The Brief

Pope Francis (C) attend a farewell ceremony with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto (C-R) and First Lady Angelica Rivera (not seen) at the Abraham Gonzalez International Airport in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016.
Anadolu Agency—Getty Images

The Pope vs. The Donald

Pope Francis’ war of words with Donald Trump has injected immigration into the presidential campaign anew, but his critique holds weight as Republicans try to position themselves as the candidate Christians should support, TIME's Elizabeth Dias writes

Apple sells its new Iphone 6S in Japan

Facebook, Twitter Join Apple in FBI Encryption Fight

More tech giants are flocking to support Apple in its fight against a court order that it hack into a mass shooter’s phone. On Tuesday, a California judged ordered that Apple help the FBI in an investigation of the San Bernardino shooting

Summit on Brexit

Britain's Demands Stoke Anger at E.U. Summit

The U.K.’s quest for a shift in its relationship with the E.U. is likely to pass its first major hurdle at the end of a two-day summit of European leaders. British Prime Minister David Cameron said he would walk away if a “good deal” was not secured

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo (SS2), the world's first commercial spaceline, lands at Moojave airp

Virgin Galactic to Launch New Space Tourism Craft

Virgin Galactic will roll out a new version of its SpaceShipTwo space tourism rocket Friday as it prepares to return to flight testing for the first time since a 2014 accident destroyed the original, killed one of its pilots and set back the nascent industry

Poll: Sanders Cuts Further Into Clinton's Lead

Bernie Sanders closed in on Hillary Clinton's lead after the first two voting contests of the year, according to a new national poll, but Clinton still maintains a double-digit advantage over the Vermont Senator

Lab Testing & Fumigation Operations As Guatemala Fights Spread Of Zika Virus

Zika Linked to Paralysis Disorder in U.S

Two confirmed U.S. cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a condition that can eventually result in temporary paralysis, have been linked to the Zika virus, U.S. health authorities tell TIME. Like microcephaly, the link between GBS and Zika appears strong, but is it not yet confirmed

Ethan Couch

'Affluenza' Teen's Case Could Move to Adult Court

A Texas teenager who used an "affluenza" defense in a fatal drunken-driving wreck is set to appear in court for a hearing over whether his case should be transferred to the adult system. Eighteen-year-old Ethan Couch is due in court Friday in Fort Worth

Bond 24 - Photocall

James Bond's Aston Martin Sells for $3.5 Million

An Aston Martin sports car made for the James Bond film Spectre has sold in London for the equivalent of $3.5 million. The Aston Martin DB10 was among more than 20 items from the movie listed in a Christie's auction

Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) (2nd L) campaigns with (L-R) Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC), Governor Nikki Haley, and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) during an event February 18, 2016, in Greenville, South Carolina.

Rubio Endorsement Rally Shows More Diverse GOP

At endorsement rally for Marco Rubio, Nikki Haley, South Carolina's Indian-American governor, compared the GOP to "a Benetton commercial" as she stood next to the Cuban-American Senator from Florida and Tim Scott, a black U.S. Senator from the Palmetto State

In this photo provided by Turkey's Islamic aid group of IHH, Syrians fleeing the conflict in Azaz region walk at the Bab al-Salam border gate, Syria, Feb. 5, 2016.

Syrian Refugees Trapped Between Turkey and Assad

The Russian-backed offensive has upended the already chaotic geopolitical calculus in northern Syria, producing a multipolar showdown between an array of local and international actors. The fighting has pushed even more Syrians from their homes

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100 Dismembered Bodies Found Beneath Colombian Prison

At least 100 butchered bodies have been discovered in a sewer that runs beneath a major prison in Colombia's capital Bogotá, prompting an investigation into a possible epidemic of extrajudicial brutality across the country's notoriously violent jails

Hate Your Cable Box? The FCC Is on Your Side

The FCC voted 3-2 on Thursday to go forward with a proposal that would open up the set-top box business to outside players. It’s not a firm decision at this point; it’s more of a statement of intention—but the FCC appears determined to press on