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TRANSCRIPT:
- Body of 16-year-old boy located in the Blue Mountains
- The EU sanctions Iranian officials and designates Iran's Revolutionary Guard as terrorist group
- World number one and two-time champion Aryna Sabalenka through to semi-finals
Emergency services have found the body of a 16-year-old boy in the Blue Mountains after he lost touch with his friend while on a camping trip.
He and his 17-year-old friend travelled by train to Leura, 80 kilometres west of Sydney, and then set off for Mount Hay on foot as part of a 3-day trip.
Police say the older boy activated his personal locator beacon on Wednesday evening after they became separated.
Emergency crews rescued the 17 year old, while the other teen's body was found nearby in a creek.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
**
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon says regional communities will continue to see an increased police presence until wanted fugitive Julian Ingram is found.
Mr Ingram is on the run from authorities after he's alleged to have fatally shot three people, including his pregnant former partner last week in the western New South Wales town Lake Cargelligo.
Police say they're confident he's still alive and may be receiving help, with a reported sighting in Mount Hope being investigated.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon says police won't stop the search until Lake Cargelligo and its surrounding communities are safe.
"My commitment to you as the Commissioner, as the New South Wales police, is that we will be here to keep you safe. I want to make sure that not only are you safe but you feel safe. So you will continue to see a significant policing presence until such time as we put Mr Ingram before the court."
**
Israel has released 15 bodies of Palestinians killed during its war in the Gaza Strip, three days after recovering the remains of the last Israeli hostage.
Mediators hope this move will progress the next stage of US President Donald Trump's peace plan.
Handing over all remaining living and dead hostages was a core commitment written into the first phase of the ceasefire deal.
Subsequent stages remain to be fulfilled, including the opening of the Rafah crossing connecting Gaza with Egypt.
President Donald Trump says he's hopeful Hamas will disarm.
"And I will tell you, Hamas was a big factor in getting all the hostages back. We were not happy with them, and they had to bring them back. They found the hostages, the body of hostages, and those parents wanted their sons back. I think in all cases, their sons. They wanted their sons back as much as the people who had living hostages, that we got them back too."
At the same time, medics said two men were killed by Israeli forces in eastern Khan Younis, while Israeli military says it's unaware of any casualties resulting from Israeli fire on Thursday.
An Israeli air strike killed at least one Palestinian later that day in the Maghazi camp of the central part of the Gaza Strip.
**
The European Union has formally designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation, citing Tehran’s violent crackdown on nationwide protests.
EU foreign ministers agreed unanimously in Brussels, placing the Guard on the same list as groups including Islamic State, Hamas and al-Qaeda.
The bloc also imposed fresh sanctions on 15 Iranian officials, including senior commanders, over what activists say has left more than 6,000 people dead.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says tyranny in Iran cannot be ignored any longer.
"Repression cannot go unanswered. Beyond this, ministers adopted new sanctions on those involved in Iran's war support to Russia and expanded export controls. Ministers were clear that Iran must release all those unjustly detained, including the European Union citizens."
The EU is also expanding export controls and sanctions linked to Iran’s support for Russia, while calling for the release of all unjustly detained prisoners, including EU citizens.
**
To sport, and in tennis, world No. 1 and two-time champion Aryna Sabalenka has defeated Ukrainian 12th seed Elina Svitolina at the Australian Open women's semi finals in Melbourne Park.
This will be Sabalenka's 4th consecutive Australian Open final.
The Russian and Ukrainian competitors did not join each other for a pre-match photo at the coin toss and did not shake hands after the match, with Svitolina making statements regarding the war between Ukriane and Russia throughout the tournament.
Sabalenka, alongside other Russian players, has openly opposed the war.
In a later Thursday contest, American Jessica Pegula played against fifth-ranked Elena Rybakina, who outlasted her opponent to book an Australian Open rematch against Sabalenka.
