Northern Australia white paper: government unveils development blueprint for “economic powerhouse”

The Prime Minister has unveiled his long-awaited vision for northern Australia, releasing a wide-ranging white paper in Canberra that sets out ambitious policy ideas for the next 20 years. (abc.net.au)

Latest economic figures indicate ‘Abenomics’ is working

Upward revisions of economic growth in Q1 2015 indicate that Japan’s economic recovery is gaining momentum and that Prime Minister Shino Abe’s multi-pronged economic reform program, known as ‘Abenomics’, is starting to bear fruit. (The World Folio)

NZ above-average growth won’t stop Reserve Bank rush to cut rates

New Zealand’s annual economic growth is comfortably above the average for OECD countries but that's unlikely to stop the Reserve Bank rushing to cut interest rates again at its earliest opportunity on July 23, economists say. (Scoop)

WB finds high public spending but low economic growth in BD

The World Bank found a mismatch between Bangladesh’s public expenditures and economic growth which the funding agency says is not rising at an expected level despite higher spending. (The Financial Express)

Longer-term aid needed in Nepal to stem spike in baby deaths after disasters, says experts

Families hit by Nepal's recent earthquakes risk losing their babies to hunger and disease over the next year unless they receive long-term help to boost their incomes and rebuild their homes, experts said. (Reuters)