Iranian military mocks Trump’s claim of US-Iran negotiations

An Iranian military spokesperson mocked US attempts at a ceasefire deal Wednesday, raising questions about whether a 15-point plan proposed by Washington has a chance to succeed.

The comments from Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesperson for the Iranian military’s Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which jointly commands Iran’s regular military and paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, came after the plan was submitted to Iran by intermediaries.

US President Donald Trump has said that American officials are negotiating with Iran on the plan, but Zolfaghari, in a recorded video statement that aired on state television, suggested there were no talks.

“Have your internal conflicts reached the point where you are negotiating with yourselves?” he said.

“Our first and last word has been the same from day one, and it will stay that way: Someone like us will never come to terms with someone like you,” Zolfaghari said. “Not now, not ever.”

Iranian officials deny any negotiations are taking place as missile and drone strikes continue.  (Source: 1News)

The 15-point plan was submitted to Iran by intermediaries from Pakistan, who have offered to host renewed negotiations between Washington and Tehran, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly.

The New York Times was the first to report that the plan had been delivered to Iranian officials.

The Pentagon is also in the process of deploying two Marine units that will add about 5000 Marines and thousands of sailors to the region. The moves are being framed as Trump manoeuvring to give himself “max flexibility” on what he will do next, the person added.

Israeli officials, who have been advocating for Trump to continue the war against Iran, were surprised by the submission of a ceasefire plan, the person said.

The White House did not respond to requests for comment.

Meanwhile, airstrikes battered the Islamic Republic while Iranian missiles and drones targeted Israel and sites across the region.

With oil prices rising and consumers feeling the pain at the pump, Trump has been under increasing pressure at home to bring the war to an end.

Tehran’s chokehold on the crucial Strait of Hormuz has snarled international shipping, sent fuel prices skyrocketing and threatened the world economy.

“The strategic power you used to talk about has turned into a strategic failure,” said Zolfaghari, the Iranian military spokesman. “The one claiming to be a global superpower would have already gotten out of this mess if it could. Don’t dress up your defeat as an agreement. Your era of empty promises has come to an end.”

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Red warnings were reserved for the most extreme weather events, where significant impacts and disruption were expected.

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This alert level signified that people "need to act now as immediate action is required to protect people, animals and property from the impact of the weather," said MetService meteorologist John Law.

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"People should also be prepared to follow the advice of official authorities and emergency services."

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Shortly after 7pm on Wednesday, electricity provider Top Energy was reporting power was out for hundreds of households in the upper Far North. The outages affected large swathes of areas from Ngataki to Cape Reinga.

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This is the third red warning that MetService had issued this year, and it marks the 22nd red weather event since the highest alert level was introduced back in May 2019.

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Severe weather was also expected across the country, with various watches and warnings in place for the remainder of Northland, Coromandel, Waikato, western Bay of Plenty, the top of the South Island and through to parts of North Otago and South Canterbury.

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In addition, MetService said the combination of heavy rain, powerful onshore winds, and moderate to heavy swell means that coastal areas in eastern Northland will be one to keep a close eye on Wednesday and Thursday.

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Residents in Oakura and Whangaruru were told to leave today if they felt unsafe as an access road would be closing.

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The Whangārei District Council said in a statement: "People whose homes were impacted by flooding and land slips in the January weather event, who don’t feel safe, are advised to leave today to a safe location either with family and friends or to a local marae.

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"We are advising people to leave today, ideally during daylight hours."

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Pilot convoy services had been operating on Kaiikanui Rd since the weather event in January, but the council said this may not be available when the worst of the new weather event was expected.

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"There is a possibility that there will be no pilot service on Kaiikanui Rd on Friday 27 March, depending on warning levels and weather impacts. We will update your community as the weather system moves through our district.

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"If you must travel on Kaiikanui Rd during this weather event, take extreme care, travel during daylight hours if possible and keep your speed below 30km. If you can, take the alternative route out via Opua."

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On Wednesday evening, Northland Civil Defence group controller Damien Rio notified residents that marae were being opened up to take residents who were feeling unsafe in their homes.

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"If you live in a flood-prone area, or in an area recently affected by landslides, make sure you have a plan for where you’ll go if you needed to evacuate – friends or whānau are the best first option," he said.

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"We’ll continue to monitor the situation closely and keep you updated. Stay safe, look out for each other."

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Strong to gale-force winds would also be generated as the weather system moves closer to New Zealand, with gusts of 120km/h possible in the most exposed regions.

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In Auckland, New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said road users should expect the weather to impact travel across the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

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The strongest gusts were expected to hit from Thursday into Friday, which "may force lane closures and additional short periods of full closure to ensure safety". NZTA said the strongest wind was expected to hit from 8am tomorrow, Thursday, March 26, through to 1am on Friday, March 27, with some gusts reaching up to 120km/h.

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Drivers of high-sided vehicles and motorcyclists were advised to avoid the bridge and use the western ring route on State Highways 16 and 18.

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"All drivers are reminded to drive to the conditions and pay attention to electronic message boards on the motorway, which will advise of any lane closures and speed limit reductions."

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Heavy Rain Warning – Red

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Northland east of Kaikohe from Doubtless Bay to Whangārei– 36 hours from 4pm today to 4am Friday.

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Heavy Rain Warning – Orange

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Remainder of Northland not under a red warning – 36 hours from 4pm today to 4am Friday.

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Great Barrier Island – 30 hours from 3am Thursday to 9am Friday.

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Auckland from Whangaparāoa northwards – 30 hours from 3am Thursday to 9am Friday.

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Coromandel Peninsula – 36 hours from 6am Thursday to 6pm Friday.

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Bay of Plenty west of Whakatāne –42 hours from 9am Thursday to 3am Saturday.

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Tasman west of Motueka – 26 hours from 10am Thursday to noon Friday.

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Richmond and Bryant Ranges – 18 hours from 6pm Thursday to noon Friday.

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Strong Wind Warning – Orange

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Northland – 26 hours from 9pm today to 11pm Thursday.

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Auckland and Great Barrier Island – 17 hours from 8am Thursday to 1am Friday.

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Heavy Rain Watch

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Auckland south of Whangaparaoa – 33 hours from 3am Thursday to noon Friday.

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Taranaki Maunga – 27 hours from 9am Thursday to noon Friday.

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Areas of the Tasman District south of Nelson City and north of Saint Arnaud not under a warning – 24 hours from noon Thursday to noon Friday.

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The inland ranges of Marlborough west of the Seaward Kaikoura Range and south of Picton – 21 hours from 6pm Thursday to 3pm Friday.

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Ranges of the Westland District – 36 hours from 3pm Thursday to 3am Saturday.

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North Otago, also Canterbury south of Timaru and east of Twizel – 12 hours from 6pm Thursday to 6am Friday.

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Strong Wind Watch

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Banks Peninsula – 24 hours from 7pm Thursday to 7pm Friday.

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Coromandel Peninsula and Waikato – 23 hours from 9am Thursday to 8am Friday.

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Taupō, Taumarunui, Taihape, Whanganui, South Taranaki – 24 hours from noon Thursday to noon Friday.

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(1).jpg”,”originalUrl”:”https://cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/tvnz/37OWG5SIKZD5ZNBMIR6BZLR5RM.jpg”,”proxyUrl”:”/resizer/v2/37OWG5SIKZD5ZNBMIR6BZLR5RM.jpg?auth=15094c20c3ef388e6a68880a648a205e7af83b810aabaa9fabdaa6b5bef419df”,”published”:true,”resizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/37OWG5SIKZD5ZNBMIR6BZLR5RM.jpg?auth=15094c20c3ef388e6a68880a648a205e7af83b810aabaa9fabdaa6b5bef419df”,”restricted”:false,”thumbnailResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/37OWG5SIKZD5ZNBMIR6BZLR5RM.jpg?auth=15094c20c3ef388e6a68880a648a205e7af83b810aabaa9fabdaa6b5bef419df&width=300″,”version”:3,”firstPublishedDate”:”2025-09-15T23:39:05.494Z”},”address”:{},”alt_text”:”A camera equipped trailer.”,”auth”:{“1″:”15094c20c3ef388e6a68880a648a205e7af83b810aabaa9fabdaa6b5bef419df”},”caption”:”A camera equipped trailer.”,”created_date”:”2025-09-15T23:39:05Z”,”credits”:{“affiliation”:[{“name”:”Source: 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Mobile speed camera operators must follow a strict rulebook that bans them from dozens of common roadside locations, newly released documents show.

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The material, released by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) under the Official Information Act, details the criteria operators must meet before deploying a camera SUV or trailer.

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NZTA took over the operation of mobile safety cameras from police in 2025, with SUVs deployed in May and trailer units in September.

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Operators cannot simply pull over anywhere. Before a location is approved, it must pass a series of safety and visibility checks — including reconnaissance via Google Street View.

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The camera vehicle or trailer must be legally parked, clearly visible from the road, and positioned so the operator could safely set up and leave the vehicle without stepping into live traffic.

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Driveways, footpaths, cycle lanes, and live traffic lanes must all remain unobstructed.

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There are also exclusion zones to consider. Cameras cannot be deployed within 250 metres of the end of a passing lane, or where the speed limit decreases. Road shoulders and time-limited parking areas require prior clearance from the relevant road controlling authority.

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When trailers are used, the rules go a step further — surrounding vehicles must be prevented from parking behind the trailer for at least 13 metres on-road, and even further in off-road settings.

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Mobile cameras can operate on private property, such as car parks or driveways, but only with the landowner's explicit permission — and that consent must be formally recorded as part of the site approval process.

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NZTA head of driving regulation Chris Rodley said mobile safety cameras reduce deaths and serious injuries because they discourage speeding everywhere.

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"We call this ‘general deterrence’ and that’s why we deploy them nationwide ‘anytime, anywhere'," he said.

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Deployment locations are drawn from two sources: data identifying high-risk sites, and nominations from communities and road safety partners.

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Rodley said this combination gives the programme the flexibility to respond to emerging risks that might not yet show up in crash data.

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"For example, where speeding is more or less of an issue at certain times of the day or year, or where there is an emerging risk, not yet appearing in historical data."

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NZTA does not receive any incentives or funds from tickets issued, with safety camera infringement fees going into the Government Consolidated Fund, the government's main bank account.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”ZINXMZS2PBFW5MIP4H22IM2HFE”,”additional_properties”:{},”embed”:{“config”:{“brightcoveAccount”:”963482464001″,”brightcoveVideoId”:”6391472354112″,”id”:”2782495″,”videoType”:”vod”},”id”:”2782495″,”url”:”https://apis-public-prod.tech.tvnz.co.nz/hummingbird-arc/v1/assets/vod/a3cb9990-26ed-11f1-bb65-b967142b5001″},”subtype”:”video”,”type”:”custom_embed”}],”description”:{“basic”:”Documents reveal the strict checklist operators must follow before deploying a camera vehicle or trailer – and the locations where they’re banned.”},”display_date”:”2026-03-23T17:00:23.859Z”,”distributor”:{“name”:”1News”,”category”:”other”,”subcategory”:”one-news”,”reference_id”:”39cdf4f6-3a61-4c92-b582-cb2fbce4260a”,”mode”:”reference_denormalized”},”headlines”:{“basic”:”Mobile speed cameras: Rules on where they can park up 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An Iranian military spokesperson mocked US attempts at a ceasefire deal Wednesday, raising questions about whether a 15-point plan proposed by Washington has a chance to succeed.

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The comments from Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesperson for the Iranian military’s Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which jointly commands Iran’s regular military and paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, came after the plan was submitted to Iran by intermediaries.

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US President Donald Trump has said that American officials are negotiating with Iran on the plan, but Zolfaghari, in a recorded video statement that aired on state television, suggested there were no talks.

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"Have your internal conflicts reached the point where you are negotiating with yourselves?" he said.

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"Our first and last word has been the same from day one, and it will stay that way: Someone like us will never come to terms with someone like you," Zolfaghari said. "Not now, not ever."

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The 15-point plan was submitted to Iran by intermediaries from Pakistan, who have offered to host renewed negotiations between Washington and Tehran, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly.

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The New York Times was the first to report that the plan had been delivered to Iranian officials.

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The Pentagon is also in the process of deploying two Marine units that will add about 5000 Marines and thousands of sailors to the region. The moves are being framed as Trump manoeuvring to give himself "max flexibility" on what he will do next, the person added.

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Israeli officials, who have been advocating for Trump to continue the war against Iran, were surprised by the submission of a ceasefire plan, the person said.

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The White House did not respond to requests for comment.

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Meanwhile, airstrikes battered the Islamic Republic while Iranian missiles and drones targeted Israel and sites across the region.

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With oil prices rising and consumers feeling the pain at the pump, Trump has been under increasing pressure at home to bring the war to an end.

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Tehran’s chokehold on the crucial Strait of Hormuz has snarled international shipping, sent fuel prices skyrocketing and threatened the world economy.

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"The strategic power you used to talk about has turned into a strategic failure," said Zolfaghari, the Iranian military spokesman. "The one claiming to be a global superpower would have already gotten out of this mess if it could. Don’t dress up your defeat as an agreement. Your era of empty promises has come to an end."

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The Government has announced a support package to ease the impact of increasing fuel prices – but how does it work and who is eligible?

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From April 7, about 143,000 working families with children will get an extra $50 per week through a boost to the in-work tax credit.

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A further 14,000 families will become newly eligible, but will receive an amount less than $50 per week as a result of payments abating with income.

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Live updates: Extra $50 a week for 143k working families as fuel prices skyrocket

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The Government said the move is designed to support those under significant cost of living pressure due to the conflict in the Middle East – which has driven up fuel prices and added pressure to household budgets.

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The in-work tax credit is a payment to low-to-middle income families with dependent children – where at least one parent is in paid employment.

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Neither parent must be receiving a main benefit from Work and Income.

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Recipients can be employees receiving wages or a salary – or be self-employed.

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Currently, the in-work tax credit is $97.50 per week – but can be paid out fortnightly or annually in a lump sum. Families with four or more children get an extra $15 a week for each child after the third.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”I6WYQOWIVZGEJFMUBKWTBJXF4I”,”content”:”Who is eligible?”,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”QNKLFU6FZFEZTEK4D5IFWD6HN4″,”content”:”

Anyone who is eligible for the in-work tax credit is eligible for the boost.

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The cut-off for receiving the in-work tax credit is a combined income of $89,000 for a family with one child, $112,000 for a family with two children, and $135,000 for a family with three children.

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The income cut-off is based on the combined income of both parents, if there are two of them. This could be from part-time or full-time work, or based on one parent’s income if the other is not in paid employment and not receiving a benefit.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”2B3NYZKOXZG7BNLZY5JDJD3SSA”,”content”:”How much is the boost?”,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”YWCEEDEGFFEB3KY3O7T3UATVHI”,”content”:”

The Government’s boost to the in-work tax credit is an increase of $50 to the base rate per week – which would take the base rate to $147.50 per week.

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This is aimed at supporting the families eligible who are under pressure due to the recent fuel price increases.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”4ZPRDVVQ3VGC5I2NGSWTJSZEQE”,”content”:”How can I get it, and when?”,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”6MTBEVVDTNGLVDVQTLOCIMBZ4A”,”content”:”

From April 1, the increase will be enacted – those entitled to the payment do not need to do anything – but will not receive their first payment until at least a week later.

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Instead, those who are eligible will automatically receive the payment directly to their bank accounts starting on April 7 if they are paid weekly, and April 14 if they are paid fortnightly.

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Those who believe they meet the criteria for the in-work tax credit but have not received it should contact Inland Revenue.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”IKHGWVGZZ5E6RA7QRA3V2XGJL4″,”content”:”How long will it last?”,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”YQJLHQCYLFEYTELCBS6BCC5IAM”,”content”:”

The boost will apply for one year until April 1, 2027 – or until the price of 91 octane fuel drops below $3 for four consecutive weeks – whichever comes first.

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Finance Minister Nicola Willis said the policy is estimated to cost a one-off $373 million to the Government, if it runs for the full year.

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It would also be counted as part of the Government’s operating allowance for the 2026 Budget – and has been already factored into Treasury’s fiscal forecast.

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The Government said this approach focuses support on working families with limited choices, while avoiding large, untargeted measures which could be inflationary.

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Kokozian. (Source: Facebook)”,”auth”:{“1″:”575e5b77e4b2df796a990230b0788c89185e5c6e1d54faba69bab31f25d90436″},”caption”:”Johnson Kokozian. (Source: Facebook)”,”created_date”:”2026-03-25T04:54:26Z”,”credits”:{“affiliation”:[{“name”:”Source: Supplied”,”type”:”author”}],”by”:[]},”distributor”:{“mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”771982d5-5219-4e2a-ae8c-98de5acc01cd”},”focal_point”:{“x”:315,”y”:160},”height”:404,”last_updated_date”:”2026-03-25T06:55:50Z”,”licensable”:false,”owner”:{“id”:”tvnz”},”source”:{“name”:”Supplied”,”source_type”:”other”,”additional_properties”:{“editor”:”photo center”},”edit_url”:””,”system”:”photo center”},”type”:”image”,”url”:”https://cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/tvnz/CMLUBHEIGBDIPIRIUKXJBHVEVE.jpg”,”version”:”0.10.9″,”width”:720,”firstPublishedDate”:”2026-03-25T04:54:26.237Z”},{“_id”:”F3Z2P2BG6NGCZIUCZNYJZ2MAN4″,”content”:”

A suspended driver has been jailed for nine years after driving dangerously at double the speed limit before a horror crash that killed two siblings.

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Johnson Kokozian, 23, was taking his friends on a joyride in his brand new SUV when he tried to overtake a car at Heckenberg, in southwest Sydney in 2023.

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The suspended driver had crossed the Mercedes-Benz AMG onto the wrong side of the road at double the 50km/h speed limit when he crashed head-on into a car containing two siblings.

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He failed to stop and help Alina Kauffman, 24, and Ernesto Salazar, 15, who were pronounced dead at the scene.

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Instead, Kokozian fled the scene and focused on his destruction of the uninsured luxury car, proclaiming flipping the car meant AU$300,000 (NZ$359,730) was gone.

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"I'm getting locked up for long," he wrote.

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Kokozian's conduct during and after the September 1 crash amounted to "an abandonment of moral responsibility", NSW District Court Judge David Arnott said on Wednesday.

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He had been more worried about the money he lost by crashing his brand new car than the wellbeing of the occupants of the other car, which he walked past as he left the scene.

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"His failure to stop and assist can only be described as serious and callous," Judge Arnott said.

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"There is no doubt that self-preservation and self-interest were key factors in his decision to flee the scene."

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While Kokozian had shown no remorse in the aftermath of the crash, the judge found he now experienced "overwhelming guilt".

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Initially charged with manslaughter, he eventually pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death and two counts of failing to assist after a fatal impact.

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He was jailed for nine years, with a minimum of six years and six months.

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The victim's mother looked upset as the decision was handed down.

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Angelina Kauffman has continuously advocated for justice for her two children in the lengthy legal process.

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She was overcome with emotion when she exited the courthouse, wearing a jumper bearing a photo of her children.

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"There is no justice," she said through sobs.

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"My kids' lives mean nothing to the court."

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Kauffman, who wore a jumper emblazoned with a photo of her children, has continuously advocated for justice for her two children during the lengthy legal process.

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She said the fact Kokozian could be released on parole in three years was unjust.

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"This man gets to go out and live his life," Kauffman said.

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"My kids are in the ground."

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Despite feeling as if her soul had been ripped out for a second time, the grieving mother said she would continue to push for change in her children's names.

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"I'll never give up," she vowed.

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She gathered more than 20,000 signatures on a petition requesting the NSW parliament consider increasing the maximum penalties for serious road crimes.

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A subsequent Law Reform Commission review handed down in February 2025 found penalties for serious road crimes were appropriate and higher maximum penalties were unlikely to do more to deter offending.

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A new vehicular manslaughter offence should not be introduced because it was unnecessary and could cause confusion, the review determined.

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Kokozian's sentencing marks the culmination of an investigation that ensnared his girlfriend, friends, and family.

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His father Kagadour Hanna Kokozian, 63, pleaded guilty in 2025 to trying to conceal the deadly crash and hindering a police investigation.

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After his son told him he had been driving, the elder Kokozian called police to report his son's car as stolen.

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He will be sentenced at a later date.

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Kokozian's passenger in the Mercedes, Cruz Pamoana Davis-Tuka, received a 15-month intensive corrections order in 2025 for his role in concealing the crash and hindering police.

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But Kokozian's girlfriend Tiana Savignano, 24, will contest the same charges in the NSW District Court this year after pleading not guilty.

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Kauffman said she had high hopes for a strong penalty after the proceedings were dragged out for so long but she had been shocked by the driver's sentence.

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"This is a joke," she said.

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A man accused of overseeing a grandfather's mistaken identity kidnap and murder has been arrested in an early morning raid as police vow to hunt down more suspects.

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The 23-year-old was arrested in his underwear at his residence in Seven Hills, in western Sydney, on Wednesday, almost six weeks after Chris Baghsarian's death.

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The 85-year-old widower died after being abducted from his Sydney home before dawn on February 13 in a case of mistaken identity.

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The arrested man was charged with aggravated kidnapping and murder.

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"We'll allege he facilitated and recruited others to help in the kidnapping and detention of Mr Baghsarian," Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks told reporters.

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"We'll also allege he arranged people to dispose of Mr Baghsarian's body."

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A search of the home allegedly uncovered a pistol, a dedicated encrypted communication device and a substantial amount of illicit drugs.

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A woman, also 23, was arrested alongside the Seven Hills man but was not believed to be connected to Baghsarian's death.

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She was charged with breaching an apprehended violence order.

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The arrests come nearly a month after two other men – Gerard Anthony Andrews, 29, and Daniel Stevens, 24 – were charged over their role in the incident.

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Investigators believe Baghsarian was killed at a makeshift stronghold in Dural, in Sydney's outer north, before his body was dumped on the night of February 14 near a golf club in Pitt Town, a 30-minute drive away.

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His remains were found 10 days later.

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Authorities believe the intended target for the abduction was a relative of Sydney businessman Dimitri Stepanyan, who lived on the same street as Baghsarian.

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Police suspected the businessman's relative was to be kidnapped in hope of a ransom being paid, with the kidnappers initially demanding AU$50 million (NZ$60 million).

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The 23-year-old man is alleged to be visible in two sets of CCTV vision released by police, and is alleged to be seen with the torch on his phone lit in one clip.

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Neither Andrews nor Stevens was believed to be shown in either piece of footage, and Marks said half a dozen people could still be at large.

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"We believe up to nine people were involved in this … we will continue the investigation to identify [them]," he said.

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The man arrested on Wednesday was not believed to be the very top of the hierarchy, but arranged multiple elements of the kidnapping, Marks said.

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Police allege he was present during the kidnapping and the transportation of Baghsarian to the Dural stronghold and directed others to dispose of his body.

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It is alleged the man is well-known to both police and one of the men arrested last month.

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He is due to face court on Thursday morning.

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Marks urged people to contact police if they could help investigators identify any of the other people visible on CCTV.

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Baghsarian's family described the harrowing ordeal of the kidnapping as a nightmare, remembering him as a devoted father, brother, uncle and grandfather.

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Sporting that Hannah Montana blonde hair and bangs, Miley Cyrus went back to her roots — celebrating 20 years of the TV show that launched the career of a real-life pop star.

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Cyrus reunited with cast members of Hannah Montana in Los Angeles for the premiere of the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special.

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Cyrus told The Associated Press that the milestone has given her a chance to see the character and series from "a new perspective". Cyrus, who began the Disney Channel show at age 13, played Miley Stewart, a tween and middle-schooler hiding her secret life as a famous pop singer.

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"Getting to be on the outside now, getting to be grown and be a part of it in a way that I couldn’t when I was in the middle of it before, and all the chaos and the schedule and the performing of it all," Cyrus said, "now it just gets to be a celebration. So it is a new perspective. I love that".

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The anniversary special, which started streaming on Disney+ and Hulu, celebrates 20 years since the show’s premiere. Filmed in front of a live audience, it features archival footage and is centred on an interview with Cyrus — now 33 and a genuine pop star — conducted by podcast host Alex Cooper.

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It includes several musical numbers, starting with the series anthem The Best of Both Worlds and ending with a new song dedicated to Cyrus' younger self. It also includes appearances by friends and family members, including father Billy Ray Cyrus, with whom Miley Cyrus tries to recreate their handshake from the series. Selena Gomez, who played a rival, makes an appearance, as does singer-songwriter Chappell Roan, who speaks to Miley Cyrus' influence on her career.

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Addressing the audience at the premiere, Miley Cyrus paid tribute both to fellow cast members and fans. "Without you all, this show would have never been what it is, and I love saying what it is, not what it was," she said.

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"Tonight isn’t about looking back into the past, but it’s about what it means to us still tonight," she said.

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Jason Earles, who played Miley’s brother Jackson, told the AP that watching the show now highlights how much time has passed.

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“I think if you go back and you watch the episodes, there’s enough dated references like old flip phones and stuff that you go, 'Oh no, no, this show was a little while ago'," he said.

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Cody Linley, who played Miley's on-and-off boyfriend Jake Ryan, reflected on the impact of portraying a teen heartthrob.

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"It's hard to believe that there were girls that had pictures of me with my shirt off in their locker and they would have me sign it," Linley said. "And it's hard not to let it go to your head, because you have to remember that it’s an image that they are seeing. It’s not you."

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Also attending the premiere was country singer Lainey Wilson, who recalled working as a Hannah Montana impersonator early in her career.

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"From 8th grade to 12th grade, five years of my life, I would open up the show as Lainey Wilson, I would run behind a tree and put on my Hannah Montana get-up," the singer said. "I did birthday parties, fairs, festivals… I was hitting the roads."

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Grammy-winning singer Chappell Roan responded to accusations made by Brazilian-Italian football star Jorginho that a security guard mistreated his 11-year-old stepdaughter after she recognised the singer.

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Jorginho Frello, a player for Flamengo widely known as Jorginho, said that his wife and the child were staying at the same hotel in Sao Paulo as the singer, who is in the country for the Lollapalooza Brazil music festival, when the controversy occurred.

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“During breakfast, the artist walked past their table. My daughter, like any child, recognised her, got excited and just wanted to make sure it was really her,” Jorginho said, in a lengthy text posted on Instagram in Portuguese and English on Saturday. The girl is the daughter of Catherine Harding, Jorginho's wife, and British actor Jude Law.

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“She didn’t say anything, didn’t ask for anything,” Jorginho said, adding that a security guard then came over to his family’s table and spoke “in an extremely aggressive manner to both my wife and my daughter".

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Jorginho said that Roan did not deserve her fans' affection.

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Roan addressed the incident, also on Instagram. The singer said that the security guard was not her personal security and that she didn’t see a woman and a child.

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“It’s unfair for security to just assume someone doesn’t have good intentions,” Roan said. “I do not hate people who are fans of my music. I do no hate children.”

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Rio’s new mayor Eduardo Cavaliere weighed in on the controversy, saying that while he was mayor Roan would never perform on Copacabana Beach as Madonna and Lady Gaga have, and as Shakira will do in May.

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“I doubt that Shakira would do that!” he said, adding that Jorginho’s daughter would be a guest of honor at the Colombian superstar’s upcoming free concert on Rio's sprawling sands. Cavaliere replaced former Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes on Friday.

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Roan, who is openly queer and taps into drag culture, was the sassy toast of the pop world in 2024 with tracks that include Good Luck, Babe! Red Wine Supernova and Hot To Go! from her 2023 album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.

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Roan headlined Auckland's Laneway Festival earlier this year. She nudged aside Sabrina Carpenter to win the Grammy for best new artist last February.

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After the lengthy texts, Jorginho posted a story of his daughter's excited reaction upon arriving at Carpenter's show at Lollapalooza. “Everything is well with the girls, and thanks for the messages,” he said.

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Nicholas Brendon has died, aged 54.

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The actor, who starred as Buffy Summers' best friend Xander Harris on all seven seasons of the supernatural drama, died today.

“},{“_id”:”4F6T4G5ZUVEBBOANFY2EEASE3E”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”

In a statement, his family said they were "heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon".

“},{“_id”:”5DKSUHRNQBCG5BSQ5MGFFZBSVA”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”

Brendon died in his sleep of natural causes.

“},{“_id”:”J2QPLM6XV5GBFAJOPVPTC3TNPU”,”type”:”raw_html”,”content”:””},{“_id”:”6CZZNF5HCJD7ZISNT4W3YZM2OQ”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”

While best known for his work as an actor, Brendon had "found his passion in painting and art" in recent years, his family said.

“},{“_id”:”C52GMUXCUVAFJBPG6CRH7Y2FQE”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”

"Nicky loved to share his enthusiastic talent with his family, friends and fans.

“},{“_id”:”U2R4YEFCFRB7DOXCI2JY45XHPA”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”

"He was passionate, sensitive, and endlessly driven to create. Those who truly knew him understood that his art was one of the purest reflections of who he was."

“},{“_id”:”EHUS673DLFB2TF4F4KRXEBUWAQ”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”

His loved ones asked for privacy while they "grieve his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination, and heart".

“},{“_id”:”PM4RNEY3SVEOHIPPUUN3PUFPGI”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”

"Thank you to everyone who has shown love and support."

“},{“_id”:”PCMLDQOJKBDIJCFAXS6ZAO66A4″,”type”:”text”,”content”:”

Buffy co-star Alyson Hannigan, who played Willow Rosenberg, took to social media to pay tribute to Brendon.

“},{“_id”:”K2QWWWMHCBFDZLQSKWEG3VNKME”,”type”:”raw_html”,”content”:” View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alyson Hannigan Denisof (@alysonhannigan)

“},{“_id”:”HRYWRYZP3ZHCVP27WWLDDFJOHY”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”

"My Sweet Nicky, thank you for years of laughter, love and Dodgers. I will think of you every time I see a rocking chair. I love you. RIP."

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Norris practices kung fu style moves with a trainer in back yard of his house in Palos Verdes circa 1978.”,”source”:{“system”:”photo center”,”name”:”Getty”,”edit_url”:””,”source_type”:”other”,”additional_properties”:{“editor”:”photo center”}},”taxonomy”:{“associated_tasks”:[]},”type”:”image”,”distributor”:{“mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”e041eba5-77fc-429c-bb75-98962a8d6c62″},”focal_point”:{“x”:2840,”y”:1018},”version”:”0.10.9″,”url”:”https://cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/tvnz/4R2CUBG4PVC7FCOKNWKHRKOJ44.jpg”,”licensable”:false,”alt_text”:”Chuck Norris practices kung fu style moves with a trainer in back yard of his house in Palos Verdes circa 1978.”,”credits”:{“affiliation”:[{“name”:”Source: Getty”,”type”:”author”}],”by”:[]},”subtitle”:”Chuck Norris practices kung fu style moves with a trainer in back yard of his house in Palos Verdes circa 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triggered an outpouring of memorials from fellow Hollywood tough guys and fans. “},{“_id”:”TZXIVADJTBEXXCHJUZCDOCMCSY”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”The martial arts grandmaster and action star of Walker, Texas Ranger, died Thursday (local time), in what his family described as a “sudden passing”.”},{“_id”:”6F3PWSC6FFAKZAFWIXYJIW4VI4″,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”Sylvester Stallone, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren were some contemporaries of Norris who took to social media to pay their respects.”},{“_id”:”D7PILPJJCBDUHKGPUVEYIIOW3A”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”Here’s what some are saying, in their own words:”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”ZTAMRT6MGNHKDFMSAPZKY267UM”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”Jean-Claude Van Damme”},{“_id”:”WFQ7UQXB7FBBJPGUGAVBHU3NSA”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”“Deepest condolences on the passing of my friend, Chuck Norris. We knew each other from my early days, and I always respected the man he was. My heart and prayers are with his family. He will never be forgotten,” the actor, via Instagram.”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”JUSVLQ7FT5BABAJSBY277VZYIY”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”Dolph Lundgren”},{“_id”:”WAWWGQ6ZONET7EEORONQ3HFSPU”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”“Chuck Norris is the champ. Ever since I was a young martial artist and later getting into movies, I always looked up to him as a role model. Someone who had the respect, humility and strength it takes to be a man. We will miss you, my friend,” the actor, on Instagram.”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”YL7T77KWCVAKRHV3MAI7PSWXOM”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”Sylvester Stallone”},{“_id”:”HHRRK6RCYJF2RMDPVEB3A2T26I”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”“I had a great time working with Chuck. He was All American in every way. Great man and my condolences to his wonderful family,” his Expendables 2 co-star, via Instagram.”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”FI3IX5EBIRFNRHM5YKUIB43GEQ”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”Arnold Schwarzenegger”},{“_id”:”4AP3U4W5SFDC5CLOT5GP6UXZSY”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”“Chuck was an icon. I am grateful that I was able to work with him in multiple ways over the years, from promoting fitness to sharing the screen together. He was a badass, in real life and in Hollywood. His legend will be with us forever. My thoughts are with his family,” the actor via X.”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”UBEUV2QRXJAZPETJ4KFVMT2EIM”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”Lorenzo Lamas”},{“_id”:”AIKNN4IF4RFKRJJLDN3Y34FFO4″,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”“Watch out evil world, there is an angel of consequence at the gates. Chuck Norris doesn’t just get wings, he gets even,” the actor, via X.”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”X7VQJDDRVZDWRE3TIBOCCS6W4I”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”Lee Majors”},{“_id”:”FBNAZLMWKRGJBKP4KPGXZB765Y”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”“I know the millions of fans across the world are feeling this loss too, but for me, it’s deeply personal. I had the honor of working alongside him, sharing moments I’ll never forget. He wasn’t just a legend on screen he was a kind, strong, and genuine soul off of it. I’m really going to miss you, my friend. Hey Chuck… maybe you can teach the good Lord a few karate moves — I know He’ll get a kick out of them,” the actor on Instagram.”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”4V5UICX2CVEMBLU2LZTXAPR3AQ”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”Joe Piscopo”},{“_id”:”OULOGHLISFFQ7NTAT4LWNZYEGY”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”“Just heard that the Legend — The Man — Mr. Chuck Norris has passed away. I was honored to work with Chuck. It was a life changing and treasured experience that I will hold dearly in my heart forever,\” the actor, via X.”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”M3QVMRCJ7VACVH5PRRZTDZEW7A”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”Mike Huckabee”},{“_id”:”BK2B6D6IIBFO7JW6MQXN36R56E”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”“He was humble & kind. I’ll never forget a visit we made to a Veterans Home in New Hampshire. Chuck & Gena graciously visited with every veteran, listening & caring. Most of these veterans idolized Chuck Norris. He & Gena were patient, warm, & compassionate. When we got in the vehicle after the visit, I looked over at them & they were both weeping having been touched by these aging US veterans & their stories,” the US ambassador to Israel, via X.”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”S3Z5RN6EYRCTVPLRLDKI2IYNDA”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”Priscilla Presley”},{“_id”:”HXL6QDK74ZGJZF7ZMZ45LXKHUQ”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”“I’m so sad to hear that my Karate instructor and friend Chuck Norris has passed away. He will be forever missed,” the actor wrote on Instagram.”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”NAE4TPDRLJGRDALKC7DC67BNZ4″,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”Morgan Fairchild”},{“_id”:”KYAFMDSMSFA4LFPTGSURD66LVY”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”“I’m so sorry to hear of our loss of Chuck, who I considered a friend for many years. We were in Taiwan in ’87 (I think) to accept Golden Horse Awards, and we bonded there. It didn’t hurt that I loved martial arts! He was always a real gentleman every time I ran into him. My condolences to his family & friends,” the actor on X.”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”SFM7Y5VP7JGYJJ3E5GFLSX5CHM”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”Geraldo Rivera”},{“_id”:”GE3LTBG4PFALLE3UWFVQB7O6AE”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”“They used to say Chuck Norris is so tough he makes onions cry. Rest in peace, my friend, thank you for all you did in TV, movies and life. 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Norris practices kung fu style moves with a trainer in back yard of his house in Palos Verdes circa 1978.”,”source”:{“system”:”photo center”,”name”:”Getty”,”edit_url”:””,”source_type”:”other”,”additional_properties”:{“editor”:”photo center”}},”taxonomy”:{“associated_tasks”:[]},”type”:”image”,”distributor”:{“mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”e041eba5-77fc-429c-bb75-98962a8d6c62″},”version”:”0.10.9″,”url”:”https://cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/tvnz/FQDOM3KCFRFRRD6DLLGWGNBMNQ.jpg”,”licensable”:false,”alt_text”:”Chuck Norris practices kung fu style moves with a trainer in back yard of his house in Palos Verdes circa 1978.”,”credits”:{“affiliation”:[{“name”:”Source: Getty”,”type”:”author”}],”by”:[]},”subtitle”:”Chuck Norris practices kung fu style moves with a trainer in back yard of his house in Palos Verdes circa 1978.”,”width”:4500,”_id”:”FQDOM3KCFRFRRD6DLLGWGNBMNQ”,”additional_properties”:{“fullSizeResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/FQDOM3KCFRFRRD6DLLGWGNBMNQ.jpg?auth=08a9f8813d5d31b63c8ebe380aaced3ad244755795b6a0fe4cea990e44fe0bcf”,”iptc_source”:”Corbis Historical”,”iptc_job_identifier”:”775448309″,”keywords”:[“chuck 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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 — sparking internet parodies and adoration from presidents — has died at 86.

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Norris died Thursday (local time), in what his family described as a “sudden passing”.

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“While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace,” the family said in a statement posted to social media.

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

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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.

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“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.”

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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.

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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.

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

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“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.

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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-Governor Rick Perry awarded him the title of honorary Texas Ranger. The Texas Senate later named him an honorary Texan.

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“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.”

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Norris also made a surprise comedic appearance as a decisive judge in the final match of the 2004 movie Dodgeball. He only on occasion had taken acting roles in recent years, including 2012's The Expendables 2 and the 2024 sci-fi action movie Agent Recon. He's due to appear in Zombie Plane, an upcoming film starring Vanilla Ice.

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It was around the time of Dodgeball that 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.”

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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.

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“To some who know little of my martial arts or film careers but perhaps grew up with Walker, Texas Ranger, it seems that I have become a somewhat mythical superhero icon,” Norris wrote in the forward to the Fact Book. “I am flattered and humbled.”

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That book raised money for a nonprofit he founded with President George HW Bush that promoted martial arts instruction for kids.

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The intentionally outlandish statements featured in the 2008 Republican presidential primary, when Norris endorsed Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and shot an ad playing on the Chuck Norris facts.

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“Chuck Norris doesn’t endorse. He tells America how it’s going to be,” Huckabee said in the campaign ad.

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President Donald Trump's supporters later promoted "Trump Facts” in the same vein, and political pundits tried it as well, describing the commander-in-chief's decision to seize Venezuela's sitting president, Nicolas Maduro, as a “Chuck Norris Moment”, and its initial effect on oil prices a “Chuck Norris Premium”.

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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 in the days before the 2020 and 2024 elections.

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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.

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Norris celebrated his birthday just over a week before his death, posting a sparring video on Instagram.

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“I don't age. I level up,” he wrote.

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