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New York Times foreign correspondent Dexter Filkins has just returned from Afghanistan. He discusses what he's seen since the recent troop surge and explains the challenges the U.S. faces in trying to drive the Taliban out of the country.

Ash from an Icelandic volcano is causing big and costly disruptions in Europe but, so far, it's nothing compared with the havoc caused by the country's economic eruption a year and a half ago. How can a remote island in the North Atlantic, with only about 320,000 people, be the source of so much damage?

Ash from an Icelandic volcano is causing big and costly disruptions in Europe but, so far, it's nothing compared with the havoc caused by the country's economic eruption a year and a half ago. How can a remote island in the North Atlantic, with only about 320,000 people, be the source of so much damage?

Writer George Prochnik says there's plenty of evidence that noise can be harmful as well as annoying, with studies pointing to hearing loss — and even risks of higher blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. His new book, In Pursuit of Silence, is a study of noise in the modern world.

While the U.S. has unequaled offensive cyberwar capability, experts say it is unprepared to fend off a massive cyberattack. "I see this as possibly one of the gravest intelligence battles the U.S. has ever fought, and it's a battle we're currently losing," says cyberpolicy analyst James Lewis.

The West Virginia coal mine where 25 people were killed in an underground explosion has been cited for serious safety problems several times this year, federal records show. About $1.8 million in penalties have been levied against the mine since 2006, of which the company has paid about $365,000.

No country in the world is more dependent on its computers than the U.S., making it uniquely vulnerable to attack. One official tells NPR that the Pentagon has experienced an "explosion" of computer attacks, currently averaging about 5,000 each day. But is the country ready to wage a cyberwar?

David Remnick has a nearly impossible task in his new biography of Barack Obama: writing "the most complete account yet" of the most famous man on the planet. The well-written and well-researched book may be ahead of its time; the events in it are so familiar right now that its scholarship may resonate better in 20 years.

Once upon a time, it was fashionable to adore all things French. Those days are gone — remember "freedom fries"? — but author Danielle Trussoni is convinced that there are plenty of Americans who still love French culture, fashion and food. Trussoni recommends three books about France — all with a certain je ne sais quoi.

President Obama's chief economic adviser says despite the U.S. economy's addition of 162,000 jobs in March, the administration is still concerned about the high unemployment rate. But Christina Romer says a complex picture emerges when the data are more closely examined.