A French commune at the mouth of the Aa, with a UNESCO-listed belfry and a modern basketball club.
France’s Gravelines nuclear plant is running only one reactor at full capacity after jellyfish clogged cooling systems, forcing three reactors offline and cutting another’s output in half. EDF says safety remains intact and on-site teams are mobilised, while preventive fishing and cleaning efforts continue.
Enforcement partnerships with France have expanded policing on northern beaches and offshore trips, driving down small-boat crossings in June–August and signaling continued government pressure on smugglers. Officials say the fall reflects joint action, tougher asylum measures, and ongoing efforts to disrupt networks.
The UK and France have stepped up operations to stop small-boat crossings, with more officers deployed and a record 230 migrants aboard a single vessel reported this summer. Ministers say co-operation is bearing fruit, but authorities warn smugglers continue to adapt as arrivals fall overall.