by the immune system. welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. buckingham palace has revealed that queen elizabeth has spent a night in hospital, after cancelling a visit to northern ireland. a spokesperson said the queen, who's 95, underwent "preliminary investigations" at a private hospital in central london. she returned to windsor castle on thursday. she's said to be in good spirits. 0ur correspondent megan paterson's with me. talk us through what we know here? , . ., , here? the statement was released _ here? the statement was released by _ here? the statement was released by buckingham. here? the statement was - released by buckingham palace after the story appeared in the sun newspaper last night at around 1030 pm uk time. the queen attended hospital in central london on wednesday afternoon for preliminary investigation. she saw a specialist and the practical reason she she then stayed in hospital. she returned to windsor castle on thursday afternoon and returned to her desk for light duties yesterday afternoon. this is the first time the queen has had an overnight hospital stay in eight years. some people it would be a matter of interest. the palace assuring people it was preliminary investigation and was a practical reason she stayed in overnight and it is not thought to be linked to covid—19. not thought to be linked to covid-19-— not thought to be linked to covid-19. ,, , ., , covid-19. she is remarkably healthy at _ covid-19. she is remarkably healthy at 95 _ covid-19. she is remarkably healthy at 95 years - covid-19. she is remarkably healthy at 95 years old - covid-19. she is remarkably healthy at 95 years old and | healthy at 95 years old and particularly busy. incredibly bus . particularly busy. incredibly busy- she _ particularly busy. incredibly busy. she cancelled - particularly busy. incredibly busy. she cancelled an - busy. she cancelled an engagement in northern ireland earlier. we heard about that in the press, interest in that. she was said to be very disappointed in that. she has a very busy diary and she likes to stick to those engagements. she cancelled that because of medical advice or her team and regretfully stayed at home to rest. we know she was then treated in hospital, there is a preliminary investigation. the tone of the statement has been one of reassurance. she has been taken some rest, perhaps reluctantly. she is incredibly busy and has a busy schedule she would like to stick to but she's taken some days to recuperate for the next few days. as a rapidly expanding economy, india is one of the world's biggest polluters. the country is also seeing at first hand the effects of climate change on weather patterns. recent flash floods in the region have claimed the lives of more than 150 people. from kerala, here's our south asia correspondent, rajini vaidyanathan. her report contains some distressing images. kerala, india's coastal paradise, is testament to the beauty of nature. but it's also been a reminder of the devastation it can leave in its path. the state's had more than double the usual rainfall it gets in october. thousands have been left homeless after floods and landslides. dozens have died — many of them children. a smart and friendly three—year—old was buried under the mud. his mother, sophia, is in hospital, covered in bruises. she was trapped by the landslide and said the mud came right up to her head. "my son woke up in the morning "and went to brush his teeth," she told me. "he didn't even have his breakfast. "then we heard a noise like thunder, "and the house fell down." in a nearby bed, sophia's two other children, who were also injured and are facing the pain of life without their sibling. rescue teams are still searching the river for victims. in this one small village alone, more than 100 homes were completely destroyed, and just as many were left damaged. and we are just standing in what is left of one family home. as the river rose earlier in the week, people say they ran for their lives. images of this house in a village went viral. just like that, it was gone. this girl lived here with her parents and escaped minutes before the family home was washed away. we never expected this to happen in just a few moments. we lost everything. so have these familes staying at a makeshift camp. scientists in india say rising sea temperatures are to blame for extreme weather here. it's often the poorest who are hit the hardest. rajini vaidyanathan, bbc news, kerala. there's a heavy security presence in the sudanese capital, khartoum, after rival political factions held competing protests. tens of thousands of supporters of the transitional government took to the streets, following a sit—in by activists who support the country's military. 0ur senior africa correspondent, anne soy has been following events. scenes reminiscent of the protests that led to the overthrow of long serving president 0mar al—bashir. at this time it is a rejection of any attempt by the military to hold onto power. they want to rule a21 months than holdover control of the sovereign council which had the state but now many fear the generals are reluctant to honour the original deal. translation: we are here original deal. translation: - are here for two things, supporting the citizen transaction and calling for al—burhan to leave. we will support our country, we do not have anything to lose. this area is usually _ have anything to lose. this area is usually out - have anything to lose. this area is usually out of- have anything to lose. this area is usually out of bounds for most people but four days, supporters of the military have come here. —— four days. they want the military to take over fully. translation: we want the military to take over fully. translation:- want the military to take over fully. translation: we do not want this government. - fully. translation: we do not want this government. we - fully. translation: we do notj want this government. we want it to resign and go away. this government is not affable of answering the demands of the people. health, the cost of living, nothing. aha, people. health, the cost of living, nothing.— people. health, the cost of living, nothing. a blocade on the main _ living, nothing. a blocade on the main port _ living, nothing. a blocade on the main port has _ living, nothing. a blocade on the main port has made - living, nothing. a blocade on i the main port has made things difficult for the sudanese. now red prices are soaring, like they did when khartoum was toppled. just the right ingredients to trigger more practice. tensions have been rising since a failed coup. the prime minister has described this as a waste crisis in the transitional period. he has the backing of the west. they have urged all side to support the plan. this is what makes all the difference, the support of the difference, the support of the people at a crucial time. they want sudan to remain on the road to democracy but with a civilian government grappling with its divisions and military leaders reluctant to let go of power, this country's destiny hangs in the balance. anne soy, bbc news. the world health organization estimates that between 80,000 and 180,000 health workers have died from covid—19 since the start of the pandemic. millions are still unvaccinated. the head of the who puts the blame at the door of the g20 group of rich nations. he says they must meet the promises they've made about sharing doses with poorer countries. well, in those richer nations around 80% of health workers have been vaccinated, but globally the figure is far less, around 20%. and in africa, it's thought less than1 in 10 health workers are vaccinated. we can now speak to dr andres gomez who is a hematologist from monterrey in mexico and had to take extreme measures in order to secure a covid—19 vaccine. thank you very much for coming onto the programme. thank you for having me. how did you get your vaccine? me for having me. how did you get your vaccine ?_ your vaccine? me and my wife not a your vaccine? me and my wife got a vaccine. _ your vaccine? me and my wife got a vaccine, we _ your vaccine? me and my wife got a vaccine, we had - your vaccine? me and my wife got a vaccine, we had to - your vaccine? me and my wife got a vaccine, we had to go i your vaccine? me and my wife got a vaccine, we had to go to the us around the end of march, 2021 and there was a time when there was a lot of uncertainty regarding the date when we would have to get the shot and then again, my wife is not a physician so she was not in the plan of the national vaccination plan as family of a healthcare worker so we were fortunate enough to be able to travel to the united states and get both shots of the pfizer vaccine but that was unfortunately not available for most of my colleagues around the country, i must say. you were lucky. _ the country, i must say. you were lucky. as _ the country, i must say. you were lucky, as you _ the country, i must say. you were lucky, as you say, - the country, i must say. you were lucky, as you say, you | the country, i must say. you were lucky, as you say, you had that option. it sounds like a suboptimal approach to go to a different country stop lots of other frontline workers are not able to get the vaccine like you? able to get the vaccine like ou? ., . ., ., you? correct. so around the beginning — you? correct. so around the beginning of— you? correct. so around the beginning of this _ you? correct. so around the beginning of this year, - you? correct. so around the beginning of this year, it - you? correct. so around the | beginning of this year, it was quite a while until most of the healthcare workers were vaccinated. in fact, healthcare workers were vaccinated. infact, one healthcare workers were vaccinated. in fact, one of my trainees has just received the vaccine, hersecond trainees has just received the vaccine, her second shot, around august of this year so it was quite a while before all of us could get the shot. the s stem of us could get the shot. the system is — of us could get the shot. the system is split _ of us could get the shot. the system is split between public and private there, was it a case that the government prioritise the public sector rather than private doctors? correct. so most people in mexico are not privately insured, so around 90% of the population is treated in public centres so it makes sense that the government prioritise the public institutions, however, everybody was treating covid patients at the time and still are so it was a difficult time in a difficult climate in the country when doc is in the private sector felt slighted. —— doctors. considered as a different group of physicians than the ones in the public sector. however, one could argue, if a young person, even if you are a doctor, you should get the vaccine over an elderly individual who is arguably at higher risk of complications. it is still a controversial issue. ., ~ it is still a controversial issue. ., ,, , ., it is still a controversial issue. ., ,, issue. indeed. thank you so much for — issue. indeed. thank you so much for coming _ issue. indeed. thank you so much for coming and - issue. indeed. thank you so| much for coming and talking issue. indeed. thank you so i much for coming and talking to us. ., ~' much for coming and talking to us. ., ~ , ., much for coming and talking to us. . ~' i., ., much for coming and talking to us. . ~ i. ., ., the number of new covid infections here in the uk has surged past 50,000 — the highest daily number in three months. prime minister borisjohnson has urged people to come forward for vaccinations and booster jabs, but said the government was sticking with its plan for managing the pandemic. our health editor hugh pym has the latest. are you here for your booster? yes. the booster jab roll—out continues for priority groups, including health and care staff and older patients. it's now at the centre of the government's plan in england to combat the spread of the virus. i think the most important thing people can do now is just get that booster jab. when you get the call, get the jab. we've done about a million booster jabs already. but labour says it's not happening fast enough. the booster programme has slowed down so much that, at this rate, we're not going to complete it until spring of next year. so, the government needs to change, it needs to get a grip. at a ceramics class at an adult education centre today, there were some who in due course will be eligible for a boosterjab because of their age. they're pleased about that, but say they would like more information. i would've loved to have heard from my gp as soon as the booster�*s announced as to when i could have it. that would've been brilliant, yeah. i'm really glad the whole programme's out there. i think it'd be advisable to do, particularly as i'm out and about, you know, and like to travel. boosters can be booked online in england six months and one week after a second dose. one mp�*s complained that some constituents were struggling to get appointments, but nhs sources said the system overall was actually working pretty well. in parallel with the national system, gp practices are continuing to run vaccination clinics and centres, but some say the process of contacting people has been difficult. we're also having to just deal with the day—to—day workload, and that's huge. it's no secret the demand has gone through the roof recently. lots of evidence to support that. so, you know, we're having to work out what to prioritise, and i think that the booster prioritisation perhaps is falling down the list a bit because of what we're being asked to do. in wales, scotland and northern ireland, those eligible for boosters are being contacted by letter, text or phone call, with the programme rolled out in stages. take—up of vaccines amongst older age groups has reached close to 100%. that's what figures for first doses in england show. but amongst younger age groups, it's closer to 50%, and a lot lower for 12—15—year—olds, but that programme only began a month ago. ministers know they need to step up the campaign to get more younger people vaccinated as part of what they call the wall of defence against the virus, with pleas that if people don't come forward forjabs, restrictions in england may be required. hugh pym, bbc news. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: a big price for a big dinosaur — the fossilised remains that have sold for millions at auction. a historic moment that many of his victims have waited for for decades. the former dictator in the dock, older, slimmer. and as he sat down, obedient enough. dawn, and as the sun breaks through the piercing chill of night on the plane outside, it lights up a biblical famine now in the 20th century. the depressing conclusion, in argentina today- it is actually cheaper— to paper your walls with money. we've had controversies in the past with great britain, but as good friends, we have always found a good and lasting solution. concorde bows out in style after almost three decades in service. an aircraft that has enthralled its many admirers for so long taxis home one last time. this is bbc news, the latest headlines: buckingham palace has revealed that queen elizabeth spent wednesday night in hospital for preliminary medical checks, she's now back at windsor castle. more than 150 people have died in flooding across india and nepal, as india's military are drafted in to help rescue efforts. disagreements over the rule of law in poland have marked the opening day of the eu summit in brussels. poland has accused the european union of blackmail, following a threat to withdraw funds after polish judges declared that some eu laws were incompatible with the country's constitution. here's our europe correspondent, jessica parker. holding things together isn't always easy. they know that here in a blustery brussels. he's been urged to change course, but poland's prime minister appears largely unmoved. translation: we will not act under pressure of blackmail. l we are ready for dialogue. we don't agree with the constantly broadening range of competencies of the european union, but we will of course talk about it. warsaw, the capital. there are calls for eu funds to be withheld from poland. a legal challenge another option being considered after a recent polish court ruling was said to challenge the privacy of eu law. i am totally against the european union, and poland should commit a pole exit. it is very, very bad what is going on in england and great britain. polls suggest a large majority here are in favour of remaining in the eu. poland's prime minister has also dismissed talk of plexit. but the court ruling has been described as a challenge to the bloc�*s legal order. this comes on top of longer standing concerns. i think we have to be tough. the question is how we will get there. the independence of the polish judiciary is the key issue we have to discuss and settle. poland's governing party, they have their allies. the best economy. democracy is prevailing. what is the problem with poland? they have a lot to discuss around that table. big issues — surging energy prices, coronavirus, migration. the rule of law and what is happening in poland wasn't even an official item on the agenda, yet it still threatened to overshadow the summit. enter germany's angela merkel, advocating political dialogue over big legal battles. also acknowledging contrasting views. translation: how do countries envisage the european union? . is it ever—closer union or is it more national statehood? that is notjust a question about poland and the eu but is something discussed in other member states, too. 2005, herfirst european council as chancellor. this week is likely to be her last. disagreements over the bloc�*s direction didn't end with brexit. as she leaves the stage, the eu will have to find its way without her. jessica parker, bbc news, brussels. let's get some of the day's other news. the fbi has confirmed that human remains found in a florida wilderness park are those of brian laundrie, the partner of gabby petito, a well—known travel blogger, who was found dead in wyoming last month. mr laundrie had been missing for several weeks, after returning to florida from a cross—country trip without her. a long—time ally, and former advisor, of donald trump could face criminal prosecution for refusing to cooperate with an investigation into the us capitol riots earlier this year. the us house of representatives has now voted to hold steve bannon in contempt of congress. the matter will now be refered to the justice department. a new study suggests that the vikings established a settlement in north america exactly a thousand years ago, centuries before christopher columbus arrived in the americas. scientists say a new dating technique analysing tree rings has proved that vikings lived in newfoundland in canada, in 10 and 21 ad. this is the first time researchers have suggested an exact date. scientists are hailing a new surgical breakthrough, which could help solve the worldwide shortage of transplant organs. in the most advanced experiment of its kind, doctors successfully transplanted a genetically modified kidney from a pig into a human. jim reed reports. it's been called an astonishing step in medicine. surgeons worked for two hours attaching this pig kidney to a human patient. they say they found a way to genetically alter the organ to stop it being attacked by the body's immune system. biopsies viewed under the microscope showed no evidence of rejection. what was profound about these findings is that the pig kidney functioned just like a human kidney transplant. the patient in this case was on life support and had no brain function. she was operated on with the consent of her family. the surgeons attached to the kidney to blood vessels in her leg, maintaining it outside her body where it successfully processed waste. after three days, the new kidney was removed. the surgeons say they recognise there are real concerns about using animals in this way, but there is an acute shortage of organ donors around the world. nearly half of the patients waiting for a transplant become too sick or die before receiving one. the traditional paradigm that someone has to die for someone else to live is never going to keep up with the ever—increasing incidents of organ failure. the team in the us hope this first step may pave the way for full clinical trials, with transplants of other organs possible within a decade, though many hurdles, both scientific and ethical, will have to be cleared first. jim reed, bbc news. the fossilised remains of the largest triceratops dinosaur ever discovered have been bought for almost eight—million dollars at an auction in paris. the bbc�*s tim allman has the story. # big john. when # big john. you see him in all his when glory, # big john. you see him in all his when you see him in all his glory, the nickname makes perfect sense. a giant of the late cretaceous period and a discovery that is almost unprecedented. translation: , ., . ., , unprecedented. translation: , ., . ., translation: these auctions are absolutely rare _ translation: these auctions are absolutely rare and _ absolutely rare and exceptional. simply because the raw material is rare. we often find dinosaurfossils raw material is rare. we often find dinosaur fossils but raw material is rare. we often find dinosaurfossils but it raw material is rare. we often find dinosaur fossils but it is more difficult to find connected, complete or almost complete fossils. the remains of big john consist of more than 200 bones, around 60% of his body that had to be painstakingly reassembled by specialists in italy. translation: ., , translation: what is here? most ofthe translation: what is here? most of the vertebrae, _ translation: what is here? most of the vertebrae, the _ translation: what is here? most of the vertebrae, the lower - translation: what is here? most of the vertebrae, the lowerjaw - of the vertebrae, the lowerjaw of the vertebrae, the lowerjaw of the vertebrae, the lowerjaw of the skull and the leg bones, so it is a nightmare to reassemble because they are quite fragile and quite heavy bones at the same time. the triceratops dates back more than 65 million years, a plant eating dinosaur, one of the dominant creatures of its era. a large turnout for this auction and in at the end, big john went for a big price. almost five times the estimate. the buyer happy but wanting to keep a low profile. it has been acquired by american collector and that, in the visual, is absolutely thrilled at the idea of being able to bring a piece like this to his personal use. although these fossilised remains are now part of a private collection, the auction houses the buyer may wind them to a museum or gallery for public viewing. #big bad john. either way, big john is coming home. after what was a decidedly chilly day on thursday in most places, temperatures have been allowed to drop where night skies have been clear. but the skies certainly aren't clear everywhere — areas of cloud spilling down from the northwest, which have been producing some outbreaks of showery rain. most of us, though, starting friday in the midst of this relatively cool air, and a decidedly chilly feel in the northeast of scotland — that's where we will have some of the coldest weather through the day, some of the windiest weather, but some of the sunniest weather. for shetland, for orknay, for the north and east of the mainland. elsewhere, southwest scotland, northern ireland, england and wales starting off with large amounts of cloud, some showers — the showers becoming fewer and further between as the day wears on — and, even in these cloudy areas, there will be spells of sunshine. the winds for most will ease through the day, it will stay quite blustery up towards the northeast, temperatures for at lowick and aberdeen only getting to 8—9 celsius. but elsewhere, a slightly milder afternoon, 12—1a celsius. as we move through friday night where we keep these clear skies in eastern scotland and eastern england, it will turn really quite chilly, temperatures getting close to freezing in some spots. but out west, it will be becoming milder, windier, the wind starting to come up from the south, bringing milder air our way with a lot of cloud, mist and murk, and hill fog as this weather front begins to approach from the west. now this will introduce rain through saturday across parts of northern ireland and western scotland — ahead of it, we'll see increasing amounts of cloud, and also crucially, this southerly wind setting up, bringing some milder air. so a milder feel to the weather as we go through the weekend, but that weather front will bring outbreaks of rain from time to time across northern ireland, particularly up towards the north and the west of scotland. further south and east, quite a lot of cloud developing — it will stay mainly dry, particularly for england and wales, those winds though coming up from the south, quite a strong wind across the western side of scotland, and those temperatures will be higher by this stage — ten for lowick, 1a for glasgow, 15 for belfast and plymouth. now into sunday, we keep the southerly winds, still quite a strong wind in places. the weather front in the west breaking up into showers — so it's a mixture of sunshine and showers, really as we head through the day on sunday, byt we keep those slightly higher temperatures. values in most spots around 1a—15 celsius. this is bbc news. the headlines: buckingham palace says queen elizabeth spent wednesday night in hospital for preliminary medical investigations, after her doctors advised her to cancel a trip to northern ireland and take several days of rest. the palace said the queen had returned home to windsor castle on thursday and remained in good spirits. more than 150 people have died following several days of flooding and landslides in india and nepal. officials from the two countries said dozens were missing after torrential downpours swept away houses, roads and bridges. with heavy rainfall forecast to continue in the coming days, authorities are urging residents to stay indoors. the world health organisation says millions of health workers across the world are still unvaccinated. the head of the who says the g20 group of rich nations must meet the promises they've made about sharing doses with poorer countries. now on bbc news, it's time for click.