By ANNIKA HAMMERSCHLAG

NICE, France (AP) — Eighteen countries ratified the High Seas Treaty on Monday, bringing the total to 49 — just 11 short of the 60 needed for the ocean agreement to enter into force. The surge in support, occurring during the U.N. Ocean Conference in Nice, France, adds momentum to what could become a historic shift in how the world governs the open ocean.

Related Articles

Long-thwarted efforts to sell public lands see new life under Trump

Stillwater to treat water for PFAS with $2.5M temporary facility

Wildfires force another 1,000 residents from their homes in the Canadian province of Manitoba

Planet-warming emissions dropped when companies had to report them. EPA wants to end that

Trump EPA moves to roll back rules projected to save billions of dollars and thousands of lives

“The entry into force is within our sight, and I call on all remaining nations to join swiftly,” U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres told reporters Tuesday. “We do not have a moment to lose.”

Here’s what the treaty is, why it matters and what happens next.

What is the High Seas Treaty

Formally known as the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, the High Seas Treaty is the first legally binding agreement focused on protecting marine biodiversity in international waters. These waters, which are beyond the jurisdiction of any single country, make up nearly two-thirds of the ocean and almost half the surface of the planet.

Until now, there has been no comprehensive legal framework to create marine protected areas or enforce conservation on the high seas.

Why is it needed

Despite their remoteness, the high seas are under growing pressure from overfishing, climate change and the threat of deep-sea mining. Environmental advocates warn that without proper protections, marine ecosystems in international waters face irreversible harm.

Coral is visible in the protected area of France’s Porquerolles National Park ahead of the U.N. Ocean Conference on Friday, June 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag)

“Until now, it has been the wild west on the high seas,” said Megan Randles, global political lead for oceans at Greenpeace. “Now we have a chance to properly put protections in place.”

The treaty is also essential to achieving the global “30×30” target — an international pledge to protect 30% of the planet’s land and sea by 2030.

How the treaty works

The treaty creates a legal process for countries to establish marine protected areas in the high seas, including rules for destructive activities like deep-sea mining and geo-engineering. It also establishes a framework for technology-sharing, funding mechanisms and scientific collaboration among countries.

Crucially, decisions under the treaty will be made multilaterally through conferences of parties (COPs) rather than by individual countries acting alone.

What happens when it reaches 60 ratifications

Once 60 countries ratify the treaty, a 120-day countdown begins before it officially enters into force. That would unlock the ability to begin designating protected areas in the high seas and put oversight mechanisms into motion.

Mountains are reflected in the waters of France’s Port-Cros National Park ahead of the U.N. Ocean Conference, Saturday, June 7, 2025, (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag)

As of Monday evening, 49 countries and the EU had ratified, meaning 11 more are needed to trigger that countdown.

Guterres called the pace of progress “a record,” noting that the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea took 12 years to reach entry into force, while the BBNJ treaty appears poised to do so in just over two.

“I see a momentum and an enthusiasm that was difficult to find in the past,” he said.

What comes after ratification

The first Conference of the Parties (COP1) must take place within one year of the treaty’s entry into force. That meeting will lay the groundwork for implementation, including decisions on governance, financing and the creation of key bodies to evaluate marine protection proposals.

Environmental groups are pushing to surpass the required 60 ratifications, and to do so quickly – the more countries that ratify, the stronger and more representative the treaty’s implementation will be. There’s also a deadline: only countries that ratify by COP1 will be eligible to vote on critical decisions that determine how the treaty will operate.

A painted comber swims in the protected area of France’s Port-Cros National Park ahead of the U.N. Ocean Conference, Saturday, June 7, 2025, (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag)

“To reach 60 ratifications would be an absolutely enormous achievement, but for the treaty to be as effective as possible, we need countries from all over the world to engage in its implementation,” said Rebecca Hubbard, director of the High Seas Alliance. “So the next step will be to go from 60 to global.”

The surge in support on Monday has raised hopes that 2025 could mark a turning point for high seas protection.

“We’re on the brink of making high seas history,” Hubbard said.

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

With the breakup of the two-time PWHL champions via the expansion draft now complete, Frost general manager Melissa Caruso begins the process of rebuilding what she hopes will be a roster capable of making a run at their third Walter Cup.

Caruso spoke with the media on Tuesday, the day after the expansion draft, and expressed confidence that the team will be able fill the holes caused by the loss of defensemen Sophie Jaques and Claire Thompson in free agency, and forwards Brooke McQuigge and Denisa Krizova in the expansion draft.

The Frost have their regular draft coming up June 24, and Caruso and head coach Kevin Klee expect some current players to accept bigger roles.

“Everything that has happened the past week, it certainly stings,” Caruso said. “It’s tough to watch a team kind of be dismantled a little bit out of your control. But at this point we can start to rebuild.”

The Frost do feel as though they “dodged a bullet” when they were able to designate forward Britta Curl-Salemme, 25, as their fourth protected player after losing Jaques and Thompson to Vancouver. Sources say that Curl-Salemme received “significant” free agent offers from both Vancouver and Seattle prior to being protected by the Frost.

Both Caruso and head coach Ken Klee consider Curl-Salemme to be a key player moving forward. She can play center or wing, she can score and she plays a physical style that is in short supply on the current roster.

In protecting Curl-Salemme, the Frost left some other key players exposed, including forwards Kelly Pannek and Grace Zumwinkle and goaltender Nicole Hensley. The team first protected forwards Kendall Coyne Schofield and Taylor Heise, and defender Lee Stecklein.

“We had various plans in place and contingencies for that fourth spot,” Caruso said. “When it did become time, personally I was watching how these teams were spending their money, and ultimately decided it would be in our best interests to transition a little bit more to the longevity of the team.

“With Britta being one of the top young forwards in the game, we felt we needed to lock her in. We obviously took a huge gamble that some of our more tenured contracts were not going to be selected at that point. Obviously, it all worked out to be able to secure Britta for next season at least.”

Caruso said the league’s $1.3 million salary cap figured into the equation on both sides.

“There were a lot of big contracts on the table for those teams to select,” she said. “I thought we might lose one of those three. Economics did work in our favor in order to keep those three.”

The free agent signing period begins on Monday and runs through the day of the draft. The Frost’s biggest challenge now will be trying to fill the void left by Jaques and Thompson. Both played heavy minutes and were major contributors on offense.

“It’s no secret that we need to rebuild our ‘D’ corps right now,” Caruso said. “I’d say that’s priority No. 1.”

The Frost undoubtedly will use both the draft and free agency. It seems imperative that they add at least one experienced blue liner via free agency.

“We certainly have some money left over to spend here,” Caruso said. “I wouldn’t say we have a ton, but it’s manageable. Hopefully there’s a fair amount of athletes out there who think Minnesota is going to be a great place to play and advance their careers.

“We obviously have a winning culture here, and I think it’s a place where players want to be.”

Mae Batherson, a sixth-round pick in last year’s draft, had a limited role with the Frost this season, but Caruso mentioned her as someone who remains in their plans.

“Hopefully we can lock her in for next season,” Caruso said. “There’s opportunity for development and bigger roles for her.”

The Frost’s top free agent is goaltender Maddie Rooney, and re-signing the Andover native is a priority.

“Conversations are ongoing with her agent,” Caruso said. “We’d love to have her back in Minnesota moving forward.”

Community members are honoring the life of William ‘Ike’ Eickholt, a Hastings-area man who friends believe was the target of violence due to his gender expression.

Eickholt, 74, was found dead Feb. 2 on the side of Ravenna Trail in Hastings. His death was found suspicious by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office. In honor of Eickholt’s life and advocating against gender violence, community members are hosting “Diversity, Inclusion and Vulnerability Day,” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at Freedom Park in Prescott, WI.

William “Ike” Eickholt, 74, of Denmark Township, left, with his friend Mitch Carmody, of Hastings, in July 2023.

“This is a day for the community to come together,” event organizer Mitch Carmody said.

Carmody first met Eickholt in 2023 after noticing the man who wore women’s clothing and a large sunhat walking on the St. Croix Trail every Thursday morning, Carmody said. After striking up a conversation with Eickholt, the two became fast friends, Carmody said.

“There’s not been one discouraging word about Ike,” Carmody said. “Everybody’s just missing him.”

Eickholt was a creature of habit and often frequented the same places, Carmody said. He became known by community members and formed relationships with store owners and neighbors. He was full of joy and possessed the ability to lift up the moods of others, he said.

While the two never explicitly had a conversation about Eickholt’s gender identity, Carmody said Eickholt was a full-bearded man who enjoyed wearing women’s clothing and never made much of it. Once, Carmody said he commented on Eickholt’s choice of style and Eickholt playfully replied, “Oh, my mother would kill me if she saw me in this.”

After the news broke of Eickholt’s death, Carmody and others said they believed Eickholt was likely a victim of gender violence. Eickholt was vulnerable and lived alone in Denmark Township, at the southern tip of Washington County, in a truck outside of his mother’s home, which had burned down in a fire, Carmody said.

When his body was identified, Carmody said, there were no funerals, obituaries or services in Eickholt’s honor.

“His life has kind of just been erased,” Carmody said.

Carmody, other friends and community members together decided they couldn’t let that happen, he said.

“People are coming from everywhere,” Carmody said. “They really want to recognize his loss because there was no opportunity to do so.”

Flowers rest on a chair, part of a makeshift memorial near the driveway of William “Ike” Eickholt’s property on St. Croix Trail in Denmark Township on Feb 5, 2025. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

The celebratory event, a memorial for Eickholt, is also an opportunity to gather, engage in conversation, share resources and honor lives lost, including Carmody’s own great-nephew, who he said died last year from fetanyl poisoning.

Diversity, Inclusion and Vulnerability Day will feature a memorial led by pastor Melissa Hrdlicka of Joy Lutheran Church, music performances by The Average Janes, Seth West, Wendy Elizabeth and Michael Mahan. Hastings Mayor Mary Fasbender also plans to be present along with other community leaders and speakers, Carmody said.

“It’s kind of like town hall meetings that we used to have in the old days,” Carmody said.

The event is open to the public and Carmody said he hopes to make it an annual experience.

“I hope to see a coming together, to stand up for the rights of our citizens who are being abused or not included,” Carmody said. “We have to reverse the tide (…) and you can’t fight it with anger or angst, we have to shine a light.”

Eickholt’s death is still under investigation and the Washington County sheriff’s office said it was not releasing further details when asked this week.

Diversity, Inclusion and Vulnerability Day

What: A memorial and community gathering to honor lives lost, including William ‘Ike’ Eickholt

When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 15

Where: Freedom Park, 200 Monroe St., Prescott, Wis.

Related Articles

Lakeville man sentenced in first wage theft criminal conviction in state

Aging Jackson Street bridge in St. Paul’s North End is closed for repairs

Officers in Minneapolis raid wore distinct patches. One was authorized, another wasn’t, feds say.

St. Paul police name detective, officer, employee of the year

Don’t pay for traffic tickets over text: DPS warns of scam messages

By Bram Sable-Smith, KFF Health News

ST. LOUIS — Violent crime was already trending down from a COVID-era spike when President Donald Trump presented a picture of unbridled crime in America on the campaign trail in 2024. Now his administration has eliminated about $500 million in grants to organizations that buttress public safety, including many working to prevent gun violence.

In Oakland, California, a hospital-based program to prevent retaliatory gun violence lost a $2 million grant just as the traditionally turbulent summer months approach. Another $2 million award was pulled from a Detroit program that offers social services and job skills to young people in violent neighborhoods. And in St. Louis, a clinic treating the physical and emotional injuries of gunshot victims also lost a $2 million award.

They are among 373 grants that the U.S. Department of Justice abruptly terminated in April. The largest share of the nixed awards were designated for community-based violence intervention — programs that range from conflict mediation and de-escalation to hospital-based initiatives that seek to prevent retaliation from people who experience violent injuries.

Gun violence is among America’s most deadly public health crises, medical experts say.

Related Articles

Can President Trump ban masks at protests?

Study finds little agreement between Republicans and Democrats on media sources they trust

Trump’s tax bill could raise taxes on foreign companies, hurting investment from abroad

An immigrant Wisconsin man falsely accused of threatening Trump can be released on bond

Los Angeles protests follow weeks of intensifying immigration enforcement

Among programs whose grants were terminated were those for protecting children, victims’ assistance, hate-crime prevention, and law enforcement and prosecution, according to an analysis by the Council on Criminal Justice, a nonpartisan think tank. The grants totaled $820 million when awarded, but some of that money has been spent.

“Not only are these funds being pulled away from worthy investments that will save lives,” said Thomas Abt, founding director of the Violence Reduction Center at the University of Maryland, “but the way that this was done — by pulling authorized funding without warning — is going to create a lasting legacy of mistrust.”

The Justice Department “is focused on prosecuting criminals, getting illegal drugs off the streets, and protecting all Americans from violent crime,” according to a statement provided by agency spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre. “Discretionary funds that are not aligned with the administration’s priorities are subject to review and reallocation, including funding for clinics that engage in race-based selectivity.”

The Council on Criminal Justice analysis of the terminated grants found that descriptions of 31% of them included references to “diversity,” “equity,” “race,” “racial,” “racism,” or “gender.”

Baldassarre’s statement said the department is committed to working with organizations “to hear any appeal, and to restore funding as appropriate.” Indeed, it restored seven of the terminated grants for victims’ services after Reuters reported on the cuts in April.

But the cuts have already prompted layoffs and reductions at other organizations around the country. Five groups filed a lawsuit on May 21 to restore the grants in their entirety.

Joseph Griffin, executive director of the Oakland nonprofit Youth Alive, which pioneered hospital-based violence intervention in the 1990s, said his organization had spent only about $60,000 of its $2 million grant before it was axed. The grant was primarily to support the intervention program and was awarded for a three-year period but lasted just seven months. The money would have helped pay to intervene with about 30 survivors of gun violence to prevent retaliatory violence. He’s trying to find a way to continue the work, without overtaxing his team.

“We will not abandon a survivor of violence at the hospital bedside in the same way that the federal government is abandoning our field,” he said.

The cuts are also hitting St. Louis, often dogged by being labeled one of the most dangerous cities in America. The city created an Office of Violence Prevention with money available under former President Joe Biden, and various groups received Justice Department grants, too.

The Bullet Related Injury Clinic in St. Louis purchased an accessible outreach vehicle, foreground, and a mobile clinic, rear, with grant funding received from the Justice Department in October. But the Trump administration abruptly canceled the grant in April with $1.3 million remaining, stripping away money to staff programs for the mobile clinic. (Bram Sable-Smith/KFF Health News/TNS)

Locals say the efforts have helped: The 33% drop in the city’s homicide rate from 2019 to 2024 was the second-largest decrease among 29 major cities examined by the Council on Criminal Justice.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt that there’s some positive impact from the work that’s happening,” said University of Missouri-St. Louis criminologist Chris Sullivan, who received a grant from the Justice Department to assess the work of the city’s new Office of Violence Prevention. That research grant remains in place.

But the Justice Department slashed two other grants in St. Louis, including $2 million for Power4STL. The nonprofit operates the Bullet Related Injury Clinic, dubbed the BRIC, which provides free treatment for physical and mental injuries caused by bullets.

The BRIC had about $1.3 million left on its grant when the award was terminated in April. LJ Punch, a former trauma surgeon who founded the clinic in 2020, said it was intended to fund a mobile clinic, expand mental health services, evaluate the clinic’s programs, and pay for a patient advisory board. The BRIC won’t abandon those initiatives, Punch said, but will likely need to move slower.

LJ Punch, a former trauma surgeon, founded the Bullet Related Injury Clinic in St. Louis in 2020. The clinic, known as the BRIC, provides free physical and mental health care for people who have been injured by bullets. The clinic learned in April that the Justice Department had terminated a $2 million grant. (Bram Sable-Smith/KFF Health News/TNS)

Keisha Blanchard joined the BRIC’s advisory board after her experience as a patient at the clinic following a January 2024 gun injury. Someone fired a bullet into her back from the rear window of a Chevy Impala while Blanchard was out for a lunchtime stroll with a friend from her neighborhood walking group. The shooting was random, Blanchard said, but people always assume she did something to provoke it. “It’s so much shame that comes behind that,” she said.

The 42-year-old said the shooting and her initial medical treatment left her feeling angry and unseen. Her family wasn’t allowed to be with her at the hospital since the police didn’t know who shot her or why. When she asked about taking the bullet out, she was told that the common medical practice is to leave it in. “We’re not in the business of removing bullets,” she recalled being told. At a follow-up appointment, she said, she watched her primary care doctor google what to do for a gunshot wound.

“Nobody cares what’s going to happen to me after this,” Blanchard recalled thinking.

Before she was referred to the BRIC, she said, she was treated as though she should be happy just to be alive. But a part of her died in the shooting, she said. Her joyful, carefree attitude gave way to hypervigilance. She stopped taking walks. She uprooted herself, moving to a neighborhood 20 miles away.

The bullet stayed lodged inside her, forcing her to carry a constant reminder of the violence that shattered her sense of safety, until Punch removed it from her back in November. Blanchard said the removal made her feel “reborn.”

It’s a familiar experience among shooting survivors, according to Punch.

“People talk about the distress about having bullets still inside their bodies, and how every waking conscious moment brings them back to the fact that that’s still inside,” Punch said. “But they’re told repeatedly inside conventional care settings that there’s nothing that needs to be done.”

The Justice Department grant to the BRIC had been an acknowledgment, Punch said, that healing has a role in public safety by quelling retaliatory violence.

“The unhealed trauma in the body of someone who’s gotten the message that they are not safe can rapidly turn into an act of violence when that person is threatened again,” Punch said.

Community gun violence, even in large cities, is concentrated among relatively small groups of people who are often both victims and perpetrators, according to researchers. Violence reduction initiatives are frequently tailored to those networks.

Jennifer Lorentz heads the Diversion Unit in the office of the St. Louis Circuit Attorney, the city’s chief prosecutor. The unit offers mostly young, nonviolent offenders an opportunity to avoid prosecution by completing a program to address the issues that initially led to their arrest. About 80% of the participants have experienced gun violence and are referred to the BRIC, Lorentz said, calling the clinic critical to her program’s success.

“We’re getting them these resources, and we’re changing the trajectory of their lives,” Lorentz said. “Helping people is part of public safety.”

Punch said the BRIC staffers were encouraged during the Justice Department application process to emphasize their reach into St. Louis’ Black community, which is disproportionately affected by gun violence. He suspects that emphasis is why its grant was terminated.

Punch likened the grant terminations to only partially treating tuberculosis, which allows the highly infectious disease to become resistant to medicine.

“If you partially extend a helping hand to somebody, and then you rip it away right when they start to trust you, you assure they will never trust you again,” he said. “If your intention is to prevent violence, you don’t do that.”

©2025 Kaiser Health News. Visit khn.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.