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Lévis, Québec — Canada’s Arctic ambitions are about to get a massive boost. On August 20, Davie officially launched construction of the Polar Max icebreaker , a vessel destined to redefine the nation’s capabilities in polar waters. When delivered by 2030, Polar Max will not just be a ship—it will be a statement of Canadian ingenuity, industrial collaboration, and Arctic leadership. “Today’s construction launch marks a major step in Canada’s commitment to reinforcing Arctic sovereignty. The Polar Max project will deliver advanced vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard while boosting domestic shipbuilding expertise and strengthening economic and security ties with Finland and Europe,” affirmed the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. A Hybrid Build for Speed and Expertise The construction of Polar Max marks an unprecedented transatlantic collaboration between Canadian-controlled facilities in Helsin...

Toronto, ON – August 19, 2025 – Snowflake , the AI Data Cloud company, has reached a significant milestone in its Canadian journey: the completion of the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS) Protected B Assessment. Meeting the CCCS Medium Cloud Security profile requirements across both the AWS Canada (Central) and Microsoft Azure Canada (Central) regions, Snowflake now empowers Canadian government departments, partners, and highly regulated industries to securely unlock the potential of their data. The assessment is more than a certification—it’s a gateway for Canada’s public sector to accelerate data-driven initiatives and trusted AI applications on a fully secure, compliant platform. For organizations that manage sensitive information, Snowflake’s Protected B status ensures robust governance and security while enabling seamless collaboration, all without the traditional complications of duplicating data or creating complex integrations. “Across Canada’s public sector, there i...

Quebec City, Quebec – April 7, 2025 – OVA , a Quebec-based leader in immersive enterprise technologies, has been awarded an $849,000 contract by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to advance Artificial Intelligence (AI) Agent technology for space training. This collaboration marks a significant step toward modernizing how astronauts and mission operators prepare for increasingly complex space operations. “We aim to research and develop an agentic AI solution to deliver training on high-stakes operations involved in, but not limited to a space exploration context. This will open up new possibilities to improve how human and artificial intelligences can collaborate to perform complex tasks in a wide range of domains,” remarked Pierre-Luc Lapointe, Head of R&D. The Canadian Space Agency has long been a leader in advancing space research and exploration, fostering innovation across Canada’s space sector. As missions grow more sophisticated—spanning operations with Canadarm2 on the In...

Breaking Silence | Online series Maureen shares her lived experience of childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence within her marriage, and her eventual rise above adversity. Her journey is told through a Pacific lens, offering insights that Pacific communities may identify with, understand, and draw strength from. Maureen’s story is one of inspiration, resilience, and hope. She has recently submitted her PhD thesis and now teaches in the Bachelor of Applied Counselling programme at MIT. HELPLINES If you have an emergency, dial 111 Family Action – Whānau Toa: 0800 326 327 or 09 836 1987 Women’s Refuge: 0800 REFUGE or 0800 733 843

Neueli Mauafu | Reporter All eyes are set on Samoa ahead of its snap election. From the moment you arrive at Faleolo airport and drive towards Apia in Samoa, the signs and billboards of political candidates from various parties can be seen almost everywhere. There are mainly three colours which stand out – green (SUP Party), red (FAST Party) and blue (HRPP Party) – the three main parties battling it out for Samoa’s government. It’s been quite a turn-around for Samoa in regards to its political landscape. In 2021, the swearing in of Fiame Naomi Mataafa as Prime Minister and leader of the FAST Party was a historic moment. The first ever female leader for Samoa, and for the first time in many decades, a new government to end the 39-year rule of HRPP and its leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi. Yet only a few years later, that historic run has been cut short, with Samoans again heading to the polls in a snap election, with more than half a year left in the government’s te...

Marama T-Pole | Presenter This week the 21st Pacific Music Awards held in Manukau. The Ministry for Pacific Peoples Lifetime Achievement was awarded to the legendary Tokelau-Tuvaluan music maestro Opetaia Foa’i, who also won the PMN Best Pacific Language award. He joins Marama along with his equally talented daughter Olivia Foa’i for our talanoa.

By Kevin McCarthy  What a weekend that was. What a weekend it will be. In typical introspective fashion, we’ve been looking for things to dissect for the All Blacks. Chief is the rush to dump Billy Proctor and reinstate Reiko Ioane. Given how long we’ve invested in making Ioane a  world class centre – which...

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to again denounce the Smithsonian. The museum network, he claimed , has only devoted itself to showing “how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been.” But his splenetic outburst also had a broader target: not only “Museums throughout Washington,” but also ones “all over the Country,” which he described as “the last remaining segment of ‘WOKE.’” “How bad Slavery was”? That’s not really the only thing these museums aim to portray. The comment itself suggests a limited and dangerous perspective on those institutions. Consider the galleries of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), one of the many institutions run by the Smithsonian. Those galleries do present the transatlantic slave trade as a horrible, violent institution, so Trump is at least correct in that regard. The NMAAHC’s collection testifies to this reality: v...

Almost 50,000 people have signed a petition to stop the Bayeux Tapestry being loaned to London’s British Museum. The appeal, which was launched in July by the French art historian Didier Rykner, cites warnings from textile restorers who said that transporting the 1,000-year-old tapestry could damage its embroidered linen fabric. The work is slated to be shown at the British Museum from September 2026 to July 2027, while its home, Normandy’s Bayeux Tapestry Museum, is renovated. The loan was announced last month by Britain’s prime minister Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron. Rykner told The Art Newspaper that while the number of signatures on the petition isn’t enough to prevent the loan, he said “we have a year in hand, we still have time.” He has experience in rallying support against cultural projects; he previously initiated a petition to block Macron’s decision to commission contemporary stained-glass windows for six chapels in Paris’ restored Notre Dame Cath...

Above: When the pink Lions and Manawatu met last year. Caleb Delany and Hugo Plummer looking to charge down the kick of Jordi Viljoen. All three start on Sunday. Photo: Andy McArthur. The Wellington Lions will be hoping Palmerston North is a happy hunting ground for their next match on Sunday. The Lions face the...

Tanya Bonakdar Gallery will close its Los Angeles space just seven years after opening it. The last exhibition there will be its current one for Ben Hyunjin, whose solo show closes on August 29. “Tanya Bonakdar Gallery has made the considered decision not to renew the lease on its Los Angeles space, which concludes this September,” the gallery said in a statement. “After seven meaningful years on Highland Avenue, the lease’s end offered a natural pause to assess, and celebrate, all we have accomplished with the Los Angeles gallery exhibition program.” Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, which is based in New York, opened in Los Angeles in 2018. Its namesake dealer said at the time that she had made the decision to launch the gallery because many artists on her roster “expressed interest in having a presence on the West Coast.” Since then, the gallery has mounted shows there for artists such as Amalia Pica, Laura Lima, Susan Philipsz, and more. In the intervening period, many other galleri...

A vast trade network likely linked the ancient inhabitants of Southeast Asia’s jungles and coastlines, a two-millennia-old trove of silver coins suggests.     A study led by researchers at the National University of Singapore and published in  Antiquity found commonalities in the coins’ weights and metallurgy. The coins alone weren’t a new discovery. Officially dubbed the Rising Sun/Srivatsa, after their flip-side motifs of a rising sun and the Srivatsa, two significant symbols in Indian religious tradition, the trove was already unearthed across hundreds of miles spanning the river deltas of Bangladesh and the plains of Vietnam. Chinese records as early as the second century BCE also mention a trade route that connected politically affiliated groups in Persia and beyond, across Southeast Asia.     This study, however, is the first comprehensive attempt to study them beyond their national boundaries, and as a group. “This offers compelling evidence of ex...

Collector Sasan Ghandehari recently filed a lawsuit against Christie’s, alleging that the auction house did not inform him that a painting by Pablo Picasso was owned by someone convicted of drug-related charges before he purchased the work. According to the Financial Times , which first reported news of the lawsuit, Brewer Management Corporation (BMC) guaranteed it would buy Picasso’s Femme dans un rocking-chair (1956) for £14.5 million if the artwork piece failed to sell during a Christie’s evening sale in London in February 2023. The authorized representative of BMC, which is based in the British Virgin Islands, is London-based Ghandehari, according to the Financial Times . Ghandehari, a venture capitalist, appears on the ARTnews Top 200 Collector alongside his wife Yassmin. The lawsuit, filed in the High Court of England & Wales, Chancery Division on July 21, alleges that the Femme dans un rocking-chair was owned by José Mestre Sr., also known as José Mestre Fernández, w...

A late bloomer, Ron Horsley also let his actions speak louder than his words. In fact, Ron Horsley didn’t start playing rugby until he was 19. His rise was rapid and the specialist lock quickly ascended the rugby ranks to the top Wellington Football Club Senior team, on to the Wellington representative side and then...

Basement Theatre, a hub for independent and emerging performances in Auckland. Photo: Basement Theatre Local Democracy Reporting | Free Public Interest News Service By Mary Afemata of Local Democracy Reporting Auckland Council is bringing Pacific-led theatre to the heart of the city by funding the venue for  Tafatolu , a new 50-minute play blending Sāmoan mythology, live music, and physical theatre. The production has not received direct council funding, but its debut at Basement Theatre aims to show how subsidised access to city venues can shape the stories seen by Auckland audiences. Emily Trent, Auckland Council’s Head of Arts and Culture, says the venue support is part of a wider commitment to ensure the city’s arts scene reflects Auckland’s diverse population. “Auckland Council has facilitated  Tafatolu  by funding the venue where it is being held,” Trent says. “The production itself has not received any direct funding from the council. “However, thro...

Chiwoniso Kaitano has been the executive director of MacDowell since 2023. The oldest continuously operating artist residency in the United States, MacDowell’s mission is “to nurture the arts by offering talented individuals an inspiring residential environment in which to produce enduring works of the creative imagination,” according to its website. Located in the woody town of Peterborough, in Southern New Hampshire, MacDowell offers residencies in seven artistic disciplines for two to eight weeks year-round, awarding around 300 fellowships annually. Prior to MacDowell, Kaitano was executive director of two arts education–focused nonprofits: Girl Be Heard, a global NGO, and Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy in Brooklyn. Over the past two years, Kaitano has focused on raising MacDowell’s profile within the larger art sector. Though MacDowell is among the most respected residency programs in the world, she feels that organizations like it have slowly been pushed to the fringes of the art...

The two teams met in their annual ‘Clash of Cultures’ fixture at Ngati Toa Domain on Saturday. The match was contested in bright sunshine and with a moderate northerly breeze but on a heavy and sticky field following winter rain. Both teams took a long time to find their combinations and connections with plenty of...

This summer and early fall, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have intensified their presence across the Arctic, deploying a diverse array of ships, aircraft, and personnel in a series of operations designed to uphold Canadian sovereignty and strengthen continental security. From the icy waters of the Western Arctic to the rugged expanses of Baffin Island, CAF units are actively engaged in exercises that reinforce Canada’s ability to detect, deter, and defend against potential threats. “Asserting sovereignty in the Canadian Arctic is becoming ever more important as our adversaries increase their activity in the region. These northern operations also create excellent opportunities for strengthened collaboration with our allies and partners. Ensuring that Canada’s North is well defended is a critical component of maintaining a secure North American homeland,” explained the Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence. In the Western Arctic, stretching across the Bering and Chu...

Esi Komaisavai doing what he does, scoring tries. His maiden Lions try was in vain as they lost to Otago. Photo: Mike Lewis Pictures. Monday morning edition – updates expected: The rugby continues under full steam this coming weekend. The Reserve Grade Division 1 club rugby final is between the Wellington Axemen and Tawa. Details...

Neueli Mauafu | Reporter At a first glance, it can be said that Shane Walker is someone who likes to keep it straight and honest with people.  And It’s that straight-shooter mentality that has also landed him in trouble with listeners. “I wanna make music how I want to make it,” he says.  “I know there’s industry standards, and some they wouldn’t put on, but yeah I just want to be straight forward and honest.”  It’s that raw and honest approach to his music that has inspired him to write songs like, ‘The Lord is watching you’, a song that touches on the matters of adultery in the church. “There’s someone I know, he’s a pastor. So he preaches on a Saturday for our sabbath, and at night time, you’re at the club getting drunk, committing adultery,” Shane says. “So you preach the God and commandments, and then you break the commandments the same night? Yeah, the Lord is watching you,” he laughs. Reflecting on his past and growing up as a troubled teen, Sha...

Soana Aholelei | Reporter / Director Catholic communities here in Auckland and around the world urged to support repairs to the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua in Tonga A catholic church in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, built largely with volunteer labour is in urgent need of repair. That’s the verdict from parishioners and members of the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua in Tonga as they finalise plans for renovations to begin early next year. Situated on the corner of Taufa’ahau Road and Laifone Roads, in Nuku’alofa, the church is not just a place of worship and solace, it’s also a home to many of the faithful parishioners who attend weekly mass.  “This church is 45 years old. So the old church would have been built by our ancestors here,” says Baula Tu’itavake, parishioner and Church Catechist. “They’ve all been baptized here, married here, and had their last mass.  “It’s a real blessing for us in Nuku’alofa to, especially, from a family who has been here for fi...

Photo: repubblica.it 350.org Pacific is celebrating the appointment of Okalani Mariner, 350.org Samoa Coordinator, to the UN Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. As one of 14 young leaders globally — and one of two of Pacific heritage — Okalani brings vital frontline experience to the group, which provides the UN with practical, youth-driven advice on climate action. A passionate environmental activist, artist, poet, and co-founder of Samoa’s first creative co-working space, OneLook Studio, Okalani has led efforts to uplift Pacific voices through advocacy, storytelling, and community organizing. “I witness the impacts on my island every day and feel a responsibility to ensure our challenges and solutions are heard,” she said. “This role allows me to advocate for our future and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable world.” Her appointment follows that of Ernest Gibson (Fiji), making her the second Pacific Climate Warrior to join the prestigious UN gro...

Du Plessis Kirifi lines up at openside flanker for the All Blacks on Sunday morning, whilst Brad Shields, Jackson Garden-Bachop and Julian Savea are all in the Lions team to play Otago on Sunday afternoon. By Kevin McCarthy Hot off the press! The All Black team to face Los Pumas in their opening match of...

Justin Sun, the billionaire buyer of Maurizio Cattelan’s Comedian , recently filed a lawsuit against Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Inc. claiming that they plan to “recklessly and improperly disclosing his highly confidential, sensitive, private, and proprietary financial information” they obtained while to verify his assets for the company’s Billionaires Index. Sun’s lawsuit, filed on August 11 in the United States District Court in the District of Delaware, said he “will suffer significant and irreparable harm—both financially and physically—if this sensitive financial information is published by Bloomberg.” The founder of the cryptocurrency platform TRON alleges that Bloomberg intends to publish “granular detail” about his specific holdings of cryptocurrencies and other assets that would “cause significant harm” and subject Sun to “a significant risk of theft, hacking, kidnapping, and bodily harm to him and his family.” Sun and his attorney Jeffrey J. Lyons are seeking a temporar...

Sotheby’s has announced November 8 as the opening date for its new Breuer Building HQ on 945 Madison Avenue in New York’s Upper East Side. The house bought the building from the Whitney Museum in 2023 and Pritzker Prize-winning, New York-based architects Herzog & De Meuron have spent the last two years doing it up. (The museum ultimately outgrew the building and relocated downtown to a new Renzo Piano–designed one in the Meatpacking District in 2015.) “We will be honored to welcome the global art community back into this remarkable museum-quality space,” Sotheby’s CEO, Charles Stewart, said in a statement. “On behalf of all of us at Sotheby’s, I extend our gratitude to our partners Herzog & de Meuron for their brilliant work in amplifying the Breuer’s historical and material legacy for the Sotheby’s era. They have devoted the same level of care and respect to the building as you would a great work of art. I’d also like to thank the New York City Landmarks Preservation Comm...

The Wellington Lions host Otago on Sunday at Porirua Park, kick-off 2.05pm in their third round NPC fixture. Team news  In some team news, Brad Shields returns from a head knock to captain the side at No. 8, with Dom Ropeti dropping to the pine alongside former Hastings Boys’ High School’s Matolu Petaia as loose...

After leaving the Jewish Museum in 2023, Claudia Gould has joined the Shaker Museum in Chatham, New York, as its next director. The Shaker Museum houses one of to the world’s most significant collection of Shaker material culture. It’s in the process of constructing a new, $30 million flagship space to be designed by Selldorf Architects, whose recent projects include a renovation of New York’s Frick Collection. The Shakers, whose name was derived from their tremors during ecstatic worship services, were a Christian sect that originated in England during the 18th century and spread to the United States. They were known for their communal living and celibacy practices, their belief in gender and racial equality, and their spare architecture, music, and furniture. In a phone interview with ARTnews , Gould said she was excited “to build a museum from the ground up,” a task she described as being “a whole different set of challenges than restructuring an organization.” In tackling this ...

The Norwich Castle in Norfolk, England, reopened its doors today after a five-year, $37 million restoration overseen by architectural firm Feilden + Mawson. For the first time, visitors can now experience all five floors of the castle, from the basement to rooftop battlements, including reconstructed Medieval chambers and more than 900 artifacts. Dating back over 900 years to the 12th century, the fortress was commissioned by William the Conqueror following his invasion of England. In 1066, he established himself as king. The castle was later completed under his son Henry I in 1121. The 89-foot-tall structure serves as a symbol of Norman rule. It was used as a prison for 500 years until its conversion into a museum in 1894. Decades of research by a team of historians and skilled craftspeople informed the restoration and displays. As part of the renovation, experts reconstructed the Medieval layout by reestablishing the original floors and reproducing era-appropriate furnishings in ...

Ngarimu Blair and Christopher Luxon, centre, with CRL staff and senior leaders, in front of the volcano wall, at the City Rail Link test-train event. Photo: Mary Afemata / Supplied Local Democracy Reporting | Free Public Interest News Service By Mary Afemata of Local Democracy Reporting Auckland City Rail Link (CRL) must deliver for Māori and Pacific communities that rely heavily on public transport, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei says. This comes as City Rail Link awards contracts worth $152 million to Māori and Pasifika businesses, according to CRL’s latest social outcomes report. But Ngarimu Blair, the deputy chair of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, says genuine partnerships and equity are still out of reach, emphasising the importance of CRL delivering benefits for Pacific and Māori communities. As Auckland’s $5.5 billion project nears completion in 2026, Blair highlights the need for fair access, cultural visibility, and lasting economic benefits for all. He says Auckland is still a lon...