China completes flight test for world's largest power-generating kite

The world's largest 5,000-sqm power-generating kite completed its first flight test on Wednesday in Alxa Left Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, marking a milestone in the country's development of high-altitude wind power, according to the kite's developer, China Energy Engineering Corporation Limited.

The kite achieved full in-air deployment and retraction during the testing.

The trial tested a land-based high-altitude wind power generation system that uses kites to capture wind energy, then pulls the generators on the ground to produce electricity.

High-altitude power generation technology enables capturing wind energy from altitudes above 300 meters and turning it into electricity using kites as its core equipment.

"We have completed the first deployment test of the world's largest [power-generation] kite and successfully finished data collection, providing a scientific basis for the design of the kite assembly, which will lay the foundation for deploying a complete set of equipment and for setting standards," said Cao Lun, chief director of the kite-opening test.

At high altitudes, the wind blows faster, stronger, and more consistently. High-altitude wind, as an uncharted territory in new energy, bears great potential for further development.

"We will conduct multi-kite flight tests and plan to launch power generation trials at the end of next year," said Huo Shaolei, senior technical expert at China Power Engineering Consulting Group Limited.

China completes flight test for world's largest power-generating kite

China completes flight test for world's largest power-generating kite

China completes flight test for world's largest power-generating kite

China completes flight test for world's largest power-generating kite

China completes flight test for world's largest power-generating kite

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Friday urged Iranians to wage an "economic battle" and a "cultural battle" to defeat the country's "enemies," according to a message carried by Iranian media.

In the message marking the Workers' Day and Teachers' Day, which fall on Friday and Saturday, Khamenei said that after over 47 years of struggle, Iran has demonstrated its military capabilities against enemies and "must also disappoint and defeat them in the economic and cultural battles."

He described teachers and workers as the most effective elements in these battles, calling them "the backbones" of the cultural and economic spheres.

Khamenei also urged prioritizing the consumption of domestic products.

The Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Friday that new regulations for managing the Persian Gulf will be implemented based on a "historic" directive from Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

In a statement made via the social media platform X, the IRGC Navy said that, leveraging its dominance over nearly 2,000 kilometers of Iran's coastline in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, it aims to transform the body of water into a source of income and power for the Iranian people, while promoting security and prosperity in the region.

On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities, resulting in the deaths of Iran's then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior commanders, and civilians. In response, Iran carried out waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. assets across the Middle East, along with energy and civilian infrastructure in several Gulf nations, while asserting strict control over the Strait of Hormuz.

A ceasefire between the parties was reached on April 8.

Iran's supreme leader urges economic, cultural battles to defeat 'enemies'