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BROAD ARROW EXCEEDS $624 MILLION IN TOTAL TRANSACTIONS ACROSS AUCTIONS, PRIVATE SALES, AND FINANCING IN 2025

Grosse Pointe, Michigan, Dec. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

  • 949 LOTS SOLD AT AUCTION FOR $257 MILLION IN TOTAL SALES WITH AN 88 PERCENT SELL–THROUGH RATE GLOBALLY
  • BROAD ARROW PRIVATE SALES CLOSES 190 TRANSACTIONS FOR MORE THAN $281 MILLION IN TRANSACTION VALUE
  • BROAD ARROW CAPITAL UNDERWRITES MORE THAN $85 MILLION IN NEW FINANCING TRANSACTIONS
  • LEARN MORE AND VIEW BROAD ARROW’S 2026 AUCTION CALENDAR AND CURRENT PRIVATE SALES INVENTORY VIA BROADARROWAUCTIONS.COM

Broad Arrow, a Hagerty company (NYSE: HGTY) is proud to release its complete results for 2025. The company, founded in 2021 by a team of seasoned industry veterans, helped clients buy, sell, and finance, more than $624 million in total transaction value across Auctions, Private Sales, and Capital in 2025. This represents 97 percent growth over 2024 results for the Broad Arrow team ($316 million total in 2024). View a recap of Broad Arrow’s record year here.

“2025 has been a tremendous year for the Broad Arrow team,” says Kenneth Ahn, President of Broad Arrow. “We are ever grateful to our rapidly growing number of global clients who have entrusted us to help them buy, sell, and finance the world’s most desirable collector cars this year, and I am proud of all that our dedicated team has accomplished.”

“We held our first–ever auction just three years ago at the Monterey Jet Center in August 2022, and to have successfully expanded into Europe and achieved a 97 percent year–over–year growth rate as one of the leading market makers in a highly competitive industry, demonstrates the trust we continue to build with car collectors and enthusiasts around the world. Beyond our auction business, the fastest growing auction house in its segment, our Private Sales business has built an outstanding reputation for connecting top collectors with highly significant cars, exceeding auction results for the very first time with over $281 million in transaction value this year—most likely the strongest private sales performance of any auction house globally. Auctions and Private Sales are complemented by Broad Arrow Capital’s financing capabilities, where we strategically leverage our balance sheet to help facilitate transactions for our clients. We look forward to building on this year’s momentum in 2026.”

Broad Arrow Auctions

Broad Arrow Auctions sold $257 million in total sales across eight live auctions—including three debut sales in Europe and one in the U.S. —and two online memorabilia auctions in 2025, significantly expanding the company’s calendar from four live events and three online sales the previous year. The team achieved an overall sell–through rate of 88 percent for 949 lots sold (642 cars, 307 memorabilia lots), setting no fewer than 11 world record auction prices along the way. Bidders came from 52 countries, with the number of registered bidders increasing significantly across recurring auction events and with more than 1,000 new registered bidders in Europe.

Broad Arrow Auctions kicked off 2025 with the standalone private collection sale of The Academy of Art University Collection in San Francisco, California last February. Over 100 desirable pre– and post–war classics were sold entirely without reserve to an enthusiastic response, totalling $14.5 million and signaling that passion and demand for classic era collector cars remains strong.

The calendar continued with the company’s third appearance as the official auction house of The Amelia Concours, achieving $61.7 million in sales with 88 percent of all lots sold amid a standing–room–only auction room and spirited bidding throughout the two–day sale in March. Strong attendance, increased bidder registration, and stand–out individual prices continued throughout the year at Broad Arrow’s U.S. auctions, including the return of the Porsche Air|Water Auction held in partnership with the creators of Luftgekühlt ($15.3 million), the flagship Monterey Jet Center Auction in conjunction with Hagerty’s Motorlux ($57.4 million), and the inaugural Las Vegas Auction, presented in partnership with Concours at Wynn Las Vegas ($13.7 million).

Most significantly, Broad Arrow Auctions expanded its calendar with its debut sale in Europe as the official auction of the revered Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, presented in partnership with BMW AG last May, before quickly adding two additional new European auctions later in the year. Demonstrating Broad Arrow’s commitment to the EMEA region, the vibrant two–day Villa d’Este sale delivered an atmosphere charged with excitement and achieved over €31.1 million ($35.3M USD) in total sales, with 78 percent of all lots sold. Building on this inaugural success in Europe, Broad Arrow formed two additional partnerships and launched debut auctions with Zoute Grand Prix Car Week for the Zoute Concours Auction in October, totalling €26.3 million ($30.5M USD) with 78 percent of lots sold, and with Auto Zürich for the Zürich Auction in November, another resounding success that generated CHF 22 million ($27.6M USD) in total sales with an 87 percent sell–through rate.

Broad Arrow’s top 10 auction sales of 2025 illustrate the diversity at the top end of the market— cemented sports and racing legends while supercars of the 1980s, 1990s, and today continue to climb. The list is led by a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione, chassis no. 1451 GT, arguably the most significant example in existence, which sold for $9,465,000 at Broad Arrow’s 2025 Amelia Auction. The top three is complemented by European sale headliners, including the 1948 Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa by Ansaloni, which sold for a record $8,552,198 at Broad Arrow’s inaugural Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este Auction, followed by the 1956 Jaguar D–Type, XKD 551, which brought $6,451,019 at the company’s inaugural Zürich Auction at the illustrious Dolder Grand Hotel in Switzerland.

BROAD ARROW TOP 10 AUCTION SALES OF 2025

1. 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione – $9,465,000 (Amelia)

2. 1948 Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa by Ansaloni – $8,552,198 (Villa d'Este)

3. 1956 Jaguar D–Type – $6,451,018 (Zürich)

4. 2005 Maserati MC12 Stradale – $5,202,500 (Monterey Jet Center)

5. 1989 RUF CTR Yellowbird – $4,500,000 (Porsche Air|Water)

6. 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV – $4,460,000 (Amelia)

7. 1954 Jaguar D–Type “OKV 2” Works Competition – $4,295,000 (Amelia)

8. 1938 Talbot–Lago T150 C Lago Spéciale Teardrop Coupé – $4,088,333 (Villa d'Este)

9. 2018 Pagani Huayra Roadster – $3,415,000 (Amelia)

10. 1991 Ferrari F40 – Sold After Auction (Monterey Jet Center)

Broad Arrow Private Sales

Broad Arrow Private Sales, which provides expert advice to clients buying and selling collector cars outside the auction environment—often through discreet, unpublicized transactions—delivered a truly exceptional year in 2025, with total private sales transaction value surpassing auction totals for the first time. The team facilitated more than $281 million across 190 transactions, with an average transaction value of $1,478,947.

A variety of very special vehicles traded hands privately over the last year via the Broad Arrow team of car specialists, highlighted by such rarities as a highly original 1995 McLaren F1, one of just two examples of the ultimate modern collector car finished in striking Marlboro White and showing a mere 1,291 kilometers from new upon sale. Additional high points include the recent sale of a 2019 Ferrari FXX–K Evo, one of a mere 60 examples of the track–only, LaFerrari–based hypercar in ultimate Evoluzione specification and the most extreme V12 racing machine to emerge from Ferrari’s “XX Programme”. The Private Sales team also had the privilege of finding new homes for several sought–after examples from the Ferrari Icona series.

Further illustrating Broad Arrow’s continued leadership in the sale of exceptional Porsche and RUF models, the Private Sales team was also responsible for the sale of multiple examples of the lauded RUF CTR Anniversary model, a 1988 Porsche 959 SC Reimagined by Canepa, a 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach Martini, a 1987 Porsche 930 TAG Turbo “AP 85”, several examples of the Carrera GT, and more. Learn more about buying and selling with Broad Arrow Privates Sales and view the team’s current inventory and list of significant sales at broadarrowprivatesales.com.

Broad Arrow Capital

One of Broad Arrow’s key differentiators is its financing capabilities. Broad Arrow Capital, which provides financing solutions secured by collector cars, assisted clients in financing a significant number of cars in the U.S., the U.K., and Europe, with approximately $85 million in new financing transactions in 2025. With a fast–growing loan book, Broad Arrow Capital continues to serve the needs of collectors worldwide. The Capital team has observed trends similar to those in the auction market, including a younger demographic among both borrowers and the cars they seek.

Looking Ahead

Broad Arrow continues to expand its auction calendar with two new sales slated for 2026. The Global Icons Online Auction series will kick off 2026 with three multi–location online sales—Global Icons: Europe Online, Global Icons: UK Online, and Global Icons: Memorabilia Online. Open for bidding from January 23 and closing on January 30 for cars and February 1 for memorabilia, the sales will feature cars and memorabilia considered iconic for their historical significance, contribution to car or pop culture, or importance to the DNA of their respective marque. Broad Arrow will host live preview events where collectors can gather to view a selection of the cars and lots on offer at locations throughout Europe and the U.K. Consignments are invited through early January.

First up on Broad Arrow’s North American auction calendar is the company’s flagship Amelia Auction on March 6–7. Celebrating its fourth year as the official auction house of The Amelia Concours, Broad Arrow’s Amelia Auction will once again present approximately 150 exceptional collector cars across a two–day sale, offering everything from pre–war coach–built classics to motorsport icons, supercars, modern classics, and more. Learn more about early highlights and consignment opportunities by contacting a Broad Arrow car specialist.

Learn more about Broad Arrow’s 2026 auction calendar, including consignment opportunities and cars on offer, at broadarrowauctions.com.

NOTE: All prices are listed in USD (converted using historical rates where necessary). All sales totals are listed in both the currency of the auction and USD. All prices include the applicable buyer’s premium. Broad Arrow’s North American buyer’s premium for all motor car lots is equal to the sum of twelve percent (12%) of the first $250,000 of the Hammer Price and ten percent (10%) of the amount by which the Hammer Price exceeds $250,000. Buyer’s premium for all non–motor car lots is twenty percent (20%) of the Hammer Price. For EMEA auctions, buyer’s premium for all motor car lots is equal to the sum of fifteen percent (15%) (plus VAT on the Buyer’s Premium) of the first 250,000 EURO or CHF of the Hammer Price and twelve and one–half percent (12.5%) (plus VAT on the Buyer’s Premium) of the amount by which the Hammer Price exceeds 250,000 CHF or EURO. Broad Arrow EMEA buyer’s premium on non–motor car lots is twenty–five percent (25%) (plus VAT on the Buyer’s Premium) for all UK and European auctions. 

Editor’s Notes 

Photo Captions/Credits:

  1. 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione, Broad Arrow’s top sale of 2025, sold at The Amelia Auction in March 2025 at The Ritz–Carlton Amelia Island (Credit – Andrew Miterko/Courtesy of Broad Arrow).
  2. The 1948 Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa by Ansaloni sold at Broad Arrow’s inaugural Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este Auction in May 2025 at Villa Erba (Credit – Tom Clutterbuck/Courtesy of Broad Arrow).
  3. The 1956 Jaguar D–Type sold at Broad Arrow’ inaugural Zürich Auction in November 2025 at the Dolder Grand (Credit – Tom Clutterbuck/Courtesy of Broad Arrow).
  4. The 1995 McLaren F1 sold via Broad Arrow Private Sales in 2025 (Credit – Tom Nisco/Courtesy of Broad Arrow).
  5. The 2019 Ferrari FXX–K Evo sold via Broad Arrow Private Sales in 2025 (Credit – Tom Nisco/Courtesy of Broad Arrow).

About Broad Arrow Auctions

Broad Arrow Auctions, a Hagerty (NYSE: HGTY) company, is a leading global collector car auction house. Founded in 2021 by highly experienced industry veterans, Broad Arrow offers exceptional quality cars to collectors and enthusiasts around the world. As the fastest growing auction house in its segment, Broad Arrow’s flagship annual events include The Monterey Jet Center Auction, in conjunction with Motorlux in California, The Amelia Auction, as the official auction of The Amelia (Concours d’Elegance) in Florida, and The Porsche Auction, in conjunction with Air | Water by Luftgekühlt in California. Broad Arrow expanded its global footprint in 2023, with renowned car specialists joining the team in the UK and Europe. Broad Arrow launched its first auction in Europe in May 2025 as the new official auction house of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy in partnership with BMW AG. Broad Arrow expanded its global auction footprint with three new auctions in 2025 held in collaboration with Zoute Grand Prix, Concours at Wynn Las Vegas, and Auto Zürich. Learn more at broadarrowauctions.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. 

About Hagerty, Inc. (NYSE: HGTY) 

Hagerty is a company built by drivers for drivers, protecting 2.7 million vehicles in the United States, Canada and the UK. We make it easier and more enjoyable for enthusiasts to drive and celebrate the machines they love through innovative insurance products, live and digital auctions, engaging media and events, as well as the Hagerty Drivers Club, the world’s largest community of car lovers. 

For more information, please visit www.hagerty.com or www.newsroom.hagerty.com.  

Forward–Looking Statements – This press release contains statements that constitute “forward–looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements provided, other than statements of historical fact, are forward–looking statements, including those regarding Hagerty’s future operating results and financial position, Hagerty’s business strategy and plans, products, services, and technology implementations, market conditions, growth and trends, expansion plans and opportunities, and Hagerty’s objectives for future operations. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “envision,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “potential,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” “ongoing,” “contemplate,” and similar expressions, and the negative of these expressions, are intended to identify forward–looking statements.

Hagerty has based these forward–looking statements largely on current expectations about future events, which may not materialize. Actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward–looking statements. These factors include, among other things, Hagerty’s ability to: (i) compete effectively within our industry and attract and retain our insurance policyholders and paid Hagerty Drivers Club (“HDC”) subscribers; (ii) maintain key strategic relationships with our insurance distribution and underwriting carrier partners; (iii) prevent, monitor, and detect fraudulent activity; (iv) manage risks associated with disruptions, interruptions, outages or other issues with our technology platforms or our use of third–party services; (v) accelerate the adoption of our membership and marketplace products and services, as well as any new insurance programs and products we offer; (vi) manage the cyclical nature of the insurance business, including through any periods of recession, economic downturn or inflation; (vii) address unexpected increases in the frequency or severity of claims, and (viii) comply with the numerous laws and regulations applicable to our business, including state, federal and foreign laws relating to insurance and rate increases, privacy, the internet, and accounting matters.

The forward–looking statements herein represent the judgment of Hagerty as of the date of this release and Hagerty disclaims any intent or obligation to publicly update or review any forward–looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise. This press release should be read in conjunction with the information included in Hagerty’s other press releases, reports and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Understanding the information contained in these filings is important in order to fully understand Hagerty’s reported financial results and its business outlook for future periods.

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BitMEX Launches Year-End Gala: Win from a 3.5 BTC Prize Pool

VICTORIA, Seychelles, Dec. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BitMEX, one of the safest crypto exchanges, announced today the launch of its Year End Gala, allowing traders to compete for their share of a 3 BTC prize pool, in addition to 0.5 BTC in bonus rewards with 5 Sony Playstation 5 Pros available through a lucky draw.

The competition will run from 18 December 2025 at 12:00 AM (UTC) to 16 January 2026 at 11:59 PM (UTC). Users can participate in the competition anytime during the campaign period.

Rewards will be distributed across three leaderboards:

  • Highest Trading Volume: 80% of the total prize pool will be shared by the Top 100 Traders ranked by trading volume
  • Highest PnL: 10% of the total prize pool will be shared by the Top 100 Traders ranked by PnL
  • Highest ROI%: 10% of the total prize pool will be shared by the Top 100 Traders ranked by ROI%

To participate in the Year End Gala, traders must be fully verified on BitMEX. Competition details and registration can be found here.

About BitMEX
BitMEX is the OG crypto derivatives exchange, providing professional crypto traders with a platform that caters to their needs through low latency, deep crypto native liquidity and unmatched reliability.

Since its founding, no cryptocurrency has been lost through intrusion or hacking, allowing BitMEX users to trade safely in the knowledge that their funds are secure. So too that they have access to the products and tools they require to be profitable.

BitMEX was also one of the first exchanges to publish their on–chain Proof of Reserves and Proof of Liabilities data. The exchange continues to publish this data twice a week – proving assurance that they safely store and segregate the funds they are entrusted with.

For more information on BitMEX, please visit the BitMEX Blog or www.bitmex.com, and follow Telegram, Twitter, Discord, and its online communities. For further inquiries, please contact [email protected].

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ef08295d–3360–4fa7–b386–773da118a2fe


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CGTN: How China opens its door wider with island-wide special customs operations in Hainan FTP

The island–wide special customs operations at the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) in south China were officially launched on Thursday. CGTN published an article highlighting how the port's preferential policies will further stimulate business investment, facilitate cross–border flows of goods and production factors, and position Hainan as a key hub connecting domestic and international markets. 

BEIJING, Dec. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — China on Thursday launched island–wide special customs operations in south China's Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), the world's largest FTP by area, allowing freer entry of overseas goods, and expanded zero–tariff coverage and more business–friendly measures.

Hearing a work report on the FTP in early November, Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed the special customs operations as a landmark move to expand high–standard opening up and promote an open world economy. He called for efforts to better facilitate cross–border flows of factors of production and strive to create a first–rate business environment.

The idea of establishing the FTP was first proposed in 2018. Since then, multiple preferential policies – including duty–free shopping and low corporate income tax – have been introduced to make the business friendly FTP gradually take shape.

Starting on Thursday, the share of zero–tariff products in the Hainan FTP will surge from 21 percent to 74 percent, with the number of tariff–free items expanding from about 1,900 to 6,637, covering nearly all production equipment and raw materials.

Lan Zhenzhen, president of public affairs for L'Oréal North Asia and China, is optimistic about the company's growth following Thursday's launch.

“As China's largest free trade pilot zone, Hainan FTP houses the world's largest single duty–free store and is a major global shopping destination,” Lan said. “In the future, L'Oréal will continue to invest in Hainan to better serve global consumers.”

Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group is also eager to capitalize on the opportunities for further expansion.

Xue Zengyi, a China executive from CP Group, said the group's coffee business will benefit from the FTP's zero–tariff policy on raw and auxiliary materials, reducing import costs by 8 percent in tariffs and 13 percent in value–added tax on green coffee beans.

Xue said coffee beans imported from overseas can enter the Chinese mainland tariff–free if they are processed in Hainan with at least 30 percent value added.

Bridging China and global markets

The 30 percent threshold is another key policy introduced by the FTP in recent years, allowing companies to source raw materials globally, add value locally and sell finished products into the mainland market duty–free.

Hainan Weili Medical Technology, a major global catheter supplier, has seen tariff reductions since becoming Hainan's first pilot for medical device processing and value–added operations in early 2023, previously sourcing most raw materials from Southeast Asia.

He Yongshen, the company's head, said that they have saved over 4 million yuan (roughly $567,920) in tariffs since 2023 by selling value–added products to the mainland market. With these cost reductions, the company could invest more in R&D and market expansion, He added.

His company is not alone in benefiting from the changes, as preferential policies have drawn a growing number of investors to Hainan. Over the past five years, foreign direct investment in Hainan reached $9.78 billion, growing at an annual rate of 97 percent, with investments from 176 countries and regions.

Feng Fei, secretary of Hainan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, highlighted the island province's unique position in linking the vast domestic market of 1.4 billion people with the Southeast Asian market with nearly 700 million people.

Echoing Feng, Huang Hanquan, head of the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research under the National Development and Reform Commission, said Hainan FTP's policies help create a trade route from Southeast Asian raw materials through Hainan processing to mainland distribution, positioning the island as a hub linking domestic and international markets.

The launch of island–wide special customs operations demonstrates China's commitment to high–standard opening up, boosting both the domestic economy and global growth, Huang added.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025–12–18/China–launches–island–wide–special–customs–operations–in–Hainan–FTP–1Jc62vV8qJ2/p.html


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My Niece Was Killed Amid Mexico’s Land Conflicts. The World Must Hold Corporations Accountable

My Niece was Killed Amid Mexico’s Land Conflicts.

Claudia Ignacio Álvarez in San Lorenzo de Azqueltan, Jalisco, Mexico. Credit : Eber Huitzil

By Claudia Ignacio Álvarez
MICHOACÁN, Mexico , Dec 18 2025 – My niece Roxana Valentín Cárdenas was 21 years old when she was killed. She was a Purépecha Indigenous woman from San Andrés Tziróndaro, a community on the shores of Lake Pátzcuaro in the Mexican state of Michoacán.

Roxana was killed during a peaceful march organised by another Indigenous community commemorating the recovery of their lands. Forty-six years earlier, three people had been murdered during that same land struggle. This time, the commemoration was once again met with gunfire.

Roxana was not armed and was not participating in the march. She encountered the demonstration and was struck by gunfire. Her death was deeply personal, but it took place within a broader context of long-standing violence linked to land and territory.

That violence has intensified in Michoacán recently, where the assassination of a mayor in November this year underscored how deeply insecurity has penetrated public life and how little protection exists for civilians, community leaders and local authorities alike.

Across Mexico, Indigenous people are being killed for defending land, water and forests. What governments and corporations often describe as “development” is experienced by our communities as dispossession enforced by violence – through land grabbing, water theft and the silencing of those who resist.

A way of life under threat
I come from San Andrés Tziróndaro, a farming, fishing and musical community. For generations, we have cared for the lake and the surrounding forests as collective responsibilities essential to life. That way of life is now under threat.

In Michoacán, extractive pressure takes different forms. In some Indigenous territories, it is mining. In our region, it is agro-industrial production, particularly avocados and berries grown for export. Communal land intended for subsistence is leased for commercial agriculture. Water is extracted from Lake Pátzcuaro through irregularly installed pipes to irrigate agricultural fields, depriving local farmers of access.

Agrochemicals contaminate soil and water, forests are deliberately burned to enable land-use change, and ecosystems are transformed into monocultures that consume vast amounts of water. This is not development. It is extraction.

Violence as a method of enforcement
When Indigenous communities resist these processes, violence follows.

Two cases illustrate this reality and remain unresolved.

José Gabriel Pelayo, a human rights defender and member of our organisation, has been forcibly disappeared for more than a year. Despite an urgent action issued by the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances, progress has been blocked. Authorities have delayed access to the investigation file, and meaningful search efforts have yet to begin. His family continues to wait for answers.

Eustacio Alcalá Díaz, a defender from the Nahua community of San Juan Huitzontla, was murdered after opposing mining operations imposed on his territory without consultation. After his killing, the community was paralysed by fear, and it was no longer possible to continue human rights work safely.

Together, these cases show how violence and impunity are used to suppress community resistance.

Militarisation is not protection
It is against this backdrop of escalating violence and impunity that the Mexican state has once again turned to militarisation. Thousands of soldiers are being deployed to Michoacán, and authorities point to arrests and security operations as indicators of stability.

In practice, militarisation often coincides with areas of high extractive interest. Security forces are deployed in regions targeted for mining, agro-industrial expansion or large infrastructure projects, creating conditions that allow these activities to proceed while community resistance is contained.

Indigenous people experience this not as protection, but as surveillance, intimidation and criminalisation. While companies may claim neutrality, they benefit from these security arrangements and rarely challenge the violence or displacement that accompanies them, raising serious questions about corporate complicity.

A global governance failure
Indigenous territories are opened to extractive industries operating across borders, while accountability remains fragmented. Corporations divide their operations across jurisdictions, making responsibility for environmental harm and human rights abuses difficult to establish.

Voluntary corporate commitments have not prevented violence or environmental degradation. National regulations remain uneven and weakly enforced, particularly in regions affected by corruption and organised crime. This is not only a national failure. It is a failure of global governance.

International responsibility, now
In this context, I have recently spent ten days in the United Kingdom with the support of Peace Brigades International (PBI), meeting with parliamentarians, officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and civil society organisations.

These discussions are part of a broader international effort to ensure that governments whose companies, financial systems or diplomatic relationships are linked to extractive activities take responsibility for preventing harm and protecting those at risk.

While the UK is only one actor, its policies on corporate accountability and support for human rights defenders have consequences far beyond its borders.

Why binding international rules are necessary
For years, Indigenous peoples and civil society organisations have called for a binding United Nations treaty on business and human rights. The urgency of this demand is reflected in the lives lost defending land and water and in the defenders who remain disappeared.

A binding treaty could require mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence across global supply chains, guarantee access to justice beyond national borders, and recognise the protection of human rights defenders as a legal obligation. It could make Free, Prior and Informed Consent enforceable rather than optional.

Such a treaty would not prevent development. It would ensure that development does not depend on violence, dispossession and impunity.

Defending life for everyone
Indigenous peoples are not obstacles to progress. We are defending ecosystems that sustain life far beyond our territories. Indigenous women are often at the forefront of this defence, even as we face extraordinary risks.

When defenders disappear, when others are murdered, and when young women like my niece lose their lives, it is not only our communities that suffer. The world loses those protecting land, water and biodiversity during a deep ecological crisis.

Defending life and land should not come at the cost of human lives.

Claudia Ignacio Álvarez is an Indigenous Purépecha feminist, lesbian, and environmental human rights defender from San Andrés Tziróndaro, Michoacán. Through the Red Solidaria de Derechos Humanos, she supports Indigenous and rural communities defending their territories from extractive industries and organised crime. Her work has been supported by Peace Brigades International (PBI) since 2023.

IPS UN Bureau

 


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Frost & Sullivan’s 2025 Radar™ for AI-Powered CX & Media Intelligence Platforms Names Lucidya the Top Performer in Both Growth and Innovation Across MENA

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Frost & Sullivan has published its 2025 Frost Radar™: AI–Powered CX & Media Intelligence Platforms, MENA, placing Lucidya at the very top of the Radar™ as the highest–scoring company across both the Growth Index and the Innovation Index. The study benchmarked leading providers, including Sila, AIM Technologies, Crowd Analyzer, 24eye, Sensika, Sprout Social, and Brandwatch, and identified Lucidya as the clear frontrunner shaping the future of customer experience (CX) and media intelligence in the region.

The Frost Radar™ evaluates companies on their ability to translate innovation into sustained growth, enterprise adoption, and long–term ecosystem impact. Lucidya’s position at the apex reflects its AI–native architecture, commercial scalability, and a unified CX intelligence platform underpinned by market–leading Arabic Natural Language Processing (NLP).

As CX and media intelligence converge, organizations in MENA face new imperatives that define competitive relevance. AI is now foundational and those that fail to embed AI deeply across social, media, and customer interaction data increasingly struggle to deliver timely, operational insights.

Critically, Arabic language and dialect mastery has emerged as a core competitive differentiator. Arabic’s complexity cannot be handled accurately by tools built primarily for English or Western languages. Frost & Sullivan highlights that platforms lacking robust, dialect–aware Arabic NLP produce distorted sentiment analysis, miss cultural nuance, and fail to scale credibly. Lucidya’s deep investment in Arabic dialect modeling enables accurate insight, contextual understanding, and trusted decision–making; an area where global competitors continue to lag.

Frost & Sullivan notes that Lucidya’s recognition signals the rise of a MENA–born, AI–native CX leader operating at global standards with the ability to operationalize intelligence across the full customer journey.

Access the report

About Frost & Sullivan’s Frost Radar™

Frost & Sullivan’s Frost Radar™ is a proprietary benchmarking system designed to identify the Growth Opportunities of the future and evaluate the companies best positioned to capture them. The Radar™ assesses organizations across two core dimensions: continuous innovation and the ability to convert that innovation into sustained growth.

About Lucidya

Lucidya is an AI–native, fully–compliant unified customer experience platform (CXM) designed to support CX and Marketing leaders in large enterprises, governments, and SMEs across the Arab world. Through the transformative power of AI, Lucidya enables organizations to turn raw data into meaningful interactions and actionable insights.

Press inquiries: [email protected]


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لوسيديا تتصدر تقرير Frost Radar™ لعام 2025 حول الذكاء الاصطناعي لتجربة العملاء والرصد الإعلامي في الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا

الرياض, Dec. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — أصدرت فروست آند سوليفان تقريرها لعام 2025 بعنوان
Frost Radar™: AI–Powered CX & Media Intelligence Platforms, MENA

الذي وضع لوسيديا في المركز الأول كأعلى الشركات أداءً ضمن كلٍّ من مؤشر النمو ومؤشر الابتكار. وشمل التقييم مقارنة بين أبرز الشركات الإقليمية والعالمية مثل Sila وAIM Technologies وCrowd Analyzer و24eye وSensika وSprout Social وBrandwatch، ليؤكد بوضوح تميّز لوسيديا بصفتها الشركة الأكثر تقدماً في تشكيل مستقبل تجربة العملاء والرصد الإعلامي في المنطقة.

يرصد نموذج تقرير Frost Radar™ قدرة الشركات على تحويل الابتكار إلى نمو مستدام، واعتماد المؤسسات على نطاق واسع، وتأثير طويل المدى على منظومة التجربة الرقمية. ويعكس تصدّر لوسيديا في هذا التقييم قوة بنيتها المبنية على الذكاء الاصطناعي، وقدرتها العالية على التوسع التجاري، ومنصتها الموحدة لاستخبارات وتحليلات تجربة العملاء المدعومة بتقنيات معالجة اللغة العربية المتقدمة والرائدة في السوق.

ومع ازدياد التقارب بين مجالي تجربة العملاء والرصد الإعلامي، باتت المؤسسات في الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا أمام متطلبات جديدة تُحدد قدرتها على البقاء في دائرة المنافسة. فقد أصبح الذكاء الاصطناعي اليوم الركيزة الأساسية لاستخلاص الرؤى، ورصد نقاط التعثّر مبكراً، وتفعيل التفاعل الاستباقي عبر مختلف نقاط الاتصال. وفي المقابل، تجد المنصّات التي لا تدمج الذكاء الاصطناعي بعمق في معالجة بيانات التواصل والإعلام والتفاعلات، صعوبة متزايدة في تقديم رؤى تشغيلية دقيقة وفي الوقت المناسب.

وتشير فروست آند سوليفان إلى أن إتقان اللغة العربية ولهجاتها أصبح عاملاً تنافسياً محورياً في المنطقة. إذ لا تستطيع الأدوات المبنية على معايير لغات غربية التعامل بدقة مع التعقيد اللغوي والثقافي للعربية. ونتيجة لذلك، تنتج المنصات التي تفتقر إلى قدرة حقيقية على فهم اللهجات المحلية، تحليلات مشوّهة للمشاعر، وتتجاهل السياق الثقافي، ولا تستطيع التوسع بثقة داخل المنطقة. أما استثمار لوسيديا العميق في نمذجة اللهجات العربية يمنحها القدرة على تقديم رؤى دقيقة، وفهم سياقي، وقرارات مبنية على بيانات صحيحة، وهو مجال لا يزال العديد من المنافسين العالميين عاجزين عن مجاراته.

كما توضح أن هذا التصنيف يشير إلى بروز شركة إقليمية المنشأ تعمل وفق معايير عالمية في مجال تجربة العملاء المبنية على الذكاء الاصطناعي. ويأتي ذلك نتيجة الجمع بين تقنيات الذكاء الاصطناعي المتقدمة، والعمق اللغوي العربي، والقدرة على تحويل البيانات إلى قيمة تشغيلية فعلية عبر رحلة العميل كاملة.

اطّلع على التقرير

للاستفسارات الصحفية يرجى التواصل مع [email protected]


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 1001145516)

Ahead of Brutal Winter Season, Intensified Attacks Cripple Basic Services Across Ukraine

Joyce Msuya (right at table), United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, briefs the Security Council meeting on the maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine. Credit: UN Photo/Manuel Elías

By Oritro Karim
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 18 2025 – In recent weeks, the Russo-Ukrainian War has taken a considerable turn for the worse, with armed hostilities escalating in both frequency and intensity, causing extensive damage to civilian infrastructure and a significant loss of life across Ukraine. Attacks on energy infrastructures and the resulting power outages are forcing the most vulnerable civilians to deal with a “cold, frightening ordeal” in the winter season, warned the United Nations (UN) human rights chief.

“Nearly four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the plight of civilians has become even more unbearable,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. “As peace negotiations continue, our monitoring and reporting show that the war is intensifying, causing more death, damage, and destruction…No part of the country is safe.”

According to figures from the United Nations (UN) Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), between January and November 2025, approximately 2,311 Ukrainians were killed as a direct result of war—a 26 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024 and a 70 percent increase from 2023. Turk noted that between December 2024 and November 2025, there was a significant increase in the average daily number of long-range drones used by the Russian Federation, particularly in densely-populated frontline and urban areas.

November was especially volatile, with at least 226 civilians killed and 952 injured—51 percent of which being caused by long-range missile strikes and loitering munitions from Russian armed forces. The vast majority of civilian casualties occurred in areas that were controlled by Ukraine, while roughly 60 percent were near the frontlines of the conflict. On November 18, a large-scale combined missile and drone attack killed at least 38 people in Ternopil, marking the deadliest strike in western Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Short-range drones, aerial bombardments, and other munitions used in frontline regions have caused extensive damage to residential districts, rendering entire neighborhoods uninhabitable and triggering significant new displacement. Hospitals and clinics in frontline regions have sustained significant damage, forcing some facilities to shut down entirely and severely straining the operations of those that remain. Persisting insecurity prevents ambulances from reaching injured persons, while aid workers risk their lives to assist.

Additionally, attacks on water and energy infrastructure continue across Ukraine, disrupting access to water, heating, and electricity for millions—often for extended periods of time. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) noted that new attacks in Ukraine over the weekend alone have left more than 1 million people without access to water, heating, and electricity, particularly across the country’s southern region.

The Odessa, Kherson, and Chernihiv regions have reported district-wide disruptions to electricity, water, and heating services, severely straining lifesaving operations. Meanwhile, the majority of food shops and pharmacies in frontline areas—particularly in the Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Sumy regions—have shut down. Some communities in these areas have also reported having no access to electricity for more than two years.

Residents in areas of Donetsk have also reported receiving poor-quality running water only once every few days, raising alarm among humanitarian groups given the close proximity of numerous abandoned mines and chemical plants, as well as the rapidly approaching winter season which is projected to exacerbate already dire living conditions.

According to World Vision (WV), Ukrainian children and families are expected to face the harshest winter since the wake of hostilities in 2022. Temperatures this season are projected to drop below –10°C, and repeated strikes on critical energy infrastructure have left children facing an average of 16-17 hours of power cuts each day. These prolonged outages deprive families of heat, electricity, water, and essential services at the coldest time of the year—exactly when they are needed most.

“In some areas, families go up to 36 hours without heating, electricity or water. This prolonged lack of basic services puts children’s health at serious risk, disrupts their education, and threatens their overall well-being,” said Arman Grigoryan, World Vision’s Ukraine Crisis Response Director. “Humanitarian support, including winter supplies, safe spaces, and psychosocial assistance, is urgently needed to protect them.”

World Vision noted that the harshest living conditions have been recorded in northern and eastern Ukraine, such as Chernihiv, Dnipro, Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Sumy. Additionally, education for children has been severely impacted, with roughly 40 percent of children studying through remote or blended learning due to power cuts making it increasingly difficult for schools and kindergartens to operate safely.

Living conditions are also especially dire for older persons and people with disabilities, many of whom are unable to leave their homes and lack access to appropriate transit services and suitable housing. Roughly 60 percent of civilian deaths in frontline areas have been individuals over the age of 60.

The UN and its partners have been working on the frontlines to assist in winterization efforts by providing emergency shelter and protection services. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has also been distributing cash assistance to vulnerable communities for winter-specific needs such as fuel and insulation.

UNHCR estimates that approximately 12.7 million people in Ukraine are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and protection in 2025. However, due to repeated funding cuts, the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Ukraine has been forced to prioritize support for only 4.8 million people— a notable decrease from the originally targeted 8 million. As conditions continue to deteriorate, the UN is urging for increased donor contributions and broader international support to meet growing humanitarian needs.

IPS UN Bureau Report

 


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