Belarus lifted key currency restrictions Tuesday, effectively devaluing its ruble, as authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko seeks loans from Russia to shore up foreign reserves and avert a financial meltdown. Belarus's banks will be allowed to trade the Belarussian ruble with local companies outside the 10% band previously mandated by the central bank, central bank deputy chief Nikolai Luzgin told reporters Tuesday in Minsk. Read the story here.
