and signs a joint declaration with president xi, outlining the two countries' strategic alliance. and coming up... we have an exclusive interview with sir eltonjohn, ahead of an exhibition featuring photographs from his extensive private collection. hello. lam sarah i am sarah campbell. slovakia's prime minister, robert fico, remains in hospital, after hours of surgery to save his life, following an apparent assassination attempt. the deputy prime minister says the pm's condition "stabilised" overnight, but he's still in a "serious condition". mr fico was shot several times as he was leaving a government meeting, in what the interior minister described as a "politically motivated attack". a man in his seventies

is in custody. let's 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 in'uries. 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 don't 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 russia's 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 china's 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". let's 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 putin's 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, i'm 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 china's trade with the us or the importance of china's 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. let's 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 that's why there is growing discussion of how successful, how sustainable israel's 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. you've got gallant and benjamin netanyahu with the headline, this is no way to run a war. and thejerusalem post saying, gallant slams netanyahu's gallant slams neta nyahu's indecisiveness gallant slams netanyahu's indecisiveness on gaza. and that's 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 gaza's 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, netanyahu's response has been

to say he won't 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. let's 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. let's 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 the interior minister came with a different message. they need to reinforce this message within the ruling coalition. the ministry of interior has increased

security detail to most leading politicians and the media as well. because i think they are aware what will happen if there is a backlash to this. within the society. there is a crucial moment coming politically, which is a handover of a presidency, a liberal president zuzana caputova, the outgoing president who called this an attack on democracy, she herself was the subject of death threats before and thatis subject of death threats before and that is the reason she decided not to run for president again. and the incoming president from the camp peter pellegrini, who was abroad. they together as a tandem have the capacity to project unity and an appealfor capacity to project unity and an appeal for calm, capacity to project unity and an appealfor calm, for capacity to project unity and an appeal for calm, for spreading the hatred. the handover ceremony is at the end of monday of zuzana caputova, is set for the 15th of

june. but a dual presidency, a shared presidency informally has already started. i expect them to lead, including with parts of the coalition. especially the more moderate party within it. of president pellegrini. share moderate party within it. of president pellegrini. are you confident as _ president pellegrini. are you confident as could _ president pellegrini. are you confident as could be - president pellegrini. are you confident as could be a - president pellegrini. are you - confident as could be a wake-up call confident as could be a wake—up call for these divisions to be healed? == for these divisions to be healed? -- this for these divisions to be healed? » this could be. look, my home country of slovakia has been very polarised. i think it was one of the most polarised countries in europe, along with great britain after brexit. and this has been going on for too long. maybe since the first protests triggered by another terrible murder of an investigative journalist and his fiancee in 2018, which led to the resignation of prime minister

fico at that time. so it has been six years of emotionally charged politics. chewed up especially in the last year. a sequence of election starting with the parliament elections last september. and then presidential elections in april. it was an emotional roller—coaster. and according to the first statements of the shooter, he decided to act after the campaign for presidency polarised the country even more. indie for presidency polarised the country even more-— for presidency polarised the country even more. ~ . ,, . ., even more. we appreciate your time talkin: to even more. we appreciate your time talking to us — even more. we appreciate your time talking to us on _ even more. we appreciate your time talking to us on bbc _ even more. we appreciate your time talking to us on bbc news, - even more. we appreciate your time talking to us on bbc news, thank i talking to us on bbc news, thank you. talking to us on bbc news, thank ou. . ~' talking to us on bbc news, thank ou. . ~ , ., the trial of the man regarded as the main suspect in the disappearance of madeleine mccann will continue hearing evidence today from one of his alleged victims. german national christian brueckner is accused of raping three women, and the attempted indecent assault of two minors. let's speak to jessica parker, who's in braunschweig for us. jessica, take us through what we heard yesterday on what you expect

more of today. heard yesterday on what you expect more of today-— more of today. yes, so as you say, 47-year-old _ more of today. yes, so as you say, 47-year-old christian _ more of today. yes, so as you say, 47-year-old christian brueckner. more of today. yes, so as you say, j 47-year-old christian brueckner on 47—year—old christian brueckner on trial here in braunschweig for five alleged sex offences. and yesterday and today, the trial has been hearing from somebody regarded as a key witness, a ao—year—old hazel behan, an irish woman. she has previously waived her right to anonymity. and just one warn viewers, the testimony she has been giving does contain some distressing details. but she was working as a holiday representative in praia da rocha in portugal in 2004 when she described one night being woken up by a masked stranger armed with a knife calling her names. —— calling her name. then she described being subjected to a prolonged rape ordeal. at one point, she said that she feared that she was going to be killed by the masked man. she

described him as a man who spoke in english, but with a german accent. told with piercing blue eyes. show she has been giving an account of that ordeal —— so she has. her testimony continuing today. christian brueckner has been contesting the charges, his legal team, and it's important to say of course that this is not related to madeleine mccann, this is a trial for separate alleged sex offences. but he has always denied involvement in madeleine mccann's disappearance and has never been charged in her case. and has never been charged in her case, �* , , and has never been charged in her case, ,, ., " case. jessica parker in braunschweig, - case. jessica parker in braunschweig, thank i case. jessica parker in - braunschweig, thank you. here in the uk, the labour leader, sir keir starmer, will outline his party's core messages for a general election in a speech today. he will set out his "first steps" for government, at the start of what he calls a "decade of national renewal". let's speak to our chief political correspondent, henry zeffman. henry, hello to you. so the countdown to the general election is

definitely under way. what are we expecting to hear today from keir starmer? i expecting to hear today from keir starmer? ~' �* expecting to hear today from keir starmer? ~ �* ., starmer? i think you're right to talk about _ starmer? i think you're right to talk about the _ starmer? i think you're right to talk about the general - starmer? i think you're right to | talk about the general election, because while people like me and of course lots of people around the uk are desperate to know when exactly it is going to be, we don't know, but both parties really are behaving as if the campaign is under way. we are not going to learn anything new from sir keir starmer today about how he would govern. there is no new policy. but we are going to learn an awful lot knew about how he intends to campaign to get into government. because what he is unveiling and calling six key steps, first steps but in practice, they are pledges and that is what they used to be called, it is his pledge card. they are going to be the key messages he will hammer home again and again until polling day whenever it is. so economic stability, the nhs, border security, energy, anti—social behaviour and recruiting new teachers. that is what we are going to hear on repeat from sir keir starmer because that is what he thinks the priorities of the british

public and crucially the swing voters he wants to swing —— when over from the conservatives are in this election campaign.— this election campaign. henry zeffman in — this election campaign. henry zeffman in westminster, - this election campaign. henry. zeffman in westminster, thank this election campaign. henry - zeffman in westminster, thank you. —— to win over. the pictures owned by sir eltonjohn and his husband, david furnish, are one of the greatest private collections of photographs in the world — there's more than 7,000 of them. now an exhibition of some of them is about to open in london. ahead of that, they've been talking exclusively to our culture editor, katie razzall. # i'll write a symphony just for you and me...# 300 photographs, many on show for the first time. # i'll paint a masterpiece...# sir eltonjohn started collecting after he got sober in the �*90s, and with his husband david furnish, now has one of the world's great collections. i'm so proud of what we've collected, because we both love photography so much. itjust hits so many emotional moments for both of us.

the nan goldin, especially that one room, i bought that because i thought, that's my life, my old life, on the wall. the addictions and the people we lost to aids. yeah. there's a lot of pain and grief on these walls. 9/11, political riots, assassinations. what makes you want to collect that pain? because in pain, sometimes, there is a lot of beauty, unfortunately, and i'm drawn to that. that's why the show is called fragile beauty. # seems to me you lived your life like a candle in the wind...# we are sitting surrounded by some very beautiful people. but of course, there's sadness here as well. we've got marilyn, chet baker. and i'm looking at miss piggy. so there's something for everyone! marilyn monroe, chet baker, they clearly suffered for their art. do you think you suffered for your art? well, i did in a way, but it was self—inflicted. the pain i suffered was because of addiction, and alcoholism and unhappiness. but music saved me and it always has done. the couple have 2,000 photographs from 9/11.

it's the first time they've exhibited any of them. it's too raw for people who lived through that, but it's good to see some of them. there's only about four of them out. reportage is very important. and there's a very powerful photo of the january the 6th capitol hill riot. yes, i think the importance of a photograph like that is that we live in an age now where people seem to want to rewrite history and want to deny truth, and i think when things are captured photographically, it's irrevocable. it's important to have photographs like that and it's important to keep a record of what happened. but there's little record of the man himself in the show. there are just two photographs of eltonjohn — one of his hands, and this more playful image. completely spontaneously, he picked the plastic eggs up and put them under his glasses, and that to me says more about elton's personality and his sense of humour and irreverence than anything, and that's

what i love about photography. it's extraordinary that i collect photographs, because i don't like being photographed. i find it really painful. # hold me closer, tiny dancer...# many will find pain, but also joy, in this extraordinary collection — a chronicle of our times. katie razzall, bbc news. that really is an extraordinary collection and nice to hear a bit of eltonjohn music as well. do stay with us here on bbc news, we will bring you the latest from the situation in slovakia. that is live pictures from the hospital in which the prime minister robert fico is in a stable but serious condition, after being shot several at times yesterday. stay with us here on bbc news. hello again. low pressure has been in charge of our weather as we've gone through this week, and today, once again, it's

going to do the same. in fact, for the next few days, we are looking at spells of warm sunshine. but there'll be some rain around, some heavy showers which have the potential to be thundery. so this is the low pressure driving our weather. we've got this weather front wrapped all the way around it and, currently, it's producing some rain. rain especially across parts of the south—east, east anglia, into the midlands. and it's drifting westwards into wales through the day. now, to the south of that, we're looking at some bright spells, some sunshine, but heavy showers. to the north of it, a lot of dry weather, a fair bit of sunshine, but you could still catch the odd sharp shower across north—west england, in through parts of northern ireland and western scotland. temperatures, widely, 13 to about 20, 21 degrees. but we could well see 23 or 24 somewhere in the highlands. now, through this evening and overnight, the rain will continue to push through wales and clear. more low cloud, mist and murk will come in from the north sea and we'll have some clear skies. so here, too, you could see some patchy fog form. temperatures falling away,

between seven and about ten degrees. so for some, slightly lower than last night. so a fresher start to the day tomorrow. tomorrow, essentially, is going to be a day of sunshine and some showers. not all of us, of course, will see the showers. and at times, we'll have some haar and also some fret coming in from the north sea just lapping onshore. temperatures tomorrow, not too dissimilar to today. again, we could see a 23 somewhere in the highlands, 21 in london, 22 in glasgow. so then as we head on into saturday, well, we've got rain coming into the south, and through the day, that's going to be drifting westwards. it will turn more showery, but it could still be heavy, with some thunder in it. further north, we're looking at some brighter skies. still some low cloud, mist and murk coming in from the north sea. some sunshine as well. temperatures — 12 to about 22 degrees. then as we move on into sunday, we've got more of a north—easterly flow and that's going to drag in more low cloud, mist and murk from the north sea. but it will be largely dry.

you could catch the odd shower across southern england at times. there'll be some sunshine as well. and these are our temperatures. so coming down in the north—west. we're looking at a range, 11 to 20.

this is bbc news. the headlines... the condition of slovakia's prime minister has stabilised overnight, but he's still in a serious condition — after an apparent assassination attempt.

president putin is given a red—carpet welcome in china — and signs a joint declaration with president xi, outlining the two countries' strategic alliance. as the war continues in gaza, the israeli army says five of its soldiers were mistakenly killed by one of its own tanks in the north. hello, iam hello, i am sarah campbell. a bbc investigation has found that a business run by a man described as "britain's kindest plumber" faked stories that helped raise millions of pounds in donations. james anderson's company depher used vulnerable people's photos on social media without their consent — and in some cases made untrue claims about the elderly people featured. mr anderson has defended himself against some of the allegations, but he's admitted mistakes were made. ed thomas has the story.