Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/news-wrap-biden-tours-flooding-and-storm-damage-in-california Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript Audio In our news wrap Thursday, President Biden got an up-close look at the ravages of storms that have swept California, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued an urgent appeal to Western nations today for tanks and air defense systems and more than a million people took to the streets in France blasting plans to raise the retirement age by 2 years to 64. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. Amna Nawaz: In the day's other headlines: President Biden got an up-close look at the ravages of storms that have swept California.The president and California Governor Gavin Newsom toured the seaside town of Capitola, one of the areas south of San Francisco that was hardest hit by so-called atmospheric rivers. The Federal Emergency Management Agency now estimates the storms caused at least several hundred million dollars in damage.Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued an urgent appeal to Western nations today for tanks and air defense systems. He addressed a meeting at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland via video link and said Ukraine needs tanks to take the fight to the Russians. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President (through translator): We can't get there to get the enemy. This requires a specific weapon. There is a list of countries that have it, and there is a specific list from us of what we need. Want to help, help. No dialogue. Just help. Amna Nawaz: Zelenskyy spoke as U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with Germany's new defense minister in Berlin. The two allies are pressing each other to supply tanks to Ukraine.In France, more than a million people took to the streets blasting plans to raise the retirement age by two years to 64. Striking workers and other protesters held largely peaceful rallies nationwide. But police in Paris fired tear gas after some in the crowd threw objects at them.French President Emmanuel Macron responded from a meeting in Barcelona, Spain, and vowed to proceed with the pension age change. Emmanuel Macron, French President (through translator): In countries where people live even longer and where we have strong welfare systems, when there are fewer and fewer people who are economically active and more and more who are retired, this reform needs to be carried out if you want the pact between generations to be fair. Amna Nawaz: The French government says the change would also bring billions and additional pension contributions, as workers pay into the system longer.Back in this country, Harvard University reversed itself and announced it will offer a fellowship to Kenneth Roth, former head of Human Rights Watch. Roth accepted an offer last year, but then the dean of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government rejected it. Roth said he believed his criticism of Israel was the reason. Today, the dean, Douglas Elmendorf, said his initial decision was in error.On Wall Street stocks gave more ground on disappointing data from the housing industry and manufacturing. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 252 points to close at 33044. The Nasdaq fell 104 points, or 1 percent. The S&P 500 slipped 30 points.And there's word that David Crosby, a major figure in rock music in the 1960s and '70s, Has died. He was a singer, songwriter and guitarist who co-founded two legendary bands, the Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash and YoungHere he is with that second group performing "Teach Your Children."(MUSIC) Amna Nawaz: Crosby battled drug and alcohol addiction for years, but was twice inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame. David Crosby was 81 years old.Still to come on the "NewsHour": why New Zealand's prime minister is stepping down after becoming a global symbol of female leadership; actor Alec Baldwin faces charges for a fatal shooting on a movie set; director Sarah Polley discusses the making of her new film, "Women Talking"; plus much more. Listen to this Segment Watch Watch the Full Episode PBS NewsHour from Jan 19, 2023