World News from the BBC

Official figures from the United States show that the job market there has weakened last month, adding to evidence that the US economy may be slowing. Unemployment rose to 9.1%. The number of new jobs created was sharply down from previous months. Jonny Dymond reports from Washington.

Foul weather, high energy prices and the earthquake in Japan are being blamed for the bad news on jobs. But the broader picture is">is most troubling. The US economy has softened. The manufacturing surge is">is tailing away, and the property market still

on its knees

is

dragging down

growth. Unemployment had fallen steadily from December to April, but since then it has climbed. The new jobs created this month won't

soak up

new entrants into the labour market,

let alone

re-engage the millions that lost their jobs in the recent severe recession.

A senior European financial official says Greece is likely to receive additional assistance from the European Union. Luxembourg's Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who also heads the EU's group of finance ministers, told reporters that the additional support should be

available

in early July,

subject to

strict

condition

s. He added that the private sector should be encouraged to contribute.

European Union health officials say the rate of infection from the highly-toxic strain of E.coli which has hit Germany and killed nearly 20 people has fallen in the past two days. Doctors warn that it's unclear if the decrease marks a permanent decline.