Of surgery to save his life following an apparent assassination attempt. Local media reported that the Prime Minister had regained consciousness. The deputy Prime Minister, tomas taraba, told the bbc that the operation had gone well and he expected mr fico to survive. The Prime Minister was shot several times as he was leaving a Government Meeting in what the Interior Minister described as a politically motivated attack. The deputy Prime Minister of slovakia accused opposition parties of using false narratives to paint the Prime Minister almost as a monster. In sliver you, we won two elections. In october we had parliamentary elections, so we have stabilised support of the public. In slavonic. Also international politics, speak about a false narrative that we want to leave the European Union and join the cooperation with russia and i dont want these false narratives and of course people from the other side lost the election sometimes, they believe in these narratives, they can become a little bit upset. The attack took place in the Central Slovakia town of handlova. The gunman is reported to be a 71 year old man whose motives are as yet unknown. Mr fico is a Populist Leader whos seen as a divisive figure in a politically polarised country. Bethany bell has more. This was the moment a european leader was shot. Gunshots. As he greeted members of the public in front of a local community centre. Robert fico was shot in the stomach and in the arm. His Security Team half dragged, half carried him to his car. A few metres away, amidst the chaos, Security Officials push a man to the ground. The suspect is believed to be in his 70s. Witnesses say he shot at the Prime Minister several times. Translation i heard three shots. It was quick, one by one, like if you throw firecrackers on the ground. I saw a scratch on the Prime Ministers head and then he fell next to the barrier. Its a nightmare. The 59 year old was flown by helicopter to hospital, where he had emergency surgery. Officials said his condition was critical. A few hours later, a sombre president addressed the nation. Translation i am shocked, we are all shocked by the terrible and vicious attack on Prime Minister robert fico. A physical attack on the Prime Minister is, first of all, an attack on a person, but it is also an attack on democracy. Hateful rhetoric, which we can see in society leads, to hateful actions. Please, stop it. Robert fico, seen here before the attack, is regarded as a divisive figure a populist whos accused of being authoritarian and too close to russia. The attack has been widely condemned by all sides in slovakia. Translation the attack on the Prime Minister is Terrible Uncivilised and brutal, pure evil. This should provoke just one reaction unite all society against evil, hate and violence. The suspect is now in police custody. The authorities are searching for a motive. Bethany bell, bbc news, bratislava. Lets speak to marty mullins. Shes an Eastern European and slovakian historian, as well as a lecturer at Flathead ValleyCommunity College in montana. Good to have you in the programme. What is your reaction to these events . Yes, it is shocking, reaction to these events . Yes, it is shocking, even reaction to these events . Yes, it is shocking, even here reaction to these events . Yes, it is shocking, even here on. It is shocking, even here on this side of the atlantic for such a normally peaceful, quiet country, to have such a tragic event happen. Country, to have such a tragic event happen country, to have such a tragic event happen. And your thoughts as to what could event happen. And your thoughts as to what could be event happen. And your thoughts as to what could be the as to what could be the motivation of this man who shot the Prime Minister several times . ,. , ~ times . Yes, i mean, ithink times . Yes, i mean, ithink time will times . Yes, i mean, ithink time will have times . Yes, i mean, ithink time will have two times . Yes, i mean, ithink time will have two tell times . Yes, i mean, ithink time will have two tell what i time will have two tell what his actual motives were. I have read some reports that are coming out, but it is pretty fuzzy at the moment. Coming out, but it is pretty fuzzy at the moment. Give us our fuzzy at the moment. Give us your take fuzzy at the moment. Give us your take then fuzzy at the moment. Give us your take then on fuzzy at the moment. Give us your take then on the fuzzy at the moment. Give us| your take then on the political environment in three other women. A lot is being said about how polarised politics is there currently, and also whether this event will make that worse or better slovakia. That worse or better slovakia. That worse or better slovakia. ,. , ~ slovakia. Yes, i really think this tragedy slovakia. Yes, i really think this tragedy will slovakia. Yes, i really think this tragedy will actually. This tragedy will actually cause to awaken slovakia, mainly the electorate, but also, politicians to the fact that words have consequences, and the words that are thrown around, whether on social media or even from the mouth or politicians, have been increasingly vitriolic and, unfortunately, Dangerous Things like this can happen. So i do Think Slovakia will unite around this, i think slovaks well and i think they will take the rhetoric down a notch. Yes, i mean, the rhetoric down a notch. Yes, i mean. There the rhetoric down a notch. Yes, i mean, there was the rhetoric down a notch. Yes, i mean, there was a the rhetoric down a notch. Yes, i mean, there was a real i mean, there was a real concern last year when these elections were taking place and the results and robert fico getting the job of Prime Minister, but also, where poland was headed, etc, various Key Countries in the east of europe. It has been a very difficult time, hasnt it, politically for these countries, would you say . Yes, absolutely countries, would you say . Yes, absolutely. Just countries, would you say . Yes, absolutely. Just as countries, would you say . Yes, absolutely. Just as slovakia absolutely. Just as Slovakia Self Is Run by victor albarn, in league with bridge ands russia that orban. That was a challenge under the letter of robert fico, who is also unfortunately aligned himself very openly with russia, and that is a challenge for nato and eu, poland of course responded very strongly against that in their recent election, and did the czech republic, so i do think, i know slovakia is better than this and i know that this event will galvanise the public to i think take down the polarised rhetoric. Rhetoric. 0k. Well, we appreciate rhetoric. 0k. Well, we appreciate your rhetoric. 0k. Well, we i appreciate your thoughts rhetoric. 0k. Well, we appreciate your thoughts on what is happening there. A specialist in Eastern Europe and slovakia history. Just to reiterate, robert fico is still in hospital after hours of surgery, but is said to be no longer in a life threatening condition. We will keep you up to date with what happens here on bbc news. Lets get some of the days other news now. An Arab League Summit is due to open in bahrain with the war in gaza at the centre of discussions. Leaders from across the region will call for an immediate ceasefire. Theyll also consider ways to advance the creation of an independent palestinian state, which the israeli Prime Minister rejects. At least four people have been killed in the French Overseas territory of New Caledonia during riots that began on tuesday over electoral reform. Members of the indigenous Kanak Community were angered by changes that will extend Voting Rights to french nationals whove lived locally for ten years. Police in switzerland say six people have been attacked by a man wielding a knife in the northern town of zofingen about 60 kilometres from zurich. Several of the victims are in a serious condition. The first stabbing took place near the towns railway station. The war in ukraine has left russia diplomatically isolated across much of the west, so President Putin has sought to strengthen friendships elsewhere, including in china, where the Russian Leader has arrived for a state visit. He was greeted in beijing by a guard of honour and a red carpet. Its the Russian Leaders second trip to china injust over six months, perhaps underlining the importance to moscow of the relationship after the unprecedented sanctions facing moscow. In the last hour, hes met with Xi Jinping In Full Pomp and ceremony. The two leaders are now holding talks. Later, theyll take part in a gala evening to celebrate 75 years since the soviet union recognised the peoples republic of china. Heres how the chineses Foreign Ministry described the ties between the two nations. Translation china and russia regarded as conferences, Fatigue Partners in a new era and our relations have continued to deliver healthy and stable manner with leaders of the two countries maintaining close contact. That view seems to be echoed in moscow. Heres what the Russian Ambassador had to say about the visit. Translation i believe that President Putins translation i believe that President Putins visit translation i believe that President Putins visit to President Putins visit to china this time will undoubtedly be of great significance to china, russia and the whole world. Despite the complex and turbulent international situation, china and russias relations remain solid and stable. Solid and stable. That is not the view solid and stable. That is not the view elsewhere. Because, while china is not selling arms to russia, washington believes its Exporting Tech and components essentialfor the war in ukraine. Heres what us Secretary Of StateAntony Blinken had to say during a recent trip to beijing. For china, if it wants to have better relations, not only with us, but with countries in europe, it cant do that while at the same time helping to fuel the biggest threat to European Security since the end of the cold war. Let us unpack this further. We speak now to matthew sussex. Hes a Associate Professor of strategic and defence studies at the Australian National university and joins me now from canberra. Good to have you on the programme. Talk us through what will be achieved during this trip as we have mentioned, is second to china in six months. Yes, well, this is putins first trip after winning the election as president , so he will be wanting to make a success out of it. Chiefly i think what he wants to do is negotiate with the chinese about ways in which the two countries can perhaps get around some of the western sanctions, in recent months chinese exports to russia have dipped, and chinese banks have become somewhat wary about taking payments from russian banks, so putin will prompt to reverse that and want to ensure that the Trade Relationship with the prc remains very much on track stop beyond that, probably also they will want to discuss what types of cooperation they are going to do in places like central asia, which has been a very important conduit for effectively chinese dual use technology that has found its way from beijing to moscow. Found its way from beiing to moscow. ,. ,. , moscow. How important is the relationship moscow. How important is the relationship to moscow. How important is the relationship to china . Moscow. How important is the relationship to china . We moscow. How important is the | relationship to china . We know that china is getting a lot of its oil now from russia, we assume at a fairly decent price for china, it can negotiate hard on that given the fact that russias market is closed off quite significantly, but talk us through what is in this for china. Talk us through what is in this for china for china. Well, the chinese effectively for china. Well, the chinese effectively in for china. Well, the chinese effectively in being for china. Well, the chinese effectively in being able for china. Well, the chinese effectively in being able to i effectively in being able to sign up russia to some long term deals over energy and notjust oil, but also gas, there is a keenness to sign longer term gas steals from the so called power of siberia plant. China effectively gets a secure area where it can have energy more or less independence. The price for thatis independence. The price for that is relatively small i think. It continues to exercise what it calls Straddle Diplomacy or what is being called struggled diplomacy over the war in ukraine in which publicly it calls for a cessation of hostilities, but privately, it continues to support putin. So it is not an enormous price to pay i think if you are xi jinping considering the types of resource benefits that a relationship with russia can bring. Relationship with russia can brina. ,. , ~ bring. 0k. Interesting. Thank ou. We bring. 0k. Interesting. Thank vom we will bring. 0k. Interesting. Thank you. We will have bring. 0k. Interesting. Thank you. We will have more bring. 0k. Interesting. Thank you. We will have more on i you. We will have more on Vladimir Putins trip to china in business of course, the Trade Relationship as we have just discussed is key. Now to ukraine. Security officials in the northeast say fighting is raging in the border town of vovcha nsk, where Russian Troops have taken up positions. President Volodymyr Zelensky has cancelled his overseas engagements and has promised that the military was rushing reinforcements to the area, as James Waterhouse reports. Not your usual traffic jam in Russias Belgorod region,. As a Rocket Launcher pulls over to pour fire into neighbouring ukraine, causing panic across the border. What do you need to take . Lets move quicker, lets go, says this police officer. The russians are using new tactics here constant Ground Assaults and relentless air strikes, although not all bombs go off. Now ukrainian troops are withdrawing from some positions near the border. For the first time in 18 months, this war is no longer a grinding stalemate. Russia has momentum, and that is fuelling a sense of diplomatic urgency here in kyiv. My my apologies. The audio was bad on that. We will bring that to you later. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. Hello again. The situation in areas of afghanistan hardest hit by flash floods that killed hundreds of people remains critical, the World Health Organization has said, and the authorities have predicted more bad weather to come. Our correspondent Caroline Davies sent this report from northern baghlan province. This used to be a village. Little trace of lives swept away. Only the debris. Sticky mud, heated hardening. Salvaging whats left is tough. Translation we havent got even a glass left for a cup of tea. There is nothing. This is one of the worst hit villages and people are still trying to excavate their homes, trying to salvage what they can from the rubble. Everywhere you look, there are uprooted trees, there are bits of building and the destruction is just in every direction. Over here, more people, more homes, more buildings destroyed, more belongings, and people here who still dont have a home to stay in tonight. Flash floods tore through villages in northeast afghanistan, sweeping away everything in their path. Here, a miraculous rescue dragged alive from muddy waters. Many were not. Abdul� s familys three homes stood here for 20 years. He returned to find nothing but this wall. Ten out of 18 of his family were killed, swept away. Translation we were searching for Family Members in knee deep mud. So we took off our shoes and continued searching. Eventually, we found the bodies miles away from here. These stark valleys have seen flooding before, but no one we spoke to had seen anything like this in their lifetime. On the broken road, women walk between bereaved families. Singing. Offering graveside prayers. They will make more than one stop today. The grieving is not over. Lets bring you the latest on france. The french government says an unprecedented man hunt continues to find the gang who killed two Prison Officers in an ambush. A 30 year old convicted burglar escaped after the van taking him back to jail was rammed yesterday morning at a toll booth in n