Watch: BBC on French beach as police slash migrant 'taxi-boat' heading to UK
Amid chaotic scenes, French police waded into shallow waters off a beach south of Boulogne early on Friday morning and used knives to slash an inflatable small boat - packed with men, women and children - that was wallowing, dangerously, in the waves.
All those onboard clambered to safety as the boat collapsed.
The intervention was highly unusual.
French police usually follow strict rules that bar them from going into the sea in case they put lives at risk.
"Let's go in," said one of the gendarmes, pulling off his body armour, and taking out a small knife. His colleagues took their heavy armour off, too, placing equipment in the back of a nearby police car before rushing into the water.
It is possible to see this rare incident as evidence that the French police - under growing pressure to stop a surge of small boat migrant crossings to the UK - are changing their tactics.
But well-placed sources in France have told us that the procedural changes now being considered will almost certainly focus on the use of patrol boats at sea to intercept the "taxi-boats" before they're fully loaded, rather than on approving more aggressive interventions from police on the beaches.
A French police officer uses a knife to slash an inflatable boat with migrants in the English Channel
A few metres offshore, the boat itself was clearly in trouble. People were crowded around the outboard motor, which had briefly stalled but was being restarted.
Waves were breaking underneath the boat, causing it to lurch wildly, and there were loud screams from several children who were in danger of being crushed onboard.
Earlier, two large groups of people already wearing orange life jackets had emerged from the nearby dunes and rushed towards the sea.
In all there were probably 80 or 100 people. But when the first "taxi-boat" - used by the smuggling gangs to collect passengers from various points along the French coast - sped past perhaps 100m from the shore, it was clearly full already and did not stop to pick anyone else up.
A few minutes later, a second boat, with almost no passengers, came towards the shore, watched by a French coastguard boat further into the English Channel.
Initially, people were ushered forwards in organised groups, holding hands, and directed by one man who appeared to be leading events.
But as the inflatable boat turned and reversed towards the shore, there was a scrum as dozens of people scrambled to climb aboard in water that was at least waist deep.
At first the gendarmes declined to intervene and stood watching from the shore.
One officer repeated a now-familiar explanation to me - that they were barred from going into the water except to rescue people.
But as the situation became increasingly chaotic, the officers at the scene clearly felt that a line had been crossed, that those on board were now in danger, and that there was a brief opportunity to disable the boat in relative safety and while any smugglers - who might have fought back - were distracted by their attempts to restart the engine.
As a policeman slashed repeatedly at the rubber, there were cries and shouts of anger and frustration from some of those onboard.
A young girl, who had been in the middle of the scrum, squashed at the stern of the boat close to the engine, was plucked to safety as others scrambled on to the nearby sand.
Moments later the boat was dragged ashore by the police as the migrants began collecting items they had dropped on the beach and then headed inland, up the sandy paths through the dunes towards the nearest village and a bus-ride back to the migrant camps further north.
A young girl cries on an inflatable boat packed with migrants
Can Raducanu bridge gap to world's best Sabalenka?
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Raducanu is looking to beat a top-four player for the first time when she faces Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon
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Let's not get carried away just yet.
On Wednesday, Emma Raducanu produced one of her best performances "in a long time" to beat 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova and move into the Wimbledon third round.
But backing up that victory to reach the last 16 will probably require an even better display from the British number one on Friday.
Standing in her way is Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one and overwhelming favourite for the women's singles title.
Raducanu has made sound progress to climb back into the world's top 40 this season, but the evidence has shown there is still a clear gulf between the 22-year-old and the leading stars.
Both of her Grand Slam appearances this season were ended in ruthless fashion by five-time major champion Iga Swiatek - Raducanu winning only one game at the Australian Open and three at the French Open in a pair of demoralising defeats.
Coco Gauff, who went on to win the Roland Garros title, also proved too much of a step up in class for Raducanu on the Rome clay.
The challenge for Raducanu is discovering how she can test the very best.
"I think I need more weapons. I think I need to be able to hit the ball with better quality more often," Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, told BBC Sport before facing Sabalenka.
"I think I need to serve better. I think I need to hit better on the move. There are a lot of things I need to do better.
"Beating a top player like Marketa, who has won this tournament, was obviously a really positive thing for me and a really good marker.
"But I need to bridge the gap to the very, very top."
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With her powerful serve and lights-out baseline game, Sabalenka has become the dominant player on the WTA Tour over the past 18 months.
The blistering nature of her shots translates to any surface and is why she has reached at least the quarter-finals in each of the past 10 Grand Slams she has played.
At Wimbledon, where Sabalenka has reached the semi-finals on her most recent two appearances, the faster courts suit her first-strike tennis.
This means she uses her serve and return of serve to quickly get on top of her opponents in the points.
Wimbledon's statistical insight tool calculates 39% of Sabalenka's shots are attacking, compared to an average of 24% in the women's draw.
"The last few years she's just been so consistent and solid," said Raducanu, who made the fourth round at the All England Club in 2021 and 2024.
"I just have to try to control my side as best as possible and, I guess, be smart.
"But, at the same time, I need to take my chances if I have any because I can't play passive against her.
"She can take the racquet out of your hand and just dominate if you give her that chance."
After being outclassed by Swiatek and Gauff on hard and clay courts, Raducanu feels the Wimbledon grass represents her best chance of pushing Sabalenka.
Since teaming up with coach Mark Petchey earlier this year, Raducanu has also looked to use her serve and forehand more aggressively.
The statistical analysis also shows she is more attacking than average in the women's draw - with 27% of her shots classed that way by TennisViz.
But Raducanu - who lost to Sabalenka in their only previous meeting last year - knows she cannot be "overly aggressive" and needs to use craft too.
Raducanu's return also needs to be on point against one of the best servers in the game.
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Best shots as Raducanu beats Vondrousova to set up Sabalenka clash
The sliced backhand will be an important tool to take the pace out of Sabalenka's groundstrokes.
Her athleticism can also help Raducanu be more of a counter-puncher against the Belarusian and potentially draw mistakes.
"Raducanu's defence against Vondrousova was outstanding, albeit Vondrousova doesn't attack as much or with the same firepower as Sabalenka," said TennisViz's Phil Newbury.
"The slice could be key here. Sabalenka's 'steal score' - which calculates how often a player has won the point when they are defending during it - was just below the draw average in her second round.
"It suggests if Raducanu can force her way into Sabalenka's defence, there could be positive rewards for her."
Home comforts could help
Raducanu feels she has a better chance of beating one of the leading players at Wimbledon than at the other majors.
As well as being comfortable on the grass, feeling "at home" is helping her play with more freedom.
Having a tight-knit and trusted group around her is a key factor in the progress she has made this season.
Petchey is a trusted ally who used to coach her as a teenager, while long-time confidante Jane O'Donoghue continues to provide support while on a career break from her finance job.
Raducanu has also been able to hang out with friends at Wimbledon and was seen taking selfies with them on the All England Club balcony after beating Vondrousova.
"I had the same sort of routine last year. I just really cherish these moments because we know how hard it is week to week playing on the tour," she said.
"When we're here in this sort of environment feeling at home, it's so special."
我参与 3DFiti 这个艺术项目，旨在通过 3D 扫描和 3D 打印技术，使我们生活的周边环境增加一些趣味性和艺术性。在人类学家项飙（英国牛津大学社会人类学教授，德国马克斯普朗克社会人类学研究所所长）所描述的那个「附近」的概念之中延展出来，一切我可以到达的地方，只要有我感兴趣的公共区域内「空缺」的空间，就有可能成为这个艺术项目的创作场所。
这次的四个模型分别对应四个「奖品」：
可以来参观我的工作室 x1
可以在线下设计咨询（免费）2小时 x1
可以在线上设计咨询（免费）1小时 x2
只有找到模型并按照二维码所示联系我的人，才可以获得「奖品」。
这是一次 3D 打印的创作，也是一次 Citywalk 路线的开发，还是一次与人连接的尝试。谁会找到这些模型呢？
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合肥：故居前的花海：李克强逝世的消息传出后，在安徽定远李家祖屋和合肥李克强幼时故居（图）前往献花的人群络绎不绝，鲜花在街道上堆积如山。李克强1955年出生于合肥，在这里度过青少年时代，上世纪70年代作为“知识青年”在安徽凤阳县下乡“插队”。
故乡情结：在李克强去世当天的晚上，就有人就开始前往位于合肥红星路的李克强故居。由于现场人流不断，为了维持秩序和保护祭拜者安全，一些民众自发组成人链，将献花悼念的场地隔开。
郑州：主政之地：河南省会郑州也出现不少悼念的人群和摆放的大量花束。1998年到2004年，李克强在河南省先后任省长、省委书记。1990年代河南的“血浆经济”导致艾滋病在该省一些农村泛滥，造成巨大的人道灾难，李克强在河南主政期间采取了一些补救、纾困措施。
长安街：不得驻足：李克强的突然去世在中国社会引起了巨大震动，社交媒体的有关消息下大量网民留言哀悼。然而在中国的权力中心、李克强工作了16年的北京，当局加紧了安保管制。天安门广场依旧必须提前预约进入、中南海（图）附近，保安会提醒行人不得停留。
官媒：冷处理：中国媒体统一转发官方对李克强逝世的讣告通稿。当天晚上的“新闻联播”节目中，这位前总理辞世的消息仅被放到第三位。社交媒体上，相关消息的评论区很快就被关闭或严格审核。在新浪微博上，只有经过认证的大v官博才能在“李克强同志逝世”的词条下发表新帖。
校园：禁止集会：中国社交媒体流传的一些截图显示，中国多所大学下达通知，严禁学生线上线下聚集悼念已故总理李克强。许多大学生在微博上表示，学校通知，至11月3日所有社团活动因故取消。李克强的母校北京大学29日在官方微博发文缅怀这位校友，不过学生的留言都被屏蔽。
等待告别：中央社报道，网路视频和图片显示，李克强的遗体27日从上海运至北京。香港《明报》称，按照正国级领导人丧葬规格，李克强遗体将于本周在北京八宝山革命公墓火化。独立时评人、作家蔡慎坤在X转发一则透露治丧安排的消息称，李克强的丧事将“从简”，甚至不开追悼会，仅有小规模的“遗体送别”。
受胡锦涛支持：2022年10月中共二十大，前国家主席胡锦涛突然被架走离场，临走时轻拍李克强的肩膀，李克强则点头回应。李克强曾被认为是胡锦涛支持的“共青团派”接班人。然而2012年，习近平最终成为最高领导人。在二十大上，李克强卸任中央政治局常委、委员、中央委员。习近平则确保了自己的第三任期。
新任总理：2013年，李克强开始总理第一任期。在任期间，拥有经济学博士的李克强强调简政放权，提出互联网+和“中国制造2025”。巴克莱资本当年发布报告，将李克强的经济增长计划称为“李克强经济学”：不出台刺激措施、去杠杆化以及结构性改革。
克强指数：据《经济学人》2010年引述维基解密，李克强任辽宁省委书记期间，曾于2007年向时任美国大使表示，GDP数据不可靠，他通过火车货运量、用电量和银行贷款发放量来判断该省经济状况。《经济学人》由此引申出“克强指数”的概念。图为2007年李克强任辽宁省委书记时在北京出席中共十七大。
弱势总理：然而，习近平上任后成立多个“领导小组”，其中包括中央财经领导小组、中央全面深化改革领导小组等。这些举动被认为是架空了李克强总理职务下包括经济领域在内的政府职能，从而让习近平做到“大权独揽”。
中央应对新冠疫情小组长：2020年1月27日，李克强作为“中央应对新型冠状病毒感染肺炎疫情工作领导小组组长”，受“习近平委托”，视察了武汉。习近平则是在3月10日才前往武汉。当年10月，习近平宣布“抗击新冠肺炎疫情斗争取得重大战略成果”。然而，疫情拖长，持续了三年。长期封控使中国社会经济领域大范围陷入瘫痪。
“6亿人月收入仅1000元”：2020年5月，李克强在全国人大新闻发布会上表示，有六亿人月收入仅1000元，“现在又碰到疫情，疫情过后民生为要”，“就业是最大的民生”。这一表态与习近平此前的说法大相径庭。习近平当年3月称，到2020年贫困人口全部脱贫，是“党中央向全国人民作出的郑重承诺，必须如期实现”。李克强在随后视察山东期间，还提出“地摊经济”，认为是创造就业岗位的重要来源。然而这一说法也受到一些官媒的“降温”。
“长江黄河不倒流”：2022年8月，李克强视察深圳盐田港时表示：“中国开放还要继续往前推进，长江、黄河不会倒流。”这一表态他在当年3月的人大会议期间也曾作出。李克强在深圳还向邓小平铜像敬献花篮。然而，中国“国进民退”、外商对投资环境感到不确定却是现实。
用英语演讲：李克强2011年任副总理期间，曾在访问香港大学时发表英文演讲。据媒体报道，他任总理出访时，也曾使用英语发言或交谈。他的妻子程虹则是英语教授，从事美国文学研究。图为2018年李克强夫妇访问柏林期间，与德国总统伉俪会晤。李克强是文革后首批大学生，在北大就读法律和经济。
访问德国：2014年，李克强访问柏林期间，德国总理默克尔与他在日程间隙参观了一家超市。2015年，默克尔访华期间则前往了李克强的家乡安徽省。
终结：李克强的仕途也并非没有争议。他曾于1998-2003年在河南省任职。德国之声2013年报道，中国卫生部前官员陈秉中批评，李克强前任李长春主政期间，在河南推行"血浆经济"导致河南农村爆发艾滋病疫情；而李克强受命掩盖真相。中国官媒报道，2023年10月27日凌晨，李克强心脏病突发在上海逝世。
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