Maoist strike ends Tuesday

Kathmandu, 22 Dec.: A violent three-day anti-government and anti-president Maoist nation-wide strike ends Tuesday.
The closure disrupted schools, industries, businesses and inconvenienced people.
The strike disrupted life on the third day as well.
Chairman Prachanda is to announce the end of the strike at Naya Baneshwor in the capital while addressing a public meeting.
Maoist activists are converging at the meeting site.
Maoists will announce the fourth phase of their strike after party discussions.
Both the government an Maoists have adopted tough positions.
A breakthrough is not likely in a six-month political deadlock.
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Congress leader dead

Kathmandu, 22 Dec; Congress leader Durga Dutta Joshi has died, the party said.
He was elected member of the parliament from Baidadi in the first general elections in 1959.
He was member of the upper of chamber of parliament after the restoration of multi-party democracy in 1990.
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German food assist

Kathmandu, 22 Dec.: Germany has given additional Nepal food assistance worth 500,000 euros through the FAO, the German embassy said.
The assistance will help purchase 84,916 metric tonnes of food from for distribution in rural Nepal amid scarcity after bad monsoon.
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