The International Monetary Fund's board this week signed off on a $17 billion bailout for Ukraine, whose economy has been weakened by months of upheaval and a stand-off with Russia.

Ukraine's previous two IMF programs were suspended after the government did not stick to earlier promises, such as raising natural gas prices. This time, the IMF required Kiev to implement 12 reforms before receiving any money.

The following highlights some of the IMF's new requirements:

Energy Sector

The Sunday Telegraph can't come to say that tony "breaks his promise of no new taxes"... So in a slight of hand, the ST displaces the word "break" and places it on voters... As if the voters were the ones about to break something...

It's very cunning, although the Sunday Telegraph had the decency to say TAX, not LEVY...  To some extend, the world Levy would not work in the heading... But then the words "broken promise" in the main copy are placed between quotes as if it was not a broken promise... you bunch of silly voters, out there...

I could be wrong but I believe that religion and economic bastardry have been mixed together in the Commission of Audit report, as well as in the government's response... It feels like all of them combined want to create a new class of poor in this country. To make sure we'll swallow the pill, there is a pitched format in which "everyone is doing a bit of heavy lifting"... Of course the poorest have to do more of their proportional share. Tough titties.... Joe is lying.

Treasurer Joe Hockey addresses the media in Canberra on the recommendations of the Audit Commission.

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I have no idea on how Joe Hockey is dealing with this Audit Commission, but from what I have heard and read, this whatever Commission of Audits is about the need to dismantle every governmental agencies and feed them to the lions of private enterprise.

NSW'S E10 unleaded fuel mandate is a ''debacle'' and is costing the state's motorists millions, according to an international study.

The Texas Tech University research found motorists had a ''significant aversion'' to the ethanol blended product.

With the push for E10 reducing the availability of regular grade unleaded, motorists had instead flocked to the more expensive premium petrol because of concerns about E10's potential engine damage as well as fuel efficiency.

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/mandate-on-ethanol-fuel-costs-drivers-dearly-study-20140427-37c6j.html

A new study of homeless men found that 45% of the subjects surveyed had experienced traumatic brain injuries in the past. Brain injuries can cause both cognitive and personality problems that researchers don't yet fully understand

The prime minister's sycophancy towards the British monarch’s grand-descendants has become too much for the many Australians. On behalf of millions, the ARM national director has written Tony Abbott an open letter. History editor Dr Glenn Davies reports.