The Queen will use her Christmas message to pay tribute to medical staff who have volunteered to fight Ebola in west Africa, saying she has been "deeply touched" by their "selflessness".
Dozens of British doctors and nurses have travelled to countries like Sierra Leone to help combat the deadly epidemic.
In her Christmas message, which will be broadcast at 3pm, the Queen will say: "I have been deeply touched this year by the selflessness of aid workers and medical volunteers who have gone abroad to help victims of conflict or of diseases like Ebola, often at great personal risk."
The theme of this year's message is reconciliation and on the 100th anniversary of the Christmas Day truce in the World War One trenches, the Queen also touches on how she felt visiting the ceramic poppies at the Tower of London.
The monarch and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the installation by artist Paul Cummins in October.
She said: "The ceramic poppies at the Tower of London drew millions and the only possible reaction to walking among them was silence.
"For every poppy, a life - and a reminder of the grief of loved ones left behind."
A total of 888,246 ceramic poppies were planted in the moat at the Tower, one for each British and Commonwealth death.
The Queen recorded her message sitting next to a table featuring separate photographs of her grandparents, King George V and Queen Mary.
Also present is an embossed box similar to those sent to soldiers on the frontline in 1914.
The Queen made her first Christmas broadcast in 1952, live on the radio from her study at Sandringham.
Her first televised message came five years later and she has only missed one year, 1969, when she decided the royals had featured enough on TV after an unprecedented documentary.
Written By Unknown on Selasa, 23 Desember 2014 | 15.00
Police in Glasgow are investigating why a bin lorry crashed into a crowd of Christmas shoppers in the city centre killing six people.
The truck mounted the pavement outside the Gallery of Modern Art - hitting a group of people waiting to cross the road - carrying on for another 300 metres until it crashed into the Millennium Hotel.
The driver, who was said to be lucid when the vehicle finally stopped, was taken to hospital after the tragedy and it is believed he may have fallen ill at the wheel.
"We heard from eyewitnesses saying he wasn't looking around as the lorry was going across the pavement. He appeared to be slumped over the wheel," Sky's Gerard Tubb, reporting from Glasgow, said.
Seven other people are also being treated for their injuries in three hospitals in Glasgow.
Video:Aftermath Of The Crash
Chief Inspector Mark Sutherland from Police Scotland said on Monday night: "We are currently working with our other agencies to establish exactly what happened.
"It's important that we do a thorough investigation to establish the full circumstances.
"It's important that we take all the necessary steps to do it as quickly as we can so that we get the answers for the families and get their loved ones back to them as quick as we can."
Video:Witness: Lorry Knocked People Down
Police Scotland has appealed to anyone who has photos or videos of the incident to send it to them at georgesquareincident@scotland.pnn.police.uk.
Roads around George Square, which was packed at the time of the accident, remain closed.
A large cordon remains in place and dozens of floral tributes have been placed at the scene.
1/11
Gallery: Images From The Devastating Scene In Glasgow After Bin Lorry Crash
The lorry crashed into the Millennium Hotel at the top of Queen Street in the city centre
One police officer said it first mounted the pavement 300 metres down the street
North Korea's limited internet service collapsed for more than nine hours just days after the US vowed to retaliate for a cyber-attack on Sony, which has been blamed on the reclusive state.
A US-based analyst said all internet went down after a period of instability over the weekend before links were eventually restored.
"For the past 24 hours North Korea's connectivity to the outside world has been progressively getting degraded to the point now that they are totally offline," said Doug Madory, director of internet analysis at Dyn Research.
"There's either a benign explanation - their routers are perhaps having a software glitch; that's possible. It also seems possible that somebody can be directing some sort of an attack against them and they're having trouble staying online."
Sony pulled The Interview - a comedy about the assassination of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Un - after hackers threatened showings of the movie.
Video:N Korea Currency Is 'Worthless'
The group, calling itself Guardians of Peace, had already leaked five unreleased films, the script of the next James Bond movie, embarrassing email exchanges between executives and private individuals' data after attacking Sony's systems.
Pyongyang has repeatedly denied any role in the attack but said it could have been carried out by the country's supporters.
But the FBI blamed North Korea for the devastating attack on the media giant and President Barack Obama said the US would respond "in a place and time and manner that we choose".
State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said she could not confirm North Korea had been the target of a cyber-attack.
Video:Doubts Raised Over Hacking Claims
"We aren't going to discuss ... publicly, operational details about the possible response options or comment on those kind of reports in anyway except to say that as we implement our responses, some will be seen, some may not be seen," she said.
However, Ms Harf did respond to Pyongyang's calls for a joint investigation into the attack, saying: "If they want to help here they could admit their culpability and compensate Sony for the damages that they caused."
The internet is only available to trusted government officials in North Korea and its main web presence is through its Uriminzokkiri website, which has Twitter and Flickr feeds best known for sharing propaganda videos attacking the US and South Korea.
Mr Madory said the internet connection had historically been stable, but had come under attack in the past.
1/19
Gallery: Sky News On China's North Korea Border
Sky News has filmed rare pictures across the Chinese border into North Korea. The images demonstrate the poverty inside the country and the degree to which China cooperates with its old ally
At the border town of Ji'an only a narrow river separates China with North Korea
Written By Unknown on Senin, 22 Desember 2014 | 15.00
New York Cop Killer's Chilling Warning Revealed
We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.
Video:Two New York Cops 'Assassinated'
The gunman who shot dead two New York City police officers told passers-by to "watch what I'm going to do", moments before the attack.
Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said witnesses recall Ismaaiyl Brinsley asking them to follow him on Instagram, before making the chilling warning.
Instagram posts attributed to Brinsley, 28, have been described as "very anti-police".
Brinsley shot the officers in the head before turning the gun on himself
One appears to threaten to carry out an attack in retaliation for the death of Eric Garner, who was killed in a New York officer's chokehold, sparking weeks of mass protests.
Part of the caption read: "I'm Putting Wings On Pigs Today. They Take 1 Of Ours ... Let's Take 2 of Theirs."
1/8
Gallery: New York Vigil For Dead Police Officers
Mourners have taken part in a prayer vigil at the location where two NYPD cops who were shot in the head in their squad car in Brooklyn
]]>
Police officers lined up to pay their respects to Liu Wenjin, 32, and Raphael Ramos, 40
]]>
Lucy Ramos, the aunt of Mr Ramos, paid tribute to the officers during a press conference at the vigil
]]>
Click through for more images
]]>
Eric Garner's family have condemned the killings, denouncing revenge attacks.
Joined by civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton, Mr Garner's mother Gwen Carr told reporters: "I'm standing here in sorrow about losing those two police officers, that was definitely not our agenda.
"We want you to not use Eric Garner's name for violence, because we are not about that."
A candlelight vigil was held for the two dead police officers on Sunday, a day after they were ambushed in their squad car while on patrol in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighbourhood of Brooklyn.
They have been named as 32-year-old Liu Wenjin and 40-year-old Raphael Ramos.
Police have said Brinsley shot the pair in the head with "no warning, no provocation".
1/6
Gallery: Everything We Know Following The Shooting Of Two Officers
Officers Liu Wenjin, 32, and Raphael Ramos, 40, were shot dead as they sat in their parked patrol car
The suspect, named as Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28, used a silver semi-automatic handgun. It is believed Brinsley had shot and seriously injured his ex-girlfriend earlier on Saturday
]]>
"They were quite simply assassinated," Police Commissioner William Bratton said.
Brinsley then ran inside a subway station and fatally shot himself in the head as responding officers pursued him.
Details have now emerged surrounding his long criminal record and apparent history of mental instability.
Brinsley shot and seriously injured his ex-girlfriend in Baltimore, Maryland, shortly before travelling to New York to carry out Saturday's attack.
He had at least 19 arrests in Georgia and Ohio and had spent two years in prison for gun possession.
Police said Brinsley's mother believed he had been suffering from an undiagnosed mental illness.
1/13
Gallery: Archive: Protests After Eric Garner Grand Jury Decision
Protesters took to the streets after a grand jury decided not to charge a white policeman over the chokehold death of an unarmed black man
]]>
He also reportedly tried to kill himself last year.
The killings have sparked fears of further revenge attacks amid heightened nationwide tensions over the deaths of Mr Garner and another black male at the hands of white police officers.
The unarmed teen Michael Brown was shot dead in Ferguson, Missouri, back in August.
Decisions by US grand juries to not charge either of the officers involved triggered widespread protests.
New York police officers have been told to take extra backup when responding to radio calls and have been urged to wear bulletproof vests when out on the street.
On Sunday a police officer in Florida was shot and killed in what is believed to have been an unrelated incident.
Recommended by Outbrain Recommended by Outbrain
Top Stories
DNA Study To Put UK At 'Forefront Of Science'
Breaking News: One Man Killed In City Centre Shooting
Actress Billie Whitelaw Dies Aged 82
OPEC's Dominance Of Energy Market 'Is Over'
US Families Prepare For 'Modern Day Apocalypse'
New York Cop Killer's Chilling Warning Revealed
We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.
Video:Two New York Cops 'Assassinated'
The gunman who shot dead two New York City police officers told passers-by to "watch what I'm going to do", moments before the attack.
Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said witnesses recall Ismaaiyl Brinsley asking them to follow him on Instagram, before making the chilling warning.
Instagram posts attributed to Brinsley, 28, have been described as "very anti-police".
Brinsley shot the officers in the head before turning the gun on himself
One appears to threaten to carry out an attack in retaliation for the death of Eric Garner, who was killed in a New York officer's chokehold, sparking weeks of mass protests.
Part of the caption read: "I'm Putting Wings On Pigs Today. They Take 1 Of Ours ... Let's Take 2 of Theirs."
1/8
Gallery: New York Vigil For Dead Police Officers
Mourners have taken part in a prayer vigil at the location where two NYPD cops who were shot in the head in their squad car in Brooklyn
]]>
Police officers lined up to pay their respects to Liu Wenjin, 32, and Raphael Ramos, 40
]]>
Lucy Ramos, the aunt of Mr Ramos, paid tribute to the officers during a press conference at the vigil
]]>
Click through for more images
]]>
Eric Garner's family have condemned the killings, denouncing revenge attacks.
Joined by civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton, Mr Garner's mother Gwen Carr told reporters: "I'm standing here in sorrow about losing those two police officers, that was definitely not our agenda.
"We want you to not use Eric Garner's name for violence, because we are not about that."
A candlelight vigil was held for the two dead police officers on Sunday, a day after they were ambushed in their squad car while on patrol in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighbourhood of Brooklyn.
They have been named as 32-year-old Liu Wenjin and 40-year-old Raphael Ramos.
Police have said Brinsley shot the pair in the head with "no warning, no provocation".
1/6
Gallery: Everything We Know Following The Shooting Of Two Officers
Officers Liu Wenjin, 32, and Raphael Ramos, 40, were shot dead as they sat in their parked patrol car
The suspect, named as Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28, used a silver semi-automatic handgun. It is believed Brinsley had shot and seriously injured his ex-girlfriend earlier on Saturday
]]>
"They were quite simply assassinated," Police Commissioner William Bratton said.
Brinsley then ran inside a subway station and fatally shot himself in the head as responding officers pursued him.
Details have now emerged surrounding his long criminal record and apparent history of mental instability.
Brinsley shot and seriously injured his ex-girlfriend in Baltimore, Maryland, shortly before travelling to New York to carry out Saturday's attack.
He had at least 19 arrests in Georgia and Ohio and had spent two years in prison for gun possession.
Police said Brinsley's mother believed he had been suffering from an undiagnosed mental illness.
1/13
Gallery: Archive: Protests After Eric Garner Grand Jury Decision
Protesters took to the streets after a grand jury decided not to charge a white policeman over the chokehold death of an unarmed black man
]]>
He also reportedly tried to kill himself last year.
The killings have sparked fears of further revenge attacks amid heightened nationwide tensions over the deaths of Mr Garner and another black male at the hands of white police officers.
The unarmed teen Michael Brown was shot dead in Ferguson, Missouri, back in August.
Decisions by US grand juries to not charge either of the officers involved triggered widespread protests.
New York police officers have been told to take extra backup when responding to radio calls and have been urged to wear bulletproof vests when out on the street.
On Sunday a police officer in Florida was shot and killed in what is believed to have been an unrelated incident.
Recommended by Outbrain Recommended by Outbrain
Top Stories
DNA Study To Put UK At 'Forefront Of Science'
Breaking News: One Man Killed In City Centre Shooting
The diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases and cancer could be transformed by an ambitious project that will see 100,000 complete sets of people's genes decoded.
Eleven Genomic Medicine Centres (GMCs) across England will begin work in February to collect and map the samples over a three-year period.
The initiative, known as the 100,000 Genomes Project, will help scientists and doctors understand more about specific conditions such as the rare genetic illness cystinosis, which left 24-year-old Christopher Melville needing a kidney transplant when he was just 10.
"I'm excited," he said. "Obviously the more knowledge we have, the more understanding we have of how to treat people. It leads to better development, better research and better treatment."
Christopher Melville has a rare genetic illness called cystinosis
Samples will be taken from people like Christopher and also their parents, while cancer patients will provide both blood and tumour tissue as part of the research.
Professor Dion Morton, who will run the West Midlands GMC, based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, described the work as "transformational", adding that not long ago it took eight years to decode a single person's genome.
Video:Project To Make UK Genetics Leader
"It's going to change the way we practice medicine (and) it's going to give us opportunities to bring new medicines to our patients.
"Historically medicine's been delivered to groups of patients with similar conditions and now we can start subdividing those groups into the exact genetic code that is really causing that condition, so target the treatment of that code and hopefully make treatment safer, more effective."
NHS England's medical director, Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, said the project was an achievable ambition "which positions Britain to unlock long-standing mysteries of disease on behalf of mankind".
Video:Home DNA Test Goes On Sale
"Embracing genomics will position us at the forefront of science and make the NHS the most scientifically-advanced healthcare system in the world," he added.
A total of 75,000 people will take part in the project.
Christopher's mother, Julie Melville, is delighted the project is about to begin.
Video:On-The-Spot DNA Testing
"It feels like finally somebody is sitting up and taking note that this rare disease exists," she said.
Her hope is that gene therapy could eventually mean a cure for cystinosis sufferers like her son - one of 150 people in the UK with the disease.
It is estimated new diagnostic tests and drugs could be available as a result of the work within 15 years.
Written By Unknown on Minggu, 21 Desember 2014 | 15.00
A woman has been charged with the murder of eight children at a house in Cairns, northern Australia, police have said.
Mersane Warria, 37, is the mother of seven of the children, who had all been found stabbed to death. The eighth child was her niece.
The youngsters - four girls and four boys - were aged between two and 14 years, police said.
Warria was formally charged following a bedside hearing at Cairns Base Hospital where she appeared before a magistrate.
She remains under police guard in the hospital.
The children were found dead on Friday
Officers were called to the home in the suburb of Manoora on Friday morning after reports of a woman suffering from stab wounds.
The children's bodies were discovered during a search of the house.
Police have not said how the children died, but Queensland Police Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar said they are examining several knives in the home that may have been the weapon used to kill them.
Suffocation was also a possible cause of death.
Det Ins Asnicar said: "We are considering that and that's why it's taking a bit of time.
"It could be a range of things, from suffocation to 1,000 other things."
Police are not looking for any other suspects.
Residents have held a church service, candlelit vigil and laid flowers and toys for the children outside the home.
The family were members of the Torres Strait Islander community, a group of indigenous Australians viewed as distinct from the broader Aboriginal community due to their origins on islands off the Queensland coast.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott described the deaths as "heartbreaking".
He added: "All parents would feel a gut-wrenching sadness at what has happened. This is an unspeakable crime.
"These are trying days for our country."
The deaths came as Australia was reeling from a deadly siege in a Sydney cafe.
