WA news LIVE: Cyclone weakens to a tropical low as it crosses the coast

Ex-tropical cyclone Mitchell weakened to a tropical low overnight after crossing the coast near Shark Bay around 4pm on Monday.

The system lingered off the North West coast as it tracked south, reaching a category 3 storm at its peak on Saturday as it passed Dampier.

Most seem unscathed by the cyclone, with some damage to trees caused by wind gusts up to 107km/h.

Much of the state will continue to feel the effects of the system over the coming days as it tracks south-east, bringing with it wind, rain and flood warnings.

Here’s what’s making news across the nation and around the world today:

• Dozens of protesters have been arrested in violent clashes with police as thousands demonstrated against visiting Israeli President Isaac Herzog, hours after a court rejected a bid to strip police of enhanced powers granted during his time in Sydney.

• Communications Minister Anika Wells has written to controversial video game giant Roblox seeking an urgent meeting following reports that children on the popular platform have been exposed to sexually explicit and suicide-related material.
• On the eve of the rollout of new scam laws, scammers are finding new ways to hit Australians. Consumer and industry groups are warning delays and gaps will allow mass fraud to persist.
• Jeffrey Epstein’s accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell has refused to answer questions before the US Congress, as her lawyer says she will clear President Donald Trump of any wrongdoing in exchange for clemency from her 20-year prison sentence.

Good morning readers and welcome to our live news blog for Tuesday, February 10.

Making headlines today, Premier Roger Cook has again floated the idea of completing the circle route rail line – but this time raised the possibility of bringing in the help of light rail or trackless trams.

Cook made the comments at a Property Council of WA lunch on Friday, when he was asked about the next evolution of Labor’s Metronet public transport network.

And the section of Mitchell Freeway in Butler where two people died in a crash after a ute travelled the wrong way on Sunday night is near where a beloved Perth grandfather died in a similar crash in October.

An Izuzu ute was travelling southbound in the northbound lanes near Lukin Drive in Butler about 11.25pm on Sunday when it crashed into a Toyota Yaris hatchback and MG MG4 hatchback.

Stay with us as we bring you the news of the day, as it happens.