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The current number of American soldiers in Afghanistan of 32,000 in May 2014 will be reduced to about 9,800 after 2014, which would be cut to about 5000 in 2015, an leave only a small force of specially trained forces to protect the embassy and for additional security. Residual forces will include trainers and Special Operations forces to keep a check on Quaeda loyalists in remote parts of Afghanistan and in the mountains. The drones have accomplished much of the work done in earlier phases of the war by ground troops. The Afghan war has also been all about Pakistan. The completion of a full term in office of a democratically elected government for the first time, and the election of the Sharif government, including the participation of tribal and other Muslim extremists in elections, have been the hidden face of the war changing its face in other ways. The beginning of a focus on development in Pakistan and India, and the election of a new government in Aghanistan, the peace talks with the Taliban, are other parts of the shift to winding down America's presence coming from changes in the region itself- by changing the very nature of the conflict itself and isolating the most extremist elements....

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The low voter turnout helped protest parties such as the National Front in France and the Independence Party in Britain. The average across the EU was 43% turnout, with turnout in Britain at 36%, Slovakia 13%. Renzi in Italy led the Socialists there to 40% of the vote, and Merkel's CDU got 35% of the vote in Germany. The UMP came in second with 20% of the vote to Marie Le Pen's National Front's 25%, and Hollande's Socialists at 13% in France. In Britain the Independence Party won with Labor and Conservatives in second and third place. There are deep misgivings in Britain for Jean Claude Juncker who is the candidate for EU President from the centre-right European People's Party, which has 213 seats in the 743 seat parliament. Misgivings stem from whether Juncker can deliver on promises for a EU without much of the bureaucratic tendencies for Britain's 2017 referendum. The German SDP party's candidate is also contesting the election for EU president. Next come the centre-left parties of Socialists and Democrats with 190 seats. In the past EU president was chosen not by parliamentary election but by government leaders....

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Meeting between prime minister Modi of India and prime minister Sharif of Pakistan is unlike anything that has happened between leaders in the region since independence in 1947. Sharif told NDTV: "I intend taking up threads from where Vajpayee and I left off in 1999." Modi says Sharif touched on some emotional things in his conversation. Sharif told Modi about his visits to his mother once a week, and how Modi's visit to his mother seen by Sharif when visiting his mother touched both of them deeply. Rarely has a visit been captured in poetry in the manner Sharif did in answering a question, when he recited an Urdu couplet: "cling to the tree and hope, for spring is in sight."

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After lifting of a decade long ban on the console Sony plans to build sales volume for the Playstation 4 in China.

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This editorial in the WSJ, says its a surprise the protest vote in EU parliamentary elections did not come earlier, considering 11% unemployment in Europe and about 50% youth unemployment in some countries. Italy's Renzi government did well in the elections with 41% of the vote. The CDU got 30% of the vote. The French UMP party getting 20% and the Socialists 14%, a poor showing in France compared to the Natonal Front 25%. UKIP Independence party took 27% of the vote in the UK, with Labor and Conservatives a close second and third. Overall the results in Italy and Germany salvaged the situation, says the editorial, by making the pro-EU European People's Party (EPP), the largest group. It includes the UMP in France and CDU in Germany, and has 213 seats for then next 5 years, the largest group in a 753 member EU parliament.

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Seib comments on the rising nationalism in Europe, with a quarter of the votes in France going to the National Front of Marie La Pen, and a large share of votes to the Independence Party in the UK. This is partly a result of the austerity policies in Europe and declining confidence in the leading parties in the UK and France. Nationalism is increasing in Russia. Parties such as Putin's party in Russia are also appealing to nationalist sentiments to reduce the pressures from urban activists and anti-corruption movements in Moscow and other cities, such as the one led by Mr Navalny. The loss of confidence in ruling governments and in political parties in the age of mobile phones and internet communication- after austerity policies in Europe, and slowing growth and corruption in Russia- is leading to a protest vote in Europe, and a effort to deflect criticism in Russia by turning to nationalist issues. Nationalist issues in Asia stem from the more assertive stance taken by China and Japan, following the election of the LDP's Abe government in Japan, with a mandate to revive the economy....

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Russia and the West agree to a calming down of tensions in Ukraine and no increase in sanctions. Talks in Berlin lead to a decision for Ukraine to pay $2 billion for past purchases of natural gas and negotiations on price increases, according to European Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger.

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Zappos gets rid of job postings, saying they are a conversation killer, preventing a two way conversation with young people who are interested and fascinated with the company's unique way of doing business. Instead people who send out hundreds of resumes get to crowd out those who want to really engage in a relationship with the company. The answer is Zappos Insider which offers special membership for people who want to learn more about Zappos and its unique culture. Zappos ambassadors will act as people who carry the conversation forward with those who are interested.

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Pfizer said it will move on and end its efforts to merge with Astra Zeneca of the UK in a $120 billion deal, which has focussed on tax advantages by basing Pfizer in a lower tax location.

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India's new leader studied under a kerosene lamp while growing up in Vatnagar, Gujarat state. This has motivated him to electrify most villages in Gujarat state during the last decade as chief minister of Gujarat for the fourth term. He plans to take this electrification to an all India level. He was sworn in as prime minister of India on May 25, 2014.

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All cash purchases of homes by wealthy seniors and by foreign owners in 2013-2014. The thinning out of homes as distressed properties available from foreclosures in 2014. Institutional investors are also buying homes. Black Rock bought 45,000 homes for $8.6 billion in 2012 and 2013, and is retrenching a bit as it reduces purchases to about $30-$40 million a week in 2014. Other buyers from the middle class are still struggling to build up enough savings to buy homes, a reason for the weakness in the housing market.

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Inflation in the eurozone is running at 0.7%, well below the target of 2%. In a opening speech for a 2 day conference organized by the ECB in May 2014, ECB president Draghi said the increase in the value of the euro since 2011 has made commodities like oil cost less in euros, contributing to lower inflation. A key concern referred to in Draghi's speech is the data from Spain and Portugal about the difficulty for business to get loans in Spain and Portugal. About 25% of Spanish businesses and 33% of Portgual's businesses have difficulty getting loans. Even profitable companies have difficulty getting loans. One way the ECB could tackle this is to make cheap loans available to eurozone banks conditional on the money being lent to businesses and not invested in government bonds, as has happened during prior ECB efforts to capitalize banks.

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A NYT editorial on the CIA's ill-advised ruse using vaccination programs as cover to find intelligence on Bin Laden. Pakistan's immunization programs have suffered great damage as a result, and the U.S. should find ways to remedy the damage done in the years ahead. A simple apology from president Obama cannot suffice considering the dangerous exposure to polio for millions of Pakistanis, in a country where illiteracy and religious prejudice already pose barriers to vaccination. This issue needs serious attention from Americans looking for closing the bad chapter in America's relations with the South Asian region.

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Newly elected president Poroshenko's personal relations with Putin and his connections to Russia's business interests will help him improve relations with Putin. He wants to have substantive preparations for talks with Russia so that progress is made in relations and in other issues. Putin has said he will respect the results of the Ukraine election. Senators Portman and Cardin, and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright were in Kiev to monitor the elections, and found them to be fair and properly conducted. Turnout was high and voters rejected the old world politics of the main rival candidate Tymoshenko, who received only 13% of the vote compared to Poroshenko's 54%. Poroshenko is a businessman who started out in chocolate, but has business interests in automobiles and owns television station 5. He was Speaker of parliament, and Trade minister in previous governments. The election result and voter rejection of the old politics gives a fresh start, and a chance for Russia, Germany and the EU to move forward. Russian president Putin had serious problems with the old politicians and may find it easier to work with Poroshenko. American led sanctions provide Russia an incentive to resolve the situation to give Russia's economy a chance to recover from serious capital outflows. Poroshenko is pro-EU, with enough Russian connections to maintain confidence in Russian-Ukrainian relations, for the fresh start Ukrainians are looking for. His focus is on economic development, with jobs as a priority for the young people facing extremely high unemployment....