The Iraqi Kurdistan region’s counter-terrorism service said on Tuesday that drones which struck a civilian home in Erbil overnight, killing a couple, were launched from Iran.
In a statement issued early on Tuesday, the agency said the one-way attack drones targeting Erbil had taken off from inside Iranian territory.
The presidency of the Kurdistan region called on the Iraqi federal government to take responsibility to prevent such attacks and stop what it described as repeated violations against the region and its civilians.
The governor of Erbil said multiple drones and missiles were fired toward the city overnight.
He said the deaths of the couple brought the total number of people killed in attacks on the Kurdistan region since Feb. 28 to 16.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Tuesday that they struck a petrochemical facility in the Iranian city of Shiraz, claiming that it is "one of the few remaining complexes" making chemical components for explosives and ballistic missiles in the country.
The IDF said the attack was carried out yesterday as part of an "extensive strike mission." In addition, the Israeli military said it hit a ballistic missile array in northwestern Iran, which was used to launch rockets toward Israel.
Stocks of leading healthcare companies jumped more than 10% on April 6 after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a 2.48% rate increase for private insurers in 2027.
Other stocks that are up 10% or more on news of the new Medicare rate increase include UnitedHealth Group UNH +1.48% ▲ , CVS Health CVS -0.29% ▼ and Elevance Health ELV +0.62% ▲ . The final rate represents a meaningful improvement over the initial rates the agency proposed in January of this year.
Sanofi’s lunsekimig met primary and key secondary endpoints in phase 2 respiratory studies in asthma and CRSwNP
The AIRCULES phase 2b study achieved its primary and key secondary endpoints in moderate-to-severe asthma regardless of biomarker status
The DUET phase 2a study met its primary and key secondary endpoints in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, reinforcing lunsekimig’s potential as a respiratory treatment
The exploratory VELVET phase 2b study did not meet its primary endpoint in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) called on Iranian civilians to stay away from the railway infrastructure on Tuesday.
In a post on social media, the Israeli military told people in Iran that they should avoid using trains or being near railways, as this could put their lives at risk.
The IDF said that the danger will last until 9 pm local time.
India is set to import the most oil from Venezuela in almost six years, helping the world’s third-largest crude importer replace Middle East grades disrupted by the Iran war.
More than 12 million barrels are headed to India’s west coast this month from the South American producer, the most since February 2020, according to data from Kpler. The April-arriving cargoes were likely secured before the recent disruptions in supplies from the Middle East, underscoring a longer-term strategic shift rather than a purely reactive move, said Sumit Ritolia, a lead research analyst at the data intelligence firm.
A new handheld coil gun developed in China is designed for discreet, non-lethal use, including law enforcement operations, state broadcaster CCTV reported. Capable of firing between 1,000 and 2,000 rounds per minute, the weapon can penetrate wooden boards from distances of several dozen yards. Its adjustable power settings allow it to incapacitate rather than kill when set lower.
The compact electromagnetic launcher features a 12-inch barrel and is light enough to be comfortably held and operated with one hand, allowing for greater mobility and ease of use in tight or urban environments where traditional firearms or larger coil guns would be cumbersome.
Equipped with a laser pointer for improved accuracy, the device – also called a Gauss gun – uses electromagnetic coils to accelerate metal projectiles at high speeds, miniaturizing technology previously limited to larger military systems.
Merging stealth and increased destructive power
The latest Chinese handheld coil gun offers a stealthy alternative to traditional firearms, producing no muzzle flash or smoke, minimal noise, and no ejected shell casings. These features make it particularly suited for covert operations, according to Chinese media.
The showcased model represents an upgrade from last year’s test version, featuring a slightly longer barrel and the ability to fire larger, heavier projectiles. While its rate of fire is somewhat slower, the weapon delivers significantly greater kinetic energy and destructive force, increasing its impact per shot, the South China Morning Postreported.
The weapon is equipped with an electronic display that provides real-time information on battery life, ammunition count, and firing modes. Operators can adjust the electric current to control output power, allowing them to vary projectile speed depending on the target’s distance and situational conditions.
This feature enables the coil gun to deliver precise, controlled force, allowing operators to tailor each shot to the situation. By adjusting power and projectile speed, the weapon can incapacitate or deter targets effectively while significantly reducing the risk of fatal injury, making it suitable for law enforcement, crowd control, or other scenarios where non-lethal force is preferred.
Portable coil gun could supplement traditional firearms
The coil gun’s design places a detachable magazine behind its centrally positioned grip, allowing the electromagnetic coils to run the full length of the chassis. This layout maximizes projectile acceleration while keeping the weapon compact and easy to handle.
Currently, the portable device is intended mainly for specialised non-lethal scenarios, limited by battery output. However, as battery technology advances, the weapon could see broader applications, potentially supplementing or even replacing traditional firearms in certain combat situations, offering a new form of precision, low-visibility firepower on the battlefield.
China has been advancing larger-scale electromagnetic weaponry as well. In 2023, the PLA Naval University of Engineering reportedly tested what is believed to be the world’s most powerful coil gun, capable of launching a 273-pound projectile at speeds reaching 435 miles per hour.
Beijing is also advancing railgun technology, a type of electromagnetic weapon that propels projectiles along a pair of parallel rails at extreme speeds, while promising higher velocity and longer range than conventional guns, potentially transforming naval and land-based combat.
