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Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter named finalist for Heisman TrophyTua Tagovailoa's strong play has helped keep the Dolphins' playoff hopes aliveFate Therapeutics Presents New Phase 1 Clinical Data of FT819 Off-the-shelf, CAR T-cell Product Candidate for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Ex-Canuck Zadorov goes on epic anti-diving rant: "It's a man's league"NASA's stuck astronauts hit 6 months in space. Just 2 more to go

LONDON (Reuters) - The French government collapsed on Wednesday after losing a no-confidence vote, thrusting the euro zone's second-largest economy further into political crisis, and threatening its capacity to legislate and repair its precarious finances. This is the first French government to be forced out by a no-confidence vote since 1962. The euro showed little immediate reaction, trading around $1.0517 against the dollar, but dipping against other European currencies, such as the Swiss franc and the pound. French stock and bond futures nudged up modestly. The country's bonds and stocks have come under selling pressure from the escalating crisis in recent days, with the closely-watched gap, or spread, between 10-year French and German bond yields rising to as much as 90 basis points, its widest since the height of the euro zone debt crisis in 2012. COMMENTS: JAMES ATHEY, FIXED INCOME MANAGER, MARLBOROUGH, LONDON: “This was not an unexpected event.” MORE: “But it is going to nag at investors until we have clarity and we can’t have clarity until July.” “Austerity is better from a pure OAT investor perspective but it is likely to reduce support for the centre (parties) and that reduces the chances of a market-friendly outcome in an election next summer.” “There’s nothing likely to make the outlook materially worse in the short term and (French bond risk premia) is likely to chop around in the range it has been.” “When we get into the new year and people take a fresh look it could drift wider.” MATHIEU SAVARY, CHIEF INVESTMENT STRATEGIST, BCA RESEARCH, MONTREAL: "Paralysis will remain the dominant feature of French politics for the next two years, which means that the debt is unlikely to be fundamentally addressed. So we will remain in an environment of volatility around French bonds. That to me means there is still not enough protection embedded in the current level of spreads. So that's why I don't recommend my clients buy French bonds. I think Spanish bonds are more attractive. If we move to 100 bps in terms of spreads here, based on my conversations with investors, it's likely that we'll see a bit of a rally in French bonds at this level, but very short-lived, it's not the end of the travail. We'll remain in that 'elevated spread and high volatility' no matter what. So that's why I'm not keen on French bonds at all." "The potential threat rather to the credit rating of France is something that will keep investors at bay and prevent a significant narrowing (in the risk premium). Because here, the odds that France is being downgraded are rising since the political paralysis means that anything meaningful, any meaningful moves to decrease the deficit, will be challenged." NICK REES, SENIOR FX MARKET ANALYST, MONEX EUROPE, LONDON: “I’m amazed the euro hasn’t moved much. The French government has collapsed. It should be lower.” “There are two major powers in Europe, France and Germany, both of which right now are emasculated.” “I don’t see that as a good position to be in when (U.S. President-elect Donald) Trump is coming into office and probably going to hit Europe with tariffs. I don’t like that risk environment and the euro shouldn’t like that risk environment. It should be trading a lot lower.” “Some of this was expected but markets haven’t got around to the realisation that is really bad.” “This is a big blow to sentiment in France and that will be negative for growth.” (Reporting by Naomi Rovnick and Amanda Cooper; Editing by Ira Iosebashvili) Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .The chairman of the City Council’s Police Committee raised serious questions Thursday about the city’s decision to reach an undisclosed settlement with the family of Dexter Reed, who was fatally shot by Chicago police officers in March after Reed shot and wounded one of them during a traffic stop. The timing of the settlement and the speed in which it was reached led Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th) to suggest the deck may have been stacked against the five tactical officers from the beginning. Reed, 26, was shot on March 21 in the 3800 block of West Ferdinand in the Harrison District, a jurisdiction among the most violent in Chicago. Four officers fired 96 shots in 41 seconds at Reed — and struck him 13 times. The officers opened fire after Reed fired first, striking one of five tactical officers in the hand. All of the officers were dressed in plainclothes and piled into a single SUV. In the days and hours leading up to Reed’s death, those same five officers conducted 50 traffic stops on Chicago’s West Side. None of those 50 stops generated a single ticket. When the lawsuit was first announced in April, Reed’s mother, Nicole Banks, said the officers had “executed him.” The Reed family’s attorney, Andrew Stroth, declined to comment on the settlement agreement. Taliferro, a former Chicago police sergeant and internal affairs investigator who now chairs the City Council’s Police Committee, labeled the settlement “very hasty” and called the timing of it “fishy.” Taliaferro believes the shooting was justified. “Mr. Reed had a gun,” he said. “He pointed the gun at the officers and pulled the trigger and shot at the officers first. The officers responded for the protection of themselves and anyone in that vicinity that could have been harmed from Mr. Reed shooting. Under those circumstances, that’s self-defense.” Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th), whose Far Southwest Side ward is home to scores of Chicago police officers, said he was shocked that the city “moved so quickly” to settle with Reed’s family while the city still hasn’t “settled cases from years and years ago.” “Dexter Reed pulled out a gun and shot at police officers,” O’Shea said. “Chicago Police officers — any law enforcement officer — has a right to defend themselves.” Newly-elected State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke inherited the case from her predecessor Kim Foxx. Foxx had joined Mayor Brandon Johnson and Andrea Kersten, chief administrator of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, at a City Hall news conference to release video of the Reed shooting and disclose basic facts of the case just days after the incident. Johnson appeared determined to contrast his transparent handling of the Reed shooting case with former Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s infamous and politically fatal decision to keep the Laquan McDonald shooting video under wraps until after the 2015 mayoral election. In 2014, McDonald, 17, was shot to death by Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke, who later was convicted of the teen’s murder. Emanuel released the video that captured the shooting only after a judge forced him to do so. At the time of the Reed shooting, Johnson called the footage “deeply disturbing,” but walked a fine line between mourning Reed and offering prayers for the injured officer. “ As mayor and as a father raising a family, including two Black boys on the West Side of Chicago, I’m personally devastated to see yet another young Black man lose his life during an interaction with the police.” In their lawsuit against the city, the Reed family argued that the five officers “targeted Dexter during a predatory, violent, unlawful traffic stop” that culminated in the fatal shooting. The family claimed Reed’s death was “directly attributable to CPD’s longstanding practice of engaging in unlawful traffic stops.” Despite COPA’s finding that Reed fired first, the lawsuit held that Reed “clearly presented no threat” to the officers. Prior to the settlement, the city’s outside attorneys sought to dismiss a range of counts in the suit, including claims the department had engaged in a “pattern and practice” of conducting pretextual traffic stops and engaging in excessive force. Taliaferro predicted that the undisclosed settlement would have a tough time winning approval from the City Council’s Finance Committee and the full City Council. Emanuel agreed to a $5 million settlement in the Laquan McDonald case — before a lawsuit had even been filed by the 17-year-old’s family. But recent history suggests the timing of the Reed settlement is unusual. Lawsuits are still pending in three other recent, high-profile police shootings — two of which happened three years before Reed was shot and killed. Disciplinary action has already been either recommended or meted out in each of those cases. In two of them, involving the 2021 fatal shootings of Anthony Alvarez and Adam Toledo, prosecutors have announced that criminal charges will not be filed.

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Stock market today: Tech stocks and AI pull Wall Street toward more recordsSigning with Dodgers was really easy decision for 2-time Cy Young winner Blake SnellTravis Konecny and Travis Sanheim both made the cut. The longtime Flyers will play for Team Canada in the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off in February, the league's roster reveals confirmed Wednesday night . Rasmus Ristolainen will also be skating for his native Finland in the international tournament, as unveiled earlier Wednesday, and head coach John Tortorella will be an assistant on Mike Sullivan's staff for Team USA, which was previously announced in August . There were smiles and cheers at center ice for what appeared to be Sanheim, Konecny, and Ristolainen during the Flyers' practice in Voorhees on Monday, as observed by The Hockey News' Siobhan Nolan and other local beats, but afterward, everyone played coy. "We'll see what happens," Sanheim said at his locker , knowing the rosters were still a couple of days away from an announcement. "If I get fortunate enough to represent my country, it'd be a huge honor and something that I've worked hard to get to, but like I said, we'll have to wait and see what happens." "I think if you watch our practices, we're always celebrating and having, no?" Konecny quipped with a shrug . "No different today. But as far as that stuff, I mean, it'd be an honor. You look forward to those types of things and, yeah, we'll see what happens." Hey, they held some good poker faces. Presenting Canada's #4Nations Face-Off roster! 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/zXeAOg4nsG Sanheim, in his eighth season, has broken out into the Flyers' top defenseman. Night after night, especially as the blue line went through a recent stretch where it was banged up and spread thin, the 28-year-old rose to the occasion, taking on heavy minutes with each passing game and thriving within them. He's skating at an average of 25:30 of ice time so far this season, a career-high by far, and has produced a line of five goals and 10 assists for 15 points, which is third on the Flyers in scoring behind Konecny and rookie Matvei Michkov. Sanheim also has a plus-2 rating on the season, which for a while, left him as the only plus-rated defenseman on the roster alongside the 22-year-old Emil Andrae, who had only just been called up from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He grew tremendously as a defenseman, in checking, breaking the puck out, and holding it at the far blue line to keep opponents pinned down, and head coach John Tortorella has more than noticed, having made it a point to plead Sanheim's Team Canada case to the media whenever he's had the chance to over the past couple of months. "It's a compliment to him as far as the difference he wants to try to make," Tortorella said of Sanheim last month. "The number one thing for me is that's what's changed from the first year. He just was out there the first year, for me. Looked good because he could skate, accomplished nothing for me. "Now where he's gone to as far as – it started with his conditioning, he put on some weight, some good weight, he felt stronger, and then he started with an attitude, and I think he's taken off." Tortorella has pushed Konecny's case, too. The fiery, reactive winger, who signed an eight-year contract extension in the summer to see the Flyers' rebuild fully through , has driven the team offensively through the first part of the season. In 25 games, Konecny has a team-leading 13 goals and 30 points, putting the 27-year-old well over a point-per-game pace and fourth in points among all right wingers in the NHL as of Monday afternoon. Last Monday, in the Flyers' shootout loss to the Vegas Golden Knights at the Wells Fargo Center, Kyle Dubas, the Pittsburgh Penguins general manager and Team Canada's appointed director of player personnel for the 4 Nations Face-Off, was in attendance and seen conversing with Flyers GM Danny Brière in the press box ahead of puck drop. Presumably, Dubas was there to get a good look at Sanheim and Konecny in person before the rosters had to be submitted. Ristolain, a big right-handed shot at 6-foot-4, has also come a long way as a defenseman, steadily playing with tighter gap control and better use of his size and physicality to his advantage ever since Tortorella and associate coach Brad Shaw took over behind the bench going on three years ago. For the season so far, the 30-year-old has a goal and six assists for seven points through 25 games, but more importantly, he's plus-1 skating at 20:40 of average ice time. "He's really improved his play," Tortorella said of Ristolainen during his Monday press conference , also dancing around the pending 4 Nations roster reveals. But now it's all out there. Three Flyers will be on the international stage later this winter. The 4 Nations Face-Off will run from February 12-20 in Montreal and Boston, putting the league on pause for a bit to set the stage for the NHL players' impending return to the Olympics in 2026. Follow Nick on Twitter: @itssnick Follow Nick on Bluesky: @itssnick Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Sports

Voting “FOR” ONLY the Board’s Four Nominees on the WHITE proxy Card Will Help Ensure that Shareholders Realize the Significant Value Expected from UDF IV’s Transaction with Ready Capital Troubling Pattern of Value Destruction at NexPoint-Managed Funds Should Raise Concerns for Shareholders Visit UDFForshareholders.com for Voting Instructions and Other Information IRVING, Texas, Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United Development Funding IV (“UDF IV” or the “Trust”) today reminds all shareholders to vote on the WHITE proxy card “FOR” the Board’s four highly qualified nominees - Steven J. Finkle, Lawrence S. Jones, J. Heath Malone and Phillip K. Marshall - in advance of the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”), which will be held on December 10, 2024. Shareholders are encouraged to visit UDFForShareholders.com for more information and voting instructions. As shareholders consider their vote, UDF IV reminds them that: On December 2, UDF IV announced that it has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Ready Capital Corporation (RC) (“Ready Capital”), a leading multi-strategy real estate finance company. UDF IV shareholders may receive up to $5.89 per share as a result of the transaction with Ready Capital through a combination of pre-closing distributions of UDF IV’s balance sheet cash up to $2.44 per share; 0.416 shares issued by Ready Capital at the transaction closing per UDF IV share, with an implied value of $3.07 per share based on Ready Capital’s closing share price on November 29, 2024; and contingent value rights issued by Ready Capital at the transaction closing to receive contingent consideration over time estimated to be up to $0.38 per UDF IV share. This consideration is more than five times the bargain basement price of $1.10 per share that NexPoint Real Estate Opportunities, LLC, an indirect subsidiary of NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust (NXDT, and collectively with its affiliates, “NexPoint”) offered UDF IV shareholders in its unsuccessful attempt to take control of the Trust just a few years ago. If NexPoint gains control of the Board and the Trust, NexPoint will be in a position to deprive shareholders of the value and liquidity you will receive from the Ready Capital transaction the current Board has negotiated and approved. Do not be misled – supporting NexPoint’s dissident trustees will enable NexPoint to continue to implement what we expect will be a self-serving, value destructive agenda. NexPoint has not presented a single viable plan that we believe would enhance value. NexPoint’s nominations for a controlling slate of dissident trustees at the Annual Meeting is part of an ongoing, self-interested campaign, which we believe is aimed at extracting the value of the Trust’s portfolio for its own benefit and to the detriment of all other shareholders. There is a troubling pattern of value destruction at funds managed by NexPoint. Shareholders are encouraged to read the full letter which outlines the recent poor performance and stock price declines at NexPoint-managed funds, including: NXDT, which continues to perform poorly, with losses of over $246 million since July 2022 and a 60% share price decline over the two year period ending November 21, 2024; and An affiliated NexPoint-managed fund, Highland Opportunities and Income Fund (HFRO), whose stock price similarly declined approximately 54% over the two year period ending November 21, 2024 and was recently trading near its all-time low. The Future of Your Investment in UDF IV is at Stake – Vote on the WHITE proxy card TODAY to Protect Your Investment Remember that only your latest dated proxy counts and that a vote on the green proxy card to “WITHHOLD” on the NexPoint nominees could revoke your votes “FOR” the UDF IV nominees on the WHITE proxy card. Please simply discard any green proxy card sent to you by NexPoint and vote every UDF IV WHITE proxy card you receive as you may hold your shares in multiple accounts. Shareholders have the opportunity to allow UDF IV to continue its work to protect and enhance shareholder value by reelecting the four independent Trustees - Steven J. Finkle, Lawrence S. Jones, J. Heath Malone and Phillip K. Marshall - who oversee our efforts to protect the value of your investment. We urge you to vote “FOR” ONLY the four nominees proposed by the Board of Trustees on the WHITE proxy card included in the enclosed UDF IV proxy materials. UDF IV shareholders with questions or who require assistance with respect to voting their shares are encouraged to contact UDF IV’s proxy solicitor: INNISFREE M&A INCORPORATED Shareholders may call: 1 (877) 750-9496 (toll-free from the U.S. and Canada) +1 (412) 232-3651 (from other countries) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRANSACTION WITH READY CAPITAL The Ready Capital transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2025, subject to the approval of UDF IV shareholders and other customary closing conditions. UDF IV expects to call a special meeting of its shareholders to approve the proposed transaction and to distribute a proxy statement and other documents to its shareholders in connection with the special meeting. Ready Capital expects to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4, containing a prospectus and the UDF IV proxy statement, and other documents with respect to the proposed transaction. The Ready Capital prospectus and the UDF IV proxy statement will contain important information about the proposed transaction and related matters. WE URGE YOU TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, THE PROSPECTUS AND THE UDF IV PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO EACH OF THEM) AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED BY READY CAPITAL WITH THE SEC AND MADE AVAILABLE BY UDF IV CAREFULLY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT READY CAPITAL, UDF IV AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. You may obtain free copies of the registration statement, the prospectus and other relevant documents filed by Ready Capital with the SEC (if and when they become available) through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed by Ready Capital with the SEC are also available free of charge on Ready Capital's website at www.readycapital.com. UDF IV shareholders may obtain free copies of the proxy statement and other relevant documents made available by UDF IV free of charge on www.udfonline.com. About United Development Funding IV United Development Funding IV is a Maryland real estate investment trust. UDF IV was formed primarily to generate current interest income by investing in secured loans and producing profits from investments in residential real estate. Additional information about UDF IV can be found on its website at www.udfiv.com. UDF IV may disseminate important information regarding its operations, including financial information, through social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, the timing of the closing of the Ready Capital transaction, the estimated amount of the special dividend to be paid to UDF IV’s shareholders, the estimated contingent consideration expected to be paid and the potential future of UDF IV under NexPoint’s control. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and are not guarantees of future performance or future events. Such forward-looking statements generally can be identified by our use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” or other similar words. Readers should be aware that there are various factors, many of which are beyond UDF IV’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements made in this release including, among others, the results of the trustee elections at the Annual Meeting, the risk that the Ready Capital transaction will not be consummated within the expected time period or at all; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the transaction agreement; the inability to obtain UDF IV shareholder approval of the transaction or the failure to satisfy the other conditions to completion of the transaction; risks that will affect the amount of the special dividend to UDF IV shareholders, including, among others, developments in litigation involving UDF IV; risks that will affect the amount of contingent consideration, if any, including, among others, the performance of specified UDF IV loans and developments in litigation involving UDF IV; risks related to disruption of management attention from the ongoing business operations due to the proposed transaction; the effect of the announcement of the proposed transaction on the operating results and businesses generally of Ready Capital and UDF IV; the outcome of any legal proceedings relating to the transaction; and the ability to retain key personnel. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this letter. UDF IV undertakes no obligation to update its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Investor Contact: Investor Relations 1-800-859-9338 investorrelations@umth.com Media Contact: Mahmoud Siddig / Lucas Pers / Dylan O’Keefe Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher (212) 895-8668Defense startups Anduril Palantir to save data from battlefield to train AI modelsThere was never a doubt that Travis Hunter would be in New York City for the Heisman Trophy ceremony this weekend. On Monday, it became official, as the Colorado junior was announced as one of four finalists for the most coveted award in college football. Subscribe to continue reading this article. Already subscribed? To login in, click here.

Voting “FOR” ONLY the Board’s Four Nominees on the WHITE proxy Card Will Help Ensure that Shareholders Realize the Significant Value Expected from UDF IV’s Transaction with Ready Capital Troubling Pattern of Value Destruction at NexPoint-Managed Funds Should Raise Concerns for Shareholders Visit UDFForshareholders.com for Voting Instructions and Other Information IRVING, Texas, Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United Development Funding IV (“UDF IV” or the “Trust”) today reminds all shareholders to vote on the WHITE proxy card “FOR” the Board’s four highly qualified nominees - Steven J. Finkle, Lawrence S. Jones, J. Heath Malone and Phillip K. Marshall - in advance of the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”), which will be held on December 10, 2024. Shareholders are encouraged to visit UDFForShareholders.com for more information and voting instructions. As shareholders consider their vote, UDF IV reminds them that: On December 2, UDF IV announced that it has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Ready Capital Corporation (RC) (“Ready Capital”), a leading multi-strategy real estate finance company. UDF IV shareholders may receive up to $5.89 per share as a result of the transaction with Ready Capital through a combination of pre-closing distributions of UDF IV’s balance sheet cash up to $2.44 per share; 0.416 shares issued by Ready Capital at the transaction closing per UDF IV share, with an implied value of $3.07 per share based on Ready Capital’s closing share price on November 29, 2024; and contingent value rights issued by Ready Capital at the transaction closing to receive contingent consideration over time estimated to be up to $0.38 per UDF IV share. This consideration is more than five times the bargain basement price of $1.10 per share that NexPoint Real Estate Opportunities, LLC, an indirect subsidiary of NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust (NXDT, and collectively with its affiliates, “NexPoint”) offered UDF IV shareholders in its unsuccessful attempt to take control of the Trust just a few years ago. If NexPoint gains control of the Board and the Trust, NexPoint will be in a position to deprive shareholders of the value and liquidity you will receive from the Ready Capital transaction the current Board has negotiated and approved. Do not be misled – supporting NexPoint’s dissident trustees will enable NexPoint to continue to implement what we expect will be a self-serving, value destructive agenda. NexPoint has not presented a single viable plan that we believe would enhance value. NexPoint’s nominations for a controlling slate of dissident trustees at the Annual Meeting is part of an ongoing, self-interested campaign, which we believe is aimed at extracting the value of the Trust’s portfolio for its own benefit and to the detriment of all other shareholders. There is a troubling pattern of value destruction at funds managed by NexPoint. Shareholders are encouraged to read the full letter which outlines the recent poor performance and stock price declines at NexPoint-managed funds, including: NXDT, which continues to perform poorly, with losses of over $246 million since July 2022 and a 60% share price decline over the two year period ending November 21, 2024; and An affiliated NexPoint-managed fund, Highland Opportunities and Income Fund (HFRO), whose stock price similarly declined approximately 54% over the two year period ending November 21, 2024 and was recently trading near its all-time low. The Future of Your Investment in UDF IV is at Stake – Vote on the WHITE proxy card TODAY to Protect Your Investment Remember that only your latest dated proxy counts and that a vote on the green proxy card to “WITHHOLD” on the NexPoint nominees could revoke your votes “FOR” the UDF IV nominees on the WHITE proxy card. Please simply discard any green proxy card sent to you by NexPoint and vote every UDF IV WHITE proxy card you receive as you may hold your shares in multiple accounts. Shareholders have the opportunity to allow UDF IV to continue its work to protect and enhance shareholder value by reelecting the four independent Trustees - Steven J. Finkle, Lawrence S. Jones, J. Heath Malone and Phillip K. Marshall - who oversee our efforts to protect the value of your investment. We urge you to vote “FOR” ONLY the four nominees proposed by the Board of Trustees on the WHITE proxy card included in the enclosed UDF IV proxy materials. UDF IV shareholders with questions or who require assistance with respect to voting their shares are encouraged to contact UDF IV’s proxy solicitor: INNISFREE M&A INCORPORATED Shareholders may call: 1 (877) 750-9496 (toll-free from the U.S. and Canada) +1 (412) 232-3651 (from other countries) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRANSACTION WITH READY CAPITAL The Ready Capital transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2025, subject to the approval of UDF IV shareholders and other customary closing conditions. UDF IV expects to call a special meeting of its shareholders to approve the proposed transaction and to distribute a proxy statement and other documents to its shareholders in connection with the special meeting. Ready Capital expects to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4, containing a prospectus and the UDF IV proxy statement, and other documents with respect to the proposed transaction. The Ready Capital prospectus and the UDF IV proxy statement will contain important information about the proposed transaction and related matters. WE URGE YOU TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, THE PROSPECTUS AND THE UDF IV PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO EACH OF THEM) AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED BY READY CAPITAL WITH THE SEC AND MADE AVAILABLE BY UDF IV CAREFULLY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT READY CAPITAL, UDF IV AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. You may obtain free copies of the registration statement, the prospectus and other relevant documents filed by Ready Capital with the SEC (if and when they become available) through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed by Ready Capital with the SEC are also available free of charge on Ready Capital's website at www.readycapital.com. UDF IV shareholders may obtain free copies of the proxy statement and other relevant documents made available by UDF IV free of charge on www.udfonline.com. About United Development Funding IV United Development Funding IV is a Maryland real estate investment trust. UDF IV was formed primarily to generate current interest income by investing in secured loans and producing profits from investments in residential real estate. Additional information about UDF IV can be found on its website at www.udfiv.com. UDF IV may disseminate important information regarding its operations, including financial information, through social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, the timing of the closing of the Ready Capital transaction, the estimated amount of the special dividend to be paid to UDF IV’s shareholders, the estimated contingent consideration expected to be paid and the potential future of UDF IV under NexPoint’s control. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and are not guarantees of future performance or future events. Such forward-looking statements generally can be identified by our use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” or other similar words. Readers should be aware that there are various factors, many of which are beyond UDF IV’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements made in this release including, among others, the results of the trustee elections at the Annual Meeting, the risk that the Ready Capital transaction will not be consummated within the expected time period or at all; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the transaction agreement; the inability to obtain UDF IV shareholder approval of the transaction or the failure to satisfy the other conditions to completion of the transaction; risks that will affect the amount of the special dividend to UDF IV shareholders, including, among others, developments in litigation involving UDF IV; risks that will affect the amount of contingent consideration, if any, including, among others, the performance of specified UDF IV loans and developments in litigation involving UDF IV; risks related to disruption of management attention from the ongoing business operations due to the proposed transaction; the effect of the announcement of the proposed transaction on the operating results and businesses generally of Ready Capital and UDF IV; the outcome of any legal proceedings relating to the transaction; and the ability to retain key personnel. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this letter. UDF IV undertakes no obligation to update its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Investor Contact: Investor Relations 1-800-859-9338 investorrelations@umth.com Media Contact: Mahmoud Siddig / Lucas Pers / Dylan O’Keefe Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher (212) 895-8668Chance of direct attack by Russia ‘remote’, says UK armed forces chief

Put politics aside and act on online harms, mother of sextortion victim tells MPs OTTAWA — Parents of children who died because of online sexual extortion are urging MPs to act on online harms legislation. Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press Dec 5, 2024 3:02 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Parents of children who died because of online sexual extortion are urging MPs to act on online harms legislation. A man uses a computer keyboard in Toronto on Oct. 9, 2023 photo illustration. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy OTTAWA — Parents of children who died because of online sexual extortion are urging MPs to act on online harms legislation. The online harms bill is among the legislation that's been blocked from moving forward for months due to a parliamentary privilege debate raging between the Liberals and Conservatives. The bill targets seven categories of online behaviour, from the non-consensual sharing of intimate images to content that can be used to bully a child, and would create a new Digital Safety Commission of Canada. Justice Minister Arif Virani announced plans to split the bill into two parts this week, heeding calls from critics to separate the more controversial hate speech provisions from the child exploitation components. But the bill still can't move forward until the privilege filibuster is over. Barbie Lavers, whose teenage son died by suicide after being extorted online over intimate images, told a House of Commons committee Thursday that she supports the online harms legislation. Lavers asked politicians from all parties to come to a temporary alliance and stop using children as political pawns to show "one party is more correct than the other." "The longer Bill C-63 remains a political issue, the more children we will lose. We beg you to please stop wasting time and do something to help save our children," she said. Carol Todd, whose daughter Amanda died by suicide due to online sextortion, told MPs it is hurtful to watch political arguments after waiting 12 years for legislation. The Conservatives say they won't end the filibuster until either the Liberals hand over unredacted documents related to misspending at a now-defunct green technology fund to the RCMP, or the NDP agrees to bring down the government. The Liberals need the support of an opposition party to end or pause the privilege debate, which the NDP did last week when it allowed the government to pass legislation to enact a temporary federal sales tax holiday. But the New Democrats say they, too, want the documents handed over and will not agree to end the debate entirely. Virani said the goal of breaking the legislation into two was "to find consensus amongst parliamentarians on the things that we can agree to immediately." Conservative justice critic Larry Brock called for Virani to "give up" on the bill and instead adopt a Conservative private member's bill tackling online harms. Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner, who introduced that bill, repeatedly put it forward as a superior alternative to the government's proposed legislation while questioning the witnesses at committee Thursday. Rempel Garner said her concern with the government bill is that it puts the social media platforms' responsibilities "into a regulator that hasn't been built and it gives online platforms the ability to wiggle out of this two, three, four years in the future." "I would direct your attention to C-412," she told Todd. The first part of the government bill, which Virani plans to prioritize, would create a new regulator to compel social media companies to outline how they plan to reduce the risks their platforms pose to users, particularly minors. It would also update rules around mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse material by internet service providers and some online services. Rempel Garner's bill would include measures modernizing the existing law against criminal harassment so a victim can ask a judge to force social media companies to identify someone who has repeatedly harassed them online. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024. Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More National News Chief 'disappointed' to see clean water used as a political tactic by Conservatives Dec 5, 2024 3:34 PM Brown: Indian diplomat pushed back when he used the words "Sikh nation" Dec 5, 2024 3:26 PM Feds outlaw another 324 types of firearms, propose donating guns to Ukraine Dec 5, 2024 3:25 PM Featured Flyer

Julen Lopetegui facing sack after Leicester collapse as West Ham draw up three-man shortlist led by ex-Chelsea bossCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Known across the globe as the stuck astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams hit the six-month mark in space Thursday with two more to go. The pair rocketed into orbit on June 5 , the first to ride Boeing's new Starliner crew capsule on what was supposed to be a weeklong test flight. They arrived at the International Space Station the next day, only after overcoming a cascade of thruster failures and helium leaks . NASA deemed the capsule too risky for a return flight, so it will be February before their long and trying mission comes to a close. While NASA managers bristle at calling them stuck or stranded, the two retired Navy captains shrug off the description of their plight. They insist they're fine and accepting of their fate. Wilmore views it as a detour of sorts: "We're just on a different path." NASA astronauts Suni Williams, left, and Butch Wilmore stand together for a photo June 5 as they head to the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 in Cape Canaveral, Fla., for their liftoff on the Boeing Starliner capsule to the International Space Station. "I like everything about being up here," Williams told students Wednesday from an elementary school named for her in Needham, Massachusetts, her hometown. "Just living in space is super fun." Both astronauts lived up there before, so they quickly became full-fledged members of the crew, helping with science experiments and chores like fixing a broken toilet, vacuuming the air vents and watering the plants. Williams took over as station commander in September. "Mindset does go a long way," Wilmore said in response to a question from Nashville first graders in October. He's from Mount Juliet, Tennessee. "I don't look at these situations in life as being downers." Boeing flew its Starliner capsule home empty in September, and NASA moved Wilmore and Williams to a SpaceX flight not due back until late February. Two other astronauts were bumped to make room and to keep to a six-month schedule for crew rotations. Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts Butch Wilmore, left, and Suni Williams pose for a portrait June 13 inside the vestibule between the forward port on the International Space Station's Harmony module and Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Like other station crews, Wilmore and Williams trained for spacewalks and any unexpected situations that might arise. "When the crews go up, they know they could be there for up to a year," NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free said. NASA astronaut Frank Rubio found that out the hard way when the Russian Space Agency had to rush up a replacement capsule for him and two cosmonauts in 2023, pushing their six-month mission to just past a year. Boeing said this week that input from Wilmore and Williams was "invaluable" in the ongoing inquiry of what went wrong. The company said it is preparing for Starliner's next flight but declined to comment on when it might launch again. NASA also has high praise for the pair. "Whether it was luck or whether it was selection, they were great folks to have for this mission," NASA's chief health and medical officer, Dr. JD Polk, said during an interview with The Associated Press. NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, both Expedition 71 flight engineers, make pizza Sept. 9 aboard the International Space Station's galley located inside the Unity module. Items are attached to the galley using tape and Velcro to keep them from flying away in the microgravity environment. On top of everything else, Williams, 59, had to deal with "rumors," as she calls them, of serious weight loss. She insists her weight is the same as it was on launch day, which Polk confirms. During Wednesday's student chat, Williams said she didn't have much of an appetite when she first arrived in space. But now she's "super hungry" and eating three meals a day plus snacks, while logging the required two hours of daily exercise. Williams, a distance runner, uses the space station treadmill to support races in her home state. She competed in Cape Cod's 7-mile Falmouth Road Race in August. She ran the 2007 Boston Marathon up there as well. She has a New England Patriots shirt with her for game days, as well as a Red Sox spring training shirt. "Hopefully I'll be home before that happens — but you never know," she said in November. Husband Michael Williams, a retired federal marshal and former Navy aviator, is caring for their dogs back home in Houston. As for Wilmore, 61, he's missing his younger daughter's senior year in high school and his older daughter's theater productions in college. The astronauts in the video seemed to be in good spirits with one stating, “It’s gonna be delicious.” (Scripps News) "We can't deny that being unexpectedly separated, especially during the holidays when the entire family gets together, brings increased yearnings to share the time and events together," his wife, Deanna Wilmore, told the AP in a text this week. Her husband "has it worse than us" since he's confined to the space station and can only connect via video for short periods. "We are certainly looking forward to February!!" she wrote. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, left, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, left, gives a thumbs up as they leave the Operations and Checkout Building on their way to Launch Complex 40 for a mission to the International Space Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla., (AP Photo/John Raoux) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, right, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov leave the Operations and Checkout building for a trip to the launch pad 40 Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, right, talks to his family members as Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov looks on after leaving the Operations and Checkout building for a trip to the launch pad 40 Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Two astronauts are beginning a mission to the International Space Station. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) In this image from video provided by NASA, Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, left, and astronaut Nick Hague travel inside a SpaceX capsule en route to the International Space Station after launching from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (NASA via AP) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of two lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) The Falcon 9's first stage booster returns to Landing Zone 1 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of two lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Lincoln man sentenced for robbery with Hostess box over his handSigning with Dodgers was really easy decision for 2-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell

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Saskatchewan hockey player recovering after neck gashed by skate during gameNASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy and Nicola Fox, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, will travel to Mexico City on Sunday, Nov. 24, for a multi-day trip to build on previous engagements and advance scientific and technological collaboration between the United States and Mexico. This visit will focus on fostering partnerships in astronomy and astrophysics research, as well as highlighting opportunities for economic, educational, and science, technology, engineering, and math collaborations between the two nations. Melroy’s trip will include high-level meetings with senior Mexican government officials, including the secretariat-designate for Science, Technology, Humanities, and Innovation. Melroy and Fox also will meet with leaders from academia, industry, and scientific institutions. These discussions will emphasize expanding cooperation in space science, with particular focus on Mexico’s growing astronomy programs. This visit builds on Melroy’s trip to Mexico City earlier this year and reflects NASA’s commitment to advancing international cooperation in space and science for the benefit of all. For more information about NASA’s international partnerships, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/oiir -end- Amber Jacobson / Katherine Rohloff Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1600 amber.c.jacobson@nasa.gov / katherine.a.rohloff@nasa.gov