Latest news with #Ouyang
The Star
22-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
From poverty to prosperity - Chinese investment brings hope to Cambodian mango growers
A worker preparing mango slices for drying at the mango processing factory invested and constructed by China's Zhong Bao (Fujian) Food Science & Technology Co Ltd in Phnom Sruoch, Kampong Speu province. - Xinhua PHNOM SRUOCH, Cambodia: In Cambodia's central province of Kampong Speu, a thriving mango factory is transforming the agricultural landscape and improving the livelihoods of local farmers. At the Zhongbao (Cambodia) Food Science & Technology Co, Ltd, hundreds of tonnes of fresh mangoes are processed into dried fruit for export to markets in China. Ouyang Jianbin, general manager of the mango factory, recalled his first trip to Cambodia in 2020. Representing his company in China's Fujian Province, Ouyang needed to select a site for building a dried mango processing factory overseas. Upon his arrival in Phnom Sruoch, Kampong Speu province, Ouyang recognised the potential of the town, which has high-quality mangoes and is close to Sihanoukville, a shipping hub. However, local farmers had difficulty selling their harvests, with much of the fruit left to rot on the trees during peak season. The picturesque orchards, laden with golden mangoes, did little to alleviate the economic hardships endured by farmers. Many families lived in cramped conditions, with six to seven members sharing a 40-square-metre home. In January 2021, the Zhongbao Cambodia factory commenced operations, and Cambodian dried mangoes quickly gained popularity among Chinese consumers. The factory now spans 45,000sq m, employs 2,600 local workers, and purchases about 90,000 tonnes of fresh mango annually, producing more than 12,000 tonnes of dried mango each year. With the help of Chinese technicians, local farmers have improved their pest control measures, nearly doubling their production. Benefiting from the standards, experience, and production lines introduced by Chinese enterprises, Cambodia has established local dried mango factories over the past two years, and their mango brands have become increasingly popular. In 2024, Cambodia's fresh mango exports surpassed US$140 million, marking a 24 per cent increase from the previous year, with China being one of the key destinations. Cambodian Ministry of Commerce's Undersecretary of State and spokesman Penn Sovicheat said that Chinese enterprises investing in Cambodia have brought advanced technologies that enhance the added value of local agricultural products. Thanks to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement, more Cambodian agricultural products are being exported to China, the official added. Zhongbao has become a well-known factory in Phnom Sruoch. Ouyang noted that many local fruit growers not only package their fresh mangoes for sale at the factory but also bring their families to work there. As the number of workers at the factory continues to grow, Ouyang looks for ways to provide convenience for their daily lives. The company has rented nearby land to build retail spaces along the street and offered low-cost leases for restaurants and grocery stores to meet the daily needs of employees. Over the years, a bustling town has emerged around the factory. The company also supports local education, providing scholarships to a nearby elementary school and subsidies for employees with children in school. Tith Sreymean has worked at Zhongbao for two years. When asked if she has tasted the dried mango she helps to make, she smiled. "Yes, I did. It's very sweet," she replied. "I like it. It has made my life full of hope." - Xinhua
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UC student with no criminal convictions sues Trump administration over revoked visa
A University of Cincinnati international student is suing the Trump administration after his visa was revoked despite having never been convicted of a crime and spending more than a decade studying in the United States, according to a recent lawsuit. Jiarong Ouyang, a doctoral candidate in statistics at UC, is joining three other international students from China in suing the Department of Homeland Security for canceling their immigration status to study in the country, according to the federal lawsuit filed in California this month. Ouyang's visa was revoked at the beginning of April, putting his degree and work on hold while he faces the risk of being deported. He's the first of "a small number" of UC international students whose visas were revoked to come forward, and is joined by hundreds more students nationwide whose visas have been revoked in recent weeks. Ouyang and his peers want the court to force the Trump administration to reinstate their visas – and those of all international students in similar situations – so they can finish their studies. More: UC says 'small number' of international students whose visas were revoked had legal issues UC and other schools across the country have said their international students have had visas revoked due to legal issues, ranging from minor traffic infractions to criminal charges. Federal officials affirmed this, saying in court documents they revoked Ouyang's visa because he was identified in criminal records after a 2019 domestic violence arrest. The charge was later dropped, and Ouyang was never convicted. After being arrested, Ouyang's visa was revoked, but he was able to legally stay in the country, court documents show. He later applied for a new visa and was approved. Ouyang and his attorneys in California did not respond to requests for comment from The Enquirer. A graduate assistant at Cincinnati Children's, Ouyang has been studying in the United States since 2012, when he enrolled at the University of California, Riverside, for his bachelor's degree in computing statistics, the lawsuit says. He earned that degree and a master of science in applied statistics in California before coming to Cincinnati to study for his doctorate in statistics. He has already had one co-authored journal article, a notable milestone for those in academia. Last year, he was awarded by the local chapter of the American Statistical Association for his contributions to the field. Expected to graduate in 2026, Ouyang has 3.94 GPA and has multiple research projects that have been placed on pause since his visa was revoked, according to the lawsuit. He also has a wife and young sons in the country that he cares for. "The sudden termination of SEVIS has abruptly halted all my ongoing projects, cut off essential research funding, and now threaten to derail my entire career path," Ouyang wrote in a court filing, referring to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System that tracks international students in the country. "This overwhelming setback has not only deeply affected me but also placed my family in an incredibly difficult and uncertain situation." Federal District Judge Susan Illston in California has given the group some time to breathe as the suit continues. In an April 18 order, Illston blocked the Trump administration from arresting Ouyang and his peers for two weeks as both sides present their case. Ouyang is expected in court next on Thursday, April 24. Ouyang and his peers are not the first international students to fight back after having their visas revoked. A Dartmouth College student led the way in suing the Trump administration on April 7, saying his visa was revoked outside of normal procedure despite not having any criminal record. Then, days later, an Ohio State University international student filed suit, claiming he was targeted for his participation in pro-Palestine protests last year. The Trump administration hasn't said exactly how many international student visas have been revoked, but reports estimate it has neared about 1,000. There are about 1.5 million international students in the United States, according to USA TODAY. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: UC foreign student sues Trump administration after visa revoked
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Yahoo
Man charged with hate crime for vandalism spree targeting Manhattan Buddhist temples
A beef with Buddhist monks sparked a man on a vandalism rampage who broke into several temples in Manhattan's Chinatown and damaged religious artifacts, police said Thursday. Taihong Ouyang, 49, was arrested Tuesday and charged with burglary and criminal mischief, both as hate crimes, and aggravated harassment after a string of break ins at the worship sites earlier that day. Cops say Ouyang was caught on camera early Tuesday smashing in windows at several locations, where he shattered glass, destroyed security cameras and demolished statues. He was angry 'the monks at these temples are acting improperly by charging too much money and putting people on the wrong religious path,' he told cops, according to court papers. He wanted 'to give these temples a beating,' he told police, a criminal complaint against him says. Cops said Ouyang's rampage began shortly after midnight at a temple on Eldridge St. where he used a metal object to break the windows. Cops said he came back several hours later and broke more windows. Surveillance video from an acupuncture and massage business on Canal St. that shares its location with the Mahayana Buddhist Temple shows Ouyang breaking a window there shortly before 1 a.m., police said. Cops said he also attacked the World Buddhist Temple on Henry St., the Huang Da Xian Taoist Temple on Bowery St. and the Grace Gratitude Buddhist Temple on East Broadway. 'I find it incredible that my temple has been destroyed. I cannot understand it and I cannot accept it,' Xinyuan, the leader of the World Buddhist Temple, said in Mandarin. 'The main purpose of Buddhism is world peace and harmonious coexistence of various religions, which brings good luck to the people of society and allows them to live and work in peace and contentment. The destruction of the temple this time has made people around us feel fearful and uneasy.' A temple operated on Pike Street by the Sung Tak Buddhist Association was also damaged. Two statues outside the temple were damaged, including one that will cost about $10,000 to repair, temple officials said. Ouyang, who is homeless, according to cops, was released without bail after being arraigned Wednesday in Manhattan Criminal Court.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Yahoo
Homeless man, 49, leaves trail of destruction in spree targeting NYC Buddhist, Taoist temples: cops
A homeless man left a trail of destruction inside at least four Buddhist and Taoist temples across Lower Manhattan Tuesday, cops said. Taihong Ouyang, 49, was slapped with hate crime criminal mischief and burglary charges for the destructive bender that included a stop at the Sung Tak Buddhist Association on Pike Street near East Broadway – where he allegedly smashed religious items with a fire extinguisher, cops and sources said. During the Chinatown and Lower East Side spree, Ouyang also allegedly targeted the Guanyinsi – World Buddhist Center on Henry Street near Rutgers Street, where he damaged two security cameras, according to authorities and sources. He also targeted the Pu Chao Buddhist Temple on Eldridge Street near Canal Street, cops said. Ouyang was ended his spree just after 8 a.m. when he barged into the Huang Da Xian Taoist Temple on the Bowery near Pell Street and damaged a slew of items inside, cops said. Someone called 911 to report the vandalism and Ouyang was tracked down and arrested, authorities said. Ouyang is also accused of vandalism at two other locations – one on Canal Street near the Bowery, and the other at East Broadway near Market Street, where two front doors were damaged, sources said. It's unclear whether those buildings are also houses of worship. It also wasn't clear exactly when Ouyang began his spree, or why he targeted the temples. Ouyang's arraignment was pending in Manhattan Criminal Court Wednesday.
CBS News
20-03-2025
- CBS News
Man faces hate crime charges for temple attacks in NYC's Chinatown
A man is facing charges after allegedly breaking into several temples in New York City's Chinatown and damaging religious statues this week. Police have charged Taihong Ouyang with a slew of hate crime and burglary charges for his rampage, seemingly targeting places of worship. Videos allegedly show Ouyang smashing through bulletproof glass, taking out security cameras and using a fire extinguisher to smash a Buddhist statue at different temples. In total, police say Ouyang is being charged with crimes in connection to six locations across Chinatown, four of which are temples. One of the other two targeted locations is next door to a temple. Surveillance video shows a man in a hoodie early Monday morning repeatedly smashing in the front windows of Grace Gratitude Buddhist Temple. "When we came down, we saw, you know, it's smashed," senior monk Ben Kong said. "I thought it was terrorism. The way it looks, it looks like a bullet hole." The suspect left behind a shattered window and a shattered sense of security through Chinatown. "People were calling us and said their temples were also attacked," Kong said. Additional video allegedly shows Ouyang at another temple at 158 Henry St., smashing the security cameras. The cameras have seen been repaired with tape, but one is still missing all together. At Sung Tak Buddhist Temple on Pike Street, surveillance video caught the suspect smashing the hands of one statue, then shattering a smaller one next to it. "The Buddhist religion is for the whole community, so if he does that, he damages all who believe in Buddhism," Sung Tak Buddhist Temple Master Jie Tong said through a translator. Another temple managers said she was too afraid to go on camera, worried that the suspect could return one day. But the support from the religious community has powered them all through the week. Now, they're offering prayers for the one responsible. "It's very hard once you start bad karma to create good karma," Kong said.
