Canadian sub makes first trip to Asia-Pacific in 50 years

OTTAWA A Canadian submarine has crossed the Pacific to patrol off the Asian coast for the first time in nearly 50 years, the navy said on Thursday, amid heightened tensions over North Korea's nuclear weapons programme. Although HMCS Chicoutimi's mission was scheduled a year ago, it comes after the US and its allies agreed at crisis talks in Vancouver last month to tougher measures to halt North Korean sanctions transgressions, including naval security operations to prevent maritime smuggling. (AFP)