interest payments some of which are linked to inflation. let s get this in perspective though the uk s national debt is at record levels. it owes £2.69 trillion. that is almost the size of the uk economy the so called debt to gdp ratio is around 97.7%. that is a useful guide to how affordable the debt is for a country. the chancellor has pledged to get that ratio down. the uk s far better off than some of its neighbours though italy s debt to gdp is around 140%. but if we look at germany s that s is only around 65%. but if we look at germany s that s only around 65%. staying in the uk where aside from talk of potential tax cuts there are stark warnings that 2 million people could have their gas and electricity cut off this winter because they can t afford to top up their prepayment meter. that comes from the charity the citizens advice bureau as cost of living pressure continue to bite for many. joining me now is the report author alex belsham harris en
of which are linked to inflation. let s put this into perspective because the uk s national debt is at record levels. it owes £2.69 trillion. that is almost the size of the uk economy the so called debt to gdp ratio is around 97.7%. that is a useful guide to how affordable the debt is for a country. the chancellor has pledged to get that ratio down. the uk s far better off than some of its neighbours though italy s debt to gdp is around 140%. but if we look at germany s that s only around 65%. let s get more on this from our chief economics correspondent, dharshini david. she s in the bbc business newsroom here in london. hi. first off, what is behind that figure? hi. first off, what is behind that fiuure? , ., ., ., ., ., hi. first off, what is behind that fiuure? , ., ., ., ., y figure? just one month out of a 12 month financial figure? just one month out of a 12 month financial year figure? just one month out of a 12 month financial year but - figure? just one
lets speak to professor nick maynard who is the lead clinician at medical aid for palestinians one of the aid groups told to withdraw and cease activities at hospital in gaza. tell us what your colleagues in gaza are saying. we tell us what your colleagues in gaza are sa inc. ~ tell us what your colleagues in gaza aresa in. , , tell us what your colleagues in gaza aresa in. ,, ., , are saying. we left because of this mornin: , are saying. we left because of this morning. we are saying. we left because of this morning, we had are saying. we left because of this morning, we had spent are saying. we left because of this morning, we had spent two - are saying. we left because of this morning, we had spent two weeks| are saying. we left because of this i morning, we had spent two weeks at al aqsa hospital and saw the most appalling number of injuries and types of injuries from bombs and other explosives, from guns as well. we had to leave on friday. we had not been there for
Being rescued on the front line as fighting rages around them. Calls for Energy Companies to stop making their customers use Prepayment Meters because theyre struggling to pay their bills. Bumper christmas sales for some of britains biggest retailers, despite the cost of living crisis. And tributes for the legendary rock guitaristjeff beck, who has died at the age of 78. And coming up on the Bbc News Channel. Great Britains Jack Draper will hope to be the Headline Maker in the first round of the Australian Open on monday. Hes been drawn against the defending champion, rafael nadal. Good afternoon and welcome to the news at one. Theres more evidence of the crisis in the nhs in england. Ambulance response times reached their worst level on record in december. Category 2 emergency calls, which include strokes, took more than an hour and a half on average. The target is 18 minutes. The highest priority calls, with an immediate threat to life, took almost 11 minutes on average. The target i
the health secretary will meet representatives from the british medical association and other unions later this morning, in a bid to avert future strike action. and tributes pour in forjeff beck, one of the most influential rock guitarists of all time, who has died at the age of 78. hello and welcome to bbc news. a russian mercenary group fighting in ukraine says it has found the body of one of two british aid workers reported missing over the weekend. christopher parry and andrew bagshaw were last seen on friday heading to the town of soledar, which has seen fierce fighting in recent weeks. the claim has not been verified by the foreign office and the wagner group of mercenaries did not give a name. gareth barlow has this report. chris parry and andrew bagshaw went missing on friday, while travelling to the town of soledar. ukrainian police have since been conducting investigations into their disappearance. but now, unconfirmed reports from accounts linked to russia s wagner