Images of Dom Phillips, left, and Bruno Pereira at a rally held by indigenous Brazilian activists. AFP
Images of Dom Phillips, left, and Bruno Pereira at a rally held by indigenous Brazilian activists. AFP
Images of Dom Phillips, left, and Bruno Pereira at a rally held by indigenous Brazilian activists. AFP
Images of Dom Phillips, left, and Bruno Pereira at a rally held by indigenous Brazilian activists. AFP

Remains of missing journalist Dom Phillips identified in Brazil


Simon Rushton
  • English
  • Arabic

Brazilian police on Friday officially identified the remains of British journalist Dom Phillips, who was found buried in the Amazon after going missing on a research trip.

Police and indigenous leaders have disagreed over how Phillips and his expert guide, Bruno Pereira, were killed.

Phillips was identified through “forensic dentistry combined with forensic anthropology”, federal police said in a statement and added that they were still working on confirming that other discovered remains belonged to Pereira.

Police insisted the men were killed by two suspects who were not part of a wider criminal group but said that more arrests may be made.

The Union of Indigenous Peoples of the Javari Valley, or Univaja, rejected the independent killer theory, saying they had reported a criminal gang operating in the area last year.

“These are not just two killers, but an organised group that planned the crime in detail,” Univaja said in a statement.

It said authorities had ignored their numerous complaints about the activities of criminal gangs in the area and that one of those suspected to have been involved in the killing was also involved in illegal fishing.

  • Brazilian federal police officers arrive at a pier with items found during a search for indigenous expert Bruno Pereira and British journalist Dom Phillips in Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas state, Brazil. The men have been missing for more than a week. AP
    Brazilian federal police officers arrive at a pier with items found during a search for indigenous expert Bruno Pereira and British journalist Dom Phillips in Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas state, Brazil. The men have been missing for more than a week. AP
  • A firefighter holds a phone after a backpack was found during a search for indigenous expert Bruno Pereira and British journalist Dom Phillips in remote Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas state, Brazil. AP
    A firefighter holds a phone after a backpack was found during a search for indigenous expert Bruno Pereira and British journalist Dom Phillips in remote Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas state, Brazil. AP
  • Brazilian soldiers aboard a skiff during the search for British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, who went missing in a remote part of the Amazon rainforest, near the border with Peru, at Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas state. Reuters
    Brazilian soldiers aboard a skiff during the search for British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, who went missing in a remote part of the Amazon rainforest, near the border with Peru, at Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas state. Reuters
  • Brazilian Federal Police officers arrive to join a search operation for British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous affairs expert Bruno Pereira in Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas state. AP
    Brazilian Federal Police officers arrive to join a search operation for British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous affairs expert Bruno Pereira in Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas state. AP
  • A child of the Mayuruna people watches from a pier at the Atalaia do Norte river shore in Amazonas state, Brazil, as Federal Police and military personnel search for British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous affairs expert Bruno Pereira in Javari Valley. AP
    A child of the Mayuruna people watches from a pier at the Atalaia do Norte river shore in Amazonas state, Brazil, as Federal Police and military personnel search for British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous affairs expert Bruno Pereira in Javari Valley. AP
  • Brazilian police officers and rescue team members during the search operation for British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, who went missing in a remote and lawless part of the Amazon rainforest at Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas state, Brazil. Reuters
    Brazilian police officers and rescue team members during the search operation for British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, who went missing in a remote and lawless part of the Amazon rainforest at Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas state, Brazil. Reuters
  • Campaigners, friends and supporters of British journalist Dom Phillips and expert on indigenous affairs Bruno Pereira take part in a protest on Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro, to draw attention to their disappearance in the Amazon rainforest. AP
    Campaigners, friends and supporters of British journalist Dom Phillips and expert on indigenous affairs Bruno Pereira take part in a protest on Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro, to draw attention to their disappearance in the Amazon rainforest. AP
  • Federal Police forensics officers examine a boat seized by the task force sent to rescue of missing indigenous expert Bruno Pereira and British journalist Dom Phillips at the port of the city of Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas, Brazil. On Friday, authorities say they found ‘apparently human’ material. AFP
    Federal Police forensics officers examine a boat seized by the task force sent to rescue of missing indigenous expert Bruno Pereira and British journalist Dom Phillips at the port of the city of Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas, Brazil. On Friday, authorities say they found ‘apparently human’ material. AFP
  • Brazilian Federal police officers examine a fishing boat during the search for British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, who both went missing in the Amazon rainforest more than a week ago. Reuters
    Brazilian Federal police officers examine a fishing boat during the search for British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, who both went missing in the Amazon rainforest more than a week ago. Reuters
  • The Brazilian Army sent helicopters to help in the search for missing indigenous expert Bruno Pereira and British journalist Dom Phillips in the municipality of Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas state. The two planned a research trip to Javari Valley, a far-flung jungle where illegal fishing, logging, mining and drug trafficking are common. AFP
    The Brazilian Army sent helicopters to help in the search for missing indigenous expert Bruno Pereira and British journalist Dom Phillips in the municipality of Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas state. The two planned a research trip to Javari Valley, a far-flung jungle where illegal fishing, logging, mining and drug trafficking are common. AFP
  • A Brazilian Army helicopter circles the municipality of Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas state, in the direction of the Itaquai River, in the search for missing indigenous expert Bruno Pereira and British journalist Dom Phillips. AFP
    A Brazilian Army helicopter circles the municipality of Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas state, in the direction of the Itaquai River, in the search for missing indigenous expert Bruno Pereira and British journalist Dom Phillips. AFP

Brazil's federal police said the investigation into the murders so far point to killers acting without the involvement of a criminal organisation.

“The investigations … suggest that the perpetrators acted alone, without there being an intellectual author or criminal organisation behind the crime,” police said. “The investigations continue and there are indications of the participation of more people” in the murders”

Phillips and Pereira were last seen alive on June 5 before vanishing in the remote Javari Valley bordering Peru and Colombia.

Preliminary investigations, police said, suggested the crime involved more people beyond the one man who confessed to the murders.

“The investigations also point out that the killers acted alone, with no heads of criminal organisation behind the crime,” police said.

Univaja said it had informed the federal police numerous times since last year that there was an organised crime group operating in the Javari Valley.

“The cruelty of the crime makes clear that Pereira and Phillips crossed paths with a powerful criminal organisation that tried at all costs to cover its tracks during the investigation,” Univaja said.

The organisation played a leading role in finding the remains of the two men, which were sent to the capital of Brasilia.

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

Stan%20Lee
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20David%20Gelb%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE SPECS

Engine: 3.6-litre V6

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 285bhp

Torque: 353Nm

Price: TBA

On sale: Q2, 2020

UAE%20Warriors%2045%20Results
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%0DMain%20Event%0D%3A%20Lightweight%20Title%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EAmru%20Magomedov%20def%20Jakhongir%20Jumaev%20-%20Round%201%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-Main%20Event%0D%3A%20Bantamweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERany%20Saadeh%20def%20Genil%20Franciso%20-%20Round%202%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECatchweight%20150%20lbs%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EWalter%20Cogliandro%20def%20Ali%20Al%20Qaisi%20-%20Round%201%20(TKO)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBantamweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERenat%20Khavalov%20def%20Hikaru%20Yoshino%20-%20Round%202%20(TKO)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFlyweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EVictor%20Nunes%20def%20Nawras%20Abzakh%20-%20Round%201%20(TKO)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFlyweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EYamato%20Fujita%20def%20Sanzhar%20Adilov%20-%20Round%201%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELightweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EAbdullo%20Khodzhaev%20def%20Petru%20Buzdugen%20-%20Round%201%20(TKO)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECatchweight%20139%20lbs%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERazhabali%20Shaydullaev%20def%20Magomed%20Al-Abdullah%20-%20Round%202%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFlyweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ECong%20Wang%20def%20Amena%20Hadaya%20-%20Points%20(unanimous%20decision)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMiddleweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EKhabib%20Nabiev%20def%20Adis%20Taalaybek%20Uulu%20-%20Round%202%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELight%20Heavyweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EBartosz%20Szewczyk%20def%20Artem%20Zemlyakov%20-%20Round%202%20(TKO)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key recommendations
  • Fewer criminals put behind bars and more to serve sentences in the community, with short sentences scrapped and many inmates released earlier.
  • Greater use of curfews and exclusion zones to deliver tougher supervision than ever on criminals.
  • Explore wider powers for judges to punish offenders by blocking them from attending football matches, banning them from driving or travelling abroad through an expansion of ‘ancillary orders’.
  • More Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the root causes of crime such as alcohol and drug abuse – forcing repeat offenders to take part in tough treatment programmes or face prison.
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

Various Artists 
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
​​​​​​​

The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
US%20federal%20gun%20reform%20since%20Sandy%20Hook
%3Cp%3E-%20April%2017%2C%202013%3A%20A%20bipartisan-drafted%20bill%20to%20expand%20background%20checks%20and%20ban%20assault%20weapons%20fails%20in%20the%20Senate.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20July%202015%3A%20Bill%20to%20require%20background%20checks%20for%20all%20gun%20sales%20is%20introduced%20in%20House%20of%20Representatives.%20It%20is%20not%20brought%20to%20a%20vote.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20June%2012%2C%202016%3A%20Orlando%20shooting.%20Barack%20Obama%20calls%20on%20Congress%20to%20renew%20law%20prohibiting%20sale%20of%20assault-style%20weapons%20and%20high-capacity%20magazines.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20October%201%2C%202017%3A%20Las%20Vegas%20shooting.%20US%20lawmakers%20call%20for%20banning%20bump-fire%20stocks%2C%20and%20some%20renew%20call%20for%20assault%20weapons%20ban.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20February%2014%2C%202018%3A%20Seventeen%20pupils%20are%20killed%20and%2017%20are%20wounded%20during%20a%20mass%20shooting%20in%20Parkland%2C%20Florida.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20December%2018%2C%202018%3A%20Donald%20Trump%20announces%20a%20ban%20on%20bump-fire%20stocks.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20August%202019%3A%20US%20House%20passes%20law%20expanding%20background%20checks.%20It%20is%20not%20brought%20to%20a%20vote%20in%20the%20Senate.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20April%2011%2C%202022%3A%20Joe%20Biden%20announces%20measures%20to%20crack%20down%20on%20hard-to-trace%20'ghost%20guns'.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20May%2024%2C%202022%3A%20Nineteen%20children%20and%20two%20teachers%20are%20killed%20at%20an%20elementary%20school%20in%20Uvalde%2C%20Texas.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20June%2025%2C%202022%3A%20Joe%20Biden%20signs%20into%20law%20the%20first%20federal%20gun-control%20bill%20in%20decades.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
GRAN%20TURISMO
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Neill%20Blomkamp%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20David%20Harbour%2C%20Orlando%20Bloom%2C%20Archie%20Madekwe%2C%20Darren%20Barnet%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Tabby%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%20August%202019%3B%20platform%20went%20live%20in%20February%202020%3Cbr%3EFounder%2FCEO%3A%20Hosam%20Arab%2C%20co-founder%3A%20Daniil%20Barkalov%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Payments%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%2040-50%20employees%3Cbr%3EStage%3A%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Arbor%20Ventures%2C%20Mubadala%20Capital%2C%20Wamda%20Capital%2C%20STV%2C%20Raed%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Founders%20Capital%2C%20JIMCO%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20Venture%20Souq%2C%20Outliers%20VC%2C%20MSA%20Capital%2C%20HOF%20and%20AB%20Accelerator.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Why it pays to compare

A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.

Route 1: bank transfer

The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.

Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount

Total received: €4,670.30 

Route 2: online platform

The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.

Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction

Total received: €4,756

The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.

THE DETAILS

Kaala

Dir: Pa. Ranjith

Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar  

Rating: 1.5/5 

Sunday's games

All times UAE:

Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace, 4pm

Manchester City v Arsenal, 6.15pm

Everton v Watford, 8.30pm

Chelsea v Manchester United, 8.30pm

Janet Yellen's Firsts

  • In 2014, she became the first woman to lead the US Federal Reserve 
  • In 1999, she became the first female chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers 

Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai

16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership

Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.

Zones

A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full

How Beautiful this world is!
TRAP

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue

Director: M Night Shyamalan

Rating: 3/5

Updated: June 17, 2022, 9:58 PM