bethany bell, as we have 'ust said, it. bethany bell, as we have 'ust said. from — it.ave 'ust said, from bratislava, * it. bethany bell, as we have 'ust said, from bratislava, thankh it. bethany bell, as we havejust| said, from bratislava, thank you. earlier, i spoke to milan nic, former adviser to the deputy foreign minister of slovakia, now with the german council on foreign relations. i asked him, what did he make to the political reaction in slovakia since the shooting? the death threats to leading politicians in slovakia unfortunately were not a rare thing. they were becoming normal. and the ruling coalition was not doing enough to stop this. 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. you talked about the press conferenc

caitrÍona: joining us is the bbc foreign correspondent bethany bell.s the latest on the prime minister's condition? >> we understand he has been in hospital, he has been operated on. he is still understood to be in a very critical condition. people are hoping that he will recover. we heard from slovakia's president. she said there had been an attack on mr. fico, which she said was an attack on him personally and an attack on democracy. she said the important thing was for him to recover as soon as possible. here in bratislava, where i am now in slovakia, people are asking themselves how such a thing could happen. one man said to me things like this just don't happen here. there is a great deal of soul-searching going on, and there is also concerned by a lot of people that this -- these shootings, which some politicians are saying were politically motivated, may create even more divisions in this country can which is politically polarized. caitrÍona: given the political polarization, the event that the prime minister was at, what do we know about that?

bethany bell, bbc news, bratislava.s hour, deputy prime minister tomas taraba discussed prime minister fico's condition, and explains the political context behind the shooting. i was very shocked and tried to contact surroundings to find out how serious is his condition unfortunately as far as i know the operation went well and i guess that. at the moment the operation should be that he is not in a life—threatening situation. in slovakia we won two elections, presidential one in october and we had parliamentary elections, so our government has pretty stabilised strong support of public but his presence in slovakia, we think the opposition uses false narratives often and international politics about our government, they speak of false narratives that we want to leave the european union, that we want to join the cooperation with russia and i don't want these false narratives and of course people from the other side who post on the elections are sometimes believe these narratives, and they can become a little bit, let's sa

editor katya adler in brussels on the significance of this attack on a european leader, but first bethany bellkia. bethany? there is a real sense of confusion and _ bethany? there is a real sense of confusion and shocking _ bethany? there is a real sense of confusion and shocking here - bethany? there is a real sense of confusion and shocking here in i confusion and shocking here in slovakia. the slovak president has urged people to wait for the results of the police investigation and not make what she called quick judgments, but many people here are worried that the shootings will deepen the divisions in an already deeply polarised country. 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 s

bethany bell, bbc news, bratislava. let's speak to marty mullins.european and slovakian historian, as well as a lecturer at flathead valley community 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 hav

our europe correspondent bethany bell is in bratislava.minister's condition. we had a statement from slovakia's health minister earlier today, saying that mr fico underwent surgery yesterday to remove dead tissue from the gunshot wound, and that appears to have stabilised his condition. she spoke of what she called a positive prognosis but of course mr fico remains in a serious condition. as you said, he is not able to be moved yet from this hospital in central slovakia to the capital. and people have also said, the deputy prime minister said they are able to communicate with him within the limits of his condition, and for now they would not be appointing a caretaker leader. and the man charged with attempted murder is going to be kept in custody after his court appearance. yes. as you mentioned, the prosecutor had argued that there were concerns that this man might either try to escape or commit further criminal activities if he were not kept in pre—trial detention. we still know very little, the authorities have said very little as to th

bethany bell, bbc news, bratislava.den reportedly plans to press ahead with a billion—dollar tranche of military aid to israel — just a week after suspending a shipment of bombs over concerns about israel's offensive in rafah. israeli tanks are reportedly pushing deeper into the city, as the idf says it's targeting four hamas battalions. the hamas—run health ministry says the number of palestinians killed since october 7 is at least 35,233. and it says 82 palestinians were killed on tuesday, in the largest single—day toll in weeks. gaza's hospitals have warned of �*catastrophe' due to dwindling supplies of fuel for power generators and ambulances. meanwhile, there's been a rare public sign of division within neta nyahu's war cabinet. israel's defence minister, yoav gallant, has voiced open frustration at the governmentss failure to address the question of a post—war plan for gaza — and urged the prime minister to rule out plans to take over civilian and military rule in the region. from jerusalem, here's our diplomatic

let's head back to the capital and talk to bethany bell. any, we talked before about any update on the prime minister — none this far, but start with giving us a sense of the shock, what people have been telling you since you have been there. it’s been telling you since you have been there. �* , . been telling you since you have been there. �*, ., ., ., , , , ., there. it's an enormous sense of shock. there. it's an enormous sense of shock- one _ there. it's an enormous sense of shock. one man _ there. it's an enormous sense of shock. one man told _ there. it's an enormous sense of shock. one man told me - there. it's an enormous sense of shock. one man told me things. there. it's an enormous sense of i shock. one man told me things like this just don't shock. one man told me things like thisjust don't happen shock. one man told me things like this just don't happen in slovakia. the idea that a prime minister who was out greeting people in a central town here could be shot. we had witnesses saying how they heard what they thought were fire c

bethany bell, in bratislava, thank you.s died after falling from a building in east london. emergency services were called to plaistow at about six o'clock this morning. paul hawkins is at the scene. how much do we know? i can tell you what we do — how much do we know? i can tell you what we do know, _ how much do we know? i can tell you what we do know, a _ how much do we know? i can tell you what we do know, a 16-storey - what we do know, a 16—storey building behind me, jacob's house in east london, we know police were called injust east london, we know police were called in just before six o'clock this morning there were reports of a boy falling from what they describe as the upper floor. emergency services attended but sadly the boy died at the police are treating the death, in their words, died at the police are treating the death, in theirwords, and died at the police are treating the death, in their words, and expected. inquiries are under way at the moment. no police cordon, no forensics, but you can see officers wa

bethany bell, bbc news, bratislava.sident volodymyr zelensky cancelled all upcoming foreign trips as troops struggle against russian advancements and shelling near the country's second—largest city of kharkiv, in the northeast. a military spokesperson says ukrainian soldiers are under heavy fire. kyiv has rushed in reinforcements, but the deteriorating battlefield situation prompted some ukrainian troops to pull back to new positions in the region. around 8,000 people were evacuated from kharkiv since last week. our ukraine correspondent james waterhouse has more. not your usual traffic jam in russia's belgorod region, as a rocket launcher pulls over to pourfire into neighbouring ukraine, causing panic across the border. "what do you need to take? let's move quicker, let's 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 i

bethany bell, bbc news, bratislava.ulating on slovak media purporting to show the man who shot and seriously wounded slovak prime minister robert fico saying there was a political motive for the attack. fico is a controversial political figure both wthin and beyond the borders of slovakia. he's drawn criticism from the west over his views on the war in ukraine, where he's taken a pro—russia stance. since being elected, mr fico has halted weapon shipments to ukraine. he's also threatened to veto potential nato membership for ukraine and has been a vocal opponent of sanctions imposed on russia. ukraine's president volodymyr zelensky cancelled all upcoming foreign trips as troops struggle against russian advancements and shelling near the country's second—largest city of kharkiv in the northeast. a military spokesperson says ukrainian soldiers are under heavy fire. kyiv has rushed in reinforcements, but the deteoriorating battlefield situation prompted some ukrainian troops to pull back to new positions in the region. arou

the attack took place in the central town of handlova. 0ur correspondent bethany bell is in the capital

court complex northeast of the capital bratislava in a police convoy. 0ur europe correspondent bethany bellrd to the prime minister's health? . , health? the health minister said that his condition _ health? the health minister said that his condition appears - health? the health minister said that his condition appears to - health? the health minister said| that his condition appears to have stabilised following the surgery he had yesterday to remove dead tissue. she said we can speak, in her words, a positive prognosis for the prime minister but he still remains in a very serious condition in hospital and we were told by the deputy prime minister that it is unlikely they would be able to move him from the hospital where he is in central slovakia back to bratislava in the next coming days. the deputy prime minister also said it was possible to communicate with mr 0leksandr within the limits of his condition. —— mr fico within the limits of his condition. we -- mr fico within the limits of his condition-— -- mr fico within the limits of his condition. ~ ., ~ ., ., ., condition. we now know

bbc correspondent bethany bell reports on the condition of robert fitze from bratislava. it is reported that fitz was shot several times in the stomach, arm, and leg. we are waiting for official information about his injury. as the doctors said, when fiso was brought to the hospital, he was conscious, but then he passed out. a message from the government that phis's life is in danger. there is a sense of shock here in bratislava. one person told me that such things do not happen in this country. people are waiting for details of the investigation. we saw a video of the police arresting the man with a beard according to reports, he is 71 years old. this is believed to be a suspect, but we are awaiting confirmation. there is a general feeling of shock, how could this happen in... but the people i spoke to said that no one could have imagined that something like this could happen, there is a general, widespread condemnation, not only here in slovakia, but all over europe , and people here are waiting to find out how mr. fitzo is doing. yes, and according to the latest data,

caitrÍona: bethany bell in bratislava, thanks for bringing us up to date.s raging in a border town as russian troops push further into the northeast region of kharkiv. ukrainian soldiers were forced to retreat from several villages there, with russia claiming it at claimed two more on wednesday. but america's top diplomat has insisted that ukraine wi prevail. speaking in kyiv, antony blinken said the u.s. would try to send more pictures missiles on air defense systems, promising the u.s. would continue to back ukraine until its security was guaranteed. sec. blinken: let me be very clear about one thing, which shouldn't require clarity, which is that the united states is committed to helping ensure ukraine winning this war. and i think we have shown that through the export mary support we are -- the extraordinary support we have provided and continue to provide. we have not encouraged or enabled strikes outside of ukraine. but ultimately, ukraine has to make decisions for itself about how it is going to conduct of this war, a war it is conducting in defense

linking the violence to an increasingly polarised political climate. 0ur europe correspondent bethany belln terms of the court case. but how is the country coping after an attack like this? ,, ., ., ., , , , ., this? still an enormous sense of shock and _ this? still an enormous sense of shock and fears _ this? still an enormous sense of shock and fears of _ this? still an enormous sense of shock and fears of a _ this? still an enormous sense of shock and fears of a deepening i shock and fears of a deepening polarisation. this has been a very tense political period even before the shooting of mr fico and now there are fears that this attack could deepen the divisions that were already there. politicians across the political spectrum have called on the country to be calm, but we've heard as well accusations by the interior minister accusing the opposition and the media of stirring up opposition and the media of stirring up hatred and opposition figures and critics saying that mr fico was also well known for his controversial and antagonistic style. so are very feeble royal situation here. p

linking the violence to an increasingly polarised political climate. 0ur europe correspondent — bethany bellry deeply in shock. people did not expect an attack like this to happen in a small town in central slovakia in broad daylight, where the prime minister had gone out to greet members of the public in this area where he had been having a government meeting. and he was shot at extremely close range, and that, officials say, has led to wounds that were extensive and complicated, and we have been told by the authorities that the next couple of days will be crucial to his condition. the context to all of this, we often talk about polarisation in politics. what is the situation in slovakia? well, we know very little officially at the moment, about the motivation of the alleged suspect, but what we do know is that it took place at a time when there is tremendous political polarisation here in slovakia. mr fico himself was known for his confrontational and aggressive style. we have also had his allies in recent days, the interior minister, defence minister, blaming the opposition and the media

not only doing from vienna — where the un office on drugs and crime is based — our correspondent bethany bellomes to trafficking of things like elephant ivory and rhino horn, which are very much in the public eye. but it said that there are so many other species — over 4,000 different plants, animals, fish, seafood — which have been trafficked for all sorts of different reasons, including food, including traditional medicines, including timber and adornment, which are really being ignored. and this report is calling for governments to take much more action to try and target things which are not being paid so much attention to. it said that if you think about things like rare corals, there is an enormous amount of trafficking in corals, in crocodiles and other such species. and in some cases, when you have things like rare orchids, the very rarity of the species is fuelling demand and traffickers are exploiting that. bethany, i'll come back to the actions that perhaps they recommend or are urging. but in terms of the the impacts, tell me more about that, but in terms of the impacts, tell me mo

let's speak to bethany bell, our correspondent in bratislava.rd, microphone is in a very serious condition. we have been told that the next few days will be critical for him. that the next few days will be criticalfor him. she that the next few days will be critical for him. she was shot at very close range, including in the stomach, and of course he underwent several arbours of emergency surgery yesterday. —— several arbours. we have heard people wishing him a speedy recovery from across slovakia's fractured political spectrum. and this is a moment of deep confusion, deep shock for this country. deep confusion, deep shock for this count . , ., ., country. tell us more about the reaction. _ country. tell us more about the reaction. how— country. tell us more about the reaction, how this _ country. tell us more about the reaction, how this shooting - country. tell us more about the reaction, how this shooting has| reaction, how this shooting has impacted people there? if reaction, how this shooting has impacted people there?- reaction, how this s

let's head to bratislava, bethany bell is our correspondent they are.ing us right up to speed. what are you hearing officially about the condition of the prime minister, first of all? we're told he's in a life—threatening condition after being shot several times. reports say he was shot in the abdomen, inlaid, in the arm. we're waiting for confirmation as to the exact extent of his injuries. we understand that according to one hospital spokesperson when he arrived at the first hospital he was conscious. but then we got the message a little bit later from the government saying that he was in a life—threatening condition. here in bratislava there is a real sense of shock. 0ne bratislava there is a real sense of shock. one man told me this sort of thing doesn't happen in this country. and people are waiting very much to hear what the extent of the investigations into this incident are. we saw that video footage of police trying to pin down a man, a bearded man, reports a 71 years old. he is thought to be the suspect but we're waiting for confirmation on th

live to vienna, where the un office on drugs and crime is based, and our correspondent there, bethany bellseems to be in decline but much more, the spread to other species that there is not so much attention about? yes. the reort so much attention about? yes. the report said — so much attention about? yes. the report said that _ so much attention about? yes. the report said that there _ so much attention about? yes. the report said that there has - so much attention about? yes. the report said that there has been - so much attention about? yes. the l report said that there has been some improvements when it comes to trafficking of things like elephant ivory and rhino horn, which are very much in the public eye but it said that there are so many other species, over4000 that there are so many other species, over 4000 different plants, animals, fish, seafood, which are being trafficked for all sorts of different reasons, including food and traditional medicines, including timber and adornment which are really being very ignored and this report is calling for governments to take much more acti

our europe correspondent bethany bell is in the slovakian capital bratislava.onight and any motive? extraordinary scenes today. a huge sense of shock as well? an extraordinary scenes today. a huge sense of shock as well? an enormous sense of shock as well? an enormous sense of shock as well? an enormous sense of shock. _ sense of shock as well? an enormous sense of shock. one man _ sense of shock as well? an enormous sense of shock. one man i _ sense of shock as well? an enormous sense of shock. one man i spoke - sense of shock as well? an enormous sense of shock. one man i spoke to l sense of shock. one man i spoke to in bratislava said things like this simply don't happen here, there are attacks like this on politicians. it is interesting, listening to some of the witnesses who saw the shots happening, one of them said she assumed it was fire crackers that had been thrown at the prime minister. the president here has called on people not to speculate on what happened until the police release more details. and she has said the most important thing that matters

live to the slovak capital, bratislava, and our correspondent bethany bell. what is the latest? the people have been watching _ what is the latest? well, the people have been watching very _ what is the latest? well, the people have been watching very closely - have been watching very closely today for these updates on mr fico's health. he is said to be in a very serious condition, still stable but as we have the incoming president they're saying, the next few days will be critical. we understand his injuries have been very extensive. they have also been described as complicated. and of course he did undergo several hours of emergency surgery last night. and elsewhere here in slovakia, people are still trying to come to terms with how this could have happened in a small town in the centre, in the middle of the day time and how questions are being asked as well about whether his security forces acted quickly enough at the time. it's a very difficult situation here for people to get their heads around. find difficult situation here for people to get their heads around. and what doe

let's speak to bethany bell, our correspondent in bratislava. e there, tell us more, bethany. an update there, tell us more, bethan . ~ ., ., , bethany. well, roberto fico remains in a critical condition _ bethany. well, roberto fico remains in a critical condition in _ bethany. well, roberto fico remains in a critical condition in hospital, - in a critical condition in hospital, earlier we heard from the deputy prime minister saying that the next few days would indeed be critical and that he was not out of the woods yet. that he has sustained what they call it extensive and complicated injuries. he was shot at very close range in the stomach among other places. we have heard from across the political spectrum here in slovakia which is for roberto fico's speedy recovery. there is a sombre mood in the country. there is also a sense of polarisation, political turmoil and confusion. we have also heard calls from mr pellegrini and also from the outgoing president of slovakia zoos and cut it over calling for calm as they continue with their investigat

our europe correspondent bethany bell is in bratislava.rime minister. irate condition of the prime minister. we had a condition of the prime minister. - had a statement from slovakia's health minister earlier today, saying that robert fico underwent surgery yesterday to remove the dead tissue from the gunshot wound, and that appears to have stabilised his condition. she spoke of what she called a positive prognosis but of course robert fico remains in a serious condition, as you said, he is not able to be moved yet from this hospital in central slovakia to the capital. and people have also said there are the deputy prime minister said they are able to communicate with him within the limits of his condition, and for now they would not be appointing a caretaker leader. the they would not be appointing a caretaker leader.— they would not be appointing a caretaker leader. the man charged with attempted _ caretaker leader. the man charged with attempted murder _ caretaker leader. the man charged with attempted murder is - caretaker leader. the

court complex northeast of the capital bratislava in a police convoy. 0ur europe correspondent bethany bellslava. the health minister said that his condition appears to have stabilised following the surgery he had yesterday to remove dead tissue. she said that we can speak of, in her words, a positive prognosis for the prime minister but he still remains in a very serious condition in hospital and we were told by the deputy prime minister that it is unlikely they would be able to move him from the hospital where he is in central slovakia back to bratislava in the next coming days. the deputy prime minister also said it was possible to communicate with mr fico within the limits of his condition. we now know that the man who has been charged with attempting to assassinate the prime minister has arrived in court. what is the mood now in the country given there was this attack which shocked many around the world? a very shocked and quite concerned atmosphere here among many, many people. the country had already been going through a period of political turmoil, but this has just increased fears

europe with leaders linking the violence to an increasingly polarised 0ur europe correspondent bethany bells still in a serious condition. what effect has this hard and what are we hearing from politicians as well as the general public? this hearing from politicians as well as the general public?— the general public? this is a country deeply _ the general public? this is a country deeply in _ the general public? this is a country deeply in shock. - the general public? this is a - country deeply in shock. people did not expect an attack like this to happen in a small town in central slovakia in broad daylight, where the prime minister had gone out to greet members of the public in this area where he had been having a government meeting. and he was shot at extremely close range, and that, officials say, has led to wounds that were extensive and complicated, and we have been told by the authorities that the next couple of days will be crucial to his condition.— days will be crucial to his condition. ., ., days will be crucial to his condition. _, ., ., ., condition. the context to all of this,

moved from the small town hospital near where he was shot on wednesday. 0ur europe correspondent bethany bellwound and that appears to have stabilised his condition. she spoke of what she called a positive prognosis. but, of course, mr fico remains in a very serious condition. as you said there, he's not able to be moved yet from this hospital in central slovakia to the capital. and people have also said, the deputy prime minister said they are able to communicate with him within the limits of his condition. and, for now, they would not be appointing a caretaker leader. six people have been killed as unrest continues in the french pacific ocean territory of new caledonia. the protests have been sparked by changes to voting rights. some areas are calm, but residents have reported hearing gunfire and explosions. emily brown has more on how events unfolded. let's have a look at the background into why this has happened. new caledonia in the south pacific has been french territory since colonisation in the late 18005. politics remains dominated by debate about whether the island should be part of

let's speak to bethany bell, our correspondent in bratislava.he our correspondent in bratislava. is following all the developments she is following all the developments for us. welcome to you. what more do we know about the prime minister must make injuries and how well he is doing? minister must make in'uries and how well he is doing?— well he is doing? well, we are told he is in a very _ well he is doing? well, we are told he is in a very serious _ well he is doing? well, we are told he is in a very serious condition. i he is in a very serious condition. the _ he is in a very serious condition. the next — he is in a very serious condition. the next few days will be critical. his injuries— the next few days will be critical. his injuries have been described by officials _ his injuries have been described by officials as — his injuries have been described by officials as extensive and complicated. mr fico was shot and very close — complicated. mr fico was shot and very close range several times, including — very close range several times, includ

we're joined by our correspondent, bethany bell, who's in slovakia. test on mr fico's condition? people here are waiting for the latest update as to how the prime minister fared latest update as to how the prime ministerfared overnight. yesterday minister fared overnight. yesterday we ministerfared overnight. yesterday we were told he was able to speak again. the incoming president spoke to him and he said, and doctors said yesterday the next few days will be absolutely critical for the prime minister. his wounds have been described as extensive and complex and he was shot at very close range. so we are also waiting for any more updates about the charging of a man who has been charged with premeditated attempted murder. the man has been described as an anti—government person, somebody who attended anti—government protests, but the authorities haven't officially named him. local media reports in slovakia have said he is a 71—year—old man and we were told by the interior minister that he seems to have been acting alone. in the words of the interior minis

our correspondent bethany bell is outside the prime minister's office in slovakia. . we held in that report that mr fico is off the critical list, what would we know about his condition? the critical list, what would we know about his condition?— about his condition? the deputy prime minister _ about his condition? the deputy prime minister of _ about his condition? the deputy prime minister of slovakia - about his condition? the deputy prime minister of slovakia told i about his condition? the deputy i prime minister of slovakia told the bbc last night that he was no longer in danger of his life. we are waiting to hear this morning the more official confirmation of his condition today. we understand he had this operation which went on for several hours after being shot at very close range. the deputy prime minister told us that he had been shotin minister told us that he had been shot in the stomach and in the joint. there will be an enormous concern here about what has gone on, people are really at a state of shock. 0ne people are really at a state of shock. one pe