State Highway 7 is closed near Hope River Bridge because of the blaze.

Sahara Baker-Koro was killed in 2010 by her mother’s boyfriend Kerry Charles Ratana.

OPINION: $153m being spent on charter schools would pay for more than 700 teacher aides.

An independent leading provider of not-at-fault accident replacement vehicles has analysed 20,562 combined internal reports.

The Gold Coast home of 9News presenter Dominique Loudon has been targeted by thieves.

Two people armed with a baseball bat and a tomahawk attempted to break into the Burleigh home of the journalist and soon-to-be mum and her husband, NRL legend Martin Lang yesterday morning.

Loudon said the attempted break-in made them sick to their stomachs.

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"[We were] so creeped out and shocked to see these two men with their faces covered just creeping around the front of our house looking for a way to get in," Loudon said.

"It was really confronting.

"I was also thinking, I'm pregnant, I'm having a baby in a month.

"If they came in, I don't know how I would protect myself."

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The pair broke into Loudon's car, ransacked it and took off with a remote control that opens the front gate.

Police are reminding residents to remove valuables from their cars, especially remotes that allow access to property.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said a Russian drone struck the destroyed nuclear power plant at Chernobyl near Ukraine's border with Belarus on Thursday night.

Ukraine's State Emergency Service later said that the radiation background limits remain within normal limits.

"A Russian attack drone with a high-explosive warhead struck the shelter protecting the world from radiation at the destroyed 4th power unit" at the plant, Zelensky said on X.

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The concrete shelter that covers the unit was damaged, Zelensky added and a fire was extinguished.

"Radiation levels have not increased and are being constantly monitored.

According to initial assessments, the damage to the shelter is significant," Zelensky said.

READ MORE: Tropical Cyclone Zelia crossing WA coast earlier than expected

The International Atomic Energy Agency said on X that shortly before 2am local time its team at the Chernobyl site "heard an explosion coming from the New Safe Confinement, which protects the remains of reactor 4 of the former Chernobyl NPP, causing a fire."

"They were informed that a UAV [drone] had struck the NSC roof," the IAEA added.

Unit 4 at Chernobyl exploded in 1986, sending extensive clouds of radioactivity across parts of the Soviet Union and Europe.

It was later encased in a concrete and steel sarcophagus.

Altogether, on Thursday night, the Ukrainian military reported that Russia fired 133 drones at Ukraine, 73 of which were shot down and 58 did not reach their targets.

The numbers are broadly in line with the recent average of drone attacks.

It said drones were shot down in 11 regions, covering much of the country.

Zelensky said in his post that the nightly drone attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure meant that Russian President Vladimir Putin "is definitely not preparing for negotiations — he is preparing to continue deceiving the world."

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Tropical Cyclone Zelia has crossed Western Australia's coast hours earlier than it was expected, threatening destructive winds and more than 500mm of rain across the Pilbara region.

The storm made landfall at 12.30pm (3.30pm AEDT) near the De Grey River mouth, 54 kilometres north-east of Port Hedland, and was downgraded to a category 4 storm by the Bureau of Meteorology.

By 4pm (7pm AEDT) it has further reduced to a category 3 storm with winds near its centre of 150km/h and gusts up to 205km/h.

WARNINGS: Check the latest evacuation warnings here and weather warnings here

It's expected to continue to weaken as it tracks south but still threatens immense rainful and damaging winds.

Residents in the area, which is one of the world's largest iron ore exporters, have been told to stay inside.

It is all hands on deck for emergency services, who are getting ready to help in the aftermath.

Earlier today drivers were urged to stay off the roads with some spotted attempting to drive through dangerous floodwaters.

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"At midday Friday (AWST) the centre of the system was around 65 kilometres to the north-east of Port Hedland and moving south-east around 11km/h," Matthew Collopy from the Bureau of Meteorology said.

"The very destructive core of the system, the area around the eye of the cyclone, is impacting that coast to the east of Port Hedland now, bringing wind gusts of up to 290km/h and intense rainfall and flooding.

"Port Hedland is not expected to be impacted by the very destructive eyewall winds.

"But damaging to destructive wind gusts are still likely this afternoon and into this evening."

Collopy said on the eastern side of the tropical cyclone track, a dangerous storm surge is possible, which could cause flash flooding in coastal areas.

Rainfall totals between 200mm to 300mm are expected over the next 24 hours, with up to 500mm possible over the next three days.

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The region has already recorded totals of more than 300mm.

The rainfall has landed on already wet catchments, which could result in flash and riverine flooding.

As the system continues to move south, it is expected to weaken and winds are expected to ease.

"This is a very dangerous system that will cause significant impacts," Collopy said.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services commissioner Darren Klemm reminded residents to not to be complacent in the aftermath of the cyclone. 

"It is critical that impacted communities don't get complacent because the hazards won't ease once the cyclone has passed," Klemm said.

"Conditions after a cyclone can be just as dangerous as the cyclone itself, including damaged buildings, fallen powerlines and debris.

"It is extremely important that people remain indoors until the warnings change on Emergency WA."

Earlier today Port Hedland deputy mayor Ashleigh Christensen said he had faith "the Pilbara spirit will pull through".

"We'll get through anything we have to get through," Christensen said.

"We usually prepare for the worst and expect the best."

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News Corp publication the Daily Telegraph says an apparent undercover stunt "could have been better handled" after it led to an altercation in a Sydney cafe.

Ofir Birenbaum, a prominent member of Sydney's Jewish community, appeared to be accompanied by senior Daily Telegraph journalist Danielle Gusmaroli and a photographer to the Cairo Takeaway, a popular Egyptian restaurant on Enmore Road in Newtown, on Tuesday.

In CCTV obtained by 9News, Birenbaum, wearing a white Star of David cap and video camera-equipped glasses, can be seen entering the venue and ordering a hibiscus tea.

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According to a chef at the cafe, Birenbaum allegedly made a provocative comment.

As he reached the door, it is alleged he asked a staff member if his presence was upsetting them because he was Jewish.

It's alleged the exchange then led to a verbal altercation between cafe staff, onlookers, Birenbaum and the newspaper's crew, who soon made an exit.

One woman began filming the newspaper team and Birenbaum, at one point saying: "You picked the wrong restaurant to f—— try this shit in."

A leaked planning document reveals the stunt was part of a story about "what it's like being Jewish in Sydney", the Sydney Morning Herald and Crikey have reported.

9News understands the Daily Telegraph also approached a Jewish organisation to partake in the story, but they declined.

The restaurant's owner Hesham El Masry called police but after a three-day investigation, it was decided no crime had been committed.

Cairo Takeaway has posted pro-Palestine messages on its social media accounts and its exterior features a mural of a fist in the Palestinian flag's colours by prominent street artist Scottie Marsh.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0BfA9mvrMH/?hl=en

"We are a small community restaurant," El Masry said.

"We accept everyone into our restaurant and respect all walks of life."

This afternoon, the Daily Telegraph's editor Ben English said the publication "never intended to provoke an incident".

"Like other media the Daily Telegraph has been reporting on the rise of antisemitism and investigating how it is affecting the daily lives of Jewish people in Sydney," English said.

"The Telegraph never intended to provoke an incident at the Cairo Takeaway restaurant in Enmore, which was one of multiple venues across Sydney we visited, nor to report that its staff are antisemitic.

"The Daily Telegraph acknowledges our approach could have been better handled."

Birenbaum has not responded to a 9News request for comment.

Hundreds of passengers have been stranded at Sydney Airport after more than 50 flights were cancelled today due to an unexpected air traffic controller shortage. 

Airservices Australia was forced to reduce the number of aircraft movements due to poor weather this afternoon but delays worsened when a staff member called in sick with late notice.

As a result, 26 departures and 32 arrivals have been cancelled.

READ MORE: Sydney commuters facing slow journey home as services cut during industrial action

Airlines were left scrambling to notify passengers, many of whom were told of the delays moments before boarding.

Airservices Australia said a replacement air traffic controller has since been called in but not before flights were impacted.

"We are working on all measures to minimise further impact, including accommodating additional flights wherever safe," an Airservices Australia spokesperson said.

"Airservices apologises to passengers affected by delays and cancellations, and we are disappointed that this has occurred so soon after our strong performance over the Christmas period, when ground delays were at record lows across the network."

Virgin Airlines said it was communicating with impacted passengers and trying to get them onto next available services.

It is understood most of the passengers will have to fly tomorrow.

Meanwhile, commuters are facing their own delays after industrial action has caused 90 per cent of the train services to be cancelled this afternoon.

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Officials say three companies have been licensed to explore the seabed for minerals.