News
Canadian Town Unites in Mourning After Mass Shooting Leaves Community Reeling
Residents of British Columbia are reeling from the shooting, with many expressing that its effects have been far-reaching, touching nearly every member of the community in some capacity.
A devastating mass shooting has occurred in the small town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, resulting in the deaths of nine individuals, including six children, leaving the community in a state of shock.
According to Tracy Krauss, a local pastor, the town's residents had previously felt a sense of security, with newcomers often being teased for locking their doors, as crime was virtually non-existent in the area, the BBC reports.
However, this perception of safety has been shattered by the recent events, leaving Krauss and others to grapple with the reality of the situation.
The police have released the names of the victims, which include 12-year-old Zoey Benoit, described by those who knew her as an exceptionally strong and resilient young girl.
Another 12-year-old victim, Kylie Smith, was remembered by her family as a bright and aspiring artist who had dreams of attending art school, and was cherished as the "light" of her family.
The town of Tumbler Ridge, with a population of approximately 2,400 people, is struggling to come to terms with the tragedy, which has affected the close-knit community deeply.
A memorial has been established near the school, where people have been leaving flowers, teddy bears, and handwritten notes to honor the memories of the victims.
The incident is one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canada's history, a country where such events are relatively rare.
Support has been pouring in from across the country, with Prime Minister Mark Carney scheduled to visit the town on Friday to offer condolences.
Many questions remain unanswered regarding the shooting, including the motives behind 18-year-old suspect Jesse Van Rootselaar's actions.
Van Rootselaar was found dead at the scene, having sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound, while his mother and step-brother were found deceased at a local residence, according to the police.
Krauss noted that Van Rootselaar's family is well-known in the community and that they, too, are victims of the tragedy, emphasizing that the surviving relatives will also be grieving.
It is believed that Van Rootselaar killed his mother and step-brother before proceeding to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where the shooting occurred, with police responding to reports of gunfire at approximately 13:30 local time on Tuesday.
During the attack, dozens of students, including 17-year-old Darian Quist, took shelter in their classrooms, with Quist and 15 others barricading themselves in their mechanics class using metal tables.
Quist recalled that they were initially unsure of the reason for hiding, but later discovered the truth through an alert on their phones, and remained in hiding for over two hours before being safely escorted out by Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and SWAT officers.
The experience has left Quist and his classmates feeling angry, sad, and shocked, with Quist expressing his disbelief that such a tragedy could occur in their town.
Quist acknowledged the reality of the situation, stating that the lives lost were real, and the pain caused by the tragedy is undeniable.
Outside the school, parents gathered at a nearby community centre, anxiously waiting to be reunited with their children, with Krauss providing support to a friend whose son was among the students.
Krauss's friend later received the devastating news that their child was among the victims, leaving them heartbroken.
The pastor described the moment as "devastating," and emphasized the immense pain of losing a child, which she said is the worst possible experience for a parent.
Krauss noted that the shooting has affected everyone in the town in some way, stating that "everybody knows somebody" who has been impacted by the tragedy.
The town of Tumbler Ridge has a strong mining history and is also known for its natural beauty, with a UNESCO-recognised geopark that attracts tourists.
Bob Zimmer, the federal Conservative member of parliament representing the region, hopes that the town will not be defined by the tragedy, but rather by its beauty and the strength of its community.
Zimmer expressed his desire for the town to be remembered for its picturesque scenery and the resilience of its people, rather than the tragic event that occurred.
"The community wants to be known for its beauty and the beauty of its people," Zimmer told the BBC, acknowledging that the current situation is overshadowed by a "dark cloud" that will take time to lift.
Police reported that they had responded to multiple mental health calls involving Van Rootselaar in the past and had previously seized firearms from the suspect's home, which were later returned after a successful petition by the owner.
Authorities did not disclose the owner of the previously seized guns or how Van Rootselaar obtained the weapons used in the shooting, but noted that he had a gun licence that had expired in 2024.
Zimmer acknowledged that there will be difficult discussions in the aftermath of the shooting, including the need for more substantial mental health support, but emphasized that the community's focus is currently on grieving.
For now, Zimmer said that the community is focused on providing support and comfort to those affected, offering "hugs and appreciation" to help them through this difficult time.
Zimmer expressed his commitment to being present for the community, stating that they will provide hope and support, while also acknowledging that there are serious questions that need to be addressed in the aftermath of the tragedy.
"There are some serious questions that need to be answered," Zimmer said, emphasizing the importance of addressing these concerns in the future.
News
NBA Imposes Fine on Utah Jazz for Violating League Integrity
The National Basketball Association has imposed a fine of $500,000, equivalent to £367,000, on the Utah Jazz for resting healthy players, a move deemed to have undermined the league’s integrity.
The Utah Jazz have secured 18 victories out of 56 games played so far this season.
The NBA has imposed a fine of $500,000 (£367,000) on the Utah Jazz for their decision to bench healthy players, which the league believes has compromised the integrity of the competition.
In recent games against the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat, Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy made the decision to remove key players Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr from the lineup before the fourth quarter.
This strategy, commonly referred to as "tanking," involves coaches deliberately fielding a weaker team to improve their chances of securing a higher draft pick.
The NBA's draft system is designed to give teams with the worst records the best opportunity to select top prospects.
The Indiana Pacers have also been fined $100,000 (£73,000) for violating the league's player participation policy during their loss to the Jazz on February 4.
According to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, "behaviour that prioritises draft position over winning undermines the competitive foundation of the NBA, and we will take appropriate action in response to any further incidents that compromise the integrity of our games."
The NBA is currently working with its competition committee and board of governors to develop additional measures aimed at preventing this type of behaviour.
With the Jazz ranked 13th in the Western Conference and the Pacers 14th in the Eastern Conference, a playoff push seems unlikely for both teams, and attention is already turning to next season's roster construction.
In their recent games, the Jazz held a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter against Orlando on February 8 but ultimately lost 120-117, while they managed to defeat Miami 115-111 two days later.
Utah owner Ryan Smith expressed his disagreement with the fine on social media, stating "Agree to disagree. We won the game in Miami and still got fined, which doesn't make sense."
Head coach Will Hardy has defended his decision to bench Markkanen, citing a minutes restriction, and the team has also announced that Jackson Jr will undergo season-ending knee surgery after the All-Star games.
Hardy explained his decision, saying "I benched Lauri because he was under a minutes restriction, and I'm trying to keep him healthy, as per our medical team's instructions."
This is not the first time the Jazz have been fined for resting players; they were also fined $100,000 (£73,000) last season for resting Markkanen in multiple games.
The Pacers' fine was issued after a league investigation found that Pascal Siakam and two other players who did not participate in the game could have played, even if it was with limited minutes.
The player participation policy was introduced by the NBA in 2023 as a measure to discourage teams from deliberately losing games to improve their draft lottery chances.
Business
Artist Alleges AirAsia Used His Work Without Permission
A street artist from Penang has reported that one of his artworks has been replicated and featured on the design of an airplane.
A lawsuit has been filed by a Malaysian-based artist against AirAsia and its parent company, Capital A Berhad, alleging unauthorized use of the artist's designs on one of the airline's planes.
According to the lawsuit, Ernest Zacharevic, a Lithuanian-born artist residing in Penang, claims that his 2012 street mural, Kids on Bicycle, was reproduced and displayed on an AirAsia aircraft in late 2024 without his permission.
Zacharevic states that the use of his design was unauthorized, and no licensing agreement or consent was obtained, adding that the livery was removed after he publicly expressed concerns about the matter.
The BBC has reached out to AirAsia for a statement regarding the allegations.
In an interview with the BBC on Thursday, Zacharevic recalled that he first became aware of the alleged copyright infringement in October 2024, when he discovered that an AirAsia plane was featuring a livery resembling his artwork.
With over a decade of experience in Malaysia, Zacharevic is known for his roadside murals in Penang, which have become a staple of the local art scene.
One of Zacharevic's notable works is the 2012 street mural Kids on Bicycle, created for a local festival, which features two children on a bicycle integrated into the mural, located in George Town's heritage district.
The mural has become a popular tourist attraction, with many visitors taking photos in front of the iconic artwork.
Zacharevic alleges that his work was reproduced on an AirAsia plane without his knowledge or consent, and he personally witnessed the plane in operation at an airport.
Recalling the incident, Zacharevic expressed his discomfort with the situation, which occurred in 2024.
He took to social media to address the issue, posting a photo of the plane and tagging the airline, suggesting that they needed to discuss the use of his artwork.
Since then, Zacharevic has engaged in discussions with the company, but they have been unable to come to a mutually agreeable resolution.
This is not the first instance of Zacharevic's work being used in connection with AirAsia, as he claims the airline has also used his artwork on a delivery bag for its food services arm.
Court documents reveal that Zacharevic had previously discussed a potential collaboration with AirAsia in 2017, where he would create art for the airline's jets and a mural in one of their offices.
According to the documents, Zacharevic had informed the airline of his work and business rates during these discussions.
The lawsuit asserts that despite being aware of Zacharevic's work and rates, the airline proceeded to reproduce and publicly display one of his notable works, thereby infringing on his copyright and moral rights.
As the largest low-cost carrier in Asia, AirAsia operates over 200 jets to more than 100 destinations, and has recently announced plans to resume flights from Kuala Lumpur to London via Bahrain.
Zacharevic has stated that he will leave it to the court to determine any potential compensation he may be entitled to.
The artist emphasized that he does not consider the use of his artwork to be a mere reference to cultural or geographical associations, but rather a distinct artistic creation.
Zacharevic stressed that his artwork is the result of years of professional training, skill, and labor, and should be recognized as such.
News
Northern Ireland boss O’Neill poised for Blackburn Rovers move
Michael O’Neill, the manager of Northern Ireland, is poised to take on a position with Blackburn Rovers, a Championship club, in a dual capacity that will last until the end of the current season.
Michael O'Neill has begun his second stint as the manager of the Northern Ireland national team.
It has been announced that Northern Ireland's manager, Michael O'Neill, is expected to take on a dual role with Championship club Blackburn Rovers until the end of the season.
In March, Northern Ireland will face Italy in a World Cup play-off semi-final, followed by a potential match against either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina, depending on the outcome of the Italy game.
O'Neill will remain involved with the Northern Ireland team for these matches and the World Cup finals, if they qualify.
After the current season, O'Neill is expected to take on the manager's role at Blackburn Rovers on a full-time basis.
Damien Johnson, a former Northern Ireland midfielder, will assist O'Neill at Blackburn Rovers for the remainder of the season.
If an agreement with the Irish FA is reached promptly, O'Neill could be in charge of Blackburn Rovers for their upcoming Championship match against Queen's Park Rangers on Saturday.
Currently, Blackburn Rovers are ranked 22nd in the table, narrowly outside the safety zone due to their goal difference.
The team has been without a permanent manager since Valerien Ismael's departure on February 2, with Damien Johnson serving as interim manager.
In 2020, O'Neill had a similar arrangement with Stoke City, where he balanced his duties with both the club and the national team.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic led to a delay in the Euro 2020 play-offs, and O'Neill left his position before those matches took place.
O'Neill returned to manage the national team in 2022, signing a contract that will keep him in the role until after the Euro 2028 campaign.
Northern Ireland is aiming to qualify for its first World Cup in 40 years and its first major tournament since O'Neill led the team to the Euro 2016 finals during his initial tenure.
O'Neill attended the Nations League draw on Thursday, where Northern Ireland was paired with Hungary, Ukraine, and Georgia, but he did not interact with the media in Brussels.
England's Nations League draw has resulted in matches against Spain and Croatia.
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