New Sanctions from Japan

- Japan's government is going to announce additional sanctions against Russia over Ukraine on September 19, Kyodo news agency reports.

The measures would be "restrictive" in an attempt to minimize adverse effects on a bilateral territorial issue, government sources said Thursday.

The government is considering toughing restrictions on financial and energy transactions, in addition to previously imposed sanctions, including freezing assets held in Japan by 40 individuals and two groups involved in Russia's annexation of Crimea.

Japan, as a member of the Group of Seven industrialized nations, has decided to impose fresh sanctions on Russia to act in concert with the United States and European Union.