With boisterous crowd cheering her on, Rochette takes short program at Skate Canada. Listening to her coach paid off for Joannie Rochette.

US champion Jeremy Abbott was the surprise men's leader at Skate Canada as world silver medallist Patrick Chan struggled through his short programme to wind up back in sixth.

SAN JOSE, California (Reuters) - Dany Heatley bagged his second hat-trick of the season to inspire the Pacific Division-leading San Jose Sharks to a 6-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday.

A group of US experts on Korean affairs will visit Pyongyang Saturday for talks with policy makers regarding North Korea's nuclear weapons programme, a news report said.

ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - President Dmitry Medvedev on Saturday criticized regional officials in Russia's ruling party for failing to ensure fully democratic local elections last month.

BAKU (Reuters) - Azerbaijan said talks with Armenia on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict would be "decisive" and warned Azeri troops were ready to use force to take back the rebel region if they fail.

President Obama says his trip to Asia helped build steps toward US economy's recovery. President Barack Obama's eight-day trip to Asia produced no tangible wins for the United States, though he is citing talks with Asian allies that he says could help create thousands of job and open new markets for American goods in the future.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Saturday urged Americans to show patience over the economy and argued that his just-concluded Asia trip was critical for U.S. exports, countering criticism he had returned empty-handed.

ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - President Dmitry Medvedev scolded leaders of Russia's ruling party on Saturday for "bad political habits" and ordered them to win future elections fairly.

BEIJING (Reuters) - At least 31 miners were killed and 78 remain trapped 500 meters (yards) underground following a gas blast at a mine in China, state media said on Saturday.

BEIJING (Reuters) - At least 31 miners were killed and 78 remain trapped 500 meters (yards) underground following a gas blast at a mine in China, state media said on Saturday.

Scientists stunned by quick restart of European Big Bang machine after year of repairs. Scientists moved Saturday to prepare the world's largest atom smasher for exploring the depths of matter after successfully restarting the $10 billion machine following more than a year of repairs.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran will begin large-scale air defense war games on Sunday to help protect its nuclear facilities against any attack, a senior commander said.

Russian president scolds ruling party over regional elections, urges it to reform. Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev on Saturday sharply criticized officials in the ruling Kremlin-backed party for manipulating recent regional votes, saying it must learn to win fairly.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran will begin large-scale air defense war games on Sunday to help protect its nuclear facilities against any attack, a senior commander said.

President Obama says his trip to Asia helped build steps toward US economy's recovery. President Barack Obama's eight-day trip to Asia produced no tangible wins for the United States, though he is citing talks with Asian allies that he says could help create thousands of jobs and open new markets for American goods in the future.

Austria has begun talks with Russia in view of joining Moscow's South Stream gas pipeline project, Austrian newspapers reported on Saturday.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Saturday strongly backed President Dmitry Medvedev's call for radical economic modernization, in an apparent bid to smother talk of differences between the leaders.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin Saturday strongly backed President Dmitry Medvedev's call for radical economic modernization, in an apparent bid to smother talk of differences between the leaders.

42 dead, 66 trapped underground in state-run coal mine explosion in northern China. A gas explosion tore through a state-run coal mine in northern China on Saturday, killing 42 people and leaving 66 others trapped underground as rescuers worked hastily to save them.