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Hello and welcome to your afternoon news update from AP. Today, surprisingly strong job creation; how the Trump administration could overhaul disaster relief; and the Pentagon releases a batch of new files on UFOs.

UP FIRST

Hiring sign for sales professionals is displayed at a store in Vernon Hills, Ill. on April 15. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

US employers defy economic shock from Iran war and add a surprisingly strong 115,000 jobs in April

Hiring was better than the 65,000 forecasters had expected, though it decelerated from the 185,000 jobs created in March. The unemployment rate remained at a low 4.3%. The Iran war has caused the biggest disruption of global oil supplies in history and sent average U.S. gasoline prices surging past $4.50 a gallon this week. But the conflict hasn’t done much damage to the American job market so far. Read more.

TOP STORIES

Trump-appointed FEMA Review Council proposes sweeping changes to federal disaster support

A council meant to reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency proposed Thursday a series of long-awaited changes to the disaster recovery body that stop short of the administration’s promises to dismantle it, but could reduce the number of disasters the federal government supports and the amount of money it doles out. The council appointed by President Donald Trump approved a highly anticipated report that outlines ways the Trump administration could potentially put far more responsibility on states, tribes and territories for disaster preparedness, response and recovery. Read more.

Tech is turning increasingly to religion in a quest to create ethical AI

As concerns mount over artificial intelligence and its rapid integration into society, tech companies are increasingly turning to faith leaders for guidance on how to shape the technology — a surprising about-face on Silicon Valley’s longstanding skepticism of organized religion. Leaders from various religious groups met last week with representatives from companies including Anthropic and OpenAI for the inaugural “Faith-AI Covenant” roundtable in New York to discuss how best to infuse morality and ethics into the fast-developing technology. Read more.