UN Ocean Conference sets sail off France on World Oceans Day
NICE, France (AP) — Dozens of research and exploration vessels from around the world set sail just off the French coastal city of Nice on Sunday to kick off the third U.N. Ocean Conference and pay tribute to World Oceans Day.
The event, themed 'Ocean Wonders,' saw the vessels sail across Nice's Baie des Anges, or Bay of Angels, to spotlight the beauty and importance of the ocean while urging world leaders not to lose sight of its value as they make decisions about the planet's future.
Thousands of delegates, including heads of state, scientists, and environmental advocates, are expected in Nice this week to confront growing threats to the ocean, and the need to transform pledges into protection.
The United Nations has called the threats a global emergency facing the world's oceans as they confront rising temperatures, plastic pollution choking marine life, and relentless overexploitation of fish and other resources.
Just 2.7% of the global ocean is effectively protected from destructive activities like industrial fishing and deep-sea mining — far below the global goal of 30% by 2030.
Participating boats included the Energy Observer, a solar-panel covered catamaran that was the first vessel to circumnavigate the globe using renewable energy alone. It produces hydrogen fuel on board via seawater electrolysis, offering a vision of zero-emissions maritime travel.
Other standout vessels included France's Alfred Merlin, dedicated to underwater archaeology; the OceanXplorer, a high-tech billionaire-owned research yacht; and the WWF's Blue Panda, which is working to map and protect the last remaining seagrass meadows in the Mediterranean Sea.
At the heart of the conference is the push to ratify the High Seas Treaty, adopted in 2023. If it takes effect, the treaty would for the first time allow countries to establish marine protected areas in international waters, which cover nearly two-thirds of the ocean and remain largely ungoverned.
'The High Seas Treaty is critical to ensuring we can protect biodiversity in the ocean,' said Rebecca Hubbard, director of the High Seas Alliance. 'We're in the middle of a biodiversity and climate crisis. We absolutely have to protect the ocean to address those crises.'
But even in waters already designated as protected, enforcement often falls short. Many countries, France included, face criticism from environmental groups over weak regulation and continued industrial activity within their marine protected areas.
'The ambition is not there, the speed is not there, and the scale has not been there,' said Sílvia Tavares, project manager at Oceano Azul Foundation. 'Moments like UNOC are key to changing that.'
Several countries are expected to announce new marine protected areas, or MPAs, during the conference, along with bans on bottom trawling and other destructive activities within their existing MPA networks.
The 'Ocean Wonders' fleet will remain docked in Nice and open to the public until the conference concludes on June 13.
___
Follow Annika Hammerschlag on Instagram @ahammergram.
___
The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP's environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment
Annika Hammerschlag, The Associated Press
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Medscape
an hour ago
- Medscape
Lysosomal Iron Catalyzes Cell Death in Resistant Cancers
A team from French research institutes Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), Institut Curie, and Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (Inserm) has discovered a new class of molecules capable of inducing the death of cancer cells that are resistant to standard treatments. The study was published in Nature on May 7. Harnessing Iron's Properties in Cancer Cells 'In certain cancers, such as pancreatic cancer or sarcomas, therapeutic options are relatively limited,' Raphaël Rodriguez, research director at CNRS and co-author of the study, told Medscape's French edition . Current cancer treatments mainly target primary tumor cells but often fail to eliminate cells with metastatic potential, which are responsible for 70% of cancer-related deaths. To address this, the team developed a new class of molecules — phospholipid degraders — designed to destroy cancer cell membranes and trigger cell death via ferroptosis. 'We used the properties of iron in cancer cells with metastatic potential. These cells express high levels of the CD44 protein on their surface, which allows them to internalize iron — a resource they need to transform and adapt to standard treatments,' Rodriguez explained. This transformation, however, also makes them more vulnerable to ferroptosis, a form of cell death catalyzed by iron. Within lysosomes — the small organelles that break down cellular debris and foreign material — iron reacts with hydrogen peroxide, generating oxygen radicals. These radicals damage lysosomal membranes and initiate a chain reaction that spreads throughout the cell, leading to the formation of peroxidized lipids in the membranes of other organelles and ultimately causing cell death. 'We were the first to link cancer, adaptability, and vulnerability to ferroptosis. Cancer cells can adapt, but they don't have a thousand identities. They have two: one that proliferates and one that spreads. Today, we target proliferation. We also need to target dissemination,' said Rodriguez. Phospholipid Degraders The researchers developed phospholipid degraders that activate ferroptosis. These molecules contain one segment that targets the cell membrane, enabling penetration and accumulation in lysosomes. A second segment enhances iron reactivity in these compartments of pro-metastatic cancer cells, triggering ferroptosis. The molecules, named fentomycin-1 (Fento-1), were made fluorescent to confirm their lysosomal localization using fluorescence microscopy. 'Ferroptosis results from the cell's inability to repair membrane damage,' Rodriguez summarized. Reduction in Tumor Growth Tested on primary patient-derived cells, tumor organoids, human biopsies, and immunocompetent animal models, these molecules demonstrated greater efficacy than standard treatments. In preclinical models of metastatic breast cancer, Fento-1 led to a significant reduction in tumor growth. It also showed strong cytotoxic effects in biopsies of pancreatic cancers and angiosarcomas. 'The most interesting results come when we combine these molecules with current treatments. The response is even better,' emphasized Rodriguez. 'We're not saying our treatment will replace existing therapies. We need a combination,' he added. The next steps include toxicity studies, followed by clinical trials. 'Industry and investors should be interested in developing this new therapeutic strategy.' This work was supported by the Ligue Contre le Cancer (Les équipes labellisées), the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale, Fondation Charles Defforey - Institut de France, Klaus Grohe Foundation, Institut National du Cancer, Région Île-de-France, the French National Research Agency, Fondation Bettencourt Schueller, CNRS, Institut Curie, and Inserm.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
AB Science announces EMA approval of Masivet shelf-life extension to 4 years
PRESS RELEASE AB SCIENCE ANNOUNCES EMA APPROVAL OF MASIVET® SHELF-LIFE EXTENSION TO 4 YEARS Paris, June 9, 2025, 8am CET AB Science SA (Euronext - FR0010557264 - AB) today announced that the European Medicine Agency (EMA) has approved the extension of the shelf-life of its veterinary medicine MASIVET® from 36 months to 48 months. This shelf-life extension applies to the 50mg tablet strength of MASIVET® currently available in the EU. MASIVET® is currently approved for the treatment of non-resectable dog mast cell tumours (Grade 2 or 3) with confirmed mutated c-kit tyrosine kinase receptor. It is marketed by AB Science and currently available in all EU countries. This extension of the shelf life gives patients, caregivers, and AB Science more flexibility to adjust inventory levels to current and future demand while reducing the risk of product expiration. At the same time, it ensures the continuity of current and future therapies and continues to enable veterinarians to provide their patients with the best available treatment. About AB ScienceFounded in 2001, AB Science is a pharmaceutical company specializing in the research, development and commercialization of protein kinase inhibitors (PKIs), a class of targeted proteins whose action are key in signaling pathways within cells. Our programs target only diseases with high unmet medical needs, often lethal with short term survival or rare or refractory to previous line of treatment. AB Science has developed a proprietary portfolio of molecules and the Company's lead compound, masitinib, has already been registered for veterinary medicine and is developed in human medicine in oncology, neurological diseases, inflammatory diseases and viral diseases. The company is headquartered in Paris, France, and listed on Euronext Paris (ticker: AB). Further information is available on AB Science's website: Forward-looking Statements - AB ScienceThis press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts. These statements include projections and estimates as well as the assumptions on which they are based, statements based on projects, objectives, intentions and expectations regarding financial results, events, operations, future services, product development and their potential or future performance. These forward-looking statements can often be identified by the words "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "estimate" or "plan" as well as other similar terms. While AB Science believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of AB Science and which may imply that results and actual events significantly differ from those expressed, induced or anticipated in the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include the uncertainties related to product development of the Company which may not be successful or to the marketing authorizations granted by competent authorities or, more generally, any factors that may affect marketing capacity of the products developed by AB Science, as well as those developed or identified in the public documents published by AB Science. AB Science disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update the forward-looking information and statements, subject to the applicable regulations, in particular articles 223-1 et seq. of the AMF General Regulations. For additional information, please contact: AB Science Financial Communication & Media Relations investors@ Attachment Masivet Shelf Life VENG VFError in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data


Medscape
an hour ago
- Medscape
Study Supports Follow-Up Consultations After Heart Failure
About 40% of patients with diagnosed heart failure did not pursue future cardiology consultations, regardless of the initial severity of their condition. A single follow-up cardiology visit can reduce 1-year all-cause mortality by 6%-9%, with additional visits showing increased benefit as the severity of heart failure increases. METHODOLOGY: A nationwide cohort study included 655,919 French patients (median age, 80 years; 48% women) diagnosed or hospitalized with heart failure between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019, and who were still alive on January 1, 2020. Researchers categorized patients into four groups: Those hospitalized with heart failure within the past year, those hospitalized with the condition between 1 and 5 years prior, patients not hospitalized but who were receiving loop diuretics, and patients who were not hospitalized and were not taking loop diuretics. TAKEAWAY: The 1-year risk for all-cause mortality ranged from 8% in patients without hospitalization or use of loop diuretics to 25% for those hospitalized for heart failure within the past year. Mortality risk increased progressively across groups, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.61 for patients using loop diuretics, 1.83 for patients using loop diuretics and hospitalized over 1 year prior, and 2.32 for patients hospitalized less than 1 year prior ( P < .0001 for all). < .0001 for all). A single cardiology consultation was associated with a 6%-9% absolute reduction in 1-year all-cause mortality across all groups. The optimal follow-up strategy varied by risk group: One annual visit for low-risk patients, two to three visits for intermediate-risk patients, and four visits for high-risk patients recently hospitalized with heart failure. IN PRACTICE: 'Despite having an HF diagnosis, 40% of patients do not see a cardiologist annually, regardless of disease severity. Simple stratification based on hospitalization history and diuretic use effectively predicts outcomes. Tailoring the annual number of [heart failure] consultations according to this stratification could optimize resource use and reduce avoidable modelled deaths,' the researchers wrote. 'This group represents a significant opportunity to improve survival outcomes with only a modest increase in the total number of consultations. Healthcare systems could formally assess the impact of this annual consultation through large-scale cluster trials, allowing for an evaluation of the broader population-level benefits of this approach,' they added. SOURCE: The study was led by Guillaume Baudry, MD, of the Université de Lorraine in Nancy, France. It was published online in the European Heart Journal and presented at the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology (HFA-ESC) 2025 meeting. LIMITATIONS: Researchers excluded patients residing in nursing homes due to their advanced prognosis and unavailability of healthcare utilization data, which may have led to an underestimation of morbidity and mortality. The study did not include heart failure patients who had not been recently hospitalized and did not submit long-term condition paperwork. Important clinical data such as ejection fraction, heart failure phenotype, and prognostic biomarker values were unavailable. DISCLOSURES: The researchers reported receiving fees and grants and other relationships with various pharmaceutical companies including Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bayer, and Pfizer.