Nepal Finally Passes New Constitution

Nepal's parliament endorsed a new national constitution with a majority vote on Wednesday, in a move that will help speed up recovery efforts after the nation's devastating earthquake in April. The new charter replaces an interim constitution that has governed the Himalayan nation since 2007, when a decade-long civil war ended its Hindu monarchy. Rival political parties clashed over drafting the long-disputed bill's details, only to find a compromise following this year's earthquake that killed almost 8,900 people. Last month political leaders reached a historic deal to create a federal state and divide the country into seven federal provinces, but the agreement sparked violent protests that left more than 40 people dead. Nepal's Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has also announced he will step down once the constitution is place to make room for a new government.