China honors outstanding workers ahead of Labor Day

The All-China Federation of Trade Unions held a commendation ceremony on Tuesday in Beijing to honor model workers and groups with outstanding performance.

A total of 379 groups were honored with "May 1 Labor Merit Certificates", 1,462 individuals were awarded with "May 1 Labor Medals" and 1,183 teams won the title of "National Worker Pioneer" at the event.

This year's May 1 Labor Medal recipients are primarily grassroots workers. Among the recipients, 962 are industrial workers, other grassroots workers, and professional technicians, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the total. Workers in new forms of employment, such as delivery personnel, also account for a notable proportion.

"This honor belongs not only to me, but also to the tens of thousands of workers in new forms of employment, who are rushing through the streets and shuttling through the wind and rain. This medal makes me truly understand that as a delivery person, I can also pursue excellence and make a living with my skills," said Chi Chongzhu, May 1 Labor Award recipient.

Among the winners of the "National Worker Pioneer" title, 922 are teams or departments, accounting for more than three-quarters of the total.

"Our team is truly excited to receive this honor. As grassroots scientific and technological workers, we'll continue to dedicate ourselves to research and innovation, strengthen technical research in the field of intelligent train operation and maintenance, and strive for continuous breakthroughs in the iterative optimization and deployment of large AI models for vehicle networking. We'll also strive to promote the extension and application of core technologies to more fields, enhancing skills through hands-on work and helping the country improve quality and efficiency in the field of intelligent manufacturing," said Zhang Xinping, another recipient.

This year's May 1 Labor Medal recipients are primarily workers in the key areas of development of the 14th Five-Year Plan(2021–2025) and the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), including new energy, integrated circuits, artificial intelligence, and quantum communication. The recipients span 19 categories of national economic industries. Compared with previous years, the number of recipients from the non-public sector and from ethnic minorities has increased, resulting in a more balanced overall structure.

"Standing at a new starting point of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, I will focus on three major directions: intelligent operation and maintenance of mines, green and low-carbon development, and safety with high efficiency. I will also concentrate on tackling technical problems such as intelligent control of electrical equipment, so as to contribute to the intelligent transformation of enterprises and the construction of green mines," said Ma Zhigang, another recipient.

China honors outstanding workers ahead of Labor Day

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday that decisions on war and negotiations rest with Iran's leadership and the Supreme National Security Council, as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the two countries were still expected to sign a memorandum of understanding later in the day.

At a meeting on Sunday, Pezeshkian said that everyone must obey the decisions made by Iran's Supreme Leader, adding that the Iranian government simultaneously pursues the well-being of its people, national sovereignty, and the development of regional relations.

He stressed that through internal unity, proactive diplomacy, and economic reforms, Iran will overcome challenges.

On the same day, prior to Israel's attack on Lebanon, a source close to the Iranian negotiating team said a Qatari negotiating delegation was in Tehran, Iran's capital, and that the Iranian side was using the Qatari team to convey to the United States the terms it hoped to include in an Iran-U.S. agreement, as well as specific details it considered important.

The source emphasized that no final decision had been reached yet.

Regarding the ups and downs in the negotiations, the source said that, despite setbacks, Iran remains committed to the principle that all of its concerns must ultimately be fully taken into account. The source added that even if Iran's positions are fully reflected in the agreement, Tehran will not sign any deal within the timeframe announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.

On Sunday, the Israeli military again launched an airstrike in Beirut's southern suburbs in Lebanon.

In response, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on social media that the Israeli strike had once again shown the United States "either lacks the will to fulfill its commitments or the ability to do so," making it impossible to continue the dialogue process.

Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Sunday that the U.S. and Iran still had a good chance of signing a memorandum of understanding later in the day, which would restart cargo traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and lift U.S. blockades on Iranian ports.

In an interview with U.S. media, Hegseth said the two countries are "on track to" sign a deal to end fighting on Sunday.

"It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when," he said.

Hegseth said that after the agreement is signed, the U.S. and Iran will have 60 days to negotiate a longer-term peace arrangement and tackle broader issues, including Iran's nuclear program.

He said that the agreement is performance-based, meaning that no funds will be released to Iran until the Iranian side performs.

Iranian president says Iran's leadership decides on war, talk; US defense secretary expects MoU signed on Sunday