Fuel theft is on the rise in Australia as motorists reach breaking point over the spiralling costs at the bowser.

Incidents of theft have been reported on the streets of regional Victoria and in Queensland, including brazen thieves who siphoned fuel from trucks as drivers slept at rest stops.

The cost of unleaded petrol has now nudged $3 per litre, crippling motorists and businesses, as the global oil crisis triggered by the war in the Middle East shows no sign of easing.

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Victoria Police are investigating afters several streets in Kyneton, in central Victoria, were targeted by fuel thieves yesterday and on Friday.

It is believed unknown offenders tampered with fuel cap covers of cars parked along Wedge and Powlett streets between 5pm on Friday and 8am yesterday, police said.

An investigation into the incidents is now under way.

Meanwhile, truck drivers in rural Queensland have been urged to lock their fuel tanks after drivers reported having fuel stolen overnight as they slept.

"With the rising cost of fuel across Australia, unfortunately we all know what tends to follow… opportunistic theft," a spokesperson for Ambrose Haulage Pty Ltd said on Facebook

"One of our drivers had a very close call overnight at Moonie with someone attempting to access the truck.

"Please keep an extra eye out when you're parked up especially overnight."

The surging price of fuel and regional shortage has prompted calls for stricter fuel rationing across the country.

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One Nation's Barnaby Joyce said now was the time to ramp up conservation efforts as our existing stock is depleted.

"We should be going towards rationing," Joyce said.

"The problem is taking its second iteration, because you've got to remember, the oil we were using at the start of the crisis had already been extracted from the Middle East.

"So we weren't having to contend with the closure of the Strait of Hormoz. It's actually going to become more difficult."

Current petrol supplies are expected to run dry at the end of April.

The International Energy Agency has urged Australians to work form home or catch public transport to preserve fuel.

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Tropical Cyclone Narelle has crossed the Australian coast for a second time overnight but forecasters are warning it could hit a third state in coming days.

The severe tropical cyclone packed a punch as it made landfall in the Northern Territory, hitting as a category 3 system and bringing with it wind gusts of up to 185km/h.

It's now forecast to dissipate to a tropical low as it gets towards Katherine but the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has given it a "moderate" chance of becoming a cyclone again on Monday, after moving across the Top End.

READ MORE: 'A real blessing': Clean-up under way after Tropical Cyclone Narelle crosses Cape York Peninsula

"There is a moderate chance that Narelle redevelops into a tropical cyclone while in the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf near the NT/WA border," the latest BoM advice said.

Before heading across to Western Australia, Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle is set to impact coastal areas between Birany Birany and Numbulwar.

A severe weather warning is in place for heavy, locally intense rainfall with potential for dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding between Birany Birany and Numbulwar, including Groote Eylandt, extending inland towards Bulman on Sunday.

Very damaging wind gusts are also forecast for the region.

As the storm moves west, the bureau warns damaging wind gusts of 90km/h are possible between King George River Mouth and the border region.

Flash flooding caused by heavy rain is possible for the north Kimberley during Monday.

A number of flood warnings are in place across both states.

Queensland cleanup under way

Meanwhile, multiple flood warnings remain current in Queensland, which was the first state hit by the storm.

Tropical Cyclone Narelle swept over the Cape York Peninsula, narrowly missing populated communities.

Despite up to 400mm of rain falling in parts of the state, swelling creeks and rivers, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said the state escaped largely unscathed.

"It walked a tightrope perfectly between Coen and Lockhart River, and then ducked just south of Aurukun as it exited on the western side of the Cape," Crisafulli said.

"The fact that it went right between two of the larger populated centres was a real blessing."

Crews are now working to clear minor structural damage, fallen trees and fix power outages.

Authorities have warned it may take some time to get food and fuel to isolated communities after flood water cut travel by land, leaving the Cooktown airport as the only way to get people and supplies in.

Queensland is now offering assistance to the NT with storm clean-up equipment.

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The war in the Middle East has re-awakened an alarming feature of modern warfare: the weaponisation of disinformation.

Propaganda is certainly not a new concept, but militaries, governments and regimes can now control or disrupt the narrative with unfettered access to billions of people through social media.

This way, the truth can be twisted and disinformation can thrive.

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Global citizens are witnessing the war in real-time.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) sends war communications directly into phones via encrypted app Telegram and X.

US President Donald Trump chronicles every move on his own Truth Social platform.

The constant stream of contradicting updates is muddied further by citizen journalism, fake reports and artificial intelligence (AI).

"You get flooded with information and you think you're being informed, but often you're just getting pummeled with unverified data," Senior Policy Advisor at Australian National University (ANU)'s National Security College David Andrews told Nine.com.au.

"Basically no one is equipped to be able to filter that, and it's actually really bad for your mental health as well.

"It undermines your critical thinking, which is almost what these attempts rely on."

There is a constant power struggle between Iran, the US and Israel to be percieved as the "good" fighting "evil".

And all sides use social media to alter public perception.

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Social media is now flooded with fake and unverified images, recycled footage and fabricated reports from on the ground in the war against Iran.

One disturbing AI video of Dubai's Burj Khalifa up in flames circulated on Instagram, while another fake report claimed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been killed.

The sheer scale of AI images and videos on social media means the untrained eye cannot discern what is real and what is not.

There is no rush to correct the record on either side and, like an infection, the reports spread.

Andrews said this unchecked disinformation highway is unprecedented.

"I think the disinformation campaigns are definitely ramping up now in a way that we haven't seen before, which is a function of the information environment that we're in," he said.

"And that is an opportunity that our adversaries have taken advantage of, I think, quite effectively."

AI is of particular concern as the conflict escalates and models become more sophistocated.

The Institute for War & Peace Reporting notes that AI acts as a "force multiplier, enhancing the speed, precision, and scale of military operations, while simultaneously enabling sophisticated, automated disinformation campaigns"

"And the more that AI-based systems and technology are normalised and pushed, I think those risks only accelerate to an enormous degree," Andrews said.

Militaries have quietly spun narratives of fake victories or exaggerated attacks too.

This type of fake news is particularly powerful inside a regime.

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"It could be creating a generalised sense of uncertainty and distrust, a generalised sense of that one side is doing much better than they are in reality," Andrews said.

"But it could also be directed inwards and to say, 'Well, look, there's these reports of how wonderfully our forces are doing and how the enemy has been defeated'."

The horse has bolted on AI and fake news.

But Andrews said the average person can try to separate fact from fiction in a few different ways.

It takes a level of personal responsbility for your own algorithm.

"You have to read widely and try and find things that sort of complement the quick and reactive with the slower and more considerate," he said.

"Each has their place, but if we're just relying on something like social media that provides that minute-by-minute update, none of us are actually equipped to translate that information effectively.

"You might look at the flow of social media for a little bit, but then you've got to sit back and then read reports that happen over multiple days to try and balance that out and apply that critical lens."

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Amy Hipwell can't remember anyone sitting her down for a serious conversation about her mental health.

In five years, Hipwell and her husband Chris endured a rollercoaster of heartbreak, anxiety, grief and joy, welcoming two healthy children into their family, but also losing three to stillbirth, miscarriage and a rare genetic disorder.

Despite the devastating and compounding grief, the first person to suggest the new mum might need some support for her mental health, apart from her husband, was not a doctor. It was her cleaner.

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The couple's firstborn daughter Emily was stillborn at 28 weeks due to a suspected clotting issue in the umbilical cord.

Soon afterwards, Hipwell suffered an early miscarriage.

During her third pregnancy with Julia (now 17), Hipwell recalls being wracked with anxiety.

"I was constantly worried about what was going to happen," Hipwell told 9news.com.au.

While her obstetrician took precautions with her physical health, prescribing blood thinners and ordering additional tests, that only went so far in calming her anxiety.

"The appointments and the screenings are very medical," Hipwell said.

"There was nothing about my mental health and how I would look after myself in the pregnancy."

Her anxiety only worsened after Julia was born.

"I was obviously so happy that I had a healthy baby, but then so worried that I was going to lose her," Hipwell said.

"I didn't let people hold her, I was really hyper vigilant… but it was never talked about or questioned, like, you know, 'maybe you want to go and get some support for how anxious you're feeling'."

When Julia was 18 months, Amy fell pregnant again with another girl, Skye.

The family had moved from Victoria to Brisbane, were seeing a different obstetrician and had little support from family or friends.

At the 12-week scan, they learned Skye had Trisomy 18, a genetic condition. Further scans showed a hole in her heart and an umbilical hernia.

The couple was told Skye would have a less than 1 per cent chance of surviving more than a week after birth.

They decided to terminate the pregnancy and Hipwell was induced around 17 weeks.

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"That was probably the most traumatic experience I've had in a hospital situation and losing another baby girl was devastating for us," Hipwell said.

"We just got sent home and there was nothing… I don't recall any support at all."

The family moved back to Victoria and Hipwell fell pregnant with her son Nathan in 2010.

Despite her history of three pregnancy losses, Hipwell doesn't recall any discussion about her mental health during that pregnancy or after Nathan was born.

"I was on my own at home with a baby and a toddler, and I guess, gradually, I was just not coping," Hipwell said.

"I would just be crying all the time, I didn't feel like I was bonding with Nathan."

It was Hipwell's cleaner who eventually spoke up, echoing her husband's concerns.

"I was just sitting there crying and crying… she did a clean for an hour then sat there and said, you know, 'it sounds like you really might need some help'."

An internet search then led her to PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia).

"I remember calling them and crying, and just going, 'I don't know what's wrong, I don't want to even be at home anymore, I don't want to look after this baby, I just can't do it'.

"I just wanted to get on a plane and leave and never come back."

Hipwell's experience is not isolated.

More than one in five (22 per cent) of respondents to a recent survey by PANDA say healthcare providers did not ask about their mental health at all.

Less than half (43 per cent) said anxiety was included in screening.

"Healthcare providers should be regularly asking expecting and new mothers, dads and partners how they are feeling emotionally," Julie Borninkhof, a clinical psychologist and PANDA CEO said.

She said some healthcare professionals will only have received a few hours of mental health training.

"GPs, child and family health nurses and midwives receive mental health training, but often it is not specific to the perinatal period, and training may only be a few hours in their whole course," Borninkhof said.

"Picking up anxiety and depression among expecting and new parents can be difficult.

"Matrescence is a time of huge adjustment, changing hormones and sleep deprivation.

"Many people struggle to cope but don't think what they are experiencing is anxiety or depression.

"Symptoms are so different for each person that we recommend reaching out if you are finding it hard to cope or you don't feel like yourself, regardless of the reason why."

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Borninkhof said without support, a parent's mental health will often worse before it gets better and that can impact the child's well-being and development.

"For some parents, when their mental health isn't supported, it can become life-threatening for themselves, and/or their baby and children.

"While this is rare, PANDA wants parents to be the best they can be, and this means getting help early.

"The perinatal period is also the first key stage in the development of an infant's physical and mental health.

"Prioritising the well-being of parents, while simultaneously and intentionally responding proactively to the needs of the infant, can impact intergenerational well-being by setting parents up well to model good mental health and build strong foundations for their children."

Anyone having trouble coping with pregnancy or new parenthood, or wanting to help someone who may be struggling can visit panda.org.au or call the PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (Mon-Fri, 9am-7:30pm and Sat 9am-4pm AEST/AEDT)

If you or someone you know is in need of support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue.

Israel's defence minister threatened a surge in attacks against Iran on Saturday and Britain condemned Iran for targeting a joint UK–US base in the Indian Ocean as the war in the Middle East entered its fourth week.

The Iranian attack on the Diego Garcia air base – located about 4000 kilometres from Iran – suggested Tehran has in its stockpile missiles that can go farther than it had previously acknowledged.

Also on Saturday, Iran's Natanz nuclear enrichment facility was hit in an airstrike, an official Iranian news agency reported, saying there was no radiation leakage.

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Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a video statement that next week, "the intensity of the attacks" by Israel and the United States against Iran's ruling theocracy will "increase significantly".

He spoke shortly after fragments from an Iranian missile slammed into an empty kindergarten near Tel Aviv. Israeli army spokesman Nadav Shoshani posted a video on X of the kindergarten building; no casualties were reported as the place was empty at the time.

Overnight and into the morning, Tehran, Iran's capital, saw heavy airstrikes, residents said. In Iraq, a drone struck the intelligence service headquarters in Baghdad, killing an officer. No group immediately claimed responsibility for that attack.

Saudi Arabia said it downed 20 drones in just a couple of hours in the country's eastern region, home to major oil installations. No injuries or damage were reported.

The attacks — and threats of more to come — indicate the Iran war shows no sign of abating.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Japan's Kyodo news service on Friday that Iran wanted "not a cease-fire, but a complete, comprehensive and lasting end to the war."

Mixed messages

US President Donald Trump said on Friday he was considering "winding down" military operations in the Mideast even as the US was sending three more amphibious assault ships and roughly 2500 additional Marines to the region.

Trump's post on social media followed an Iranian threat to attack recreational and tourist sites worldwide.

It also came after another climb in oil prices plunged the US stock market, and was followed by a Trump administration announcement it was lifting sanctions on Iranian oil already loaded on ships, a move aimed at wrangling soaring fuel prices.

Iran's attempt to hit Diego Garcia air base in the Indian Ocean

UK officials have not given details of the attempted strike on the ocean air base on Friday, which was unsuccessful.

Britain's Ministry of Defence said Saturday that Iran's "lashing out across the region and holding hostage the Strait of Hormuz, are a threat to British interests and British allies."

Britain has not participated in US-Israeli attacks on Iran, but has allowed American bombers to use UK bases to attack Iran's missile sites.

On Friday, the British government said US bombers can also use UK bases, including Diego Garcia, in operations to prevent Iran attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran targeted the base before that UK statement.

Attack on Iran's Natanz

Iran's official news agency Mizan said there was no leakage after Saturday's strike on the Natanz nuclear facility, nearly 220 kilometres southeast of Tehran.

The facility, Iran's main uranium enrichment site, was hit in the first week of the war and several buildings appeared damaged, according to satellite images.

The UN nuclear watchdog — the International Atomic Energy Agency — had said "no radiological consequence" were expected from that earlier strike. Natanz had also been targeted in the 12-day war last June.

On Saturday, the IAEA said on X it was informed by Iran about the Natanz strike and about there being no increase in off-site radiation levels.

The agency said it was looking into the incident.

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Exclusive: A mother is calling for her daughter's alleged attackers to be charged after disturbing videos of the latest incident of school bullying in Sydney emerged.

The girl was lured to a shopping centre by a classmate after school, where dozens of young onlookers recorded her as she was allegedly viciously bashed and stomped on.

"She punched me in the back of my head. I dropped to the floor and that's when she stomped on my head," the girl told 9News.

READ MORE: Aussies urged to work from home as petrol prices reach new highs

"I have a black eye, concussion, holes in the back of my head from my earrings, a couple of scratches on me.

The young student was hospitalised with a blackened eye and multiple head injuries.

"When I got there I saw my daughter on the floor," the girl's mother said, breaking down in tears.

"Sorry. She was unconscious on the floor and she wasn't moving."

Her mother claims teachers at the school have told her the bully won't be punished because the attack didn't happen on school grounds.

She's speaking out after seeing a similar incident at Kingsgrove North High, which saw three students charged.

She wants the same for her daughter's bully.

"Those girls that did that to her got arrested and charged for their actions and I believe this should happen for my daughter," the Sydney mother said.

The young girl has spoken with detectives at the Lake Illawara police station.

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She's now taking time off school as she continues to recover from her injuries.

Her mother says she's struggled to sleep and has suffered nightmares since the attack.

Police are investigating the matter.

No charges have been laid.

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LIVE UPDATES: All polls tip towards a straightforward victory Peter Malinauskas and the Labor Party. But the big story to watch for is the rise of One Nation

With fuel prices rocketing and supplies tightening, the world's energy watchdog is now urging Australians to work from home, as conflict in the Middle East threatens global oil supply.

The International Energy Agency has issued a warning as diesel hits a record three dollars a litre.

In its list of 10 recommendations, the watchdog has also urged Australians to slow down on the roads, avoid air travel and carpool to work or take public transport.

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This morning, the cheapest petrol in Australia was in Perth, at $2.19 a litre, and Melbourne was the most expensive place to fill up at $2.99 a litre in Hawthorn.

Some petrol stations in Kingsbury in Melbourne's North are charging $3.10 a litre.

The next most expensive petrol in Sydney is in Lewisham, at just over $2.79.

The nation's average is currently sitting at $2.45 a litre with little relief in sight due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the calls for people to ease up on fuel use was not a direct aim at Aussies.

"They're not suggestions to us of course, they're suggestions to the world," he said.

He said Australia's fuel supplies have not dropped and deliveries have been made as expected.

"[What] we know is that there hasn't been less supply over the last few weeks. There have been issues of distribution," he said.

"We need to identify where there are shortages and get the fuel to where it's needed."

However, new directives could come into play as current petrol supplies are set to run dry at the end of April.

"Obviously there will need to be some arrangements made, if this situation continues," Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said.

Albanese dismissed any idea of fuel rationing saying that would be up to states and territories anyway.

He made a fresh call for Aussies not to hoard any fuel.

"There's no case for hoarding," he said.

The opposition has called for transparency.

"We need to see the government come out and clearly communicate with the Australian people what fuel supplies we have, and where our future fuel supplies are coming from," Liberal Senator Paul Scarr told Today.

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"We need to make sure that diesel flows through to our farmers, and that's really incredibly important to make sure that we get the food on the table and we support all of our productive industries."

In an urgent decision, the ACCC has allowed fuel companies to collaborate and coordinate fuel supply.

"This is part of the government's decisive action to make more fuel available to industry and households and keep fuel flowing to where it's most needed, including the bush," Treasurer Jim Chalmers said.

READ MORE: Crisis escalates as petrol stations across NSW run out of fuel

"It's really important that the big players in the fuel markets don't treat this as a chance to disadvantage the independents who play a vital role, including in regional Australia."

The decision will allow fuel companies to exchange and coordinate information surrounding the fuel supply across the country to prevent shortages without breaching competition laws.

However, fuel suppliers are still not allowed to share information or reach agreements on fuel prices.

The call comes as NSW Premier Chris Minns announced yesterday that about 80 petrol stations in the state were without diesel and about 40 had no petrol at all.

The International Energy Agency's full list of recommendations:

1. Work from home where possible

Displaces oil use from commuting, particularly where jobs are suitable for remote work.

2. Reduce highway speed limits by at least 10 km/h

Lower speeds reduce fuel use for passenger cars, vans and trucks.

3. Encourage public transport

A shift from private cars to buses and trains can quickly reduce oil demand.

4. Alternate private car access to roads in large cities on different days

Number-plate rotation schemes can reduce congestion and fuel-intensive driving.

5. Increase car sharing and adopt efficient driving practices

Higher car occupancy and eco-driving can lower fuel consumption quickly.

6. Efficient driving for road commercial vehicles and delivery of goods

Better driving practices, vehicle maintenance and load optimisation can cut diesel use.

7. Divert LPG use from transport

Shifting bi-fuel and converted vehicles from LPG to gasoline can preserve LPG for cooking and other essential needs.

8. Avoid air travel where alternative options exist

Reducing business flights can quickly ease pressure on jet fuel markets.

9. Where possible, switch to other modern cooking solutions

Encouraging electric cooking and other modern options can reduce reliance on LPG.

10. Leverage flexibility with petrochemical feedstocks and implement short-term efficiency and maintenance measures

Industry can help free up LPG for essential uses while reducing oil consumption through quick operational improvements.

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Chuck Norris, the martial arts grandmaster and action star whose roles in Walker, Texas Ranger and other television shows and movies made him an iconic tough guy, has died at the age of 86.

His family announced the "sudden passing" of the Hollywood action hero in a statement posted to Instagram on Friday (Saturday morning AEDT).

The news came just days after he was rushed to hospital in Hawaii, having suffered a medical emergency.

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"It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning," the statement began.

"While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace.

"To the world, he was a martial artist, actor, and a symbol of strength. To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family.

"He lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved.

"Through his work, discipline, and kindness, he inspired millions around the world and left a lasting impact on so many lives.

"While our hearts are broken, we are deeply grateful for the life he lived and for the unforgettable moments we were blessed to share with him. The love and support he received from fans around the world meant so much to him, and our family is truly thankful for it.

"To him, you were not just fans, you were his friends.

"We know many of you had heard about his recent hospitalisation, and we are truly grateful for the prayers and support you sent his way.

"As we grieve this loss, we kindly ask for privacy for our family during this time. Thank you for loving him with us."

A week before his death, to mark his 86th birthday on March 10, the actor shared a video of him boxing on social media, telling fans: "I don't age. I level up."

Before he would become a star in movies and on TV, Norris was wildly successful in competitive martial arts.

Norris was a six-time undefeated World Professional Middleweight Karate champion.

He also founded his own Korean-based American hard style of karate, known sometimes as Chun Kuk Do, and the United Fighting Arts Federation, which has awarded more than 3300 Chuck Norris System black belts worldwide.

Black Belt magazine ultimately credited Norris in its hall of fame with holding a 10th degree black belt, the highest possible honour.

Born Carlos Ray Norris in Ryan, Oklahoma, on March 10, 1940, he grew up poor.

At age 12, he moved with his family to Torrance, California, and joined the US Air Force after high school, in 1958. It was during a deployment to Korea that he started training in martial arts, including judo and Tang Soo Do.

"I went out for gymnastics and football at North Torrance high," he told The Associated Press in 1982.

"I played some football, but I also spent a lot of time on the bench. I was never really athletic until I was in the service in Korea."

After he was honourably discharged in 1962, he worked as a file clerk for Northrop Aircraft and applied to be a police officer, but was put on a waitlist.

Meanwhile, he opened a martial arts studio, which expanded to a chain, with students including such stars as Bob Barker, Priscilla Presley, Donny and Marie Osmond, and Steve McQueen, whom he later credited with encouraging him to get into acting.

Norris made his film debut as an uncredited bodyguard in the 1968 movie The Wrecking Crew, which included a fight with Dean Martin.

He had also crossed paths with Bruce Lee in martial arts circles. Their friendship — sometimes, as sparring partners — led to an iconic faceoff in the 1972 movie Return of the Dragon, in which Lee fights and kills Norris' character in Rome's Colosseum.

He went on to act in more than 20 movies, such as Missing in Action, The Delta Force and Sidekicks.

"I wanted to project a certain image on the screen of a hero. I had seen a lot of anti-hero movies in which the lead was neither good nor bad. There was no one to root for," Norris said in 1982.

In 1993, he took on his most famed role, as a crime-fighting lawman in TV's Walker, Texas Ranger.

The show ran for nine seasons, and in 2010, then-Gov. Rick Perry awarded him the title of honorary Texas Ranger. The Texas Senate later named him an honorary Texan.

"It's not violence for violence's sake, with no moral structure," Norris told the AP in 1996, speaking about the show.

"You try to portray the proper meaning of what it's about — fighting injustice with justice, good vs. bad. … It's entertaining for the whole family."

In later years, Norris made a surprise comedic appearance in 2004's Dodgeball before starring in 2012's The Expendables 2 and 2024 sci-fi action movie Agent Recon. He's due to appear in Zombie Plane, an upcoming film starring Vanilla Ice.

Around the time of Dodgeball his toughman image became the stuff of legend, literally: Chuck Norris Facts went viral online with such wildly hyperbolic statements as, "Chuck Norris had a staring contest with the sun — and won," and, "They wanted to put Chuck Norris on Mt. Rushmore, but the granite wasn't tough enough for his beard."

Norris ultimately embraced the absurdity of the meme craze, putting together The Official Chuck Norris Fact Book, which combined his favourites with supposedly true stories and the codes he aimed to live by.

He would also write books on martial arts instruction, a memoir, political takes, Civil War-era historical fiction and more.

With the help of then-President George H W Bush in 1990, Norris founded Kickstart Kids, an award-winning in-school character development program that uses karate to "teach life-changing values" to middle school and high school students.

"KSK has prevented more crime and freed up more prison space than any program I have seen in 35 years of law enforcement," Tarrant County, Texas Sheriff, Bill E. Waybourn, said about the program.

Norris once said that he believed if everyone knew karate, there would be less violence in the world.

"Everyone thinks of karate strictly as a physical application, but what it does is — it strengthens you mentally, psychologically, and emotionally, because most violence is stemmed from insecurity, trying to prove something to yourself," he told Letterman.

"And when a person develops this inner security, and this goal, seeking knowledge that the martial arts teaches you to do, it overcomes a lot of violent confrontations."

Tributes from around the world

Norris was outspoken about his Christian beliefs and his support for gun rights, and backed political candidates for years — he even went skydiving with Bush for the former president's 80th birthday.

As for Trump, Norris endorsed him in the 2016 general election and wrote guest columns praising him without explicitly endorsing him the in the days before the 2020 and 2024 elections.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared a photo with Norris on his verified X account, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, labelling the actor "a great friend".

https://x.com/netanyahu/status/2035005998792950052?s=20

"Sara and I were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Chuck Norris, a great friend of Israel and a close personal friend," he wrote.

"Chuck brought martial arts and the warmth of his character to millions around the world. May his memory be a blessing."

Current Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, praised the Hollywood star, saying "he embodied the toughness, grit, and patriotism that makes Texas supreme".

"Texas has lost a legend," he wrote on X. "All of Texas mourns the passing of Chuck Norris."

https://twitter.com/GregAbbott_TX/status/2034998212952514860?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

US senator John Kennedy also shared his memories of the actor.

"Chuck Norris was what cool looks like, and everybody knew it," he wrote. "He was an American icon who loved our country and our Constitution. His voice will be missed."

Norris is survived by five children: stunt performers Mike and Eric with his late ex-wife Dianne Holechek, twins Dakota and Danilee with his wife Gena Norris, and Dina, the result of an early 1960s "one-night stand" revealed in his autobiography.

– Reported with Associated Press and CNN.

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A business owner's been left shattered after his ice cream parlour was firebombed, with the shop's security cameras capturing the blast and flames as they engulfed the building.

Two teens have been charged over the alleged incident with one taken to hospital after an encounter with a police dog.

Footage shows the fire ripping through the shop in Tarneit in Melbourne's west about 2.30am.

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Moments earlier a car was seen reversing into the business multiple times.

Two hooded figures jumped out of the vehicle and with what appears to be a jerry can in hand, they go inside.

Accelerant appears to be poured across the storefront before they allegedly try to ignite a blaze.

They failed twice, but on the third attempt a powerful blast erupts, forcing the alleged offenders to jump for their lives and flee in a Toyota Corolla, which was later found dumped.

The owner of the dessert bar arrived within minutes and was shocked and confused.

His shop is managed by a 16-year-old who's put his heart and soul into the business while juggling high school.

But he pledged it would come back soon.

"This business means a lot," manager Othman Hawari said.

"I've put lots of hard work into actually managing the place and doing stuff correctly and making the community come back again and again."

Hours after the attack, specialist officers arrested two 17-year-old boys, with help from the airwing about 5am.

One of them was bitten by a police dog during the arrest.

Arson chemists are now conducting a forensic sweep of the scene for any evidence left behind.

The pair have since been charged with aggravated burglary, criminal damage by fire, conduct endangering life/serious injury, theft of motor vehicle and possess articles to destroy.

One boy will face a children's court, while the other will have a bedside hearing as he remains in hospital.

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