Latest news with #Vandal
Express Tribune
28-07-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
Ganweriwala excavation halts unexpectedly
Listen to article The excavation and research work at Ganweriwala, a 5,000-year-old lost city located in the Cholistan Desert, has been suspended for several months due to a lack of funding. Archaeology experts lament that due to government inaction, Pakistan is missing a crucial opportunity to showcase an important site from the Indus Valley Civilization on a global platform. Renowned archaeologist Dr Muhammad Rafique Mughal first discovered Ganweriwala in 1975. Experts believe this ancient site was the third-largest urban centre, after Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, located approximately 60 kilometres southwest of Qila Derawar. A team of former directors and experts from various institutions across Punjab commenced excavation on February 24, 2024, under the leadership of Dr Sajida Haider Vandal, Chairperson of the Trust for History, Art, and Architecture of Punjab Foundation. Despite the harsh desert climate, the team worked tirelessly, engaging prominent Pakistani experts, including Dr Rafique Mughal, in this national project. The excavation unearthed pottery, brick walls, terracotta figurines, copper seals, and other artefacts at various sites, bearing striking similarities to the Indus Valley Civilization. Dr Mughal confirmed that these findings attest to Ganweriwala's antiquity and significance. Former Director of Archaeology, Afzal Khan, revealed that over 60 labourers were employed, a tent city was established, and six excavation sites were explored. However, the project slowed down in late March due to extreme heat and labour shortages. Despite submitting detailed expenses to the Commissioner's office in Bahawalpur, funds were withheld due to alleged objections. 'The government had approved Rs20 million for the project, which was to be disbursed through the Commissioner Bahawalpur, but the team has yet to receive a single rupee. The second phase of excavation, scheduled to begin in October 2024, has been put on hold due to a lack of funding," said Dr Vandal. Seconding Dr Vandal, Khan added that the funds lapsed on June 30, 2024, as the fiscal year concluded. Experts worldwide are now inquiring about the discoveries, but the team is unable to provide answers. Muhammad Hassan, former Director of Punjab Archaeology, highlighted the site's significance, noting that Ganweriwala is the most prominent among nearly 500 archaeological sites in Cholistan. The area was once inhabited by people who practiced agriculture and cattle rearing along the banks of the Hakra River. Meanwhile, Bahawalpur Commissioner Musarrat Jabeen confirmed that no funds were released to the team. 'As per the agreement, all artefacts were to be sent for international analysis and then handed over to the Bahawalpur Museum. However, the team allegedly shifted the findings to Lahore and has not submitted any lab reports so far,' noted Jabeen. Experts argue that the government should facilitate, rather than hinder, international-standard research, enabling Pakistan's rich cultural heritage to be preserved and showcased globally.
Winnipeg Free Press
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Liberals hang on to St. Boniface-St. Vital
Liberal candidate Ginette Lavack rode to victory in St. Boniface-St. Vital. Lavack bested Conservative candidate Shola Agboola with 56 per cent of the vote, while Agboola came in a distant second with 35 per cent of the vote. 'We did it. We really did it,' Lavack said from her election night headquarters at Fort Gibraltar in the heart of St. Boniface, flanked by supporters and former MP Dan Vandal. Ruth Bonneville / Free Press Liberal candidate for St. Boniface-St. Vital riding Ginette Lavack celebrates her victory with constituents at Fort Gibralter, Monday. Supporters roared with applause as Lavack walked in to the tune of Serena Ryder's Circle of the Sun. The former director of the Franco-Manitoban Cultural Centre was chosen as the Liberal candidate after cabinet minister Dan Vandal announced he would not seek re-election. Other than sporadic periods of Conservative leadership, St. Boniface-St. Vital has largely been represented by the Liberals since its inception in the 1920s. Vandal beat out the Conservative candidate in three elections between 2015 and 2021 before announcing his retirement. Prior to Vandal's leadership, Tory Shelly Glover held the seat for two terms under former prime minister Stephen Harper. As he watched the results roll in, Vandal called Lavack the best person to lead the riding. 'I think she's passionate, she's qualified and she's anchored in the community. That's what you need to represent the constituency,' he said. A steady stream of guests remained in high spirits as election coverage projected on the wall announced multiple Liberal wins across the country. Lavack said she will be an MP for all people in the riding. 'I know there's real concerns about cost of living, housing, health care, the future of our planet, all of that. I hear you, I see you,' Lavack told the crowd of about 75 people. 'I will collaborate with all levels of government to ensure that our community gets the support and services it deserves.' Some voters in the riding opted to vote strategically. Ruth Bonneville / Free Press Lavack celebrates her victory with former Liberal cabinet minister Dan Vandal, Monday. At the Champlain Community Centre earlier Monday, Andre Gomes was conflicted about his decision to vote for Lavack. 'I'm voting because I feel like it's my civic duty, but I'm unhappy about it,' he said. 'I would rather vote NDP.' Gomes, 34, said he prefers a Liberal government than a Conservative one. During Elections Get campaign news, insight, analysis and commentary delivered to your inbox during Canada's 2025 election. Sporting a black T-shirt emblazoned with the word 'Canada,' Curtis — who declined to give his last name — said he would be voting for NDP candidate Thomas Linner, hoping the Liberals would form a minority government. 'I think that when we have a minority government, there's checks and balances,' he said. Agboola finished a distant second to Vandal in 2021, receiving 28 per cent of the vote. Vandal was re-elected with 43 per cent. Linner took just 7.5 per cent of the vote. Nicole BuffieMultimedia producer Nicole Buffie is a multimedia producer who reports for the Free Press city desk. Born and bred in Winnipeg, Nicole graduated from Red River College's Creative Communications program in 2020 and worked as a reporter throughout Manitoba before joining the Free Press newsroom in 2023. Read more about Nicole. Every piece of reporting Nicole produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Hamilton Spectator
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
St. Boniface—St. Vital live federal election results
Election results for St. Boniface—St. Vital are not yet available. Incumbent Dan Vandal, of the Liberal Party, did not run for re-election. Vandal was first elected to the House of Commons in 2015. St. Boniface—St. Vital used to be named Saint Boniface—Saint Vital. The riding's boundaries were updated for the 2025 federal election. According to Elections Canada, in St. Boniface—St. Vital, 22,041 voters cast ballots at advance polls. Looking for another riding? Here are the full results for the 2025 federal election. The Liberals have three races called in their favour and are leading in 18 other ridings. They have 83,157 votes and 49.67 per cent of the popular vote. The Conservatives have two races called in their favour and are leading in eight other ridings. They have 73,914 votes and 44.15 per cent of the popular vote. At Parliament's dissolution, the Liberals held 152 seats, the Conservatives 120, the Bloc Québécois 33, the NDP 24 and the Greens two. There were three independents and four vacancies in the 338-seat Commons. Because of population increases, the Commons has grown by five ridings starting with this election. This article was automatically generated using data provided by Canadian Press and will update as riding results become available.
Hindustan Times
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Watch: Ben Affleck's 13-year-old son roasts him during a gaming livestreaming session
Hollywood star Ben Affleck recently pulled back the curtain on a lesser-known side of himself — he's a gamer. The Oscar-winning actor made a surprise appearance on a Valorant livestream hosted by Tarik, a former professional player and popular content creator affiliated with Sentinels, one of the top teams in the game's competitive scene. And Ben wasn't alone as he joined the stream alongside his 13-year-old son, Samuel, offering fans a candid glimpse into their shared love for the tactical character-based first-person shooter. The stream, which centered around a VCT Americas showdown between Sentinels and G2 Esports, became even more electric about an hour in when Affleck entered the frame. Sitting down for a chat with Tarik and Sentinels CEO Rob Moore, Ben confirmed that it was his son who introduced him to the game. "He got me into the game," Ben admitted, adding that he now finds himself hooked. A post shared by Tarik Celik (@officialtarik) A longtime fan of competition, Ben expressed genuine admiration for the esports ecosystem surrounding Valorant. He described it as 'amazing' and praised the skill, organization, and sheer spectacle of the pro scene. Recalling a recent major event in Los Angeles, Ben noted its massive appeal, saying, "There are professional athletic sports teams, professional basketball teams that can't sell the forum out... it was really, really impressive ... it's part of what brought home to me how massive this whole system is, how massive Esports is." As the conversation continued, Ben also showcased his sense of humor and relatability, reflecting on the ruthless precision of the gameplay. He joked about the experience of getting instantly eliminated. 'When I play, I'm like, these guys have to be cheating. No one is this good. They just rock me immediately,' he quipped. "It sucks when you're on the other end and you turn a corner and you get headshot and you didn't even see the person who killed you, and then they start typing in the chat and say 'I'm twelve and you suck,'" he said, laughing. Samuel also got some spotlight time during the stream, receiving Sentinels merch — including a jersey, headset, and jacket — and ribbing his dad's in-game habits. 'This dude, I've duoed with him for so long. He doesn't even know how to buy a Vandal. He just goes Odin, sits down with Brimstone, and (imitates Odin noises),' he said, cracking up the room. Ben responded with good humor, defending his style: "Hey, don't make fun of the Odin, man!" With this unexpected but heartwarming appearance, Ben Affleck has not only charmed the gaming community but also spotlighted how mainstream and generational Esports fandom has become — even Batman's picking up a mouse and keyboard.
