US Senator Lindsey Graham dies at 71 after brief illness

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a longtime lawmaker from South Carolina and a close ally of former US President Donald Trump, has died at the age of 71 following a brief and sudden illness. His office confirmed the news in a statement, though no further details about the cause of death have been released.

Graham served in the US Senate since 2003 and was one of the Republican Party's most influential voices on defence, foreign policy and judicial matters. Although he was initially critical of Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign, he later became one of Trump's closest political allies and advisers, particularly on national security and foreign policy issues. At the time of his death, Graham was serving as the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and was campaigning for a fifth Senate term.

Tributes have poured in from political leaders across the United States, with colleagues remembering Graham for his decades of public service and influence in American politics. His family has requested privacy as funeral arrangements are made.