World News Update, what you need to know

Pope Francis has assailed Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's views on US immigration as "not Christian", prompting the billionaire businessman to reprimand the religious leader as "disgraceful" for questioning his faith.

ELSEWHERE

BRUSSELS - Prime Minister David Cameron says that hard work and goodwill should help him to clinch a deal at a European Union summit, described by leaders of the 28-nation bloc as the best chance of preventing Britain leaving.

BAGHDAD, Feb 18 DPA - An Iraqi court sentenced to death 40 men for their role in the massacre of hundreds of army recruits by the Islamic State extremist group in the summer of 2014.

MUMBAI - Indian phone maker Ringing Bells launched a $US5 smartphone, with huge customer demand promptly crashing the little-known company's website hours after the phone went on sale.

WARSAW - Recently seized documents show that Poland's former president and Solidarity founder Lech Walesa was a paid informant for the Communist-era secret security service from 1970-76, the head of Poland's history institute says.

GENEVA - The UN plans to make its first air drops of food aid in Syria, to Deir al-Zor, a town of 200,000 besieged by Islamic State militants, the chair of a UN humanitarian task force says.

WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama has announced a historic visit to Cuba next month, the first US presidential trip to the country in nearly 90 years and a dramatic symbol of the thaw in hostilities between the former Cold War foes.