From January 2026, the Canadian government will lead a C$100 million (€61. 4 million) international research initiative to harness disruptive technologies able to address global challenges. Proposals must address at least one of the 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the call text says. To meet the interdisciplinary requirements, project proposals must integrate expertise from at least two of the following domains: natural sciences and engineering; social sciences and humanities; and health and life sciences. Consortia must also include at least three co-principal investigators, each eligible to receive funding from a different participating.
https://sciencebusiness.net/news/r-d-funding/international-news/funding-radar-canada-launch-c100m-global-call-disruptive-tech
Tag: investigators
Celeste Rivas’ Body Was ‘Partially Frozen,’ Cause of Death Likely ‘Undetermined’
Almost three months after the body of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas was uncovered in the trunk of a Tesla registered to singer D4vd, investigators are unable to determine a cause of death. In a report from TMZ, the L. A. County Medical Examiner received the body of the teenager in terrible condition. Rivas was reportedly decapitated and her limbs were removed, although her torso remained intact. The state of the body allegedly made it difficult for investigators to determine its sex initially. Rivas’ body was also reportedly “partially frozen” and was thawing when authorities recovered her body from the car. The medical examiner is now having a difficult time determining Rivas’ cause of death, although it is being investigated as an “apparent homicide.” Even though a cause of death may be undetermined, an arrest can still be made. D4vd has reportedly been uncooperative since being named a suspect in Rivas’ death. As of now, the singer hasn’t been interviewed by police. Investigators are reportedly eyeing a second suspect. According to attorney Mark Geragos on the 2 Angry Men podcast, he alleges that digital evidence points to a second person’s involvement “before, during and after” the teenager’s death. Podcast co-host Harvey Levin echoed the claim, saying a late-night trip D4vd took to a remote area of Santa Barbara County last spring is of special interest to investigators, who think Rivas’ body was already in the car and the second suspect was with him.
https://www.complex.com/music/a/jadegomez510/celeste-rivas-d4vd-body-frozen
Honduran national indicted for touching multiple young girls inside Long Island TJ Maxx: DA
A Honduran national grabbed three young girls’ butts in separate incidents at a Long Island TJ Maxx and was caught pleasuring himself while staring at one of the victims, police said. Pervy Jimmy Harry Velasquez Gomez, 44, was indicted on multiple child sex-abuse charges Friday after investigators allegedly caught him on the store’s surveillance camera groping young girls between the ages of seven and 11 in three separate encounters over a span of months. “The charges against this defendant describe disturbing acts of sexual abuse that strike at the heart of our community’s sense of safety,” Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said. The disgusting displays stretched from April through October and involved incidents with a young girl each time who had briefly stepped away from her parents while browsing the toy aisle, prosecutors said. Initially on April 19, police said a 7-year-old and her mother reported that a man, later identified as Gomez, approached the child in the aisle and grabbed her butt before taking off when the child went to tell her mom. Months later, on Sept. 20, an 11-year-old told her parents that Gomez did the same to them as he walked past her. The creep allegedly struck again on Oct. 29, stalking a 9-year-old girl across the store and rubbing himself over his pants as he watched her shop before also touching her. Gomez’s lawyer, Joseph Hanshe, previously claimed his client only “brushed along” the children as he was attempting to pass them in the store. Surveillance footage from all three dates, however, showed Gomez in the store acting deliberately, investigators said. Gomez, originally from Honduras, was taken into custody and arraigned Nov. 14 on charges including first- and second-degree sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. He’s been held on bail up to $3. 5 million. Hanshe did not return The Post’s request for comment.
https://nypost.com/2025/11/17/us-news/honduran-national-indicted-for-touching-multiple-young-girls-inside-long-island-tj-maxx-da/
Antonio Brown could face worse prison time than expected 2 days after getting released on bail over attempted murder charges: Report
Former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown is reportedly facing a lengthy prison sentence after being charged with attempted murder stemming from a May shooting following a celebrity boxing event in Miami.
Initial reports indicated that Brown could face a maximum of 15 years in prison. However, this sentence could extend up to 30 years, with a mandatory minimum of 20 years due to Florida’s 10-20-Life law.
Brown was apprehended by U.S. Marshals in Dubai on November 6. He was then extradited to the United States and first held at the Essex County Correctional Facility in New Jersey before being moved to Florida. After spending two days in jail, Brown was released from Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County on Thursday after posting a $25,000 bond.
Currently, Brown is under house arrest and is being monitored via a GPS ankle monitor. However, if found guilty, he could face a minimum of two decades behind bars.
According to reports, Antonio Brown has been accused of grabbing a handgun from a security staffer after a boxing match in May and firing two shots at a man he had a fistfight with earlier. The accuser, Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, told investigators that one of the bullets grazed his neck.
The day after the incident, Brown addressed the situation on Twitter, stating:
“I was jumped by multiple individuals who tried to steal my jewelry and cause physical harm to me. Contrary to some video circulating, Police temporarily detained me until they received my side of the story and then released me. I WENT HOME THAT NIGHT AND WAS NOT ARRESTED. I will be talking to my legal counsel and attorneys on pressing charges on the individuals that jumped me.”
On Thursday, Brown pleaded not guilty to his second-degree attempted murder charge. The former NFL star has claimed he was acting in self-defense.
Antonio Brown played 12 seasons in the NFL, earning seven Pro Bowl honors and winning a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/nfl/news-antonio-brown-face-worse-prison-time-expected-2-days-getting-released-bail-attempted-murder-charges-report
Hollywood police seek help identifying suspect in string of chain-snatching robberies
Police Seek Public’s Help to Identify Suspect in Multiple Chain-Snatching Robberies in Hollywood, FL
HOLLYWOOD, FLA. (WSVN) — Police are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a man accused of committing multiple chain-snatching robberies across the city.
According to Hollywood Police, the suspect approaches victims unexpectedly, forcibly removes gold chains from around their necks, and then flees the scene in a black sedan.
Detectives have linked the man to several robberies in Hollywood and believe he may have pawned multiple stolen gold necklaces. These items could be connected to additional unreported crimes.
Investigators have released surveillance photos of the suspect captured during the robberies, along with images of the pawned items. Authorities urge anyone with information about the suspect’s identity, or who recognizes the pawned property, to come forward.
If you have any information, please contact the Hollywood Police Department or Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.
Family pays $1.3 million for dream home, then mysterious letters start arriving. What ‘the Watcher’ knew about their children made them flee
Derek and Maria Broaddus were thrilled when they purchased a large six-bedroom house on Boulevard Street in Westfield, New Jersey, in June 2014. They paid $1.3 million for what they believed would be the perfect home to raise their three young children.
However, their excitement soon turned to fear. Just days after moving in, the family began receiving strange letters. According to CBS News, the first letter appeared ordinary but quickly took a disturbing turn. It was signed by someone calling themselves “The Watcher,” who claimed to have been observing the house for many years. The letter stated that it was now their turn to watch the Broaddus family.
The letters were chilling, but the scariest part was the Watcher’s unsettling comments about the Broaddus children. The writer referred to the kids as “young blood” and seemed fixated on them. One letter said, “I am pleased to know your names now and the name of the young blood you have brought to me.” Another letter asked whether the children would “fill the house.” The Watcher even ominously mentioned that if the children were playing upstairs, no one would hear them scream from the basement.
Over the course of about a year and a half, the Broaddus family received a total of four letters, each more eerie than the last. The Watcher demonstrated an unnerving level of knowledge: they knew the children’s names and nicknames and were aware of when workers were at the house. It was clear they knew details that couldn’t be seen by simply passing by.
In an attempt to feel secure, Derek installed cameras all around the property and invested in an advanced security system. Despite these efforts, the family was too frightened to live in the house and never spent a single night there. Instead, they stayed with relatives, even though they had spent over a million dollars on their new home.
The entire ordeal highlights just how terrifying it can be when someone threatens your family, especially your children.
Law enforcement worked diligently to uncover the identity of the Watcher. Police interviewed neighbors and tested DNA from the envelopes, even suspecting a nearby family might be responsible. However, no conclusive evidence was found. Private detectives and former FBI agents also investigated the case but failed to solve the mystery.
Unable to live in the house, the Broaddus family tried to sell or rent it out but faced great difficulty. Eventually, in 2019, the house sold for $959,000—a loss of over $400,000, not including legal and investigative expenses.
The new owners have not reported receiving any strange letters. To this day, the true identity of the Watcher remains unknown.
The entire experience left the Broaddus family financially strained and emotionally stressed, a painful example of how unexpected threats can upend lives.
In 2022, Netflix released a show titled *The Watcher* based on this bizarre case. Starring Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale, the series captivated over 125 million viewers in its first week alone.
The Watcher case remains one of New Jersey’s strangest and most chilling unsolved mysteries.
https://wegotthiscovered.com/fyi/family-pays-1-3-million-for-dream-home-then-mysterious-letters-start-arriving-what-the-watcher-knew-about-their-children-made-them-flee/
Foul play suspected after Dickinson man in his late 60s was found dead in home, police say
**Dickinson Man’s Death Investigated as Homicide, Police Say**
A Dickinson man’s death is under investigation as a homicide, according to local police.
The victim, described as a man in his late 60s, was found dead in his home on the 1700 block of FM 517 East. Authorities responded to the scene just before 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
The deceased was discovered by his sister, who told Eyewitness News she had gone to check on him and found his body.
Police stated that, at this time, there are no obvious signs indicating how the man died. It is also unclear when the death occurred.
According to family members, the man shared the residence with his son. Efforts to reach the son have been unsuccessful, and investigators say they have not been able to make contact with him either.
Police currently do not have any suspects, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Stay tuned for updates as more information becomes available.
https://abc13.com/post/foul-play-suspected-dickinson-man-late-60s-was-found-dead-home-police-say/18118922/
Suspects face charges in 5-year-old Idaho boy’s 2021 disappearance
Suspects Involved in Disappearance of 5-Year-Old Idaho Boy to Face Charges Despite Remains Not Recovered
The Payette County prosecutor’s office announced that suspects involved in the disappearance of a 5-year-old Idaho boy will face charges after more than four years of investigation, even though the child’s remains have yet to be found.
“We believe we know the individuals involved and are committed to pursuing justice with or without Michael’s recovery,” the prosecutor’s office said Friday in an official statement. While authorities had always hoped to recover the boy’s body, they expressed concern that “delays now risk further harm to his loved ones.”
Michael Vaughan was last seen on July 27, 2021, outside his family home in the rural southwestern Idaho town of Fruitland, approximately 50 miles northwest of Boise. At the time, he was wearing a light-blue Minecraft shirt, black boxer briefs, and sandals, according to Idaho Police.
In 2022, police arrested Sarah Wondra, 35, in connection with Vaughan’s disappearance. CBS affiliate KMTV reported that Wondra may have had knowledge of the child’s death. She was charged with failing or delaying notification of a death, which is a felony.
Investigators employed a tractor and specially trained cadaver dogs to search the backyard of Sarah and Stacy Wondra’s home in Fruitland, located near Vaughan’s family residence, CBS2 reported. The couple was named as suspects in the boy’s disappearance more than two years ago by Fruitland Police, and a probable cause affidavit was forwarded to the Payette County Prosecutor’s office.
Despite the announcement of charges, the prosecutor did not publicly name the suspects involved. The case remains active as authorities continue their pursuit of justice for Michael Vaughan and his family.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michael-vaughan-missing-murder-suspects-face-charges-idaho/
Driver of Hyundai Sonata sought in El Cajon hit-and-run
Investigators are searching for a motorist involved in a hit-and-run incident that left a pedestrian seriously injured in El Cajon.
The incident occurred at approximately 10 p.m. on Thursday at the intersection of Main and Orlando streets. According to the El Cajon Police Department, a westbound sedan struck a 63-year-old woman.
After the collision, the driver continued driving and fled the scene, Lt. Joe Crawford reported. Paramedics promptly transported the victim to a hospital where she is receiving treatment for severe injuries.
Officials were able to identify the vehicle involved as a Hyundai Sonata. The car was later found abandoned near the accident site. However, as of early Friday afternoon, the driver remained at large, Lt. Crawford confirmed.
Authorities urge anyone with information about the incident or the driver’s whereabouts to come forward.
https://timesofsandiego.com/crime/2025/10/24/driver-hyundai-sonata-wanted-el-cajon-hit-and-run/
Celtics’ Anfernee Simons ‘in shock’ over Chauncey Billups arrest
Mere hours after coaching the Portland Trail Blazers to a 118-114 loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Chauncey Billups was arrested and charged with wire-fraud conspiracy and money-laundering conspiracy. The investigation alleges that Billups was involved in an illegal gambling ring with members and associates of the La Cosa Nostra organized crime families.
Former Trail Blazer Anfernee Simons has expressed his shock at the arrest. “It hit me pretty tough for sure. Just in shock. And obviously I’ve got a great relationship with Chauncey. Even after the trade, he’s checking in on me and I’m checking in on him,” Simons told The Athletic’s Jay King.
Billups arrived in Portland back in June 2021 and immediately helped Simons become a high-scoring guard. “So we had a great relationship and I think like I said before it’s an unfortunate situation for him to be in, especially for him and his family, all the media attention that’s coming in, the scrutiny. It’s just an unfortunate situation,” Simons added.
Prosecutors allege the poker ring used Billups as a recognizable “face card” to lure victims with the promise of playing against celebrities. This poker scheme is separate from, but related to, a broader federal probe that also includes an insider sports-betting case involving other defendants.
Authorities say the poker games were run in multiple hubs since 2019, including Manhattan, the Hamptons, Las Vegas, and Miami, according to Reuters. Investigators describe sophisticated cheating technology used at those games, such as altered shuffling machines that read decks, an X-ray poker table to reveal face-down cards, and marked-card systems visible through special contact lenses or glasses.
Officials stated that the poker conspiracy defrauded victims of at least $7 million, with some individual losses reaching seven figures.
Following his arrest, Billups appeared in federal court in Portland and is expected to post a substantial bond as the case proceeds.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/celtics-news-anfernee-simons-shock-chauncey-billups-arrest