https://www.scmp.com/rss/523835/feed The latest news and top stories on the University of Melbourne. A Victoria, Australia-based public research university, the University of Melbourne is dedicated to benefiting society through education and research. Its main areas of focus include arts, business, engineering, law, medicine and science. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ivan Franceschini,Charlotte Setijadi,Ling Li Ivan Franceschini,Charlotte Setijadi,Ling Li “I was running from the war, and I got to a war again.” This is how Eric, a young man from central Africa, described how he ended up at a scam compound in Cambodia – and then stranded in the country with no way out. His story is like that of many people deceived into the scamming world. After fleeing conflict in his home country and living in extreme deprivation, Eric – not his real name – received an email offering a US$2,000-per-month job in Cambodia. The recruiter quickly persuaded him to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3343519/cambodias-scam-factory-survivors-find-no-escape-freedom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3343519/cambodias-scam-factory-survivors-find-no-escape-freedom?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 04:00:18 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s call for middle powers to band together amid a fragmenting world order is a vision analysts say appeals to many Asian nations, but lacks a blueprint to bring them all together. Speaking in Switzerland last month, Carney urged mid-sized and smaller countries to unite against the economic coercion of great powers, warning that nations failing to act collectively risked being “on the menu” rather than “at the table”, in a thinly veiled rebuke of the United... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3342400/canada-wants-middle-power-alliance-will-asia-pacific-sign?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3342400/canada-wants-middle-power-alliance-will-asia-pacific-sign?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:31:42 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings A critical minerals framework deal valued at US$8.5 billion between the United States and Australia will allow American buyers to rely less on Chinese rare earth metals, but developing a secure, independent supply chain may take the US 10 to 20 years, according to analysts. “Deals like this go a long way – this is a good start,” said Pini Althaus, CEO of US-based rare earth metal investor and developer Cove Capital, adding that Beijing would likely grow “more concerned” as the deal matures and... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3329803/how-us-australia-rare-earth-deal-aims-loosen-chinas-grip-critical-minerals-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3329803/how-us-australia-rare-earth-deal-aims-loosen-chinas-grip-critical-minerals-market?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:00:10 +0000 Oliver Giles Oliver Giles Long before she was one of Australia’s most prominent Aboriginal activists and public intellectuals, Marcia Langton was a teenage tourist who fell in love with Hong Kong – so much so that she stayed for six months. Langton arrived in the city in 1971 while she was on a years-long journey around Asia to escape the racism that pervaded her life in her home state of Queensland. The trip transformed her. Unencumbered by the daily discrimination she faced at home, she had the freedom to think about... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3316903/how-prominent-aboriginal-activists-vision-was-shaped-visit-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3316903/how-prominent-aboriginal-activists-vision-was-shaped-visit-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Jul 2025 08:15:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse An Australian man has died from an “extremely rare” rabies-like infection transmitted by a bat bite, health officials said on Thursday. The man in his 50s was bitten by a bat carrying Australian bat lyssavirus several months ago, the health service in New South Wales said. “We express our sincere condolences to the man’s family and friends for their tragic loss,” NSW Health said in a statement. “While it is extremely rare to see a case of Australian bat lyssavirus, there is no effective... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3316780/australian-man-dies-after-contracting-extremely-rare-virus-bat-bite?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3316780/australian-man-dies-after-contracting-extremely-rare-virus-bat-bite?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Jul 2025 07:01:41 +0000