Writings

An almost complete archive of written works by Ibrahim Muan: hard news, opinion, features, essays, culture, academic articles and research.

UniMelb Student Caught Filming Women in Bathrooms A medical student from the University of Melbourne was caught secretly filming women at his shared accommodation, with police later discovering hundreds of images and videos on his…
“Voice” after “Truth”: University of Melbourne’s Dhoombak Goobgoowana Expands from Reckoning to Rema The University of Melbourne has published Dhoombak Goobgoowana: A History of Indigenous Australia and the University of Melbourne, Volume 2: Voice, a follow-up to 2024’s Volume 1: Truth.
Regulating “Truth,” Eroding Rights - Dissecting the Maldives’ Media Act When a government promises to defend the media with one hand and writes a law to police it with the other, believe the law.
Comparing Audience Engagement Across Instagram News Genres A cross-country analysis of Maldivian and Australian news accounts on Instagram.
Australia to Recognise Palestinian state at UN in September, With Conditions Attached Australia will officially recognise the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September, in a move the Albanese Government claims will boost momentum for a two-state solution.
Students Stage National Walkout for Palestine Hundreds of university students walked out of class on Thursday, 7 August, rallying in cities across Australia to demand sanctions on Israel and university divestment from…
National Student Referendum on Palestine set for 20–28 August Students for Palestine (SPA) and the National Union of Students will hold a nationwide campus referendum between 20 and 28 August at universities and tertiary institutions across…
Doherty Institute Team Uses mRNA to Flush Out ‘Hidden’ HIV in Lab Tests Researchers at the Doherty Institute have developed a world-first technique for delivering mRNA into hard-to-reach resting CD4+ T cells, the immune cells where Human immunodeficiency…
Parkville Metro Tunnel to Open Partially in 2025, Full Operations not Guaranteed The Victorian Government has stopped short of guaranteeing that Melbourne’s $15 billion Metro Tunnel will run at full capacity when it opens later this year, after reports that two CBD…
UniMelb Releases 2024 Annual Report on Racism The University of Melbourne’s 2024 Annual Report on Racism paints a picture of cautious institutional progress, framed around acknowledgement, data collection, and policy reform.
Labour Announces 20% cut in HECS Debts The Labour Government has introduced legislation to cut all student loan debts by 20 per cent, promising relief to over three million Australians.
Political Parallelism and Public Trust in Maldivian Media How political bias shapes the Maldivian media landscape, and what it does to public perception, credibility and trust.
Federal Budget 2025-26: Education at the Centre as Labor Eyes Re-election Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivered the Albanese government’s fourth federal budget on 25 March 2025, just 39 days before the country heads to the polls.
Making Citizens, Not Just Graduates Civic education and critical-thinking reform: a national framework for youth participation in the Maldives.
The Declining Quality of Education in Maldivian Higher Secondary Schools A policy brief on poor student engagement and the widening gap between Malé and the atolls.
Australian Universities Embrace Controversial New Definition of Antisemitism Australian universities have unilaterally adopted a controversial new definition of antisemitism following a parliamentary inquiry finding which recommended universities enshrine a…
Federal government’s proposed enrolment cap set to slash international student intake at University of Melbourne The federal government’s proposed international student caps announced in early September would see the University of Melbourne’s international student intake limited to 9300 next year.
A Critical Review of Political Advertising Political advertising, a cornerstone of contemporary democracy, is disseminated through various mediums such as television, online platforms, and social media.
The Evolution of the Maldivian Media Landscape: The Impact of X/Twitter and the Augmentation of Political Parallelism As the digital age progresses, people are shifting from traditional media such as television, radio, and print to the internet and social media platforms such as X/Twitter, Instagram,…
A new chapter in student activism: The Pro-Palestine protests that crossed borders The Gaza solidarity action on campus, which was initiated on South Lawn and eventually spread to Arts West, lasted from Thursday 25 April until Wednesday 22 May with strong support…
The expiration date on the sinking paradise draws ever so closer The Maldives, a paradise of milky white sandy beaches and crystal-clear turquoise lagoons is a popular bucket list destination.
A budget for students?: Ombudsman, SSAF, HECS and paid placements among this year’s big reforms Student media from across the country have this week converged on Canberra to participate in the journo coming-of-age of budget lock-up–Farrago among them.
Recent Developments in MLA and the Creation of Deepfakes: Democratic Elections in Peril Machine Learning Algorithm (MLA) is a form of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that has made rapid improvements in recent times and has changed the way that we operate (Marcus and Davis, 2019).
International students left confused amid record low visa approval rates and visa delays International students enrolling at universities in Australia have raised their concerns as ‘ambiguous’ and ‘subjective’ new guidelines have stretched visa processing times from weeks…
Summerfest ’24 – The biggest event of the year just got bigger SummerFest 2024 concluded on March 1 after a successful two weeks of events and activities spanning the University of Melbourne's three campuses in Parkville, Southbank and Burnley.
‘Pro-Maldives’ Policy – A Trojan Horse in Disguise for a ‘Pro-China’ Policy The Maldives braces for a severe change in the political landscape as incumbent president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih of the Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) conceded defeat to the opposition…
President-Elect Mohamed Muizzu, Under Fire for Climate Sceptic Remarks President-elect Dr Mohamed Muizzu, in his first international interview with Talk to Al Jazeera on October 16, said that NASA’s predictions on climate change and sea level rise are…
The TikTok Takeover – Surveillance Capitalism, an Assault on Democracy and Human Rights The rapid growth of social media platforms over the past decade has revolutionised how users engage with information, communicate with peers, and participate in public discourse.
To What extent is Machiavelli’s understanding of the relationship between Power, Authority and Leadership essentially Conservative? Niccolò Machiavelli, born in 1469, was an Italian statesman and philosopher in Florence, Italy.
Gamers React: EA Agrees to PIF, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners Buyout Electronic Arts (EA) has agreed to a $55 billion buyout by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), along with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, in what is being billed as…
Victoria Adopts Statewide Treaty with Indigenous Peoples, a First in Australian History In a historic step towards justice and self-determination of Indigenous Peoples in Australia, Victoria has become the first state to adopt a statewide treaty with First Nations peoples, after…
Farrago’s 2025 AFL Grand Final Recap It’s happened.
University of Melbourne First in Australia to Expel Pro-Palestine Student Activists Vice Chancellor Emma Johnston on Monday 2 June upheld formal recommendations from the University disciplinary committee to expel two students and suspend two others.
Electile Dysfunction: Labor Regain Lead as Coalition Flounders After a gruelling three years of a cost-of-living crisis, wars in Europe and the Middle East, and the looming presence of American President Donald Trump, Australians are headed back to the polls on…
Economic Explainer: Farrago’s Breakdown of Trump’s Tariffs on Australia Since the beginning of US President Donald Trump’s administration, the media has been flooded with updates about his tariff policies.
Esoteric Festival Cancelled: A Bad Trip for Psytrance Fans The five-day Esoteric Psychedelic Circus Festival, cancelled just hours before gates opened, became the latest in a string of Australian music events to be axed this year.
New VC, Same Old Problems: Emma Johnston Replaces Duncan Maskell as Vice-Chancellor Emma Johnston has begun her tenure as the University of Melbourne’s 21st Vice Chancellor, becoming the first woman to hold the role.
Pro-Palestine Protestors Occupy UniMelb Professor’s Office Published in Farrago’s print edition, 2024 · Edition 6.
Sustainable Dying: Can the Funeral Industry Really Reduce Its Environmental Footprint? For decades burial and cremation have been the most common options in the Australian funeral industry.
Procedural Injustice in the Vice-Chancellor’s Anti-Protest Decrees Vice Chancellor Emma Johnston AO set the tone for her tenure by announcing fresh bans on campus protests on the first day of semester 1, 2025.
UMSU Passes Motion Calling for a Ceasefire in Gaza Following Legal Controversy Published in Farrago’s print edition, 2024 · Edition 5.
Rewriting the Future of International Education: Australia’s New Student Cap in Question Australia’s international education sector, long regarded as one of the country’s most valuable exports, is now at the centre of a fierce national debate.
Where We Sleep: Accommodation Choices and Realities for International Students at UniMelb When Jude arrived in Melbourne for his exchange semester, he expected two things for housing: a short walk to class and a long list of new friends.
Youth of Kenya Protest Controversial New Finance Bill Published in Farrago’s print edition, 2024 · Edition 4.
Aspiring Indian Doctors at Risk: India’s Prestigious Exam Hit by Corruption Scandal Published in Farrago’s print edition, 2024 · Edition 4.
Student Food Insecurity: Is the Corporate Food Charity Model the Best Solution? Published in Farrago’s print edition, 2024 · Edition 4.
Conservative Government Faces “Extinction Event” in Upcoming UK Election The British Conservative Party and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak are facing the prospects of a party-wide wipeout, ahead of the upcoming general election in the United Kingdom.
Inside Mahmoud’s Hall: Pro-Palestine Students Continue Sit-In On Wednesday 15 May, an autonomous group of protesters involved with the Gaza Solidarity Encampment on South Lawn initiated a sit-in in Arts West following a rally that culminated in them renaming…