this is bbc news. the headlines. slovakia's prime minister robert fico is in a life—threatening condition

after being shot in the street. the government says it was an assassination attempt. this is the moment the alleged attacker was arrested at the scene. reports say mr fico was shot several times. —— five times. slovakia's president reacted to the attack. translation: we are all shocked by the terrible and _ translation: we are all shocked by the terrible and vicious _ translation: we are all shocked by the terrible and vicious attack - translation: we are all shocked by the terrible and vicious attack on - the terrible and vicious attack on prime minister robert fico. the physical attack is the first of all an attack on a person, but it is also an attack on democracy. welcome to the programme. we will head straight to slovakia for the latest on the assassination attempt on the prime minister robert fico. we've heard an update from some of his ministers say he was shot five

times. he is in a life—threatening condition. they believe this attack was politically motivated. let's take a look at some of the images from straight after the shooting. this is him carried away in the back of the car by his security detail. as the camera pans left, you beneath that pile, there is the alleged attacker. this is that same incident from a different angle. you can see a man being detained in the bottom of that pile of people there. as for the medical condition, three and a half hours he has been in surgery. it's a very serious condition in a very serious trauma. there is no final update it on his condition. he has not left surgery yet. there were

several thanks to medical staff working tireless on him right now. that came from his government ministers who have been with him for the last couple of hours. ijust want i just want to give you a ijust want to give you a quick morning, we will show the moment right before the attempted attack. he was shot five times and the suspect has been detained by police. gunshots we have frozen the pictures there, but the sound of the gunshot is chilling enough. we can speak to the foreign news editorfor chilling enough. we can speak to the foreign news editor for slow back daily news —based and bratislava. thank you.

daily news -based and bratislava. thank ou. daily news -based and bratislava. thank you._ what'sl daily news -based and bratislava. - thank you._ what's your thank you. good evening. what's your reaction to the — thank you. good evening. what's your reaction to the update _ thank you. good evening. what's your reaction to the update from _ reaction to the update from ministers who have been with him during that surgery over the last three hours?— the whole situation was quite shocking for the whole of slovakia, and we've seen on the press conference from the defence minister that he is still in critical condition. the operation is taking over three hours so we still don't know if he's going to make it or if he's communicated. he was shot in the stomach after the end of a government and meeting in handlova in a small town in western slovakia. what do you make of... i suppose start by filling us in with the political situation. what is the

situation? ~ ., , political situation. what is the situation?— political situation. what is the situation? ~ situation? well, robert fico came back to power _ situation? well, robert fico came back to power after _ situation? well, robert fico came back to power after being - situation? well, robert fico came back to power after being ousted l situation? well, robert fico came. back to power after being ousted in 2018. as after the murder of investigative journalist... but he won last year's elections because of the previous government's handling of the pandemic when he became quite powerful and created a government with the more centrist party. i would say those situations, in slovakia, the mood is very polarised. there was a lot of hate speech on social media, which was printed out in the press conference. described as one of the saddest moment in 31 years of slovakia. i

just want to read the quote, "an attack on the prime minister is an attack on the prime minister is an attack on the prime minister is an attack on democracy." will that be shared? , , , shared? definitely, there will be bi . shared? definitely, there will be big disaffection _ shared? definitely, there will be big disaffection for _ shared? definitely, there will be big disaffection for what's - shared? definitely, there will be big disaffection for what's next | shared? definitely, there will be i big disaffection for what's next for democracy. they were big protests against robert fico's government because there were fears that he is going to push the rule of law in slovakia. this was actually supposed to be a big protests against his government tonight, but the opposition can't say that today. we can definitely say that the mood is very bad now in the country. we are on the brink of civil war, it's said, but i don't think it's bad —— as bad, but hate on social media

fuelled this.— as bad, but hate on social media fuelled this. bratislava, thank you very much- _ fuelled this. bratislava, thank you very much- -- _ fuelled this. bratislava, thank you very much. -- lukas— fuelled this. bratislava, thank you very much. -- lukas ondercanin. | very much. —— lukas ondercanin. we're going to look at some the days other news. in a rare sign of disunity in israel's war cabinet, the country's defence minister has voiced his frustration at the government's failure of addressing the question of what will happen at the end of the war in gaza. yoav gallant has urged prime minister benjamin netanyahu to publicly declare that israel has no intention to take over civilian and military rule in the region. our diplomatic correspondent, paul adams is injerusalem. just talk us through this. this was a televised _ just talk us through this. this was a televised address _ just talk us through this. this was a televised address to _ just talk us through this. this was a televised address to is - just talk us through this. this was a televised address to is really - just talk us through this. this was a televised address to is really by| a televised address to is really by the defence minister yoav galant, and which for the first time, i very openly and publicly, he accused the government of failing to address a

question of who runs gaza after the war is over. he said that he personally had been trying to promote plans for a postwar system for months, but the government had simply failed to discuss them and failed to come up with any alternatives. this was a clear rebuke and mr gallant said he urge the prime minister to make a public statement that israel does not plan to stay in civil and military control of gaza after the war is over. there have been mutterings in the press for some time that senior military figures were unhappy about the lack of a plan for the day after, and those concerns have been echoed by the americans, by other allies of israel for some time now. but here we are, the defence minister coming right out in the open and making his misgivings very

clear. the prime minister himself went on social media a short time afterwards, essentially accusing mr gallant of making excuses for not already having defeated hamas and saying he was not going to swap hamas stan to... a reference to the palestinian authority who controls the west bank and is dominated by the west bank and is dominated by the palestinian faction. mr netanyahu has not said who he thinks should rule after the war is over, but he says he thinks —— to after. just in the more immediate terms, can you bring us up to date with what's happening in rafah? israel's military campaign _ what's happening in rafah? israel's military campaign there, _ what's happening in rafah? israel's military campaign there, the - what's happening in rafah? israel'sl military campaign there, the ground offensive there that has been going on for a week and a half, continues to edge forward. it has resulted in an absolutely colossal dislocation

of palestinians, upwards of halfi million people who have had to pack up million people who have had to pack up yet again and move to get out of harm. all of those heading up the coast to areas massively congested and short of any assistance. for the time being, people have food, but thatis time being, people have food, but that is likely to run out because the entry points for aid remain blocked. the aide operation system is grinding to a halt, so life will get very, very difficult for those people on the coast. i should just say one last thing about aid — the american built floating pontoon is likely to be in place in the middle of the gaza strip probably by this

time tomorrow, with the british and americans saying they are expecting to start supplying aid through that mechanism within the next day or two. ., l, ,, , l, mechanism within the next day or two. ., l, ,, m , l l, two. paul, thank you very much for that. around the world and across the uk. you're watching bbc news.

this is bbc news. let's turn to ukraine now — president zelensky has cancelled all his forthcoming trips abroad because of the new russian offensive in the north east of the country, where ukrainian troops have been forced to retreat from a string of villages. the russian offensive near the city of kharkiv is one of the most significant russian operations since the full—scale invasion two years ago. the ukrainian army are rushing reinforcements to the area. continues his visit to ukraine, in which he's promised that the united states will support the country until its security is guaranteed. his visit comes after the us congress finally approved a $61 billion aid

package for ukraine. we are joined now by alexander lord, lead europe eurasia analyst at the risk analysis firm sibylline. thank you very much for coming on the programme. what do you make of this? i the programme. what do you make of this? ., the programme. what do you make of this? ~ ., , l , this? i think it affects the seriousness _ this? i think it affects the seriousness north - this? i think it affects the seriousness north of- this? | think it affects the i seriousness north of parkey. this? i think it affects the - seriousness north of parkey. the russians have been attacking across the international border for number of days in a have taken a number of positions. this morning, we had conversation from the high command that the number of villages have been seated in the ukrainians have retreated from certain locations in a bid to preserve manpower and prevent casualties. but president zelensky has just this afternoon confirmed that the situation north of kharkiv has partially stabilised. i think the fact that he has cancelled his foreign visits reflect

the seriousness. i think also reflects the politically sensitive time for zelensky domestically at the moment, considering we are in the moment, considering we are in the middle of a small government reshuffle and indeed, the nominal end of president zelensky�*s present whole term. there are beginning to be discussions in ukraine as to zelensky�*s future. and the democratic process within the country given that elections have essentially been postponed, considering there are marginal conditions. i think it's a mixture of military and clinical reasons why he cancelled. {lin of military and clinical reasons why he cancelled-— of military and clinical reasons why he cancelled. on the military, what do ou he cancelled. on the military, what do you make _ he cancelled. on the military, what do you make of _ he cancelled. on the military, what do you make of the _ he cancelled. on the military, what do you make of the russian - he cancelled. on the military, what do you make of the russian tactics| do you make of the russian tactics here, i suppose? do you make of the russian tactics here, isuppose? is do you make of the russian tactics here, i suppose? is the idea to spread the ukrainian forces thinly across a wider area?— spread the ukrainian forces thinly across a wider area? absolutely, i think there _ across a wider area? absolutely, i think there are _ across a wider area? absolutely, i think there are multiple _

across a wider area? absolutely, i think there are multiple potential| think there are multiple potential goals for the russians here. i think one thing we can say is that it's highly unlikely that this is the operation designed to encircle parkey eve city, the second largest in ukraine. the scale of the attacks have remained relatively small, and although there have been notable advantage, that is is not a massive up advantage, that is is not a massive up manoeuvre at the moment. having said that, this serves other russian objectives, spreading the ukrainians then. they are already on the strategic defects in the russians are pushing back fast. this is the opening up of a new front, presses and already overstretched ukrainian line and we had confirmation from commander—in—chief that they have

deployed additional reserves. i think the russians are definitely trying to create an opportunity for further breakthroughs, somewhere on the front line. the goal could well be to facilitate operations further south, where the truly russian objectives are located.- south, where the truly russian objectives are located. given that, what do you _ objectives are located. given that, what do you think _ objectives are located. given that, what do you think is _ objectives are located. given that, what do you think is the _ objectives are located. given that, what do you think is the priority i objectives are located. given that, what do you think is the priority in | what do you think is the priority in terms of supplies that need to get to the ukrainian front—line? terms of supplies that need to get to the ukrainian front-line? we've obviously had _ to the ukrainian front-line? we've obviously had this _ to the ukrainian front-line? we've obviously had this us _ to the ukrainian front-line? we've obviously had this us $61- to the ukrainian front-line? we've obviously had this us $61 billion . obviously had this us $61 billion aid package, voted through last month, and that is starting to trickle through. there have been green lanes, prioritising rapid sending out of this aid to the front line. but of course, this will take time. while the west can augment

ukrainian culture lori shortages —— r —— artillery and armoured vehicles, one thing they cannot support is manpower. they cannot provide manpower, and that is precisely one area of lacking most. very much seeks to exploit this vulnerability for as long as possible and extend essentially the window of opportunity the russians currently have before western aid starts to make a difference.— have before western aid starts to make a difference. alexander lord, thank ou make a difference. alexander lord, thank you very _ make a difference. alexander lord, thank you very much. _ make a difference. alexander lord, thank you very much. thank - make a difference. alexander lord, thank you very much. thank you. i let's turn to afghanistan now. where the defence ministry says a helicopter has crashed in the ghar region, killing one person and injuring 12 others, during a flood rescue mission. the search for bodies continues, after flash flooding swept through parts of the country on friday. at least 300 people were killed in the north and northeast. afghan officials say it's unclear how many people remain missing. funerals have already started.

0ur correspondent carrie davies is in afghanistan and sent this report. and if you follow it down the valley, this you can see more homes, more walls, more debris. it's difficult to understand what's been lost, but if you look over here, you can see this is how this home used to look. fields of wheat surrounding it and livestock. this was three different families homes. we spoke to one of the men who used to live here and said there were 18 family members who lived here. ten of them died when floodwaters came through. three more were injured. what's been really clear is the

shock that people have had at these floodwaters. this man said he had lived on this area for 20 years and never experienced anything like this. you can see where the water came through. a few people said to us that they think that the water happen from grains that took place about a few hours away in this direction, gathered through the valleys and came through, cascading through in this direction of the water. it lasted for about three or four hours. to give you an idea of how strong the water current rose, we understand the people who died here on this side, they had to walk several milesjust to here on this side, they had to walk several miles just to find their bodies. that was caroline davies reporting. ijust that was caroline davies reporting. i just want to show you these life pictures. the prime minister continues to receive medical treatment. he's in a life—threatening condition after that assassination attempt. we got an update from some of his

government ministers just in the last 30 minutes or so. they said he had been shot five times, they said indications point to a political motivation, thanking the medical staff still working on him, trying to save his life. robert fico was shotin to save his life. robert fico was shot in the street after meeting members of the public. he was bundled away into the back of his car into a helicopter at one point, into this medical facility there that we are seeing, and we are waiting. as soon as we get any update on that, of course we will bring that to you. plenty more coverage here and on the bbc news app coverage here and on the bbc news app and on the website. this is bbc news. we will be back in slovakia as and when we do get an update. here in

the uk we will look at some the days other news. taylor swift's eras tour is set to give a staggering cash injection to the uk's economy. the tour is expected to boost uk spending by almost £1 billion this year with more than 1 million fans gearing up to see the pop sensation perform live. new data from barclays suggests that fans are expected to spend an average of £848 on tickets, travel, accommodation and outfits. it said the average amount spent on an eras tour ticket was £206, with 14% of fans spending more than £400 on perks, including vip packages and exclusive merchandise. the bank's report is the latest example of so—called "swiftonomics", highlighting the singer's economic influence. let's speak to dr amelia morris. she's a lecturer in media and communications at the university of exeter. thank you for coming on the programme. thank you for coming on the programme-— thank you for coming on the rouramme. ., ~ n l thank you for coming on the rouramme. ., ~ l l, programme. thank you so much for havin: programme. thank you so much for

having me- — programme. thank you so much for having me. what _ programme. thank you so much for having me. what you _ programme. thank you so much for having me. what you make - programme. thank you so much for having me. what you make of- programme. thank you so much for having me. what you make of this i having me. what you make of this latest example — having me. what you make of this latest example of _ having me. what you make of this| latest example of �*swiftonomics'? having me. what you make of this l latest example of �*swiftonomics'? i latest example of "swiftonomics"? i think it speaks to the ways that she has become this cultural force on par with the beatles. there was a quote by rolling stone, taylormania, which is what i think we are seeing with the eras tour. the way that she has mythologized her work in a way that makes fans really want to be involved, it's like a version of the rocky horror show. people dress up in moments of her career and it really highlights the full truth cultural force that she has become. all ridiculously... it is ridiculously _ all ridiculously... it is | ridiculously expensive. all ridiculously... it is i ridiculously expensive. i all ridiculously... it is - ridiculously expensive. i think all ridiculously... it 3 ridiculously expensive. i think it's an interesting question, but i also think there's a question to be had

about why we're allowing these cooperations to set the price for the tickets this high. i think taylor swift should be no different because art should be subjected to everyone. given where we are, there's no sign of any of this dying off, is there? and the commitment by some... i don't want to use the word colts because you get it in all sorts of trouble —— cults. are there kind of parallels that you can draw with other phenomenon across the site of these? i with other phenomenon across the site of these?— site of these? i think it's interesting _ site of these? i think it's interesting that - site of these? i think it's interesting that you - site of these? i think it's i interesting that you would site of these? i think it's - interesting that you would use the word cult, because i think often, here is a pop culture that really speak to girlish fans of pop culture or girlish fans are often positioned as... not adjusting your implying

this, but it suggested that it's cultish or hysterical, whereas men who really enjoy football and spend a ridiculous amount of money on football tickets are just really committed to going to watch their favourite team. but i think that it does definitely speak to the ways that she has really harnessed this mythology around her music that has made fans the super committed, super invested in the stories that she tells through her music, and also the ways that they see themselves reflected in her, i suppose. the ways that they see themselves reflected in her, isuppose. just reflected in her, i suppose. just su er reflected in her, i suppose. just super briefly- — reflected in her, i suppose. just super briefly. just in 40 seconds. it is changing her impact news coverage, it is an extraordinary amount of news coverage because different organisations have their own taylor swift correspondence now.

yeah, it's fascinating. it's really interesting. the ways that she has really changed so much about the media — i wasjust listening really changed so much about the media — i was just listening today that the amount of vinyl records that the amount of vinyl records that she has sold in the last year outsold all of the vinyl records combined in america the year before. that really speaks to this kind of cultural force, that really speaks to this kind of culturalforce, and i think the that really speaks to this kind of cultural force, and i think the way she's really harnessed certain ideas, certain nostalgic imageries around girlhood and emotion. iliruie’re around girlhood and emotion. we're out of time- — around girlhood and emotion. we're out of time. i'm _ around girlhood and emotion. we're out of time. i'm so _ around girlhood and emotion. we're out of time. i'm so sorry _ around girlhood and emotion. we're out of time. i'm so sorry we - around girlhood and emotion. we're out of time. i'm so sorry we have i around girlhood and emotion. we're out of time. i'm so sorry we have 11 | out of time. i'm so sorry we have 11 seconds left. thank you so much for coming on the programme.- seconds left. thank you so much for coming on the programme. thank you so much! i'm — coming on the programme. thank you so much! i'm lewis— coming on the programme. thank you so much! i'm lewis vaughan - coming on the programme. thank you so much! i'm lewis vaughan jones. i so much! i'm lewis vaughan jones. this is bbc— so much! i'm lewis vaughan jones. this is bbc news. _ hello. low pressure is in charge of our weather right now, and that means it is never going to be completely settled and completely dry. but there has been some sunshine.

northern scotland was a good example of that today, lifting temperatures well up into the 20s. compare that with the scene in norfolk with a lot of cloud, some bits and pieces of rain thanks to this weatherfront, a very slow—moving feature. and actually, we're going to see a pulse of heavier rain drifting back along that weather front as we head into tomorrow. tonight, a lot of dry weather around, but with some areas of mist and murk and low clouds still plaguing some of these eastern coasts, that rain getting going across parts of east anglia into lincolnshire and east yorkshire by the end of the night. so, overnight lows, 9—12 degrees — just a touch cooler than some recent nights. and then into tomorrow, these outbreaks of rain drift westwards across the north midlands, parts of northern england towards merseyside, maybe into north wales. to the north of that as well, a decent amount of sunshine. scotland once again seeing some warm sunshine, particularly in the highlands where temperatures could climb to 23 degrees. but there is the potential for some quite sharp showers and thunderstorms to break out across western scotland later in the day.

same sort of thing for northern ireland, perhaps the far north and northwest of england. then we're into our rain band and to the south of that, some spells of sunshine. highs of 18, 19, maybe 20 degrees, but we will see some fairly heavy showers. now, through thursday night, this lump of wet weather slides away westwards. we'll see some areas of clouds and mist and murk, but through friday, i think most places should get to see at least some spells of sunshine with a scattering of showers breaking out. some of those showers could be on the heavy side, but temperatures again in the sunniest spots up to around 23 degrees. this time, the warmest weather likely to be across the west and the south west of scotland, a little bit cooler in the far north of scotland into the weekend, low pressure loosens its grip. of scotland. into the weekend, low pressure loosens its grip. high pressure tries to build a fairly weak affair at this stage. but it does mean, particularly across the northern half of the uk,

a lot of dry weather, some spells of sunshine, although the north and the west of scotland will be just a little bit cooler than it has been over recent days. some north sea coasts could continue to struggle temperature—wise. further south, a greater chance of showers, some of those on the heavy side, but also some spells of warm sunshine.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. 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. a country very much in shock today. one person i spoke to said this sort of thing simply doesn't happen here. i would like to thank all those emergency services and the doctors at the hospital who at this moment are still fighting for life of the prime minister. slovakia's prime minister remains in a life—threatening condition after being shot five times. robert fico was bundled into a car and airlifted to a hospital nearby. the attacker, reportedly a 71—year—old man, has been detained. the motive is said to be political.

we'll get reaction from bratislava, and we will discuss what it means 3