TOKYO, March 19 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government on Tuesday approved a plan to revise the child abuse prevention law and institute changes to legally prohibit parents and guardians from physically punishing children.

The revised bill and related legislation will be deliberated during the ongoing parliamentary session with an aim to be enacted in April next year, the government said.

JAKARTA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia has permanently banned Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft from serving in Indonesian airspace, following the notice issued by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Indonesian Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi said here on Monday.

The official said the ban has taken effect since Thursday after the FAA issued Continuous Airworthiness Notification to the International Community (CANIC).

The permanent ban was based on the evaluation on the existing Boeing 737 Max 8 operated by national airlines and the FAA notice, the minister said.

SIMFEROPOL, March 18. /TASS/. The aim of the terrorist attack in New Zealand against Muslims last week was to undermine the situation in the country and Russia will do everything possible to prevent such acts of terrorism on its territory, President Vladimir Putin said on Monday.

"We certainly condole over victims in New Zealand following this terrible terrorist act, which was definitely aimed to undermine the situation in the country," Putin said. "We will do everything possible to prevent such situations in our country."

19 Mar 2019; DW: Singapore is one of the world's three most expensive cities for the sixth year running, according to The Economist Intelligence Unit's 2019 Worldwide Cost of Living Survey, released on Tuesday.

The southeast Asian city-state shares the tag of the most costly place to live with Hong Kong and Paris.

When the prices of more than 150 items were compared in 133 cities around the world, the French capital moved up one place in the rankings compared to last year.

Rajnandgaon, Mar 19 (PTI) A woman naxal was gunned down Tuesday in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon district, police said.

The skirmish took place in the forest of Gatapar police station area bordering Madhya Pradesh, when a joint team of security forces from MP and Chhattisgarh was carrying out an anti-naxal operation, a senior police official told PTI.

New Delhi, Mar 18 (PTI) Cash-strapped Jet Airways Monday said it has grounded four more planes, taking the number of aircraft that are non-operational due to non-payment of lease rentals to 41.

Grappling with financial woes, the carrier has been looking at ways to raise fresh funds.

BEIJING, March 18. /TASS/. China’s private businesses are interested in involving Crimea in the implementation of projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, head of the association of Chinese compatriots on the peninsula Ge Zhili reported on Monday.

LUSAKA, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Zambian President Edgar Lungu on Monday stressed the need for African countries to trade more with each other before looking to the outside world.

He made the remarks while meeting with a visiting delegation from the Federation of Egyptian Industries that is in the country to explore investment opportunities.

The Zambian leader said visits by African business delegations need to be encouraged in Africa's quest to trade more within the continent.

MOSCOW, March 18. /TASS/. The Australian authorities have said they are taking financial sanctions and entry restrictions against seven Russians over the Kerch Strait incident, as follows from a statement by Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne published on the Foreign Ministry’s website.

New Delhi March 17, 2019 PTI/GANASHAKTI: State-owned telecom firm BSNL will approach National Company Law Tribunal this week to recover dues of about Rs 700 crore from Reliance Communications, according to official sources.

Earlier, debt-ridden RCom in its plea before the NCLAT said that it wants to voluntarily go back into the insolvency process, as it will help selling its assets in a time bound manner.

SIMFEROPOL, March 19. /TASS/. Members of a German delegation of public organizations are impressed by the changes over the past five years since Crimea’s reunification with Russia, Deputy Chairman of the Security and Politics Society Frank Porsh told a meeting with representatives of Crimea’s parliament, the State Council.

The delegation consisting of ten representatives of German pubic organizations arrived in Crimea on March 16 to learn about the region’s life. They hold meetings with the republic’s authorities and members of the public.

Raipur, Mar 18 (PTI) Six CRPF jawans were injured in an ambush by naxals in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district on Monday, officials said.

A team of the 231st battalion of the CRPF, along with a state police unit, was out on road security duty in the district's Aranpur area when an IED exploded and they were fired upon by Maoists, they said.

Six personnel of the CRPF were injured in the blast and firing that took place around 4:30 pm near the Kamal post of the paramilitary force in Dantewada district, a senior official said.