INTERNATIONAL

Japan’s Jobless Rate Still at Record High: The country’s unemployment rate stood at a record 3.2% in August, the third straight month for a record increase. The government’s Management and Coordination Agency said the number of unemployed rose by 160,000, or 8%, to 2.16 million from a year ago. Meanwhile, in an effort to pump life into the economy, Japan’s Cabinet endorsed a second extra budget of more than $50 billion this fiscal year. The action is designed to help finance a $142-billion stimulus package announced last week. The extra budget, to be submitted to Parliament next week, calls for hefty public works spending.