海角大神

Paul Manafort was the first person to stand trial of 32 individuals charged by the special counsel鈥檚 office in the Trump-Russia investigation. Tuesday鈥檚 guilty verdict could serve to apply pressure on Manafort to cooperate with the special counsel on the central focus of their investigation: collusion with Russia.

Could Roe v. Wade be overturned? That鈥檚 what some hoped 鈥� or feared 鈥� with the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Two key GOP senators, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine,聽have found nothing "disqualifying" about the judge so far, but have lots of questions for him this week.

It鈥檚 unusually quiet now on the front between Israel and Hamas. Perhaps it's yet another temporary truce. But some say both sides may be laying the foundation 鈥� and gathering the courage 鈥� for a more enduring stability in the region.

As the farm bill makes its way through Congress, there鈥檚 a tricky balance to strike between compassion for America鈥檚 most needy during a strong economy and compassion for farmers amid falling crop prices.

Finally, for our nature lovers, here鈥檚 an essay by a former Monitor staffer. Why she鈥檚 sending memos to the critters in her yard.

Today, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras marked the end of his country鈥檚 eight-year 鈥渙dyssey鈥� from international bailouts that were the largest for any sovereign nation in history ($330 billion). The official end of the bailout from Greece鈥檚 eurozone partners and the International Monetary Fund, he said, was 鈥渁 day of redemption.鈥� He pointed to a need for further reforms, such as better tax compliance and the end of a patronage system.聽But Greece is now a stable center in the eastern Mediterranean. Its economy is growing 1 to 2 percent, exports are rising, and unemployment is falling. While it will take years to lower its outsize debt, Greece鈥檚 budget is running a surplus. It can again seek money from financial markets.聽More Greeks now see more of a future in entrepreneurship than in government work.聽The imposed austerity has left its mark on daily life and many businesses; many well-educated Greeks have left for other countries. Yet the 鈥渘ew era鈥� also includes a shake-up of Greece鈥檚 politics. People are more demanding of integrity and accountability. So far, the odyssey has been worth it, both for Greece and the rest of Europe.