A vigil was held in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, where Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney joined hundreds of mourners to pay tribute to the eight victims of a recent mass shooting in the town.

On Friday, Prime Minister Carney visited Tumbler Ridge, accompanied by other federal leaders and Canada's Governor-General Mary Simon, in a demonstration of national solidarity.

Addressing the crowd, Prime Minister Carney expressed his condolences, stating that Canadians stand with the community, and will continue to do so, as they mourn the loss of six young school children and two others.

The town is still grappling with the aftermath of the attack, with many residents visibly distraught and seeking comfort from one another as they listened to Prime Minister Carney and other leaders acknowledge their grief.

Some residents declined to speak to the media on Friday, citing the overwhelming presence of journalists in their typically quiet town, nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

Prime Minister Carney had initially planned to attend the Munich Security Conference, but cancelled his trip in response to the shooting, prioritizing his presence in Tumbler Ridge.

According to Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, Prime Minister Carney extended an invitation to other federal leaders to travel with him to Tumbler Ridge, promoting a unified front.

In his remarks at the vigil, Pierre Poilievre emphasized that, despite their political affiliations, the leaders had put aside their differences, saying, "Today, there are no Conservatives, Liberals, New Democrats, Greens, or Bloc Québécois."

Prior to the vigil, Prime Minister Carney and other leaders met with the families of the victims and first responders, and laid flowers at a memorial near Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, which has grown significantly over the past week.

The vigil was attended by families of the victims, local residents, and individuals from nearby communities in northern British Columbia, who came to pay their respects.

Colaina Hall, who drove two hours from Fort St John to attend the vigil, expressed her shock, saying, "I never thought something like this would happen here," and described the close-knit nature of their community.

Hall described the situation as "devastating," reflecting the sentiment of many in attendance.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have identified 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar as the suspect in the shooting, who was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the school.

In an update on Friday, the RCMP stated that they do not believe the suspect targeted specific individuals in the attack.

According to RCMP deputy commissioner Dwayne McDonald, the suspect's actions were more akin to "hunting," as they engaged with anyone they encountered.

Police have seized a total of four firearms in relation to the shooting, with two recovered from the suspect's home and two from the school.

Authorities had previously stated that they were unsure how the suspect obtained the weapons used in the attack.

It was reported that Van Rootselaar had a firearm license that expired in 2024.

The suspect's mother, Jennifer Jacobs, also known as Jennifer Strang, held a license to purchase and possess guns, but there were no registered firearms under her license, according to deputy commissioner McDonald.

McDonald noted that certain types of firearms are exempt from registration under the law.

A 2021 Facebook post from Jennifer Strang mentioned the suspect's interest in guns, as discovered by BBC Verify.

A relative's 2021 post shared an image of the suspect holding a hunting rifle.

Deputy commissioner McDonald stated that police are still investigating how Van Rootselaar obtained the guns used in the attack, particularly the firearm believed to have caused the most significant damage at the school.

McDonald declined to provide details about the primary gun used at the school, citing its unknown origin and potential involvement of other parties in its procurement.

Earlier in the week, police revealed that Van Rootselaar, who had transitioned six years prior, had a history of mental health struggles and had been admitted for psychiatric evaluation.

Guns had been seized from the suspect's home in the past, but were returned after a successful petition by the owner.

Deputy commissioner McDonald clarified that the guns used in the attack were not among those previously seized by police.

The RCMP released an image of the suspect to counter misinformation circulating on social media about the attack and the suspect's identity.

The school remained closed on Friday as the investigation continued, with deputy commissioner McDonald hoping to conclude the inquiry soon, acknowledging the town's need to heal.

A total of nine people, including the suspected shooter, lost their lives in the shootings, comprising five children and one adult educator at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, as well as two family members of the suspected shooter at a local residence.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed the identities of those killed at the school: 12-year-old Kylie Smith, 12-year-old Abel Mwansa, 12-year-old Zoey Benoit, 12-year-old Ticaria Lampert, 13-year-old Ezekiel Schofield, and 39-year-old teacher Shannda Aviugana-Durand.

Zoey Benoit's family described her as "resilient, vibrant, smart, caring, and the strongest little girl you could meet" in a statement shared by the police.

Benoit's family remembered her as a source of laughter and joy, saying, "She brought so much laughter and smiles in her presence," and expressed their devastation at her loss.

Ticaria Lampert's mother, Sarah Lampert, shared that her daughter was just two months away from her 13th birthday during a news conference on Thursday.

Sarah Lampert affectionately referred to her daughter as "my tiki torch," describing her as a bright light in darkness, whose presence was always noticeable.

The US federal government's partial shutdown has prompted travel groups and airlines to issue warnings about potential disruptions, as lawmakers were unable to agree on a funding deal for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

In a joint statement released on Friday, several organizations, including Airlines for America, noted that the lack of a funding agreement could lead to increased unscheduled absences among Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers, resulting in flight delays and longer wait times for passengers.

The groups emphasized that the US economy and travelers cannot afford to have essential TSA personnel working without compensation, highlighting the need for a swift resolution to the funding impasse.

The partial government shutdown commenced at midnight (05:00 GMT) on Saturday, after Congress failed to pass a bill to fund DHS operations, leading to a lapse in government funding.

In exchange for a funding deal, Democrats had sought to impose additional restrictions on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which is relatively insulated from the shutdown's effects due to funding allocated through the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" last year.

The demand for reforms stems from an incident in January, in which federal agents fatally shot two Minneapolis residents, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who were protesting the Trump administration's immigration raids in Minnesota.

Democrats have proposed several changes within the DHS, including a ban on immigration agents wearing face masks, improved identification for officers, and stricter rules for obtaining warrants, in an effort to increase transparency and accountability.

On Thursday, Senate Democrats blocked two funding bills, citing the absence of immigration reforms, which had been a key point of contention in the negotiations; the previous funding measure, passed in late January, only provided two weeks of funding for the DHS.

When asked by reporters about the prospects of reaching a deal with Democrats to fund the DHS, US President Donald Trump replied, "we'll see what happens," indicating uncertainty about the outcome of the negotiations.

Trump also emphasized the importance of protecting law enforcement, stating, "we always have to protect our law enforcement," in the context of the funding debate.

The shutdown is expected to impact several agencies under the DHS umbrella, including the US Coast Guard and the TSA, which could lead to disruptions in their operations.

The US government experienced its longest full shutdown in history last year, lasting 43 days, resulting in unpaid federal workers and significant disruptions to air travel; at the time, Democrats were pushing for increased healthcare funding to address rising healthcare costs.

Congress is scheduled to recess until 23 February, which could prolong the shutdown until the day after Trump's State of the Union address, unless lawmakers reach a deal or are recalled to Washington earlier.

However, if lawmakers appear to be on the verge of a breakthrough, they could be summoned back to Washington ahead of schedule to finalize an agreement.

Unlike last year's shutdown, which caused widespread travel chaos, the current shutdown is unlikely to have as significant an impact on air travel, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), responsible for air traffic control, has already received funding for the remainder of the year.

Nevertheless, TSA agents, who fall under the DHS, may be required to work without pay if the shutdown persists, potentially leading to longer lines at airports as workers may call in sick.

The US Coast Guard, another agency overseen by the DHS, could also be affected, with Vice Admiral Thomas Allan warning that a brief funding lapse would result in approximately 56,000 workers going without pay, forcing the agency to suspend non-essential missions.

The DHS has access to $165bn (£120bn) in funding from the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," which includes $75bn allocated to ICE, providing some flexibility to address funding shortfalls during the shutdown.

A settlement has been reached between University College London (UCL) and a group of graduates and students who had initiated legal proceedings regarding the quality of education during the Covid-19 pandemic and strikes.

According to UCL, the institution had taken diligent measures to provide teaching and support to students despite the challenging circumstances, and it did not acknowledge any wrongdoing in the settlement.

A lawyer for the students expressed satisfaction with the outcome, noting that his firm would continue to represent a large number of students from other universities who were affected by the pandemic.

The terms of the agreement between UCL and the claimants remain undisclosed, with no details shared publicly.

The students and graduates involved in the case had joined the legal action through a website called Student Group Claim, which facilitated their participation in the proceedings.

The law firms representing the claimants argued that the shift to online teaching and cancellation of certain classes had limited access to university facilities and compromised the quality of education.

UCL maintained that its primary focus was on ensuring the well-being and academic success of its students throughout the pandemic.

While the exact number of students involved in the claim at the time of settlement is unclear, approximately 5,000 students had initiated claims against UCL as of July 2024.

David Hamon, the lead claimant, announced that the members of Student Group Claim had reached a confidential settlement with UCL, with no admission of liability from either party.

Hamon also stated that the parties were pleased to have resolved the dispute through mutual agreement, thereby avoiding the need for a trial.

Adam Zoubir, a partner at Harcus Parker solicitors, welcomed the settlement, which he believed provided a resolution for his clients, and noted that his firm would continue to represent students from other universities who were affected by the pandemic.

Shimon Goldwater, a partner at Asserson solicitors, expressed his satisfaction with the outcome and indicated that Student Group Claim would now focus on supporting claimants from other universities who were impacted by the pandemic.

UCL President and Provost Michael Spence acknowledged the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and emphasized that the university's response was guided by a commitment to protecting the health and well-being of its students while maintaining academic standards.

Spence highlighted the efforts of UCL staff, who worked to deliver teaching and support services in accordance with government guidelines, despite the unprecedented circumstances.

He emphasized that every decision made by the university was aimed at balancing the need to safeguard health with the need to preserve academic excellence.

Spence noted that UCL had always respected the right of individuals to seek legal remedies and welcomed the resolution of the dispute, which would enable the university to focus on its core mission of providing high-quality education and research.