Parties agree on a new national charter

Nepal's rival political parties, spurred by a devastating earthquake to end years of deadlock, have struck a historic deal on a new constitution that will divide the country into eight provinces.

The agreement was announced after negotiations that went late into Monday night and comes weeks after an earthquake that killed thousands, increasing pressure on politicians to end the long stalemate.

Lawmakers have missed a series of deadlines to draft a new national charter following a decadelong leftist insurgency that left an estimated 16,000 people dead and brought down the monarchy.