on the Asia-Pacific region and efforts to resolve maritime disputes between China and its neighbors. Yang declared that China "has sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea and the adjacent waters," while Premier Wen Jiaobao added that the "U.S. should respect China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity." Clinton's meeting with Vice President Xi Jinping, who is expected to become China's next leader, was canceled.   

Quebec elections: Pauline Marois and her separatist Parti Quebecois emerged victorious in elections in the Canadian province of Quebec on Tuesday, though the party did not secure enough seats for a majority in the provincial assembly. A deadly shooting later disrupted Marois's victory speech.