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Joe Nocera is an op-ed columnist for The New York Times. He joins host Scott Simon to talk about the momentum the latest jobs figures might give to President Obama in this election year.

Japan's Miyage prefecture was one of the hardest hit by last year's earthquake and tsunami. There, the coastal community of Yuriage remains practically deserted. What was once a beautiful harbor filled with boats and a bustling community is now a desolate and deserted place, Doualy Xaykaothao reports.

It's the one-year anniversary of Japan's devastating earthquake and Tsunami and there's still plenty of work to be done. There's frustration about the government's response, concerns over nuclear reactors, and overall dampened spirits as those who evacuated have abandoned their towns all together. Weekends on All Things Considered host Guy Raz checks in with NPR's Anthony Kuhn about the progress of Japan's slow recovery.

Israel's former intelligence chief says Iran does not pose an existential threat, and while U.S. intelligence officials do not believe Iran intends to build a bomb the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog says Iran has accelerated its uranium enrichment program. Facing tough sanctions, Iran's leaders have agreed to resume direct talks on the country's nuclear program while the drumbeats of war continue.

Something strange happened shortly after school started last year in Le Roy, a tiny town of 7,500 people in Western New York. A handful of girls were stricken with bizarre twitches, tics, and spasms — all apparently involuntary. Soon the condition spread,and to date 19 people have exhibited symptoms Environmentalists descended on Le Roy, claiming pollution had to be to blame. But as New York Times Magazine staff writer Susan Dominus tells weekends on All Things Considered host Guy Raz, what happened to the girls in Le Roy may be more complicated than that.

In the past couple of months, computer giant Apple has come under criticism for working conditions in Chinese factories that help build iPads. Last week, NPR met with 25 workers injured in an explosion at an Apple supplier in Shanghai. They criticized safety at the plant and say the accident will have a lasting effect on their lives.

Americans have worked for years to position themselves as protectors of Afghans against murderous insurgents. But on Sunday, a U.S. Army sergeant surrendered after a shooting rampage that left 16 people killed — including women and children.

Days of fighting on the border between Israel and the Gaza strip cotinues. Israeli airstrikes killed three more people Monday in Gaza, the Palestinian-held area. Israelis have been bombing, Palestinians have been firing rockets into Israel.

Mississippi and Alabama hold Republican primaries Tuesday. The two Southern contests are crucial for former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. They have been working to pry votes away from Mitt Romney.

Japan is far from back to normal, after an earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster devastated the northeastern part of the country a year ago. U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos talks to Steve Inskeep about his latest visit to the hard-hit region of Tohoku.