Anthony Anton Mako spoke to Pacific Beat about how PNG is lagging behind other countries who are benefitting from remittances sent home by Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme workers.

He says further research is also needed because while the World Bank shows that in 2025 $52 million was expected to flow back home through the banking system but the records show that only $15 million was actually remitted. Workers may have saved the money or travelled back home with cash.

Rubayat Chowdhury spoke to The Guardian about the impact of the oil crisis following the start of the Iran War.

He says Pacific island nations are very dependent on imports for food and basic necessities. Oil accounted for 80% of the region's energy supply in 2023 but Chowdhury says it's hard for small nations to negotiate for access to resources when competing with larger nations.