Is in custody. Lets go live to the slovak capital, bratislava, and our correspondent, sarah rainsford. Sarah, bring us up to date with the latest we know about the condition of the Prime Minister this morning. Well, we have heard from the director of the hospital where mr fico is being treated, where he received Emergency Care overnight and yesterday afternoon and evening. He was in surgery for some five hours. That was Emergency Surgery after he received three gunshot wounds. We understand that includes wins to his stomach and to his arm. So extremely and serious injuries. Long, long surgery, five hours of surgery, multiple wounds. Now the defence minister has said his condition has stabilised and that he is no longer in a life threatening condition, but he is still in Critical Care in that hospital 100 or so miles from where we are here in bratislava. A dramatic attack, of course. You will have seen those pictures as robert fico came out of his government meeting, went out to meet small crowd of supporters who had gathered outside behind security barriers, he extended his hand and started shaking hands with those supporters and a man just shaking hands with those supporters and a manjust to shaking hands with those supporters and a man just to the shaking hands with those supporters and a manjust to the right shaking hands with those supporters and a man just to the right of shaking hands with those supporters and a manjust to the right of him reached into a pocket, pulled out a gun and fired five shots. And it took time moments before mr fico� s security personnel realised i think what happened and then moved to apprehend the gunman, to stop him firing that gone. But three bullets did hit mr fico, which is why he is in such a Serious Condition that gone. And frankly, it is startling that he managed to survive what was described at the time is life threatening injuries. find described at the time is life threatening injuries. Threatening inuries. And watching those images threatening injuries. And watching those images from threatening injuries. And watching those images from yesterday threatening injuries. And watching those images from yesterday as l threatening injuries. And watching l those images from yesterday as you describe what was happening, what do we know about the suspect . Weill. We know about the suspect . Well, that is extremely we know about the suspect . Well, that is extremely unclear. We know about the suspect . Well, that is extremely unclear. There. We know about the suspect . Ii that is extremely unclear. There has been Nothing Official coming from police, prosecutors. The Interior Ministry has said that this was a politically motivated attack, but we dont really know officially anything about the identity of the man behind it. There are a lot of pictures, of course. He was arrested at the scene, he is clearly visible and he has been identified by the media in slovakia as a 71 year old man. The government is trying to portray him as somehow incited to this attack by Opposition Groups here in slovakia and by the media here in slovakia and by the media here in slovakia and by the media here in slovakia. The government are painting forces who have whipped up tensions, whipped up anger and somehow led this man to make this attack. But his profile is far more complicated than that. He has been linked by the slovak media to far right groups, he is known to be a nationalist, a poet and a writer who has written against migrants and against the Romo Community here. But he has also made long youtube videos speaking out against violence after he was beaten up as a Security Guard in a supermarket. So a complex character and nothing seems straightforward in this attack and Nothing Official identifying him or trying to explain his motive. Sarah rainsford in trying to explain his motive. Sarah rainsford in bratislava, trying to explain his motive. Sarah rainsford in bratislava, thank trying to explain his motive. Sarah rainsford in bratislava, thank you. And a reminder, you can get much more from slovakia online, including this article from our correspondent in the region rob cameron on how Robert Fico Rose to dominate slovak politics. You can find that on the bbc news website or app. To china now, where russias President Putin is on a state visit his first foreign trip since his unprecedented re election for a fifth term, and his second visit to china in six months. A short while ago, he and chinas president , xijinping, signed a joint declaration, stressing the two countries strategic partnership. In his opening remarks, the chinese president talked about the two countries long history, saying the nations deepening mutual trust, and support for one another. President xi also said he and President Putin agreed on the need for a political solution to the ukraine conflict. President putin thanked china for a warm reception, adding that the talks were also pragmatic. Lets cross live to beijing and speak with our china correspondent, stephen mcdonell, who has been watching the two leaders. So ukraine was discussed, what would be your assessment of the message the two leaders were giving today . Well, the overall message is just all about the symbolism. I mean, the Biden Administration has already accused the Chinese Government of offering serious Material Support for Vladimir Putins invasion of ukraine. So equipment, which is not only helping russia, but also, according to the us government, helping russia to build more tanks, to build more drones, direct and Material Support from china. And now this visit is also all about offering moral support for an isolated vladimir putin. He cannot go to many countries because he risks being detained and sent to the International Criminal court because of that invasion. Yet when he comes to china, he can be in the great hall of the people, appearing to his own people as more of a statesman than a grow than a global pariah. And then when he has his meeting with xijinping, he and then when he has his meeting with xi jinping, he says, and then when he has his meeting with xijinping, he says, and i will give you a bit of a taste of it, our cooperation in World Affairs is one of the main stabilising factors on the international stage. Stabilising, so he saying well he is instigating a bloody, destructive war in the middle of europe. Together, we will defend the principles of fairness and the democratic world order, based on international law. Now, im sure the ukraine government would not agree with that, nor would many people in ukraine. But you can see that here, and the Chinese Government thinks thatis and the Chinese Government thinks that is ok, an xijinping responds that is ok, an xijinping responds that these two governments are actually upholding justice in the world. Now, i know these are all just words, but to many analysts they would seem to conflict wildly with reality. And yet, they are able to do this. And even for example when it comes to trade cooperation and they are talking it up, talking up and they are talking it up, talking up the idea that this partnership is Getting Better and better and that trade is significant. Really, they are still well short of chinas trade with the us or the importance of chinas trade with europe. That being said, there is russia, it is isolated and has sanctions placed on it, who is going to buy all its gas . According to the latest statistics, china has increased imports of gas from russia by a0 . Vladimir putin spoke today about how great it was that more russian food was being sent to china. So while the numbers are still not massive, you can see how crucial the support can be. If you are a country like russia. Stephen mcdonell. From beijing, thank you. On the bbc news website, alive pages running with plenty of analysis from stephen and our china correspondent in beijing giving the latest lines from that Press Conference. We call it a Press Conference, there were no questions taken, but certainly statements by the two leaders. To the middle east. The Israeli Army Says five of its soldiers were killed when they were mistakenly fired on by one of its tanks in northern gaza. Two shells were fired at the paratroopers injabalia. These images show the aftermath of an israeli strike injabalia. Israeli Ground Forces re entered the area earlier this month. Lets speak to our correspondent danjohnson injersusalem. Dan. What can you tell us about this incident in jabalia . What can you tell us about this incident in jabalia . What can you tell us about this incident in jabalia . Yes, we know this happened incident in jabalia . Yes, we know this happened yesterday incident in jabalia . Yes, we know this happened yesterday as incident in jabalia . Yes, we know| this happened yesterday as Israeli Soldiers were sent back into one of the areas that had been declared cleared and free of hamas fighters as early as january. Cleared and free of hamas fighters as early asjanuary. So cleared and free of hamas fighters as early as january. So somewhere that the idf had completed its operations, but had had to return to because of the reappearance of hamas fighters in that area. And it is in clearing buildings there that this group of Israeli Soldiers were fired on, shelled out by an israeli tank. That is certainly the early indications that this was a tragic Friendly Fire Incident. Perhaps the worst Friendly Fire Incident we have seen since the start of this conflict in gaza in october. Five young soldiers aged just 20, 21, 22 killed by that tank shelling, seven other soldiers wounded, three of them are seriously injured and receiving treatment. And the idf is reviewing the full circumstances of how this happened. It is another reminder of the israeli lives that are at risk in gaza and the threat thatis are at risk in gaza and the threat that is still posed to the palestinian population there is the idf returns to areas that it had previously declared safe. And thats why there is growing discussion of how successful, how sustainable israels Military Strategy is now in gaza. What its aims are, its chances of success and particularly what the future plans for gaza are once the Military Operation is concluded. Yes, you have been talking about the fact it is on the front pages, really gathering momentum, the discussion within israeli politics, the Israeli Government about this issue. ,. ,. , issue. Yes, we have got Open Criticism issue. Yes, we have got Open Criticism and issue. Yes, we have got Open Criticism and challenge issue. Yes, we have got Open Criticism and challenge to issue. Yes, we have got Open Criticism and challenge to the issue. Yes, we have got Open Criticism and challenge to the way Benjamin Netanyahu is running this Military Operation, from his own defence minister, yoav gallant. If i show you the front pages this morning. This paper says a Military Government in gaza that would mean only blood and sacrifice without purpose. Youve got gallant and Benjamin Netanyahu with the headline, this is no way to run a war. And thejerusalem post saying, gallant slams netanyahus gallant slams neta nyahus indecisiveness gallant slams netanyahus indecisiveness on gaza. And thats all about the question of who will govern gaza in the long run once the Military Operation has concluded. Who will represent the Palestinian People . Who will coordinate the rebuilding of gazas infrastructure . What is the future role for israel, for future International Organisations . These are Big Questions which gallant says Benjamin Netanyahu needs to answer, he needs to lay out a clear plan. So far, netanyahus response has been to say he wont work with the Palestinian Authority that represents palestinians on the west bank and his priority now is purely the elimination of hamas. Dan johnson in the elimination of hamas. Dan johnson in gaza, the elimination of hamas. Dan johnson in gaza, thank you. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. Welcome back to bbc news. Lets get back to our top story, and this is the condition of the slovakian Prime Minister which has stabilised overnight. But he is still in a Serious Condition after an apparent Assassination Attempt yesterday. Lets speak to milan nic, former adviser to the Deputy Foreign minister of slovakia, now with the German Council on foreign relations. Hello to you, thank you so much for joining us here on bbc news. You spoke to is yesterday and said that he thought Something Like this was coming. What did you mean by that and a day after, what do you make of the reaction to this apparent Assassination Attempt . The Death Threats to leading Assassination Attempt . The Death Threats to leading politicians Assassination Attempt . The Death Threats to leading politicians in i threats to leading politicians in slovakia unfortunately were not a rare thing. They were becoming normal. In the Ruling Coalition was not doing enough to stop this. And the ruling. So this needs to be and the ruling. So this needs to be a big wake up call. And i was encouraged to see a Press Conference of the Interior Minister and defence minister last night, or in the evening, with the right message. Stop spreading hatred. Both politicians from the ruling camp or the opposition, or people in the social media reacting on this Assassination Attempt. The country has to unite and has to move beyond this. ,. ~ has to unite and has to move beyond this. ,. , ~. , , this. You talked about the Press Conference. This. You talked about the Press Conference. We this. You talked about the Press Conference. We had this. You talked about the Press Conference. We had the this. You talked about the Press Conference. We had the deputy| this. You talked about the Press Conference. We had the deputy Prime Minister of slovakia tomas taraba, he is accusing Opposition Parties of using false narrative, painting the Prime Minister almost as a monster. 0ther Prime Minister almost as a monster. Other people claiming media whipping up other people claiming media whipping up hysteria against the Prime Minister. Does slovakia feel more or less divided today . Minister. Does slovakia feel more or less divided today . Well, the deputy Prime Minister, less divided today . Well, the deputy Prime Minister, e less divided today . Well, the deputy Prime Minister, e quoted, less divided today . Well, the deputy Prime Minister, e quoted, it less divided today . Well, the deputy Prime Minister, e quoted, it is less divided today . Well, the deputy Prime Minister, e quoted, it is froml Prime Minister, e quoted, it is from the far right nationalist party. You quoted. And there is internal infighting within the three Party Coalition how to take this. Mr taraba is less important part of the coalition. What was crucial is that the deputy to Prime Minister robert fico from his party, the defence minister and