Newsweek is reporting that the U.S. and Iran exchanged fresh missile and drone strikes on Wednesday. It said Iranian drones struck Kuwait’s airport, causing significant damage and injuring dozens, according to Kuwait’s military. President Donald Trump confirmed to Newsweek that he called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "f****** crazy" in a recent conversation, stating he was "a little bit perturbed" that Israel’s fighting with Hezbollah in Lebanon was hindering U.S.-led efforts to revive peace talks with Iran.In California, Newsweek said police reported a man who held 10 hostages inside a Bakersfield bank building was shot and killed by FBI agents.Regarding California politics, Newsweek is monitoring ongoing ballot counts. It said Republican Steve Hilton is currently leading the gubernatorial race, followed by Xavier Becerra. In the Los Angeles mayoral race, incumbent Karen Bass has advanced to the November runoff, with former reality TV star Spencer Pratt currently in second place.Newsweek also reported on veteran journalist Scott Pelley's statement after being fired from "60 Minutes." Pelley said the leadership is "no longer recognizable" and that "The principles I hold dear are gone, and so I must leave as well."On health, Newsweek is reporting that a newer COVID-19 "Cicada" variant is spreading across the U.S. Experts told Newsweek that federal funding cuts for a major infectious disease surveillance program could threaten public health responses, highlighting the need for monitoring systems.Newsweek also noted that Ukrainian drone strikes hit an oil facility in St. Petersburg, Russia, as a major international conference, "Putin’s Davos," began.Economists told Newsweek that despite persistent fears, a full-scale housing crash remains unlikely in 2026, with "continued gradual price softening" being the more probable outcome.
