WEBVTT 00:02.366 --> 00:04.766 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: In the day's other news: Twenty-eight Russian athletes who had been banned from 00:04.766 --> 00:09.433 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% the Winter Olympics for doping have now been cleared by the International Court of Arbitration 00:10.033 --> 00:11.500 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% for Sport. 00:11.500 --> 00:13.566 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% The panel ruled there was insufficient evidence. 00:13.566 --> 00:18.233 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% It also reinstated seven gold medals won by Russians at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. 00:20.700 --> 00:23.733 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% President Vladimir Putin hailed the decision as he toured a vehicle factory in Rostov-on-Don. 00:23.733 --> 00:28.333 align:left position:20%,start line:71% size:70% VLADIMIR PUTIN, Russian President (through translator): I think we have to avoid euphoria 00:28.333 --> 00:29.466 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% on our side. 00:29.466 --> 00:31.566 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% We have to take it calmly. 00:31.566 --> 00:36.033 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% We are happy for the athletes supported, but not everyone was fully cleared of charges. 00:36.033 --> 00:38.266 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% We have things to improve on our side for sure. 00:38.266 --> 00:43.166 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: Russia is still banned from the upcoming Winter Games in South Korea for 00:43.166 --> 00:45.200 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% state-sponsored doping. 00:45.200 --> 00:49.766 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% But the 28 athletes could compete, if the International Olympic Committee agrees. 00:49.766 --> 00:54.766 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% The United States charged today that Syria is still making and using chemical weapons. 00:56.766 --> 01:00.666 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Unnamed Trump administration officials made the accusation in various news accounts. 01:00.666 --> 01:05.633 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% They said it is -- quote -- "highly likely" that Syria's President Bashar al-Assad kept 01:07.466 --> 01:11.300 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% a hidden stockpile of chemical weapons after agreeing to give them up in 2013. 01:13.766 --> 01:17.533 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% The stream of Syrians and others seeking political asylum in Europe dropped last year, for the 01:18.433 --> 01:20.966 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% second year in a row. 01:20.966 --> 01:24.766 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% The European Union's asylum agency says nearly 707,000 people in all applied for the special 01:27.033 --> 01:28.033 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% status. 01:28.033 --> 01:30.300 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% That is down 43 percent. 01:30.300 --> 01:35.300 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Syrians made up the largest single group of applicants, with more than 98,000. 01:37.366 --> 01:40.800 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% In Myanmar, new evidence today that the military and Buddhist supporters massacred Rohingya 01:41.300 --> 01:43.366 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% Muslims. 01:43.366 --> 01:47.300 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% The Associated Press reports that it confirmed at least five mass graves. 01:49.300 --> 01:52.500 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Time-stamped cell phone video shows the remains of one village burned to the ground. 01:54.166 --> 01:58.400 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% Human bones were found in pools of acid used to prevent identification. 02:00.433 --> 02:03.300 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% In Seoul, South Korea today, a top U.N. official said there must be a reckoning. 02:03.300 --> 02:06.533 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% YANGHEE LEE, United Nations Special Envoy on Human Rights: Yes, I would think that these 02:06.533 --> 02:10.100 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% are part of the hallmarks of a genocide. 02:10.100 --> 02:15.100 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% I think Myanmar needs to get rid of this baggage of, did you or did you not? 02:17.900 --> 02:22.900 align:left position:20%,start line:71% size:70% And if proven that they did, then there has to be responsibility and accountability. 02:25.866 --> 02:30.866 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: Myanmar denies all claims that Rohingya Muslims have been systematically 02:31.466 --> 02:33.500 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% slaughtered. 02:33.500 --> 02:37.533 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Kenya's high court ordered today that three TV stations be allowed to broadcast again, 02:38.733 --> 02:40.800 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% but the government ignored the order. 02:40.800 --> 02:45.433 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% The stations have been shut down since they tried to air the mock inauguration of opposition 02:46.300 --> 02:48.433 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% leader Raila Odinga this week. 02:48.433 --> 02:53.433 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Odinga's supporters say President Uhuru Kenyatta rigged last year's election. 02:55.400 --> 02:58.833 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Back in this country, the State Department's top career diplomat, Tom Shannon, announced 03:00.100 --> 03:01.833 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% that he's retiring after 35 years. 03:01.833 --> 03:03.800 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% He cited personal reasons. 03:03.800 --> 03:08.800 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% His departure comes as President Trump faces criticism for not filling a number of top 03:09.533 --> 03:12.033 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% diplomatic posts. 03:12.033 --> 03:16.366 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% The Arizona Statehouse today expelled a Republican lawmaker over allegations of sexual harassment. 03:18.466 --> 03:22.966 align:left position:20%,start line:71% size:70% Don Shooter is believed to be the first state lawmaker to be dismissed since the MeToo movement 03:25.033 --> 03:26.700 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% began. 03:26.700 --> 03:30.333 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% Others have resigned or been stripped of leadership positions. 03:30.333 --> 03:35.333 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% And on Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average gained 37 points to close at 26186. 03:37.133 --> 03:42.133 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% The Nasdaq fell 25 points, and the S&P 500 lost almost two points.