JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER KOICHIRO GEMBA ARRIVES SATURDAY Kathmandu, 27 April: Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba arrives for a one-day visit Saturday—the first Japanese foreign minister to visit Nepal in 35 years after Tokyo. He’s leading a 21-member team. Gemba leaves for India Sunday. Government officials held talks Friday to discuss Nepal’s approach to the visit. Gemba arrived as Tokyo decided recently to intensify relations with Nepal downgraded after internal political upheaval in Nepal; Tokyo is one of Nepal’s bggest bilateral donors. nnnn DABAR INDIA LTD, DABAR NEPAL MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS DIVISION MERGE Kathmandu, 27 April: Dabar Nepal and Dabar Nepal Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Division have merged, an announcement said, Ashok Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Center is the name of the new company in memory of Late Chand Burman, a former chairman of Dabar India Ltd. Kavre CDO Rudra Nath Basyal and Dabar Nepal managing director Rukma Shumshere Rana jointly inaugurated the center. Nnnn ABDUCTED GORKHA TRADER MURDERED Kathmandu, 27 April: Trader Prakash Panta of Gorkha, abducted from the capital one month ago, has been murdered, KP Dhungana reports in Nagarik. Police believe he was drugged and killed. Panta’s buried body was dug out in Kakani. Bhim Tamang, Som Shrestha, Kamananda Khadka and Ratna Lama have been arrested for murder. Nnnn