Friday newspaper round-up: Russian sanctions, Scottish referendum, Minecraft...

BP and ExxonMobil could be caught up in the escalating trade war between Russia and the West today when a fresh round of economic sanctions are announced. Rosneft and Gazprom, the state controlled energy companies, and others in the energy sector will be targeted and could be prevented from drilling, as European leaders ratchet up the pressure on Vladimir Putin over Russia’s incursions into eastern Ukraine. - The TimesThe UK's biggest retailers are being asked to intervene in the Scottish referendum debate, spelling out how a yes vote next week could force up the costs of doing business in an independent Scotland and result in higher prices in the shops. With the explicit support of No 10, the initiative […] was being led by Sir Ian Cheshire, the chief executive of Kingfisher, the business behind B&Q, the DIY chain. Other retailers understood to have agreed to back the initiative so far include Marc Bolland, the chief executive of Marks & Spencer, and Charlie Mayfield, chairman of the John Lewis Group. Andy Clarke, the chief executive of Asda, and John Timpson, boss of the Timpson shoe repair business, also support it. - The GuardianHe’s the gaming world’s most successful outsider, who attacked Microsoft for threatening his fiercely protected independence. Now Markus Persson, creator of the hugely popular Minecraft game, has been accused of selling out after agreeing a deal with the software giant which would make him a billionaire at 35. After turning down previous approaches from Electronic Arts and Microsoft, Mr Persson has surprised the gaming world by starting fresh discussions to sell his Swedish company, Mojang, to the computer giant for an estimated $2bn (£1.2bn). - The IndependentFlaws in the design of a key Government policy to keep the lights on could add £359m a year to consumer bills, MPs on the energy select committee have warned. Tim Yeo, the committee’s chairman has written to Matt Hancock, the energy minister, urging a rethink of rules for the so-called capacity market, a system designed to ensure Britain has enough power supplies to meet demand. - The TelegraphMore than 30,000 mortgages were handed out to first-time buyers in July, up 3 per cent from June, and 25 per cent higher on July 2013, according to new figures from banks and building societies. The Council of Mortgage Lenders said that the average size of a first-time buyer loan increased to a new all-time high of £127,500 in July, up from £123,750 in June, accounting for a total of £4.6billion in loans. - The Daily MailThe Government will announce on Friday it is relaxing part of Britain’s tough rules on Chinese visas, in a bid to appease UK businesses and China’s leaders. The Government will announce on Friday it is relaxing part of Britain’s tough rules on Chinese visas, in a bid to appease UK businesses and China’s leaders. - The Telegraph