Slovak PM 'fighting for his life' after getting shot

Hello. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has spent hours in surgery after he was shot in what officials call a "politically motivated" assassination attempt. Our correspondent in Central Europe Rob Cameron gives us more context. In Ukraine, we'll look into what the latest Russian advances mean for the war. We're also reporting from Cannes, Newcastle, and Yosemite National Park.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Slovak PM 'fighting for his life' after assassination attempt

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in 2023 (file photo). Credit: Reuters

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is in a life-threatning condition after he was shot multiple times in what his interior minister called a "politically motivated" assassination attempt. A suspect was quickly arrested after the shooting.

What’s the political backdrop to events?

The attempt on Robert Fico’s life comes as Slovakia experiences yet another period of political turmoil – turmoil that he himself has largely created. The shooting came on the day parliament began discussing in earnest his government’s proposal to abolish Slovakia’s public broadcaster, and replace it with an institution opponents fear will be far more passive towards him and his allies within the populist-nationalist coalition. The proposal has led to mass demonstrations - some organised by the liberal pro-western opposition - by those who fear for media freedom in Slovakia.

What else have people been unhappy about?

Mr Fico’s criminal justice reforms, including the abolition of the Special Prosecutor’s Office – which was established to investigate serious corruption and organised crime, some involving members of his party – have also brought people out onto the streets in huge numbers. But while those protests have been noisy and boisterous, they have been entirely peaceful.

How have things changed today?

The political temperature may have risen in Slovakia since Mr Fico formed what is his fourth administration, but this shooting propels the country into wholly uncharted territory. One coalition ally – deputy prime minister Andrej Danko, leader of the ultra-nationalist Slovak National Party – has already blamed the opposition for the attack. He says the country is heading for "political war".

THE BIG PICTURE

China's growing spy threat

Western officials worry about Chinese President Xi Jinping’s determination that Beijing will shape a new global order. Credit: BBC

Across Western countries, a series of arrests in connection with claims of spying and hacking for China have highlighted what the head of the UK's GCHQ agency describes as an "epoch-defining challenge". But senior intelligence officials speaking to Gordon Corera worry the West is trailing behind Beijing's spying efforts.

And finally... in France

The red carpet has been rolled out in Cannes as stars arrived at the Croisette to mark the start of the film festival. Not all of the attendees were humans - Messi, the dog from the award-winning film Anatomy of A Fall, made an appearance, too.