1 00:00:02,366 --> 00:00:04,766 JUDY WOODRUFF: In the day's other news: Twenty-eight Russian athletes who had been banned from 2 00:00:04,766 --> 00:00:09,433 the Winter Olympics for doping have now been cleared by the International Court of Arbitration 3 00:00:10,033 --> 00:00:11,500 for Sport. 4 00:00:11,500 --> 00:00:13,566 The panel ruled there was insufficient evidence. 5 00:00:13,566 --> 00:00:18,233 It also reinstated seven gold medals won by Russians at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. 6 00:00:20,700 --> 00:00:23,733 President Vladimir Putin hailed the decision as he toured a vehicle factory in Rostov-on-Don. 7 00:00:23,733 --> 00:00:28,333 VLADIMIR PUTIN, Russian President (through translator): I think we have to avoid euphoria 8 00:00:28,333 --> 00:00:29,466 on our side. 9 00:00:29,466 --> 00:00:31,566 We have to take it calmly. 10 00:00:31,566 --> 00:00:36,033 We are happy for the athletes supported, but not everyone was fully cleared of charges. 11 00:00:36,033 --> 00:00:38,266 We have things to improve on our side for sure. 12 00:00:38,266 --> 00:00:43,166 JUDY WOODRUFF: Russia is still banned from the upcoming Winter Games in South Korea for 13 00:00:43,166 --> 00:00:45,200 state-sponsored doping. 14 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:49,766 But the 28 athletes could compete, if the International Olympic Committee agrees. 15 00:00:49,766 --> 00:00:54,766 The United States charged today that Syria is still making and using chemical weapons. 16 00:00:56,766 --> 00:01:00,666 Unnamed Trump administration officials made the accusation in various news accounts. 17 00:01:00,666 --> 00:01:05,633 They said it is -- quote -- "highly likely" that Syria's President Bashar al-Assad kept 18 00:01:07,466 --> 00:01:11,300 a hidden stockpile of chemical weapons after agreeing to give them up in 2013. 19 00:01:13,766 --> 00:01:17,533 The stream of Syrians and others seeking political asylum in Europe dropped last year, for the 20 00:01:18,433 --> 00:01:20,966 second year in a row. 21 00:01:20,966 --> 00:01:24,766 The European Union's asylum agency says nearly 707,000 people in all applied for the special 22 00:01:27,033 --> 00:01:28,033 status. 23 00:01:28,033 --> 00:01:30,300 That is down 43 percent. 24 00:01:30,300 --> 00:01:35,300 Syrians made up the largest single group of applicants, with more than 98,000. 25 00:01:37,366 --> 00:01:40,800 In Myanmar, new evidence today that the military and Buddhist supporters massacred Rohingya 26 00:01:41,300 --> 00:01:43,366 Muslims. 27 00:01:43,366 --> 00:01:47,300 The Associated Press reports that it confirmed at least five mass graves. 28 00:01:49,300 --> 00:01:52,500 Time-stamped cell phone video shows the remains of one village burned to the ground. 29 00:01:54,166 --> 00:01:58,400 Human bones were found in pools of acid used to prevent identification. 30 00:02:00,433 --> 00:02:03,300 In Seoul, South Korea today, a top U.N. official said there must be a reckoning. 31 00:02:03,300 --> 00:02:06,533 YANGHEE LEE, United Nations Special Envoy on Human Rights: Yes, I would think that these 32 00:02:06,533 --> 00:02:10,100 are part of the hallmarks of a genocide. 33 00:02:10,100 --> 00:02:15,100 I think Myanmar needs to get rid of this baggage of, did you or did you not? 34 00:02:17,900 --> 00:02:22,900 And if proven that they did, then there has to be responsibility and accountability. 35 00:02:25,866 --> 00:02:30,866 JUDY WOODRUFF: Myanmar denies all claims that Rohingya Muslims have been systematically 36 00:02:31,466 --> 00:02:33,500 slaughtered. 37 00:02:33,500 --> 00:02:37,533 Kenya's high court ordered today that three TV stations be allowed to broadcast again, 38 00:02:38,733 --> 00:02:40,800 but the government ignored the order. 39 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:45,433 The stations have been shut down since they tried to air the mock inauguration of opposition 40 00:02:46,300 --> 00:02:48,433 leader Raila Odinga this week. 41 00:02:48,433 --> 00:02:53,433 Odinga's supporters say President Uhuru Kenyatta rigged last year's election. 42 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:58,833 Back in this country, the State Department's top career diplomat, Tom Shannon, announced 43 00:03:00,100 --> 00:03:01,833 that he's retiring after 35 years. 44 00:03:01,833 --> 00:03:03,800 He cited personal reasons. 45 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:08,800 His departure comes as President Trump faces criticism for not filling a number of top 46 00:03:09,533 --> 00:03:12,033 diplomatic posts. 47 00:03:12,033 --> 00:03:16,366 The Arizona Statehouse today expelled a Republican lawmaker over allegations of sexual harassment. 48 00:03:18,466 --> 00:03:22,966 Don Shooter is believed to be the first state lawmaker to be dismissed since the MeToo movement 49 00:03:25,033 --> 00:03:26,700 began. 50 00:03:26,700 --> 00:03:30,333 Others have resigned or been stripped of leadership positions. 51 00:03:30,333 --> 00:03:35,333 And on Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average gained 37 points to close at 26186. 52 00:03:37,133 --> 00:03:42,133 The Nasdaq fell 25 points, and the S&P 500 lost almost two points.