BBC News with David Austin.

Jordan says the loss of one of its fighter air crafts over territory controlled by the Islamic State militants will not deter its forces from fighting terro. Muhammadan Almamany is the spokesman for the government in Amam.

We said right from the beginning that this is going to be a continuous and long war. And we think that we have the duty to defend our country and our region, so Jordan will continue its fight against terrorism and we know that we will win at the end because this is the right thing to do and this is for the sake of our security and stability.

Islamic State fighters in Syria announced the capture of a Jordanian pilot, said they shot down his aircraft with a heat seeking missile. The US military dismissed the claim without offering an explanation of why it came down.

In a gesture of support for Iraqi Christian on Christmas Eve, Pope Francis has made a public broadcaster phone call to refugees in Iraqi Kurdistan who have fled Islamic State militants. In a telephone conversation with a local pray shown live on an Italian television, Pope Francis told Christians in a refugee center near Elbill that he was praying for them.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif says he secured the agreement of major political parties to set up military courts to trail terrorism suspects. The move follows an attack by Taliban militants last week on a shool in Parshar in which more than 140 children and their teachers were killed. Senjay Duscouper reports.

Reports from Pakistan said agreement was reached after intensive negotiations at the Prime Minister’s home in Islamabad in which most of the country’s main stream political parties were presented. Announcing the move, Mr. Sharif leaked few details but said changes to current laws would be to be made. The main opposition, Pakistan People’s party which earlier expressed preservations. The main opposition Pakistan people's party which earlier express preservations gave its backing for the proposal. Another leader, the quick detained politician, Imbrandcum said his party would support all the steps aimed at controlling terrorism. The Pakistani government has already ended a moratorium on the death penalty, resetting it for terror-related cases.

Sanjoy does good to reporting.

The authorities at the suburb of US city of St. Louis have defended the action of a white police officer who shot dead a black teenager, close to the scene of the fatal shooting in August. Police in Berkley told reporters, the 18-year old, Antonia Martin pointed a loaded gun at the officer. The mayor, Therdor Husgins said the social circumstances were different from the ones in nearby Fuguson where a white policeman shot dead the unarmed black teenager, Michael Brown.

First of all, we have as many as black officers in that city. the mayor is black. City manager is black. The finance director is black. The police chief is black. And in the city 85% is black. We have pretty much majority support. And that’s why I believe that we are different from the city of Fuguson.

World News from the BBC.

Sony Pictures has announced that its controversial comedy about a fictional plot to kill North Korea’s leader will be available online in the United States from today. The company said it had chosen the the path of digital distribution to allow as many people as possible to watch the movie, called the Interview.

On Tuesday, Sony announced that a number of cinemas in the country would screen the film, reversing a previous decision to scrap its release because of threats by hackers.

The World Health Organization says more than 7500 people have died from the Ebola epidemic in west Africa. There had been more than 19000 cases. In its latest reports, the WHO warns that the virus is still spreading intensely in Sirra Leon.

Kenya’s new Interior Minister has defended the country’s controversial new anti-terrorism legislation. Joseph Nkaissery took over from a precious minister who was sacked last month. Speaking after being sworn in, Mr. Nkaissery said the law would help combat the Islamic group al-Shabab.

The new and existing security legislations, measures offer us a // to secure the basic right guaranteed in our constitution, namely our right to life and protection of poverty. It’s not a direct law abiding citizens, but terrorists, they are agents and criminals who seek to Amas. The new law, aliening existing laws and sewing loopholes in the security sector. I have no doubt that it will allow us seize greatly in the protection of Kenyans in Kenya. Josseff Nkaissery.

The Russian president Vladmir Putin has ordered his government to cap rising Vodka prices. Mr. Putin told a meeting with the governmental officials and regional governors that expensive alcohol encourages the production of bootleg spirits which carried risks to public health. The minimum price of half a bottle of Vodka has gone up by 30% in Russia this year.

And those are the latest stories from BBC News.