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WDA, Chinese firm sign $10 million dealA financing agreement worth $ 10 million was signed between the Workforce Development Authority (WDA) and China Geo-Engineering Corporation.This marked the start of the disbursement of funds to construct the Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centre (IPRC) in the Northern Province. The school will be constructed in Musanze district.The project will be funded by the Chinese government and Rwanda will provide learning materials and school furniture among others.The Director General of WDA, Jerome Gasana, signed the pact while Zhu Xingui, the Deputy General Manager China Geo-Engineering Corporation represented the Chinese government in an event that was held in Kigali.Gasana said the construction of IPRC North is expected to be completed in a period of 19 months.He said construction will start in the shortest time possible and that IPRC North is part of five IPRCs planned in all provinces. 300 students graduate at Byumba PolytechnicByumba Polytechnic Institute (IPB) passed out 321 students from the Faculty of Social Sciences Management and Development studies. Forty three attained Bachelor’s degrees.The Minister of Education who is also the Chancellor, Dr. Vincent Biruta, called on the graduates to apply professional skills in the labour market. He said that this will help and enable them to contribute to transformation, which is a key factor to success. He also encouraged them to be good ambassadors for the institution. Biruta pledged that his Ministry will facilitate students from private institutions of higher learning to undertake internship programmes. He said this is aimed at enabling them acquire practical skills.IPB is a community institution supported by both Byumba Catholic and Anglican Church Dioceses. Prof. Faustin Nyombayire, Rector of IPB congratulated both students and lecturers calling upon them to cooperate in developing standard for the institute.Agric researchers to share findings A system that will enable researchers to disseminate and acquire information from their regional counterparts was launched by Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB).The online system dubbed Electronic Regional Agriculture Information Learning System (ERAILS) is funded by Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA).It will be funded through the Association for Strengthening Research in Agriculture in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA). The acting Director of the Research Department at RAB, Leon Nabahungu, said that the initiative will help in building the capacity of researchers.He added that it is expected to play a significant role in increasing output in the agricultural sector and increase national income.The system will enable RAB, to cooperate and contribute to the success of information sharing amongst researchers in the Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA).ASARECA is a sub-regional, intergovernmental, non-profit organisation working in Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, and DR Congo. It was established in 1994.Tourism revenues up 11 per centTourism revenues have increased by 11 per cent compared to the same period (Jan –June) last year.Rwanda Development Board (RDB) says that the sector has so far raised US$128.3m compared to US$115.6m generated in the same period last year.Rica Rwigamba, the Head of Tourism and Conservation at RDB, said that the increase of permit fees will consequently trickle down to the communities living around the Virunga as well as support conservation activities.Last month, permit fees to see the Gorillas were raised by 50 per cent and according to most tourism agencies, visits to see the Gorilla’s are booked well in advance.The Mountain Gorillas contributed the most income with most tourists in the country booking to see the rare species that live in the Virunga Mountains.Prosecution seeks maximum sentence for TuratsinzeIf the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Cyrille Turatsinze, is found guilty of soliciting a bribe from a Kigali businessman, he might spend seven years in jail on top of paying Rwf 20 million fine.Turatsinze was arrested on charges on soliciting a Rwf 2 million bribe from one Jerome Nshimiyimana who was bidding to supply IT equipment to the ministry. Turatsinze is accused together with Rwego Harelimana Rene who by the time of arrest had received 490,000 on behalf of Turatsinze.The two pleaded not guilty in their first appearance in court. Prosecution now says that the PS being a senior person in the ministry, acted against article 635 of the new penal code.The article states that “any person who explicitly or implicitly demands or receives gifts or any other illegal advantage or accepts it as a promise in order to accomplish an illegal act or refrain from carrying out his/or her duties, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of more than five years to seven years and a fine of two to ten times the value of illegal advantage demanded”.Dutch envoy says Rwanda’s rebuttal to UN satisfactory Rwanda’s rebuttal of the addendum to a UN Group of Experts interim report linking Kigali to rebels in neighboring Democratic Repubioc of the Congo (DRC) is satisfactory according to the outgoing Netherlands Ambassador to Rwanda, Frans Makken.While speaking to journalists on Friday, Makken said that it is important to note that Rwanda is taking the issue extremely seriously. The Dutch envoy spoke to journalists after bidding farewell to President Kagame after completing his tour of duty in Rwanda. Makken used the opportunity to dismiss media reports that his country was among the development partners that suspended aid to Rwanda in the wake of allegations that Rwanda was propping up the Congolese rebels group M23