a very warm welcome. president biden has warned that a continuation of the conflict in gaza would only play into hamas�*s ideology. in what appears to be a softening of the us stance, mr biden said on social media, and without mentioning israel, that continuing down the path of terror, killing and war is to give hamas what they seek. it comes as intelligence chiefs from the us, israel and egypt are continuing talks in qatar to try to further extend the current six—day pause. earlier, 12 more hostages were released from gaza bringing the total number now freed to more than 80. tuesday's hostage handover included 10 israeli citizens, and two thai nationals. in return, israel has released another 30 palestinian prisoners. theyjoin the 150 other palestinians, mostly women and teenage boys, who have so far been released from israeli jails, since the truce began on friday. tal heinrich, spokesperson to israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu, told the bbc, the israelis are willing to extend the ceasefire under the current terms. we have received the list and notifying the families of the who appear on the list and all otherfamilies of the who appear on the list and all other families of the hostages who are still being held in the gaza strip. right now we're talking about 173 hostages who are still there. we certainly hope that this materialises tomorrow and that we will see, hopefully, a sixth group of hostages leaving the gaza strip and returning home to israel. so we said that we are willing to extend this mechanism, as we saw today, what took place today, and for every ten extra israeli hostages that hamas will release, we agreed to another extra day of humanitarian pause in the fighting. with more on the hostage release, here's our senior international correspondent 0rla guerin in tel aviv. it isa it is a nerve—racking wait for hostages to come home. among them, a baby. the truce is due to end tomorrow. these are anxious hours. will this baby be freed? he is the youngest hostage — just ten months old. israel has taken him to its heart. kidnapped with him, his brother who is four and loves his batman costume. their mother held them in her arms trying to protect them, as hamas closed in. theirfather surrounded and bleeding all four now hostages. israel says hamas has handed them on to another militant group in gaza. their relatives are tormented by worry and by waiting. how difficult at the last few days been when each day has come and gone and each list has come and gone and each list has come and gone and each list has come and gone and they have not come home? it is dreadful. it is the worst scenario, having to wait for that list every night, seeing all those beautiful moments of reunion and hoping that ours will be the next day and it is not. relatives and supporters are gathered here ones again. they want to keep the pressure on the government. for all those released in recent days, many more remain trapped in gaza. theirfamilies are hoping against hope that the deal between israel and hamas will be extended once again. that deal has freed almost 200 palestinian prisoners from israeli jails. here, the latest group to be released arriving to jubilation in the west bank tonight. it is mostly women and teenage boys who have been let out. in gaza, while the ceasefire holds, a chance to survey the wreckage. the un says there is hunger, desperation and especially for women and children, the risk of famine. translation: we see our homes getting destroyed and our dreams getting destroyed, says this woman. they gave us a four day truce — what good is that? backin day truce — what good is that? back in israel, balloons are released for the children in hope that they will steal two soon see the sky again. —— soon see the sky against the doc tonight their expectations that the ceasefire could be extended further. we can speak now to helen clark, the former prime minister of new zealand, who also served as the administrator of the un development program from 2009 to 2017. helen, it is really great to have you on bbc news today. you are part of an organisation called the elders — you have written to resident biden talking about building a new coalition for peace, the future and how to resolve this current conflict. just explain what you are proposing and also tell us about the elders, who they are and the influence you have. firstly, the elders were started with nelson mandela as patron, cathy anand has traded until his untimely death and now it is the former president of ireland mary robinson. she and monkey moon, former un secretary—general, both actually visited palestine back in may this year and came away extremely worried about what they saw. and was really with a sense of dread that the elders saw these events unfold. so we did in the past couple of weeks right to president biden. we said it needed him to step up now to rally forces for peace. there needs to be a clear plan for peace. clearly, the longer you can keep a cessation of hostilities and a truce going, the more chance you have of building the conditions for peace. but it is going to need a big coalition of countries beyond israel, palestine and its borders to really be pushing for once and all to get that two state solution internationally supported in place. internationally supported in lace. ., . ., , place. nowl have read this letter that _ place. nowl have read this letter that you _ place. nowl have read this letter that you have - place. nowl have read this letter that you have sent i place. nowl have read thisj letter that you have sent to president biden which you have signed, helen, so you talk about his leadership, how key it is that the leadership does lead on there. how do you see their leadership so far and the leadership of president biden on this so far?— leadership of president biden on this so far? well, president biden's has — on this so far? well, president biden's has made _ on this so far? well, president biden's has made it _ on this so far? well, president biden's has made it very - on this so far? well, president biden's has made it very clear| biden�*s has made it very clear where he stands with respect to israel but he is also hearing other voices of great concern about the carnage which has occurred in gaza as a result of the bombardment. he has himself several times during this current conflict returned to the need for the two state agreement. so, while in the situation we are in everything looks bleak, sometimes it is at the bleakest hour that people will step forward and say, we cannot continue to go through this. so the us cannot achieve this. so the us cannot achieve this on its own, whatever its influence with israel may be. this needs a big group of actors to come together. i'm heartened that the european union is calling for an international peace conference, go back to madrid where there was someone over 30 years ago. we have had so many failed attempts but can the horror we see now propel the world community to come together and to say to all forces between israel and palestine, please, never again. israel and palestine, please, neveragain. please israel and palestine, please, never again. please negotiate on the solution on the table. it has been described many times as the forever war, this conflict in israel, in palestine, in gaza. ., palestine, in gaza. one of the thins palestine, in gaza. one of the things you _ palestine, in gaza. one of the things you mention _ palestine, in gaza. one of the things you mention in - palestine, in gaza. one of the things you mention in the - things you mention in the letter is the current leadership on both sides are not the right leaders to see through a peace agreement. give us your take on that. 50. through a peace agreement. give us your take on that.— us your take on that. so, the letter says — us your take on that. so, the letter says we _ us your take on that. so, the letter says we do _ us your take on that. so, the letter says we do not - us your take on that. so, the letter says we do not believej letter says we do not believe that israel and palestine can do this on their own and clearly implicit in that is do the leaders currently in place there happy wilko the capacity to do this on their own. no, no they don't. which is why the support of the us and europe, the support of the gulf states, egypt, jordan, the support of tokyo which is in the near neighbourhood and the support of others who have an interest in not seeing this go on and on and on. —— turkey, i think the coalition can be built in the us cannot do it on its own either but the us now opening the door to others to come into the door to others to come into the conversation and that includes the un which has often been somewhat marginalised on theissue been somewhat marginalised on the issue of how to bring peace to the region. we all work together, we could get the solution but it needs many to tango, notjust two.— tango, not 'ust two. also, it needs tango, notjust two. also, it needs determination, - tango, notjust two. also, it - needs determination, resilience and a commitment for the long hall on this, doesn't it? something that you say clearly in this letter as this is not going to be a quick fix by any means and i'm sure everybody would agree with that. it will take some time to see through a peaceful outcome, whatever that looks like. given the political changes that we are going to see into the year ahead, it is a point to mulch was year 2024, we have an election in the united states, in the india and probably the united kingdom. lots of leadership change across europe, a time when there could be a lot of change in politics globally. yes, indeed and often it has been in the last year of an american presidency where a serious effort has been made to try to address the issue of the two state solution so we are coming up state solution so we are coming up to that yet again. we don't know what the end of the year will bring but i think 2024 is a critical gear. if there is ever a year to try and do it, to bring the confidence between the two sides, and it is at the end of that confidence building measures, that is why does the same truce in gaza is so important, we could just crack it but if we waste this opportunity now, when will it come back again? helen, what is your gut feeling about this? you have been to your gaza in your role as the united nations and are in the elders and mary robinson, kofi annan and others, what is your gut feeling telling you about the situation. mt; feeling telling you about the situation. ~ , , situation. my gut feeling is tellin: situation. my gut feeling is telling me _ situation. my gut feeling is telling me it _ situation. my gut feeling is telling me it is _ situation. my gut feeling is telling me it is incredibly i telling me it is incredibly hard but also telling me that on both sides of the line israelis and palestinians want a future of peace and security, where they can get on with their lives. i think what of their lives. i think what of the most powerful pressures on the most powerful pressures on the israeli government now is the israeli government now is the families of the hostages, because of a truce and is now with half the hostages still there, then there is a huge grief and concern in israel and of course we are seeing many young people and also some women being released from israeli detention, who really should not have been there. so now is the time. i know it is hard but if not now when do we try? hard but if not now when do we t ? hard but if not now when do we t 2 ., ~ hard but if not now when do we t ? ., ~ ., ., hard but if not now when do we t ? ., ~ ., hard but if not now when do we try? helen clark, good to talk to ou. try? helen clark, good to talk to you. thank— try? helen clark, good to talk to you. thank you _ try? helen clark, good to talk to you. thank you for - try? helen clark, good to talk to you. thank you for your - try? helen clark, good to talk. to you. thank you for your time here on bbc news. helen clark there, former prime minister of new zealand also he served on the un development programme. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news: the inquest opens today into the four teenagers who died in a crash in north wales earlier this month. jevon hirst, harvey owen, wilf fitchett and hugo morris, from shrewsbury, were found in an overturned, partially submerged car in gwynedd on 24th november. the car had been spotted by a lorry driver, following a major search to find the teenagers after they were declared missing during a camping trip. courts in england and wales could soon be sentencing fewer people to shorter jail terms, and instead handing out more rehabilitative community sentences. new proposals from the sentencing council for the two home nations says judges and magistrates should be focusing more on reforming offenders. new data suggests the rising cost of renting, and a fall in available properties, is causing families to move to smaller homes. campaigners are warning that the state of the market is also leaving older renters struggling with short—term tenancies in their retirement. you're live with bbc news. the indian prime minister, narendra modi, has praised the courage and patience of the 41 construction workers rescued from a collapsed himalayan road tunnel after 17 days. there's been widespread relief in india after the men were extracted following days of drilling through rock and debris. our south asia correspondent samira hussain reports from the scene. stop this moment, more than two weeks in the making. 41 trapped workers finally rescued. cheering an eruption of cheers from workers and onlookers. people sharing sweets and hugs. these are the ambulances with the first workers that have come out from inside the tunnel. 17 days they have spent inside that tunnel and now they are finally out and in those ambulances. rescuers spent the last several days pushing an 800—millimetre pipe through 60 metres of rubble and debris. once through, the men were pulled out on wheeled stretchers, one by one. it's been a harrowing experience for the men inside and those working to get them out. and how do you feel? oh, after 12 days... he sobs chaudhary has been waiting for 14 days, watching the mouth of the tunnel, and waiting for this moment where he could kiss his son. translation: i am very happy. i'm 55 and i've seen life, but my son is very young — he has a long life. i want him to fight every storm in his long life. the rescue operation that gripped the country finally has its happy ending. samira hussain, bbc news, uttarakhand. the australian prime minister has issued a formal apology in parliament to survivors of the thalidomide scandal and their families. anthony albanese offered an unreserved apology to all those who suffered major birth defects as a result of the drug, widely promoted in the late 19505 and early 19605 to relieve morning sickness in pregnant women. albanese called it "one of the darkest chapters "in the country's medical history". live now to sydney and our correspondent, phil mercer. an apology at last for all those who have been a victim or suffered as a consequence of this? �* , w , suffered as a consequence of this? �*, , ~ , ., this? it's exactly 62 years to the day since _ this? it's exactly 62 years to the day since thalidomide i this? it's exactly 62 years to i the day since thalidomide was taken from the shelves in australia, taken from the medical registers, not to be sold in this country. it was a pregnancy drug that turned into a pharmaceutical disaster, the prime minister anthony albanese addressing federal parliament a few hours ago saying those thalidomide survivors who had endured bullying, trauma and rejection were warriors and he made reference to the fact that previous governments, previous authorities had failed to evaluate this drug for it was allowed to go on sale and be used in australia. but this is a global story as well, it is estimated 10,000 babies were affect by thalidomide, it was a drug developed in germany in the 19505 made under license by many countries, by many companies i should say, and used in more than 40 countries. so australia the latest country to say sorry for its part in this tragedy.— to say sorry for its part in this traced . �* ., . , this tragedy. and for the many survivors of — this tragedy. and for the many survivors of which _ this tragedy. and for the many survivors of which there - this tragedy. and for the many survivors of which there are i survivors of which there are more than 100 in australia, what does the apology mean to them, i understand some of them are getting financial support? ye5, are getting financial support? yes, the prime minister, anthony albanese says ace sheet of measures including financial restitution will once again be made available to those survivors. some of them had travelled to the national capital canberra to hear for themselves the words of the prime minister and for them some say the apology i5 prime minister and for them some say the apology is an important step towards further healing a5 important step towards further healing as you say, this was a drug widely used in the late 19 i5 drug widely used in the late 19 is an early 19605 to treat morning sickness a5 is an early 19605 to treat morning sickness as well as anxiety and insomnia. but the prime minister said today that one dose of thalidomide could lead to a lifetime of untold health problems for unborn babie5. so mr albanese saying although he said the apology was although he said the apology wa5 heartfelt and unreserved, he said no words really could sum up the trauma that many people have suffered their entire lives.— people have suffered their entire lives. , ., ,, , ., entire lives. philip, thank you very much- — entire lives. philip, thank you very much. phil— entire lives. philip, thank you very much. phil mercer- entire lives. philip, thank you very much. phil mercer in - very much. phil mercer in sydney for us. let's get some of the day's other news now. a report by the united nations says haiti's gang wars have spread from the capital port—au—prince to neighbouring ruralareas, displacing thousands of people and jeopardising food supplies. it wants a multinational force deployed as soon as possible in the face of escalating instability. the vatican says the pope now won't attend the cop28 climate summit in dubai next week. he has been diagnosed with a lung inflammation and flu symptoms. the 86—year—old was due to begin a three—day visit on friday. greek officials have denied giving assurances that the country's prime minister would not publicly call for the return of the parthenon sculptures before his scheduled meeting with the uk's prime minister rishi sunak. the talks were called off after kyriakos mitsotakis told the bbc he would ask for the return of the artefacts, also known as the elgin marbles. we're about to enter a world of pure imagination, filled with all the chocolate and sweets you could want. but it might not be quite as you remember. the new film focuses on the origin story of young willy wonka, with timothy chalamet in its starring role, alongside matt lucas, olivia colman and a very memorable role for hugh grant. wonka had its uk premiere last night. noor nanji was there. may i present to you a brand—new contraption. may i present to you a brand-new contraption. willy wonka back _ brand-new contraption. willy wonka back on _ brand-new contraption. willy wonka back on the _ brand-new contraption. willy wonka back on the big - brand—new contraption. willy wonka back on the big screen this time it is the story of his humble beginning in how big became a world—famous chocolate maker beloved by so many. mr; maker beloved by so many. my name is maker beloved by so many. ij�*i name is willy maker beloved by so many. m: name is willy wonka. maker beloved by so many. my name is willy wonka. in - maker beloved by so many. my name is willy wonka. in the . name is willy wonka. in the title role. — name is willy wonka. in the title role, timothy - name is willy wonka. in the title role, timothy salome. | name is willy wonka. in the i title role, timothy salome. he becomes the third actor to step into the shoes of the iconic inventor. afterjean wilde in 1971 and johnny depp 2005. on the red carpet crowds of fans queued for hours to get a site of the stars. some are here to soak up the atmosphere but other desperate to catch a glimpse of one man in particular, timothy salome who has become hollywood's latest arthroscopy people are very protective of characters they love especially willie wonka. it is not the story of charlie and the factory it is about how he became willy wonka. starring alonrside he became willy wonka. starring alongside him — he became willy wonka. starring alongside him is _ he became willy wonka. starring alongside him is 14-year-old - alongside him is 14—year—old kayla lane, she plays a young or in girl noodle friends wonka. or in girl noodle friends wonka-— or in girl noodle friends wonka. �* . ., wonka. i'm so excited and i can't believe _ wonka. i'm so excited and i can't believe it. _ wonka. i'm so excited and i can't believe it. i _ wonka. i'm so excited and i can't believe it. i have - wonka. i'm so excited and i can't believe it. i have an i can't believe it. i have an idea. can't believe it. i have an idea- we _ can't believe it. i have an idea. we had _ can't believe it. i have an idea. we had what - can't believe it. i have an idea. we had what was . can't believe it. i have an i idea. we had what was the can't believe it. i have an - idea. we had what was the best thing about _ idea. we had what was the best thing about the _ idea. we had what was the best thing about the whole _ thing about the whole experience?- thing about the whole experience? thing about the whole exerience? �* ., , ., experience? being onset and havin: a experience? being onset and having a second _ experience? being onset and having a second family - experience? being onset and having a second family with l having a second family with everybody. having a second family with everybody-— everybody. here is another heartthrob. _ everybody. here is another heartthrob. now— everybody. here is another heartthrob. now and - everybody. here is another- heartthrob. now and envelope. it is you grant but not as you has ever seen before as he takes on the role of lot the complete with an orange bass and green here. i complete with an orange bass and green here.— complete with an orange bass and green here. i will have you knowl and green here. i will have you know i am _ and green here. i will have you knowl am a — and green here. i will have you know i am a perfectly - know i am a perfectly respectable size. it know i am a perfectly respectable size.- respectable size. it is something _ respectable size. it is something of - respectable size. it is - something of a departure respectable size. it is something of a departure for hugh grant who is best known for playing quintessentially english gentleman in films like notting hill and love actually. but his casting faced criticism over the decision not to give the role to an actor with dwarfism. the director paul king of paddington fame explained the decision. the . reat explained the decision. the great thing _ explained the decision. the great thing about _ explained the decision. tue: great thing about the characters as a are extraordinary creatures no higher than my knee or the size of a medium—sized doll, we tried to use the iconic look they came up with in the 1970 mu movie with green here and on skin,. , ., , mu movie with green here and on skin,. , . , , skin,. the star-studded cast also includes _ skin,. the star-studded cast also includes oscar - skin,. the star-studded cast also includes oscar winner i also includes oscar winner olivia coleman as the villain this shopkeeper, mr bean actor as a priest and american comedian and actor kegan michael key as chief of police. it was an honour and honour to be asked to be a part of this movie and to be a part of this legacy is of roald dahl�*s creation. this certainly exists in the spirit of what he created.— in the spirit of what he created. �*, ,., ., ~' in the spirit of what he created. �*, created. roald dahl's book has been adored _ created. roald dahl's book has been adored by _ created. roald dahl's book has been adored by generations i created. roald dahl's book has been adored by generations of| been adored by generations of children and adults alike. filmmakers will be hoping wonka can repeat the success. charlie and the chocolate factory is a complete classic, we cannot have enough. have you ever wished there was something to keep you entertained while you were stuck in your car — waiting for a light to change? well, this traffic enforcerfrom manila might have the right idea. ramiro hinojas has been strutting his stuff dressed as father christmas to help ease people's boredom. his aim is to bring cheer to commuters in the notoriously gridlocked city by showcasing his dance moves as he guides traffic. he he isa he he is a global sensation here on bbc news. we have got the top business stories here next. we are on the e of clock 28 as i have mentioned. you will see my interview and moment with the boss of astrazeneca and another boss talks about what they are doing to be more sustainable stop. temperatures will be plunging over the week. icy stretches but for most of us stay dry but temperatures struggling by day to get out of mid single figures, widespread in a frost by night and that is how we are starting wednesday morning with temperatures below freezing may be as low as minus seven — nine celsius just parts of scotland, milder for the south and west and areas of cloud with a few rain showers around, also patches of freezing fog and where we see those it will be slow to lift and clear. small wintry showers feeding into northern scotland for the north sea facing coast, a few accumulations further inland, showers as far south as lincolnshire but for sunny spells temperatures not getting past three — five, milder in the pastor and west underneath that cloud and that is where we look to find the low pressure system that has been troublesome through the week. now it look much more likely this will be falling as rain towards channel coast as we head through thursday, could let onshore at times given more clout and outbreaks of rain towards the south coast and wintry niss across the tops of in the southwest. further north sunny spells again, wintry showers for the north sea facing coast, temperatures are unlikely to make it past three — five degrees. friday, what a lot —— not a lot will change. more of an easterly wind feeding showers through the parts of the thames estuary and the downs and high ground, mostly dry again, sunny spells and added windchill as well. as you can see from the temperature anomaly map temperatures well below the seasonal average marked in blue, all that cold air down from scandinavia, no real improvement in temperatures as we head through the weekend and the start of next week, bitterly cold, here is the temperature out capital cities. possibly wintry nurse on saturday night again to sunday further south. saturday night again to sunday furthersouth. by saturday night again to sunday further south. by bye for now. —— wintry nurse. live from london, this is bbc news. decarbonising healthcare, with cop 28 kicking off this week, ways to make health more sustainable will be high on the agenda. i talk to the ceos of astrazeneca and sanofi. going nuclear, as governments around the world look for alternative energy sources — could nuclear power be the answer to getting to net zero? also on the program, introducing 0: amazon unveils its own ai assistant for business customers. and knocking it out of the park, with global revenues set to surpass $1 billion next year, we look at the commercial success of women's sport.