Top news items in major Zambian media outlets

LUSAKA, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- The following are news highlights in Zambia's major media outlets on Thursday.

-- The Zambian Parliament has approved the country's budget for 2018 which was presented to the House on September 29, 2017.

Minister of Finance Felix Mutati said in winding up debate on the budget that the document was in conformity with the country's Seventh National Development Plan, with allocations targeted at addressing strategic areas of economic diversification and job creation. (Zambia Daily Mail)

-- Zambia's standards agency has published a standard for used tyres for motor vehicles which will serve as guidelines for all second hand tyres in the country.

Zambia Bureau of Standards head of marketing and public relations Hazel Zulu said the new standards have come with clearly specified requirements for second hand tyres after investigation revealed that used tyres were one of the causes of road traffic accidents. (Times of Zambia)

-- Zambia's First Lady Esther Lungu says there was need to create an environment that was safe for children with disabilities.

She said a safe environment would enable such children to participate equally in self-identification, career setting and skills development. (Daily Nation)

-- The Zambian government has clarified that its decision to introduce five bills to regulate social media was not meant to stifle it but to unlock its potential.

Minister of Transport and Communication Brian Mushimba said the bills were aimed at creating a legal environment where people would be made aware of the consequences of abusing social media. (The Mast) Enditem