Newshour UK court finds mining firm liable for Brazil's worst environmental disaster
Nov 14, 2025
A UK court has ruled BHP liable for the disastrous Mariana dam collapse, determining it caused immense environmental devastation and loss of life. Survivors express mixed emotions as they seek billions in compensation. The podcast also sheds light on the viral identity of a teenager linked to the Louvre heist and examines a major betting scandal shaking Turkish football. Additionally, new archaeological findings suggest dogs were domesticated over 11,000 years ago, revealing fascinating insights into our relationship with these animals.
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BHP Held Liable For Mariana Dam Collapse
- A UK court found BHP legally liable for the 2015 Mariana dam collapse, marking the first corporate liability in that disaster.
- The ruling links corporate decisions to unsafe dam height increases as the direct cause under Brazilian law.
Jurisdiction Based On BHP's UK Headquarters
- The UK case proceeded because BHP was headquartered in Britain at the time, allowing claimants to sue in London.
- BHP argues UK proceedings duplicate Brazilian compensation schemes already paying hundreds of thousands of people.
Victims' Emotional, Mixed Reactions
- Victims reacted with mixed emotions: some celebratory, others saying money cannot heal their losses.
- Carolina Leite described a bereaved mother saying her son could finally rest after the ruling.