Brief
Canadian jets intercept Russian bombers
OTTAWA — North America’s early-warning air defences have intercepted a pair of Russian bombers off the country’s northern coast, the first such encounter in more than two years.
CF-18 fighter jets were scrambled alongside U.S. F-22s around 7 p.m. ET on Thursday after radar spotted two TU-95 Bear bombers flying less than 320 kilometres from North American airspace. Norad spokeswoman Jennifer Stadnyk says the bombers did not violate Canadian or American airspace at any time. The last time Canadian jets intercepted Russian military aircraft flying in the Arctic was in December 2014. Stadnyk says the incident marks the fourth time in the past week that Russian aircraft have been observed flying near North American airspace, the most since 2015.
Charges laid in alleged hit and run
BIG RIVER, Sask. — Two people have been charged in an alleged hit-and-run in Saskatchewan that injured several children, including one seriously.
RCMP allege a vehicle failed to stop after colliding with five youth who were walking along a road on the Big River First Nation on April 9. An 11-year-old girl remains in hospital in Saskatoon, while the four others suffered minor injuries.
Colt Morin, who is 20 and from the Big River First Nation, faces charges that include failing to stop at the scene of an injured person, impaired driving causing bodily harm and driving while suspended. Elizabeth Joseph, who is 37 and also from Big River First Nation, is charged with failing to stop at the scene of an injured person and obstruction. Morin is to appear in Prince Albert provincial court on Wednesday, while Joseph is to be in court May 9.
Quebec vet association names oldest dog and cat
MONTREAL — At 21 years old, Hortense the cat has far outlived her prescribed nine lives. The spry Scottish Fold has been awarded the title of Quebec’s oldest cat by the veterinarian association that tends to small animals. The title of oldest dog went to Cachou, a 17-year-old Yorkshire terrier who dozed through today’s ceremony in Montreal in a tiny tuxedo.
Veterinary association president Valerie Trudel says the winners may not be the oldest cat and dog in the province, but they were the oldest they could find with continuous vet records.
She says Hortense would be about 120 years old in human age and Cachou would be about 100.
Alberta city working to prevent indecent activity
LETHBRIDGE, Alta. — Amorous couples looking to unite in the great outdoors should think twice in one southern Alberta city.
Police in Lethbridge are increasing patrols and the city is removing trees, branches and brush from its river valley to curb what authorities are calling indecent activity. Police say they have been called out multiple times in the last few months to deal with couples having sex in green spaces.
They say the acts have been in full view of park users and have also been observed by officers on patrol.