Rio police go to war and thousands are homeless as a result – Pope Francis asks for forgiveness for the church sex abuse scandal – Iran’s new UN ambassador can’t get past the airport in New York – And a lot more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

Rio de Janeiro Police evicted thousands of squatters from a Favela in a complex of abandoned commercial buildings, leading to violent clashes.  Cops moved in with rubber bullets, tear gas, often indiscriminately – residents fought back with rocks and Molotovs.  These are impoverished people, usually with little more than the clothes on their backs, and of course many Favela da Telerj residents were families with young children.  Where are 5,000 newly homeless people supposed to go?  Not into public housing – construction of new units is years behind the demand.

Pope Francis is asking for forgiveness for the “evil” damage to children caused by sexual abusers in the clergy.  Although the Pope has faced criticism for an apparent lack of attention to the scandal, this is the strongest statement the Pontiff has issued on the matter so far and his first public plea for forgiveness.  Last month, Pope Francis named a survivor of clergy sex abuse to a to a panel set up to deal with the issue.

US contractor Alan Gross has ended his hunger strike in a Cuban prison, apparently at the request of his 91-year old mother.  Gross was jailed for taking banned internet equipment into Cuba, including a location masking device usually associated with the CIA.  Gross denies ill-intent and blames both the Cubans for mishandling the case and the US for inaction on his behalf.

The US is denying an entry visa for Iran’s appointed Ambassador to the United Nations, effectively barring Hamid Aboutalebi from his role at the world body in New York City. Aboutalebi was part of the “student” group that took over the US embassy in 1979 and held 52 Americans hostage for more than a year.  For his part, Aboutalebi claims he was merely a translator for the students, not a hostage-taker.

Kenya has suspended five officials from the wildlife service as part of an investigation into mismanagement and poaching.  It comes as Kenya battles its reputation as a global hub for ivory smuggling, and criticism for failing to tackle poaching – at least 18 rhinos and more than 50 elephants have been killed so far this year.  The government will take over wildlife parks for at least three months as the wildlife service is reorganized. 

Oscar Pistorius returns to the witness box in a Pretoria courtroom on Monday, after another blistering examination from prosecutor Gerrie Nel.  The Olympic sprinter tripped on some details in his testimony, which prompted Nel to close in and accuse Pistorius of lying.  Judge Thokozile Masipa admonished the prosecutor for strong language.  Pistorius admits he shot his girfriend Reeva Steenkamp four times but had mistaken her for a burglar – the prosecution insists it was murder following an argument.

MH370:  Nope, not yet.

The Group of Seven is ready to increase sanctions against Russia if Moscow escalates the crisis in Ukraine.  US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew says top officials from the world’s seven leading wealthy nations discussed it at length and there is broad consensus on meeting Russian escalation with economic punishment.

The front pages of major newspapers in Myanmar were printed with black fields instead of news.  This was a protest of the one-year prison sentence handed to journalist Zaw Pe for trespassing and disturbing a civil servant while seeking an interview. On its Facebook page, the Democratic Voice of Burma newspaper has posted a black cover image with the message “Journalism is not a crime.”