Nepal, the world’s last Hindu kingdom, was poised to be reborn as a republic Wednesday, as a newly elected assembly led by former Maoist guerillas prepared to meet to fulfill the leftists’ principal campaign promise. Exactly when and how the monarch, King Gyanendra, would leave Narayanhity, the main palace in the capital, Katmandu, was not clear. He has made no public statements in recent weeks... 

Nepal’s Maoists were confirmed winners of this month’s landmark elections in the impoverished nation after vote counting was completed, officials said Thursday. The Election Commission on Wednesday completed the vote counting for the whole country under the proportional representation (PR) electoral system. According to a preliminary report, the CPN-Maoist, with 29.28 percent (3,144,204...