Kevin Rudd tried to boost Labor's flagging campaign by talking up the economy and jobs at the party's campaign launch yesterday. But no-one can control economies anymore. Mark Triffitt

Tony Abbott says "trust me" in relation to costings. Wes Mountain

The economic case for dropping our obsession with budget surpluses.
Professor Guay Lim

The Coalition has released its election policy costings just two days before voters go to the polls. Read them all here.

Presidential frontrunner 'Jokowi' is urging a "mental revolution" to a more optimistic, self-sustaining, self-believing Indonesia, invoking the language and ideas of the Sukarno era, observes Katharine McGregor.

Image: President Sukarno, Washington DC, 1956.

Energised by a new leader with a formidable mandate, India is about to stir. Australia must reach out to capitalise on the moment, argues Amitabh Mattoo.

Prabowo is the more worldly traveller, but Jokowi is more vocal on foreign relations. Colin Brown analyses the implications for the wider world of this week's poll.