Sister to fill

Graham’s term

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has named Darline Graham Nordone as her late brother Lindsey Graham’s temporary replacement in the U.S. Senate. Graham died at age 71 over the weekend.

Nordone will serve the remaining months of his term, which ends in January. A special election next month will determine the new Republican nominee for Graham’s seat. The open seat has sparked interest among South Carolina’s conservatives.

A special primary election is scheduled for August 11, with a runoff on August 25 if needed. The general election will take place on November 3.

12 states sue

over takeover

NEW YORK (AP) — Twelve states are suing to block Paramount’s takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. They argued in a lawsuit Monday that the $81 billion merger would “extinguish competition” in Hollywood and lead to fewer choices for consumers across the U.S.

The office of California’s attorney general is leading the coalition. It alleges that the proposed merger would lead to higher prices, lower quality, and less content for movies and the television landscape.

Paramount maintains that merging with Warner will be good for competition. The company says it will “vigorously defend” the transaction.

Inflation

worries renew

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices jumped following a weekend of attacks in the Middle East, while slumping AI stocks weighed on stock markets. Brent crude’s price climbed nearly 10% Monday after the United States and Iran each said the Strait of Hormuz is under its control. Oil prices are still below their wartime peak, but the sharp gains sent Treasury yields higher in the bond market on worries about inflation. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 fell 0.8%. The Dow dropped 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 1.6%. Micron Technology and Nvidia helped lead the way lower after SK Hynix shares in Seoul fell to their largest loss ever.

Sam Neill

dies at 78

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Sam Neill, the elegant and versatile actor who moved from art films to blockbusters like “Jurassic Park” and “The Hunt for Red October,” has died at 78. He said he had a rare type of lymphoma in 2023. His family said he was cancer-free when he died Monday but the statement didn’t give a cause.

The New Zealand actor was one of a host of actors and directors who achieved international fame after an explosion of Australian films that began in the late 1970s.

In addition to “Jurassic Park” and two of its sequels, his films included the thriller at sea “Dead Calm,” the period romance “The Piano” and the sci-fi horror “Event Horizon.”