A French department at the Strait of Dover, with the most communes.
Multiple outlets report that while Chris Philp was being interviewed about small-boat crossings in the English Channel, a French warship conducted a handgun firing exercise near Boulogne. Philp describes the moment as “warning shots or intimidation,” while French officials say the procedure was routine and unrelated to the British vessel. The UK government says it is seeking facts from France.
Four people have died in the Channel after attempts to cross from France to the UK in small boats overnight. A one-year-old child is among the injured. One vessel capsized near Hardelot; a second boat from Dunkirk saw three dead on board. A UK government spokesperson has said every death is a tragedy and highlights dangers posed by criminal gangs.
A historic heatwave has swept across Europe, setting temperature records and stressing infrastructure and health systems. Scientists say climate change has doubled the odds of such events, with millions affected as cities grapple with heat-related disruptions and rising energy demand.