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An active CIA officer raised eyebrows by contending in a book that the United States is losing the war on terror. In his second NPR interview, the author of Imperial Hubris says U.S. policymakers made important mistakes in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Weather officials announce the earliest end to the country's annual summer rainy season since the Japan Meteorological Agency began keeping records in 1951.

Ukraine's southern forces have been striking the island in recent days to take out Russian outposts. Russia's defense ministry said its troops left as a "goodwill gesture."

Musician, producer, arranger, composer Quincy Jones has a new autobiography, Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones, (Doubleday) and a 4-CD boxset collecting his work, Q: The Musical Biography of Quincy Jones (Rhino). In his fifty year career hes worked with just about anyone who is anybody in the music business. As a teenager he played backup for Billie Holiday, along with his 16 year old friend, Ray Charles. At 18 he began playing the trumpet in Lionel Hamptons band beside Clifford Brown. He went on to work with Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughn, Lesley Gore and many others. He wrote the theme songs for the TV shows Sanford & Sons, and Ironside, and music for the films In Cold Blood, For the Love of Ivy, and The Pawnbroker. His biggest commercial success was producing and arranging Michael Jacksons 1982 hit album Thriller.

This year, Louvin released his first studio album in more than 10 years. The self-titled disc contains reworked versions of the country-gospel legend's songs, featuring guest vocals from a wide variety of big names, including Elvis Costello and Wilco's Jeff Tweedy.

Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, recently returned to the world of popular music with An Other Cup, his first secular studio album in 28 years. The disc contains old songs that were never recorded, songs he wrote in the last couple of years, and songs that he came up with once he reached the studio.

Jazz vocalist Roberta Gambarini sails like an angel on top of a song, while Freddy Cole's baritone voice rides low, full of experience but still sentimental. Hear them both in a concert recorded live for JazzSet.

Kurt Elling's expressive, flexible baritone with a four-octave range can fly over horn lines, caress a love song, or recite poetry. The tenor performs on stage at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

The phenomenal Bireli Lagrene can play anything, but his music extends a vital French tradition. The French guitarist has celebrated the hot club jazz of Django Reinhardt ever since the release of his first CD at age 13. Here, Lagrene performs with the Lausanne Big Band at a concert recorded in Switzerland.

After a seven-year absence, author Ethan Canin returns with America America, a novel that explores power and influence in politics past.