BBC News Briefing

6 February, 2026

Alex has short blonde hair and blue eyes. She is smiling and wearing a black turtleneck

Alex Binley

Hello. Across the US, healthcare costs are increasing, leaving many unable to pay their bills. Reporter Madeline Halpert speaks to experts about potential solutions to the problem. In Ukraine, as Russian soldiers push forwards, Eastern Europe correspondent Sarah Rainsford meets a woman who is reburying her husband hundreds of miles from their hometown, fearful his grave could end up in occupied territory. And finally, why not have a go at our weekly quiz?

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Why US healthcare needs fixing, but there's no agreement on how to do it

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Despite spending more on healthcare compared with other wealthy nations, the US has a lower life expectancy, according to health research nonprofit KFF. Credit: Getty Images

Across the US, 100 million people are struggling to pay off medical and dental healthcare debts, data suggests. America has one of the most expensive healthcare systems in the world, with spending estimated to reach $5.9tn (£4.3tn) in 2026, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. For years, both Republicans and Democrats have recognised a need for reforms to a costly and convoluted system, but have disagreed on the best solutions to fix the problem. For all the acceptance that the US healthcare system is broken, is there the political will to fix it? And could fresh attempts at reform fall short?

What the experts say

GET UP TO SPEED

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NEWS FROM THE UK

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Sir Elton John: The musician told a court it was "sickening" to learn of how a newspaper breached his family's privacy in relation to the birth of his son.

Baby formula: 28 batches of products are being recalled due to potential contamination with a toxin that can cause vomiting and stomach cramps.

AT THE SCENE

Kyiv, Ukraine

Fearing Russia will seize her town, war widow moves husband's grave to Kyiv

A woman is outside and wears a red hat, yellow coat and holds some red roses. She is looking at the ground and crying. Behind her, three other people can be partially seen and are out of focus.

Natalia's husband never got to meet their daughter who was born after he died. Credit: Matthew Goddard/BBC

As Russia's invasion of Ukraine approaches its fourth anniversary, Moscow's forces continue to try and push eastwards. Those living close to the frontlines face near daily attacks, while much of the country has been hit by energy blackouts during a freezing winter as Russia targets infrastructure. And it is against this backdrop that the Kremlin continues to push for the entire Donbas region in US-led talks.

Sarah Rainsford has brwn, bobbed hair and is looking at the camera and smiling. Only her head can be seen.

Sarah Rainsford, Eastern Europe correspondent

The quiet of a Kyiv cemetery is broken by a trumpet salute, then a burst of rifle fire. Soldiers stretch a Ukrainian flag over a shiny wooden coffin and stand silently alongside it in the sparkling white snow. A woman cries, her face crumpling. Natalia is burying her husband for the second time.

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Vitaly was killed three years ago fighting in the eastern Donbas and his first grave was in their home town of Slovyansk. But Russian forces have advanced since then and the area is increasingly under attack. So Natalia had her husband's grave exhumed and Vitaly's remains moved hundreds of miles to Ukraine's capital. "The frontline is constantly moving closer and I was scared Vitaly might end up under occupation," she explains.