The Birth Keepers | The Guardian Investigates

Twenty years ago, John Hancock had dinner with his mother, Gina Rinehart. He says it’s the last positive interaction he had with her. In an in-depth interview, he explains how his relationship with her fell apart and discusses a high-stakes legal case that could threaten the foundations of her empire

We unpack the bitter rivalries, court battles and family conflicts behind the Hancock fortune, and consider a fundamental question: is Rinehart a mining heiress or is she a self-made mining magnate? We look at her crowning achievement to date in her time at the helm of Hancock Prospecting – owning and operating her own iron mine at Roy Hill, something her father was never able to do

How does Gina Rinehart, like her father before her, use wealth and power to influence Australian politics? Rinehart’s first major foray into the political spotlight was successfully lobbying against Labor’s mining super-profit tax in the early 2010s. But what did she learn from her father, Lang Hancock, who campaigned to overturn the iron ore export embargo in the 1950s, setting the foundation for their family fortune?

Gina Rinehart tops Australia’s rich list, worth almost $40bn. She’s also a climate sceptic, a Trumpette and a litigant – even against her own kids. Her life reads like a script from the TV series Succession. Senior correspondent Sarah Martin has spoken to her critics and her defenders to try and understand who Gina Rinehart really is. In this episode, Martin starts with her childhood, and the enormous influence of her father, Lang Hancock

Beto Marubo, an Indigenous defender who worked closely with the late Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira, shares his alarming insights on the ongoing dangers in the Amazon. He highlights that if Dom and Bruno were alive today, they'd still face the same threats. The conversation unveils the harrowing realities for those protecting the rainforest, shedding light on their struggles against organized crime and the perilous conditions they endure. Through Marubo's powerful narratives, listeners grasp the relentless fight for survival and the urgent need to support Indigenous voices in preserving the Amazon.

Sônia Bridi, a Brazilian investigative reporter specializing in the Amazon, dives deep into the complexities surrounding the recent killings of Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira. She discusses the hope for justice with President Lula's election while revealing the extensive reach of organized crime in the region. Bridi shines a light on a notorious figure rumored to orchestrate these crimes, exploring the chilling dynamics of environmental degradation and the fierce resilience of local communities striving for justice.

The haunting aftermath of a poaching ambush unfolds as a search team discovers the belongings of two missing men in a flooded forest. The emotional toll on their families is palpable, highlighting the despair and uncertainty of seeking justice. Listeners hear about the violent ambush that claimed the lives of Dom and Bruno, delving into community dynamics marked by betrayal. The chilling actions of the perpetrators leave lasting scars, while the relentless pursuit of justice reveals deeper implications for activists and indigenous communities.

Beto Marubo, an Indigenous leader of the Marubo people and FUNAI's senior manager, shares his insights on the perilous dynamics of the Javari Valley. He recounts the fierce conflict between Bruno Pereira, a prominent Indigenous protector, and Pelado, a notorious poacher. Their stories highlight the deep-rooted struggles for Indigenous rights and the dangers of environmental protection. Beto also reflects on building trust among new recruits at FUNAI and the tragic loss of local advocates, emphasizing the resilience of Indigenous communities against escalating threats.

What took British journalist Dom Phillips from the club nights of the UK dance scene as editor of MixMag to one of the most remote, and dangerous, corners of the Amazon rainforest? In 2022, Dom set off on a reporting trip with Bruno Pereira, a Brazilian expert on uncontacted tribes, into the Javari valley, to investigate the criminal gangs threatening this region. And then they vanished

Three years ago, British journalist Dom Phillips and Brazilian indigenous defender Bruno Pereira vanished while on a reporting trip near Brazil’s remote Javari valley. The Guardian’s Latin America correspondent, Tom Phillips, investigates what happened in the first episode of a new six-part investigative podcast series