Students took the stage at the annual talent show with entertainment galore
Elyse Barker
Photos: Elyse Barker
February 12, 2025 Revised: February 12, 2025 5:16pm
Photo: Elyse Barker
Monique Messier being announced as the Algonquins' Got Talent Winner among her other performers.
Algonquin College held its annual Algonquin’s Got Talent on Feb. 7, featuring 14 student performances in singing, dancing and more, giving participants a stage to showcase their skills.
Hosted by Canada’s Drag Race star Kiki Coe, the event brought together a lively crowd to celebrate the college’s diverse talent. Performers competed for a $500 grand prize and the opportunity to represent Algonquin at Ontario’s Got Talent in March.
Kiki Coe opening up the talent show with a grand lip syncing performance. Photo credit: Elyse Barker
The panel of judges included theatre producer Patrice-Ann Forbes, drag performer The Eden Moore and local artist Patricia Lavres. Each judge shared their excitement about witnessing the range of talent Algonquin had to offer.
“I’m a theatre producer, so I’m constantly seeing people around me. I have to work with others and see connections,” said Forbes. “I’m looking for connection. Performance and art are all about connections, so seeing performers who are willing to bring that glow to the audience is what I’m looking for.”
Lavres echoed the enthusiasm, adding, “I am so excited to see the talent at Algonquin. I know this is a very diverse school, so I’m very excited. I’m looking for energy, confidence and fun.”
The Eden Moore summed up the anticipation simply, “I’m super excited to see what Algonquin has to offer.”
After an evening filled with dynamic performances, the top prize was awarded to Monique Messier for her original song, which captivated both the judges and the audience.
“It was such a fun experience, and it was so nice seeing all the other talents tonight,” said Messier following her win.
Talent show judges watching performer Nissita doing her rendition of 'Jealous' by Labrinth. Photo credit: Elyse Barker
Reflecting on the event, Moore added, “That was just amazing. We had the best of times and are so happy with how the show went here.”
With her victory, Messier will go on to perform at Ontario’s Got Talent in March, representing Algonquin’s vibrant and diverse student body on a larger stage.
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Top stories in your community and around the world by Algonquin Times journalists
Skyla Murray
Photos:
February 12, 2025 Revised: February 12, 2025 4:11pm
Local
CBC: Algonquin College is planning on cutting 37 programs due to financial strain.
The decision to cut or keep these programs, which include three construction programs, one online program, five technology programs, 12 art programs, and 12 business programs among others, will be finalized on Feb. 24, 2025.
The programs in question represent 16 per cent of the programs students are taking, and if the decision to cut them is finalized, no new students will be admitted into them.
Claude Brulé, Algonquin College’s president, blames provincial government tuition freezes, underfunding and federal government immigration policy changes as the main reasons for the financial strain, and in turn, the program closures.
Students currently enrolled in the programs to be cut will still be permitted to finish their studies.
National
CTV: U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he would remove exemptions on his 2018 steel tariffs, subjecting all steel imports to a 25 per cent tax, while also increasing aluminum tariffs from 10 per cent to 25 per cent.
This will affect Canada, Mexico, Brazil and South Korea, as they are some of the biggest sources of steel imports.
Trump claims that this will increase local manufacturing of such products, but critics claim that it will only risk more inflation and unnecessary increases to prices for consumers.
U.S. citizens can expect an increase in prices on items such as pharmaceuticals, computers, cars and other products affected by these tariffs as inflation rises.
These tariffs are intended to take effect on March 1, and this knowledge leaves many U.S. citizens worried about potential inflation or price increases on imported goods.
International
CBC: A reporter from the Associated Press was allegedly barred from an event at the Oval Office because the news agency used “Gulf of America” to describe the Gulf of Mexico.
This has raised worries as to whether this decision impedes independent journalism and the public’s access to independent news.
Tariffs, boycotts and the Great White North. Is Canada losing its best trade partner?
Bradley Richards
Photos: Bradley Richards
February 12, 2025 Revised: February 12, 2025 12:09pm
Photo: Bradley Richards
Customers shopping at Loblaws in College Square. Many were seen asking workers about Canadian products and what would be affected by tariffs.
By Bradley Richards and Ernest Ko
Niagara wine and Quebec cheese? The United States tariffs may be hurting the once-strong relationship with its northern neighbours, and pressuring Canadians to opt for maple-labels.
Like many other Canadians, Algonquin College student Megan McNamara has begun looking at labels and searching for maple leaves as she tries to support Canadian businesses.
“I thought we had a better relationship with the U.S.,” McNamara said. “It’s disappointing to hear they’re going to do that.”
Since Feb. 2, Trump has threatened 25 per cent tariffs, backed down, and as of Feb. 10, imposed 25 per cent tariffs on all aluminum and steel imports to the U.S — including Canada’s.
Other Canadians, like mechanical engineering technology student Tavish Champagne, said he does not understand why Trump is proposing the tariffs.
“The tariffs are not a good idea for either side,” he said. “Nobody really wins in a tariff war.”
“All the people living in these countries are going to suffer because we already can’t afford things.”
Tariffs only make things worse, Champagne said.
Alongside comments of making Canada the 51st state, Trump sparked a national crisis, leaving many Canadians angry and rallying under the Maple Leaf.
Since the threats, College Square has seen Canadians’ disappointments firsthand. At Starbucks, Bailey Marshall, a local high-school student, called Trump’s tariffs “dumb.”
“It’s a waste of time,” she said. “He’s just trying to scare people into submission.”
Khadra Hasan, a cyber security analysis student, called the tariffs a potential “disaster” which could seriously hurt students’ wallets.
“I’m trying to check which products are made in America, and boycott as many American companies as I can,” Hasan said.
In the LCBO, McNamara said it is becoming clear “which drinks are being boycotted, and which ones are Canadian-made.”
McNamara agrees with the “Buy Canadian” attitude.
“I would rather support Canadians and support where I’m from,” she said.
Colin Hall, a part-time lecturer at Algonquin College and a frequent shopper at Loblaws, wants to buy Canadian as well.
“I’m probably part of the majority in that way,” Hall said. But buying Canadian is not always easy, he admitted.
“It’s hard to figure out (what’s Canadian) because you could have distributors on one side of the border, packaging it here, and calling it a product of Canada. It’s difficult.”
According to the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, items with a “Product of Canada” label must have 98 per cent Canadian content.
“Made in Canada” products must contain at least 58 per cent of domestic ingredients, according to the law.
For the past week, Canadian social media has been circulating MadeinCa.ca, a website helping Canadians identify domestic products, including clothing, furniture, electronics and groceries.
Hall says shopping in locally-owned grocery stores helps.
“They often have more knowledge about where their products come from, as opposed to supermarket chains,” Hall said.
Canadian whiskey at the LCBO in College Square. Photo credit: Bradley Richards
Patrick Leblond, a University of Ottawa associate professor in the graduate school of public and international affairs, said finding alternative products is a reasonable response to the ominous tariffs.
Leblond said buying Canadian has real, positive impacts too.
“It sends a signal,” Leblond said. “More U.S. companies will feel that impact, and it’ll put pressure on the (United States). All of that pressure then feeds back to the administration.”
Leblond doesn’t buy the idea of tariffs, especially the economic rationales behind them.
Contrary to Trump’s statements, the United States does not subsidize Canada with trade. Instead, the decades-long free trade agreements are a by-product of America’s robust economy and the two countries’ strong trade relationship, according to a recent report by TD Economics.
Tariffs could abandon that relationship, harming people in both the U.S. and Canada in the process.
“Tariffs are a tax,” Leblond said. “Economically, it’s bad for everyone.
“It hurts Canadian companies producing goods to the U.S., because all of a sudden, they’re now paying 25 per cent more.”
Leblond said this could lead to companies trying to push the cost onto American consumers.
“It would fuel inflation,” he said.
Away from the world of macroeconomics, Jesse Piggot, an accounting student at Algonquin College, has already made up his mind.
Sitting in the Wolves Den, with a domestic pint in his hand, Piggot said that tariffs or no tariffs, his purchasing habits aren’t changing — especially when it comes to Canadian alcohol.
“If I’m going to drink myself into oblivion, I might as well have a Canadian product,” Piggot said.
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With playoff seeding on the line, the Wolves lost to Durham and won against Fleming to finish off their regular season this weekend
Vasileios Tselios
Photos: Paige Cantlon
February 12, 2025 Revised: February 12, 2025 9:18am
Photo: Paige Cantlon
Fleming Phoenix hitter Calvin Dekok hits a spike against the Algonquin Wolves in Peterborough on Feb. 1.
The Wolves men’s volleyball team split their two games over the weekend of Feb. 1 and Feb. 2, winning against the Fleming Phoenix and losing against the Durham Lords to secure the seventh seed in the east.
The Wolves went against the Phoenix in Peterborough for their first matchup of the weekend.
The Phoenix were eager to get revenge for the 3-0 loss to the Wolves earlier in the season and won the first set of the game.
Both teams traded points during the first set, but the Wolves’ attacking mistakes proved too costly, as they racked up 12 errors in the first set.
The following two sets saw the Wolves take control of the game as they won the second set by eight points and the third set by 11 points.
The Wolves’ offence found its footing, beating Fleming 22-13 in kills during these two sets.
The fourth set proved another close contest as both teams were tied at 29. Well into extra points, Wolves hitter Liam Arnold-Paquette delivered two consecutive aces, giving the Wolves a 3-1 win in the match.
On Sunday, the Wolves went up against the Durham Lords in Oshawa.
Durham raced out to an early lead, winning the first two sets by an identical score of 25-19.
Wolves setter Gavin Hassell sets up a spike against the Durham Lords in Oshawa on Feb. 2. Photo credit: Supplied photo
Facing a sweep, the Wolves took the third set into extra points and ended up winning 29-27 on the back of Arnold-Paquette’s set-sealing kill.
The Wolves’ stellar play continued into the fourth set as they won 25-22, forcing a deciding fifth set.
With Arnold-Paquette and Karl Rawlins on fire, the Wolves had an opportunity to reverse sweep Durham, a revenge of sorts for the reverse sweep they suffered against Georgian College on Jan. 25.
Wolves hitter Mahmoud Abdelaziz communicates with his team against the Durham Lords in Oshawa on Feb. 2. Photo credit: Supplied photo
The two schools were closely matched in the final set, with Algonquin ultimately coming up short. Durham won the set 20-18, winning the game 3-2.
The Wolves finished the regular season with a record of 8-10.
After a weekend of travelling and a four-month season, Algonquin’s road to the championship is still a long one. They have to travel to Sudbury and face Cambrian College, the second ranked team in the west and the third team in last year’s OCAA, on Feb. 9.
The Wolves women's volleyball team lost 3-1 against Durham Lords in their last game before playoffs
Lara Simard
Photos: Zachary Ellis
February 10, 2025 Revised: February 10, 2025 7:46pm
Photo: Zachary Ellis
Jordan Faig (left) and Isabella Tourangeau (right) take defensive stance against Durham Lords at Durham College gym on Feb. 2
The Durham Lords beat the Algonquin Wolves after a stomach-churning game on Feb. 2 at Durham College in Oshawa.
The Wolves’ Riley Lancia drilled the ball through the court of the Lords for a service ace to kickstart the game. Spirits were high and the Wolves were determined to get a memorable win over the Lords.
Doing so would have broken Durham’s long-standing streak, who remain undefeated against Algonquin since 2017.
“Since I’ve been here, we have yet to beat Durham in a game so we were all really fuelled. With La Cite beating them yesterday, we were really fired up and we really wanted to take home that win,” said libero Jordan Faig after the game.
Fourth-year player Natasha Lauzon killed it in the first set, scoring three service aces and tying the game 6-6. The Wolves then won five straight points, showing the Lords they meant business.
The Lords attempted multiple digs against the Wolves’ vicious play but were unable to fight back as the Wolves ran off five straight kills.
A few spikes were fired by the Lords’ middle Chelsea Oak, and the two teams battled neck-and-neck for a victory.
The second set started with a bang, as Lancia blocked and spiked a return from Tia Chang, setting off a wild celebration from the Wolves.
“Everyone was screaming quite a lot, we were trying to keep the energy loud. With the big home crowd they had, we had to be loud ourselves,” said Faig.
Despite a vengeful 10-point run by the Lords, the Wolves made an impressive comeback. The team was down 20-12 and advanced to a tie-game within the span of five minutes.
Setter Gabrielle Paquette gets ready to receive a serve from the Lords at the Durham College gym on Feb. 2. Photo credit: Zachary Ellis
Following the massive turnover, the Lords managed to keep themselves alive, winning the second set 33-31.
The Wolves slowed down and the Lords capitalized, taking the third set 25-11.
“I think we left it all on the line, and we did dip a little bit in the third set but we came back and we didn’t let it get to us,” said Faig.
The fourth set showed strong defence from the Wolves, levelling out the score until the very end. The Wolves continuously showed determination and resilience against the pressure from the Lords, despite losing the final set 25-22.
The intensity of the game could be felt in the air, the score bouncing back and forth with the Lords’ eight-year winning streak on the line against the Wolves.
“We kept fighting to the end, we went to 30-something (points) but I think we played really good,” said right-side hitter Grace Pate.
Pate is confident the Wolves have a fighting chance in the playoffs, if they continue their high-quality play from Oshawa.
Pate played exceptional offence, with 36 total attacking attempts recorded by the end of the game.
Grace Pate winds up for a serve during final game of the season at Durham College on Feb. 2. Photo credit: Zachary Ellis
“It was just a good match overall, lots of good plays on both sides. Durham’s a good team, so we know it’s gonna be a tough match,” said Wolves head coach Everton Senior.
Senior noted that a few of the girls on the team were feeling under the weather and he was hopeful they would have full recoveries before the playoff game against Cambrian College.
“We’re hoping to have a really big crowd to help fuel our energy for that game. With how we played today, if we continue that on, I think it’ll be a walk in the park,” said Faig.
Top stories in your community and around the world on Feb. 6 by Algonquin Times journalists
Hau Ting Ng
Photos:
February 7, 2025 Revised: February 7, 2025 3:50pm
Local
CTV: Canada Post has laid off nearly 50 managers across Canada, including roughly half of which are in Ottawa, as part of a corporate restructuring due to financial difficulties. This follows a 20 per cent reduction in senior executive positions in January.
The Crown corporation has faced considerable losses since 2018, leading to a $1 billion federal loan. Canada Post has implemented a management hiring freeze and is reviewing vacant positions to reduce costs.
The layoffs will not affect service. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has condemned the corporation for targeting workers while executives receive high salaries and bonuses.
National
CBC: The changing Canada-U.S. relationship and President Trump’s threat of tariffs highlight a “vulnerability” in energy infrastructure. Canada’s Natural Resources Minister, Jonathan Wilkinson, noted that Canada’s dependency on U.S. oil and gas transport has created uncertainty.
Certain regions in Canada, especially Ontario and Quebec, depend on pipelines running through the U.S. for energy. Due to potential trade tensions and uncertainties, a serious discussion is needed about the sustainability of this reliance.
Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline is vital for transporting oil from Western Canada across North America. Yet, its operation is partly governed by the Democratic governor of Michigan. The governor has previously attempted to close the pipeline, showcasing the instability of this energy supply model.
Premier Tim Houston of Nova Scotia supports a hypothetical West-East pipeline and urges the prime minister and federal government to revive the Energy East project. Former environment minister Wilkinson states he does not demand the pipeline but believes it should be discussed.
International
CBC: Thieves stole 100,000 organic eggs worth $40,000 from a distribution trailer in Pennsylvania, prompting an investigation.
The theft may relate to soaring U.S. egg prices caused by an avian flu outbreak, which has led to shortages and spikes. Prices have doubled in the U.S., with some regions exceeding $12 per dozen.
Peel Regional Police in Ontario have charged six individuals following an investigation into extensive thefts of butter and ghee in the area last week. Authorities report a significant rise in butter thefts from local grocery stores, with losses surpassing $60,000.
In November, B.C. RCMP revealed they thwarted a cheese heist at Whole Foods in North Vancouver. On Sept. 29, 2024, they found a cart full of cheese outside the store. A suspect fled on foot and left $12,800 worth of cheese behind.
Globally, food thefts are on the rise, and increasing food prices have contributed to the growing frequency of these crimes.
Students are getting ready to watch Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9 to see the Chiefs take on the Eagles
Jaiden Martin
Photos: Jaiden Martin
February 7, 2025 Revised: February 7, 2025 2:33pm
Photo: Jaiden Martin
A Bud Light neon sign at the bar in the Wolves Den.
The Algonquin College community is getting ready to watch a star-studded Super Bowl matchup from home or at the Wolves Den.
The Kansas City Chiefs look to win their third Super Bowl in a row, which would make them the first team to accomplish such a feat in NFL history. The Eagles look to win their second Super Bowl in five appearances.
Cameron Thornsell posing for a photo in the Wolves Den. Photo credit: Jaiden Martin
“I think it’s going to be the Chiefs because I know they have quite the history, the last two years they’ve won, so I have a feeling they’re going to go for that three-peat. I think they have it in them,” said Cameron Thornsell, a business student.
Super Bowl festivities kick off at the Wolves Den on Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. The bar will be offering $2 off spinach dip, nachos, pizza and wings.
“That sounds enticing me, bring a few buddies and grab a table and some drinks, that sounds like a good time,” said Thornsell
The Wolves Den will also be hosting contests while the game is going on, giving everyone a chance to have fun, even if they are not a big football fan.
“We’re going to be doing a game, it’s called squares. Basically, at the end of a corner, somebody’s going to win Wolves memorabilia. We’re also doing a draw for the Bud Light neon sign that’s on display here,” said Joe St. Amand, the front-of-house manager at the Wolves Den.
Some people could care less who wins the Super Bowl.
Abshir Egueh, who is a student in the computer engineering technology and computing science program, is excited to see Kendrick Lamar perform during the halftime show.
Abshir Egueh posing for a photo in the Wolves Den on Feb 4. Photo credit: Jaiden Martin
“I’ll probably watch the halftime show because Kendrick is doing it, but other than that, I could care less who wins,” said Egueh.
Star halfback Saquon Barkley has led the Eagles on this Super Bowl run. Barkley, whose birthday falls on the same day as Super Bowl LIX, gave himself the best birthday gift he could receive: a chance at winning the championship.
Barkley has a combined five touchdowns in his previous two playoff games while also rushing the ball for 323 yards. Barkley was nominated for MVP of the regular season and his hot play followed into the playoffs.
On the flip side, Chiefs quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, is looking to write his name into the history books. If Mahomes wins, he will solidify his spot in the conversation of the greatest players of all time.
While the Chiefs look to create the first three-peat in Super Bowl history, the Eagles look to ruin their fairytale story. The Super Bowl will be played at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, with kickoff scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Students take on ambitious project to create a series for Algonquin's Got Talent
Lara Simard
Photos: Lara Simard
February 7, 2025 Revised: February 7, 2025 10:31am
Photo: Lara Simard
Chase Price coils a cord in the production studio on Feb. 3 after directing the team's production meeting.
The television and streaming video program is putting on a show for Algonquin College students, shining a spotlight on the upcoming Algonquin’s Got Talent in the Observatory.
The show will be shot with multiple cameras to capture dynamic angles, showcasing both the performances and the audience reactions, similar to the reality TV show America’s Got Talent, which is hosted by Simon Cowell. Instead of a simple performance-based show, the focus will be on storytelling, highlighting the emotional investment of both the performers and the production team.
There is no exact release date at this point. But the plan, according to a few of the producers and Matt McCooeye, the program coordinator, will be to have a series published by the end of April.
“The students of our program are storytellers. That’s what we’re looking for. We’re looking for stories,” McCooeye said.
“Yes, we want to capture the event, but we also want to tell their stories. And this is a really good opportunity for all the students to use all the skills they’ve learned in our program and create something that, maybe, there is an audience for.”
McCooeye is impressed with the student engagement, with 35 out of 55 students in the program volunteering for the project.
“These students will be working on this event and this show because they want to work on it, so I love all the engagement, which is exciting for us. I believe they will rise to meet our expectations,” he said.
His goal is for the students to get the opportunity to work in the field on a real-life project, with real-life expectations, goals and production standards.
A camera from the production studio with green screen background. Photo credit: Lara Simard
The crew, led by Salah Tebessi and Aldo Israel Ramirez Ortiz, is responsible for everything from the social media promotion to event coordination.
Everyone on the team will work hard to ensure that anyone who misses the event can get a true feel for the contestants’ heightened emotions and the vibrant atmosphere.
As pre-production lead, Price is organizing roles and coordinating production teams.
“I’m excited for it, just to see how it flows. I have produced some things before, and I find sometimes I just need to step back and let people do their thing,” Price said.
“There’s a lot of very capable and strongly skilled people on the entire team that are put in great positions that complement their skills a lot, so I think it’ll go very well.”
Price, Tebessi and production/crew coordinator Michael Bennett will play a key role in shaping the vision of the event, ensuring that it stays aligned with the overall goals of showcasing student talent in a professional manner.
Despite lacking the expensive equipment used on America’s Got Talent, students are ready to show the raw, unscripted emotions of the live performances, making the show feel more organic and relatable.
There will be interviews before and after each act, allowing the performers to tell their own stories.
“I’m going to try to get that emotional side of that performance, because when you look at the real AGT, you see parents, you see friends, you see people getting emotional because they have been dreaming about doing that thing for a long period of time, and now it’s on the stage,” Tebessi said.
Tebessi envisions creating a polished, professional edition of the talent show that stands apart from previous productions that might have felt like “typical student work.” He aims to produce something that captures the essence of the performers in a way that respects their talent and feels authentic, rather than just another student-run project.
“Personally, my main goal right now with AGT is to try to make the most professional edition ever made,” he said.
The series is likely to contain five episodes, each approximately 15 minutes long and released weekly. The show may be published on the Algonquin Students’ Association YouTube channel, however, it is yet to be determined where the show will be streamed.
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As the winter term begins, some students are facing financial stress, with tuition fees and ancillary costs adding to their burden
Hau Ting Ng
Photos: Hau Ting Ng
February 6, 2025 Revised: February 6, 2025 4:26pm
Photo: Hau Ting Ng
Students can visit Student Central in the C-building to apply for and inquire about OSAP.
The deadline to withdraw from the winter term with a full refund passed on Jan. 17, leaving students who remain enrolled navigating the financial challenges of paying their tuition and mandatory fees.
Sundus Farah is a second-level student in community and justice services. The Ontario Student Assistance Program covers her tuition fee, but she still feels stressed.
Farah said it is too much to pay for the services she doesn’t use, such as athletics and activities fees.
For the 2024-2025 academic year, Algonquin College charged ancillary and administrative fees of $160 for athletics and $217.37 per term for student activities. These fees apply to all full-time post-secondary, graduate certificate and bachelor’s degree students.
“I think the college can take out those unnecessary fees for those people, like people who drive to school, but they still need to pay the U-Pass fee,” Farah added.
Harsh Dama, a Level 4 international student in the financial services program, said he worked two part-time jobs during the summer break to pay for all the fees.
Dama saved money using Guaranteed Investment Certificates.
“I was receiving monthly payments from my bank. I was saving it, but just in case I hadn’t secured a part-time job. I managed it somehow,” Dama said. “It’s really hard to save money for the fees.”
Dama said he uses the college services, “but it’s still too expensive.”
According to Ontario colleges, the average tuition cost for one academic year at an Ontario college varies by program type. Diploma programs typically cost around $2,400, graduate certificate programs are $3,600, bachelor’s degree programs average $6,100 and collaborative programs are approximately $5,000.
Zolan Howard, a Level 2 student in the music and industry program, transferred from the business law program at Trent University. OSAP covered his tuition and he said he’s not stressed about paying back the loan.
Zolan Howard said the course quality is good enough because of the amazing studio. Photo credit: Hau Ting Ng
Howard transferred to college because he felt that the university lacked a sense of community.
“I used to pay around $8,000 a year for university business courses, but I didn’t enjoy them,” he said. “For my program, I’m paying $16,000. I would say the course quality is good enough because the studio is amazing here, and I feel it is worth it despite the higher cost.”
Top stories in your community and around the world on Feb. 5 by Algonquin Times journalists
Ana Silva
Photos:
February 6, 2025 Revised: February 6, 2025 1:58pm
Local
CBC: The Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group says the city’s sports teams could help reduce financial losses at Lansdowne Park.
The $419-million redevelopment plan aims to revamp the site, but concerns remain about its economic viability. OSEG has proposed strategies, including increasing game attendance and attracting more large-scale events to boost revenue.
However, with the city facing a budget deficit, debate continues over whether additional public funding should be used to support the venue.
National
CTV: A Japan Airlines plane struck the tail of a parked Delta Air Lines aircraft at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Wednesday morning, authorities said.
The incident occurred around 10:17 a.m. when the Japan Airlines Boeing 737, taxiing on the tarmac, made contact with the tail of a stationary Delta Boeing 737. The Delta plane was waiting for deicing, which means to defrost, before its scheduled flight to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
There were no injuries reported. Delta said its flight, number 1921, had 142 passengers on board. They were transferred to a new aircraft for the journey.
Jason Chan, a passenger on the Delta flight, described the incident as “surreal,” saying the plane “jiggled back and forth” when the collision occurred. Passengers remained calm, and they were eventually bussed back to the terminal.
Airport operations were not significantly impacted, as the collision occurred on a taxi lane.
International
CBC: A ceasefire agreement in the Democratic Republic of Congo between the government and M23 rebels has collapsed, leading to renewed clashes in the eastern region. The fighting, which has displaced thousands, threatens to worsen the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The United Nations has condemned the violence, urging all parties to engage in peaceful negotiations. However, with both sides refusing to back down, the situation remains volatile. Experts warn that without stronger international intervention, the conflict could spiral further, deepening instability in the region.
