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Clay's 15 help Morehead State take down Alice Lloyd 94-63By DAVID A. LIEB Artificial intelligence. Abortion. Guns. Marijuana. Minimum wages. Name a hot topic, and chances are good there’s a new law about it taking effect in 2025 in one state or another. Many of the laws launching in January are a result of legislation passed this year. Others stem from ballot measures approved by voters. Some face legal challenges. Here’s a look at some of the most notable state laws taking effect: California, home to Hollywood and some of the largest technology companies, is seeking to rein in the artificial intelligence industry and put some parameters around social media stars. New laws seek to prevent the use of digital replicas of Hollywood actors and performers without permission and allow the estates of dead performers to sue over unauthorized AI use. Parents who profit from social media posts featuring their children will be required to set aside some earnings for their young influencers. A new law also allows children to sue their parents for failing to do so. New social media restrictions in several states face court challenges. Related Articles National Politics | Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen National Politics | Exhausted by political news? TV ratings and new poll say you’re not alone National Politics | Looking for relevance in Republican Florida, Democratic leader seeks distance from progressives National Politics | Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row National Politics | Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreams A Florida law bans children under 14 from having social media accounts and requires parental consent for ages 14 and 15. But enforcement is being delayed because of a lawsuit filed by two associations for online companies, with a hearing scheduled for late February. A new Tennessee law also requires parental consent for minors to open accounts on social media. NetChoice, an industry group for online businesses, is challenging the law. Another new state law requires porn websites to verify that visitors are at least 18 years old. But the Free Speech Coalition, a trade association for the adult entertainment industry, has filed a challenge. Several new California measures aimed at combating political deepfakes are also being challenged, including one requiring large social media platforms to remove deceptive content related to elections and another allowing any individual to sue for damages over the use of AI to create fabricated images or videos in political ads . In a first nationally, California will start enforcing a law prohibiting school districts from adopting policies that require staff to notify parents if their children change their gender identification . The law was a priority for Democratic lawmakers who wanted to halt such policies passed by several districts. Many states have passed laws limiting or protecting abortion rights since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a nationwide right to the procedure in 2022. One of the latest is the Democratic-led state of Delaware. A law there will require the state employee health plan and Medicaid plans for lower-income residents to cover abortions with no deductible , copayments or other cost-sharing requirements. A new Minnesota law prohibits guns with “binary triggers” that allow for more rapid fire, causing a weapon to fire one round when the trigger is pulled and another when it is released. In Delaware, a law adds colleges and universities to a list of school zones where guns are prohibited, with exceptions for those working in their official capacity such as law officers and commissioned security guards. Kentucky is becoming the latest state to let people use marijuana for medical purposes . To apply for a state medical cannabis card, people must get written certification from a medical provider of a qualifying condition, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, epilepsy, chronic nausea or post-traumatic stress disorder. Nearly four-fifths of U.S. states have now legalized medical marijuana. Minimum wage workers in more than 20 states are due to receive raises in January. The highest minimum wages will be in Washington, California and Connecticut, all of which will top $16 an hour after modest increases. The largest increases are scheduled in Delaware, where the minimum wage will rise by $1.75 to $15 an hour, and in Nebraska, where a ballot measure approved by voters in 2022 will add $1.50 to the current minimum of $12 an hour. Twenty other states still follow the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. In Oregon, using drugs on public transit will be considered a misdemeanor crime of interfering with public transportation. While the measure worked its way through the legislature, multiple transportation officials said drug use on buses and trains, and at transit stops and stations, was making passengers and drivers feel less safe. In Missouri, law enforcement officers have spent the past 16 months issuing warnings to motorists that handheld cellphone use is illegal. Starting with the new year, penalties will kick in: a $150 fine for the first violation, progressing to $500 for third and subsequent offenses and up to 15 years imprisonment if a driver using a cellphone cause an injury or death. But police must notice a primary violation, such as speeding or weaving across lanes, to cite motorists for violating the cellphone law. Montana is the only state that hasn’t banned texting while driving , according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Tenants in Arizona will no longer have to pay tax on their monthly rent , thanks to the repeal of a law that had allowed cities and towns to impose such taxes. While a victory for renters, the new law is a financial loss for governments. An analysis by Arizona’s nonpartisan Joint Legislative Budget Committee estimated that $230 million would be lost in municipal tax revenue during the first full fiscal year of implementation. Meanwhile Alabama will offer tax credits to businesses that help employees with child care costs. Kansas is eliminating its 2% sales tax on groceries. It also is cutting individual income taxes by dropping the top tax rate, increasing a credit for child care expenses and exempting all Social Security income from taxes, among other things. Taxpayers are expected to save about $320 million a year going forward. An Oklahoma law expands voting privileges to people who have been convicted of felonies but had their sentences discharged or commuted, including commutations for crimes that have been reclassified from felonies to misdemeanors. Former state Sen. George Young, an Oklahoma City Democrat, carried the bill in the Senate. “I think it’s very important that people who have gone through trials and tribulations in their life, that we have a system that brings them back and allows them to participate as contributing citizens,” Young said. Associated Press writers Trân Nguyễn in Sacramento, California; Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Florida; Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tennessee; Randall Chase in Dover, Delaware; Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis; Bruce Schreiner in Frankfort, Kentucky; Claire Rush in Portland, Oregon; Summer Ballentine in Jefferson City, Missouri; Gabriel Sandoval in Phoenix; Kim Chandler in Montgomery, Alabama; John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas; and Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City contributed.Nonerich m 。

Arsenal 1 Ipswich 0: Kai Havertz scores winner that sees Gunners leapfrog Chelsea into second'Just a piece of paper': Domestic violence orders don't make Claire and Olivia safeThe doors to the Ontario Securities Commission hearing rooms in Toronto on Dec. 12, 2019. Melissa Tait/The Globe and Mail Ontario’s securities regulator is providing $11-million in funding to help Canada’s primary advocacy group for retail investors continue to operate for another six years. On Wednesday, the Ontario Securities Commission announced that over the next six years it will provide FAIR Canada with funding of up to $2-million a year to be used to support FAIR’s day-to-day operations. OSC chief executive officer Grant Vingoe said the contribution will provide FAIR with a “steady and stable source of funding” and help the national charitable organization with “its important work.” “FAIR provides an important and independent voice for investors, advocating for their interests on securities policy issues,” Mr. Vingoe said in a statement. The OSC has been criticized for not returning more money to harmed investors from the $123-million it has collected over the years from settlements and sanctions levied by its enforcement division. Last year, the OSC spent just $7-million on investor education, payments to whistleblowers and compensation for harmed investors. The $11-million funding to FAIR will be provided from sanction and settlement funds held in the commission’s designated fund. The money will be paid in two installments, with the first instalment to be paid to FAIR immediately, and a second instalment provided in 2027. FAIR can only draw a maximum of $2-million a year under the agreement, the OSC said. Toronto -based FAIR was established in 2008 to provide retail investors a voice at the table when regulatory rules and laws are being decided. Initially known as the Canadian Foundation for the Advancement of Investor Rights, the organization was originally funded by the predecessors of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada, which provided an initial investment of $3.75-million. FAIR Canada’s executive director Jean-Paul Bureaud said the new funding will allow the organization to continue to execute its strategic plan. “Canadian investors are challenged by market changes, technological innovation, and an increasingly complex regulatory environment. There is a need for a strong, national, independent, professional advocate,” Mr. Bureaud said. “The OSC’s support is a vote of confidence that will help fuel our advocacy efforts for individual investors.” This is not the first round of funding the OSC has provided. In previous years it has paid out $7.5-million to help fund FAIR. In 2019, the investor advocacy group found itself in financial difficulties after it struggled to raise millions in funding required to match a $2-million gift from Stephen Jarislowsky, the founder of investment firm Jarislowsky Fraser Ltd. Mr. Jarislowsky’s gift in 2012 was conditional on FAIR finding $4-million in matching gifts. But outside of a $2-million contribution from the OSC at the time, FAIR had fallen short. At the end of 2019, FAIR returned the money provided by Mr. Jarislowsky, plus about $400,000 in investment earnings that came from his grant. At the time, Mr. Jarislowsky blamed governments and regulators, including self-regulatory industry groups, for failing to step up to what he sees as their responsibility. -with files from David Milstead

Josh Allen is winning on and off the field. The Buffalo Bills quarterback had a heartwarming response to a reporter asking how he felt taking home a victory against the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 1 while newly engaged to Hailee Steinfeld . "Felt good," Josh said of his experience playing as a fiancé during the post-game conference alongside wide receiver Amari Cooper Dec. 1. "Felt free." It's been an eventful few days for the football player— who was on the field for the first time since his proposal —as he also became the first quarterback in NFL history during the 49ers face-off to pass for, rush for and catch a touchdown in a single game, Sunday Night Football on NBC confirmed. And just a week before, the 28-year-old—who also broke the record for the most touchdowns in the Bills' franchise history during the match— got down on one knee and proposed to the Hawkeye star by a flower-adorned arch overlooking the glimmering waves. Despite the recent update on their relationship status, Josh and Hailee, 27, have kept their romance close to their chests . In fact, after announcing their sweet milestone, the NFL player danced around the news while reflecting on his bye week. "It was fantastic," he said of the time off during a Nov. 27 press conference. "It was great. I got some sun, hung out with family. It was fantastic." But Josh's decision to keep his and Hailee's relationship private wasn't made lightly. He previously shared how surprised he was at people's interest in their relationship and the lengths that some paparazzi had gone to for photos. "The fact anybody cares about that still blows my mind," he admitted on the Pardon My Take podcast last August. "They were on a boat. I saw it and I just felt this gross feeling. The insecurity, no privacy. I was like, 'What's wrong with you?'" That doesn't mean he and the Edge of Seventeen star don't share any details about their personal life, however. With Christmas around the corner, Hailee recently revealed that they both got each other the same gift last year and the adorable story behind their exchange. "I got this knife for Josh last year for Christmas because cooking is something we love to do together," she shared in her newsletter Beau Society in October, per Sports Illustrated . "For Christmas he got me...the same one in a different colorway!" "After we exchanged our knives lol ," she continued, "he told me there's an old wive's tale that if you gift your significant other a knife you have to pay for it, otherwise it signifies the severing of a relationship. So we exchanged quarters so we didn't have that bad omen." Keep reading for more of Hailee and Josh's winning romance. May 2023: Romance Rumors Following Josh Allen 's breakup with longtime girlfriend Brittany Williams , the Buffalo Bills quarterback stepped out for dinner in NYC with Hailee Steinfeld . Two months later, the duo confirmed their relationship while kissing on vacation in Mexico. March 2024: Surprise Appearance Nearly a year after the duo first sparked romance rumors, the athlete and the actress made a rare social media appearance while helping his sister, Nicala Madden , reveal the sex of her baby in an adorable Tiktok video . March 2024: Très Romantique The Edge of Seventeen star and the NFL player went on a romantic outing in matching khaki outfits during Paris Fashion Week. July 2024: The City of Love The NFL star made the couple's romance Instagram official, posting a photo of the couple posing in front of the Eiffel Tower in his July 23 photo dump . July 2024: Part Of the Family Posted in that same photo dump, the "Starving" singer squeezed in for a photo with Josh's family. August 2024: Mr. Hard Launch "Mr. Hard Launch," as reporter Kay Adams called him on her Up & Adams show, bashfully admitted "we love love" when asked about his and Hailee's relationship. November 2024: Engagement Hailee and Josh confirmed they were engaged in a November 29 Instagram post showing the athlete getting down on one knee as the Oscar nominee leaned in to give him a kiss. They captioned the post with the date of their major milestone: 11-22-24.

By DAVID A. LIEB Artificial intelligence. Abortion. Guns. Marijuana. Minimum wages. Name a hot topic, and chances are good there’s a new law about it taking effect in 2025 in one state or another. Many of the laws launching in January are a result of legislation passed this year. Others stem from ballot measures approved by voters. Some face legal challenges. Here’s a look at some of the most notable state laws taking effect: Hollywood stars and child influencers California, home to Hollywood and some of the largest technology companies, is seeking to rein in the artificial intelligence industry and put some parameters around social media stars. New laws seek to prevent the use of digital replicas of Hollywood actors and performers without permission and allow the estates of dead performers to sue over unauthorized AI use. Parents who profit from social media posts featuring their children will be required to set aside some earnings for their young influencers. A new law also allows children to sue their parents for failing to do so. Social media limits New social media restrictions in several states face court challenges. Related Articles National Politics | Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen National Politics | Exhausted by political news? TV ratings and new poll say you’re not alone National Politics | Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row National Politics | Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreams National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ A Florida law bans children under 14 from having social media accounts and requires parental consent for ages 14 and 15. But enforcement is being delayed because of a lawsuit filed by two associations for online companies, with a hearing scheduled for late February. A new Tennessee law also requires parental consent for minors to open accounts on social media. NetChoice, an industry group for online businesses, is challenging the law. Another new state law requires porn websites to verify that visitors are at least 18 years old. But the Free Speech Coalition, a trade association for the adult entertainment industry, has filed a challenge. Several new California measures aimed at combating political deepfakes are also being challenged, including one requiring large social media platforms to remove deceptive content related to elections and another allowing any individual to sue for damages over the use of AI to create fabricated images or videos in political ads . School rules on gender In a first nationally, California will start enforcing a law prohibiting school districts from adopting policies that require staff to notify parents if their children change their gender identification . The law was a priority for Democratic lawmakers who wanted to halt such policies passed by several districts. Abortion coverage Many states have passed laws limiting or protecting abortion rights since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a nationwide right to the procedure in 2022. One of the latest is the Democratic-led state of Delaware. A law there will require the state employee health plan and Medicaid plans for lower-income residents to cover abortions with no deductible , copayments or other cost-sharing requirements. Gun control A new Minnesota law prohibits guns with “binary triggers” that allow for more rapid fire, causing a weapon to fire one round when the trigger is pulled and another when it is released. In Delaware, a law adds colleges and universities to a list of school zones where guns are prohibited, with exceptions for those working in their official capacity such as law officers and commissioned security guards. Medical marijuana Kentucky is becoming the latest state to let people use marijuana for medical purposes . To apply for a state medical cannabis card, people must get written certification from a medical provider of a qualifying condition, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, epilepsy, chronic nausea or post-traumatic stress disorder. Nearly four-fifths of U.S. states have now legalized medical marijuana. Minimum wages Minimum wage workers in more than 20 states are due to receive raises in January. The highest minimum wages will be in Washington, California and Connecticut, all of which will top $16 an hour after modest increases. The largest increases are scheduled in Delaware, where the minimum wage will rise by $1.75 to $15 an hour, and in Nebraska, where a ballot measure approved by voters in 2022 will add $1.50 to the current minimum of $12 an hour. Twenty other states still follow the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. Safer traveling In Oregon, using drugs on public transit will be considered a misdemeanor crime of interfering with public transportation. While the measure worked its way through the legislature, multiple transportation officials said drug use on buses and trains, and at transit stops and stations, was making passengers and drivers feel less safe. In Missouri, law enforcement officers have spent the past 16 months issuing warnings to motorists that handheld cellphone use is illegal. Starting with the new year, penalties will kick in: a $150 fine for the first violation, progressing to $500 for third and subsequent offenses and up to 15 years imprisonment if a driver using a cellphone cause an injury or death. But police must notice a primary violation, such as speeding or weaving across lanes, to cite motorists for violating the cellphone law. Montana is the only state that hasn’t banned texting while driving , according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Tax breaks Tenants in Arizona will no longer have to pay tax on their monthly rent , thanks to the repeal of a law that had allowed cities and towns to impose such taxes. While a victory for renters, the new law is a financial loss for governments. An analysis by Arizona’s nonpartisan Joint Legislative Budget Committee estimated that $230 million would be lost in municipal tax revenue during the first full fiscal year of implementation. Meanwhile Alabama will offer tax credits to businesses that help employees with child care costs. Kansas is eliminating its 2% sales tax on groceries. It also is cutting individual income taxes by dropping the top tax rate, increasing a credit for child care expenses and exempting all Social Security income from taxes, among other things. Taxpayers are expected to save about $320 million a year going forward. Voting rights An Oklahoma law expands voting privileges to people who have been convicted of felonies but had their sentences discharged or commuted, including commutations for crimes that have been reclassified from felonies to misdemeanors. Former state Sen. George Young, an Oklahoma City Democrat, carried the bill in the Senate. “I think it’s very important that people who have gone through trials and tribulations in their life, that we have a system that brings them back and allows them to participate as contributing citizens,” Young said. Associated Press writers Trân Nguyễn in Sacramento, California; Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Florida; Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tennessee; Randall Chase in Dover, Delaware; Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis; Bruce Schreiner in Frankfort, Kentucky; Claire Rush in Portland, Oregon; Summer Ballentine in Jefferson City, Missouri; Gabriel Sandoval in Phoenix; Kim Chandler in Montgomery, Alabama; John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas; and Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City contributed.New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns

The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz reminds investors of the upcoming December 30, 2024 deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in the class action filed on behalf of investors who acquired Mynaric AG ("Mynaric" or the "Company") MYNA securities between June 20, 2024 and October 7, 2024 , inclusive (the "Class Period"). If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. On August 20, 2024, Mynaric disclosed that it "now expect[ed] full-year 2024 IFRS-15 revenue to range between EUR 16.0 million to EUR 24.0 million compared to previous guidance of a range between EUR 50.0 million to EUR 70.0 million," citing "production delays of CONDOR Mk3 caused by lower than expected production yields and component supplier shortages of key components." The Company also disclosed that it "now expects full-year 2024 operating loss to range between a loss of EUR 55.0 million to EUR 50.0 million compared to previous guidance of a range between a loss of EUR 40.0 million to EUR 30.0 million," citing "the lower than expected revenue and higher than expected production costs due to lower yields." Additionally, the Company also disclosed the voluntary departure of its Chief Financial Officer "for personal reasons." On this news, Mynaric's stock price fell $2.32, or 55.9%, to close at $1.83 per share on August 20, 2024, thereby injuring investors. Then, on August 26, 2024, Mynaric announced that its Supervisory Board "agreed to terminate in mutual consent the appointment of [the Company's Chief Executive Officer] as chairman and member of the Management Board." On this news, Mynaric's stock price fell $0.11, or 9.7%, to close at $1.02 per share on August 27, 2024. Then, on October 8, 2024, Mynaric disclosed that it had received a deficiency letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. notifying the Company that it was "no longer in compliance with the Nasdaq continued listing criteria . . . due to its failure to maintain a minimum of $50 million in market value of listed securities," and that "Mynaric does not meet the alternatives of total assets and total revenue for continued listing." On this news, Mynaric's stock price fell $0.07, or 4.4%, to close at $1.53 per share on October 8, 2024, thereby injuring investors further. The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) lower-than-expected production yields and component supplier shortages of key components were causing production delays for Mynaric's CONDOR Mk3 product; (2) the foregoing issues were likely to have a material negative impact on the Company's revenue growth and cause the Company to incur an operating loss; (3) as a result, Mynaric was unlikely to meet its own previously issued financial guidance for FY 2024; (4) accordingly, the Company's business and/or financial prospects were overstated; and (5) as a result, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. Follow us for updates on Twitter: twitter.com/FRC_LAW . If you purchased or otherwise acquired Mynaric securities during the Class Period, you may move the Court no later than December 30, 2024 to request appointment as lead plaintiff in this putative class action lawsuit. To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to the pending class action lawsuit, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 2121 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 800, Century City, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to info@frankcruzlaw.com , or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com . If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241227904534/en/ © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

The Reform UK leader pushed back against reports suggesting that legal action would be the next step, saying he would make a decision in the next couple of days about his response if there is no apology for the “crazy conspiracy theory”. Mr Farage also said the party has “opened up our systems” to media outlets, including The Daily Telegraph and The Financial Times, in the interests of “full transparency to verify that our numbers are correct”. His remarks came after Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch accused Mr Farage of “fakery” in response to Reform claiming they had surpassed the Tories in signed-up members. Mrs Badenoch said Reform’s counter was “coded to tick up automatically”. A digital counter on the Reform website showed a membership tally before lunchtime on Boxing Day ticking past the 131,680 figure declared by the Conservative Party during its leadership election earlier this year. Mr Farage, on whether he was threatening legal action or not, told the PA news agency: “I haven’t threatened anything. I’ve just said that unless I get an apology, I will take some action. “I haven’t said whether it’s legal or anything.” He added: “All I’ve said is I want an apology. If I don’t get an apology, I will take action. “I will decide in the next couple of days what that is. So I’ve not specified what it is.” Mr Farage, on the move to make membership data available to media organisations, said: “We feel our arguments are fully validated. “She (Mrs Badenoch) has put out this crazy conspiracy theory and she needs to apologise.” On why Mrs Badenoch had reacted as she did, Mr Farage said: “I would imagine she was at home without anybody advising her and was just angry.” Mr Farage, in a statement issued on social media site X, also said: “The accusations of fraud and dishonesty made against me yesterday were disgraceful. “Today we opened up our systems to The Telegraph, Spectator, Sky News and FT in the interests of full transparency to verify that our data is correct. “I am now demanding Kemi Badenoch apologises.” A Conservative Party source claimed Mr Farage was “rattled” that his Boxing Day “publicity stunt is facing serious questions”. They added: “Like most normal people around the UK, Kemi is enjoying Christmas with her family and looking forward to taking on the challenges of renewing the Conservative Party in the New Year.” Mrs Badenoch, in a series of messages posted on X on Thursday, said: “Farage doesn’t understand the digital age. This kind of fakery gets found out pretty quickly, although not before many are fooled.” There were 131,680 Conservative members eligible to vote during the party’s leadership election to replace Rishi Sunak in the autumn. Mrs Badenoch claimed in her thread that “the Conservative Party has gained thousands of new members since the leadership election”.

Rare earths: another reason we mustn’t allow Russia to win in Ukraine

​​​​​​​ WASHINGTON The Biden administration has provisionally approved a $680 million weapons sale to Israel, including precision munitions like JDAM kits and small-diameter bombs, according to a report Wednesday. US officials recently briefed Congress on the proposal, a customary step before a public announcement, the Financial Times reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. While Congress has the authority to object, the disclosing of the planned sale came as Israel and Hezbollah began implementing a fragile cease-fire, it added. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that replenishing Israeli weapons stocks was one of three main reasons for agreeing to the cease-fire with Lebanon. “It is no secret that there have been big delays in weapons and munitions deliveries,” he said. “These delays will be resolved soon. We will receive supplies of advanced weaponry that will keep our soldiers safe and give us more strike force to complete our mission.” US officials speaking to the Financial Times denied any explicit link between the arms sale and the cease-fire agreement. A State Department spokesperson refused to publicly confirm or comment on proposed or pending arms sales. “All transfers of defense articles to Israel are provided consistent with the requirements of the Arms Export Control Act, the Foreign Assistance Act, and any other applicable statutory authorities and restrictions. As with all transfers to all recipients, such equipment is to be used for the purchaser’s internal security and legitimate self-defense,” the spokesperson told Anadolu, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The spokesperson added that the US has emphasized to Israel the need to comply with international humanitarian law and Israel “has a moral obligation and strategic imperative to protect civilians, investigate allegations of any wrongdoing, and ensure accountability for any abuses or violations of international human rights law or international humanitarian law.” The US faces criticism for providing military aid to Israel, as more than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since October 2023 due to attacks, according to Gaza health authorities. That has come about after 1,200 people were killed in a cross-border attack led by the Palestinian group, Hamas, according to Israeli figures. Several human rights groups, former State Department officials and US lawmakers have urged the Biden administration to suspend arms transfers to Israel, citing violations of international law and human rights. Israel rejects the allegations. ​​​​​​​ US President Joe Biden halted shipments of 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs to Israel in May because of its offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, citing civilian casualties in Gaza as a consequence of the bombs. The flow of other military equipment to Israel continued, however, including the State Department's approval in August of $20 billion in fighter jets and other military supplies.​​​​​​​ The $680 million allocation for JDAM kits and small-diameter bombs adds to approximately $20 billion in arms sales that Senate Democrats, led by Bernie Sanders, failed to stop last week. The US, which provides $3.8 billion in annual security assistance to Israel, is by far the biggest supplier of arms to Tel Aviv, with more than 70% of Israel’s arms imports coming from the US, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. US-made weapons have been documented in several Israeli strikes on Gaza that resulted in civilian casualties, although American authorities have declined to confirm. A State Department report in May said it is “reasonable to assess” that Israel used US-made weapons in ways that are inconsistent with international humanitarian law. The report, however, stopped short of reaching a definitive conclusion, saying it does not have "complete information."