BBC News Briefing

21 April, 2026

Sofia has long brown hair and brown eyes and is wearing a green top.

Sofia Lotto Persio

Hello. Two million people in Iran have lost their jobs as a result of the conflict with the US and Israel, an Iranian official has said. BBC Persian's Behrang Tajdin has the details. In the latest episode of From Our Own Correspondent, Christine Finn visits Japan's island of Okinawa to learn about ageing gracefully. And finally, watch a skydiving show take an unexpected turn.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Iran undecided on talks, official tells BBC

A woman leans across a vegetable stall as a seated man watches her, at a market in Tehran on 24 March 2026.

Soaring inflation and rising job losses are deepening the crisis in Iran. Credit: EPA

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, has told the BBC that a decision has yet to be made for a delegation to travel to Islamabad for a new round of talks with the US this week. Read his interview with chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet. US President Donald Trump has said he "expects to be bombing" if progress is not made in the peace talks. For Iran, the economic impact of the war goes far beyond factories closed down after being hit by air strikes, writes economics correspondent Behrang Tajdin. As he notes, widespread lay-offs are one of the biggest topics of conversation among ordinary Iranians on social media.

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GET UP TO SPEED

Kevin Warsh has short salt-and-pepper hair and brown eyes. He is wearing a grey suit and dark blue tie.

Confirmation hearing held for Trump's Fed chair pick

Kevin Warsh clashed with Democratic lawmakers during a fiery hearing to decide if he should chair the Federal Reserve.

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A group of hundreds of men with shaved heads, wearing white t-shirts and shorts or trousers and blue surgical masks, are seen sitting on white plastic chairs in an open space at a confinement centre in El Salvador

Mass trial of alleged MS-13 gang leaders begins

The El Salvador attorney general's office said the 486 suspects are collectively accused of more than 47,000 crimes.

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Madonna offers reward for return of Coachella outfit

The singer wore the same boots, corset and jacket during her Coachella performance 20 years ago.

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NEWS FROM THE UK

Smoking ban: Legislation that aims to stop anyone born after 1 January 2009 from taking up smoking has cleared Parliament.

London collision: A 29-year-old former X Factor contestant has appeared in court charged with attempted murder after a car hit pedestrians.

Sperm donor: A court has ruled that a man who claims to have fathered 180 children cannot add his name to one of his children's birth certificates.

AT THE SCENE

Ogimi, Japan

Unlocking the secret to longevity

Two elderly women crouch on a pebble beach. Both are covering their hair with a white cloth and are wearing gloves while digging through the beach for shellfish.

There are many birthday milestones in Japanese culture – 13th, 25th, 49th, and 73rd, to name a few. Credit: BBC

From Our Own Correspondent: Due to its unusually high population of centenarians, the Japanese island of Okinawa is one of five so-called Blue Zones - areas that can teach the rest of the world how to live well for longer.

Christine has long, straight white hair and blue eyes

Christine Finn, BBC News

I walked to lunch at a famous local family-run restaurant. The owner, Emiko Kinjo, in her late 70s, is something of a rock star in global longevity circles. I’d read about her menus tailored for long life, using local and seasonal produce to promote gut health: high on carbs, low on calories - plenty of vegetables, whole grains, legumes and - key to my quest - some ingredients special to Okinawa.

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Emiko came out of the kitchen to greet me. I was encouraged to look at her garden, which she tends every day, bringing years of traditional knowledge to the table along with the produce. She also cooks with food grown by other village grandmothers - or obi. Underpinning this is the importance attached to maintaining strong social networks – helping to lower stress and improve mental wellness. It’s known as the maoi way – or "common purpose".

Listen from the 23' mark

Listen more: Catch up with previous episodes of From Our Own Correspondent.

Watch: Okinawa residents share their tips for a long, healthy life.

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