Tom Phillips
@tomphillips.bsky.social
Latin America correspondent for the @guardian based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 🇧🇷 via London 🇬🇧, Beijing 🇨🇳 and Mexico City 🇲🇽 Say hello: tom.phillips@theguardian.com
Pinned
Tom Phillips
@tomphillips.bsky.social
· Jun 5
Episode one: the disappearance
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 corr...
www.theguardian.com
Out now: the first episodes of our new six-part @theguardian.com podcast series about Dom and Bruno and the Amazon. Please do listen and share.
www.theguardian.com/technology/a...
www.theguardian.com/technology/a...
In 1988, on the eve of Just Cause, the US indicted Noriega for drug smuggling – just as they have w/ Maduro who recently had a $50m bounty put on his head. “So they’ve established a convenient pretext if they choose to pursue a military route”
US military buildup off Venezuela coast stirs echoes of 1989 Panama invasion
Some see anti-Noriega operation as model for deposing Maduro but others say US-orchestrated military coup is more likely option
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:47 AM
In 1988, on the eve of Just Cause, the US indicted Noriega for drug smuggling – just as they have w/ Maduro who recently had a $50m bounty put on his head. “So they’ve established a convenient pretext if they choose to pursue a military route”
“It’s so sad to see what’s happening in our communities. It’s terrible what the people who live there are going through … Those who live in war zones will understand this pain, this despair and this revolt.”
Thousands join protests in Rio favela after deadliest ever police raid
Demonstrators demand inquiry after operation on Tuesday in which at least 121 people were killed
www.theguardian.com
November 1, 2025 at 10:30 AM
“It’s so sad to see what’s happening in our communities. It’s terrible what the people who live there are going through … Those who live in war zones will understand this pain, this despair and this revolt.”
Reposted by Tom Phillips
“In 30 years working in the favelas this is the greatest act of savagery, the biggest massacre I have seen”
Horrifying report from @tomphillips.bsky.social on Rio’s deadliest-ever police raid
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Horrifying report from @tomphillips.bsky.social on Rio’s deadliest-ever police raid
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
‘This was a slaughter, not an operation’: the favela reeling from Rio’s deadliest police raid
Residents of Vila Cruzeiro gather bodies after more than 130 were killed in pre-dawn assault
www.theguardian.com
October 29, 2025 at 7:08 PM
“In 30 years working in the favelas this is the greatest act of savagery, the biggest massacre I have seen”
Horrifying report from @tomphillips.bsky.social on Rio’s deadliest-ever police raid
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Horrifying report from @tomphillips.bsky.social on Rio’s deadliest-ever police raid
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Between 4.15am and 9am, when government body collectors finally arrived, the Guardian witnessed pick up trucks delivering dozens of corpses to a square in Vila Cruzeiro named after Saint Luke the Evangelist. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
‘This was a slaughter, not an operation’: the favela reeling from Rio’s deadliest police raid
Residents of Vila Cruzeiro gather bodies after more than 130 were killed in pre-dawn assault
www.theguardian.com
October 29, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Between 4.15am and 9am, when government body collectors finally arrived, the Guardian witnessed pick up trucks delivering dozens of corpses to a square in Vila Cruzeiro named after Saint Luke the Evangelist. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
"This doesn’t solve the problem,” said Rene Silva, from @vozdascomunidades.com.br “Rio’s crime problem needs to be combated in other places – not just in the favelas" www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Brazil: at least 64 reported killed in Rio’s worst day of violence amid police favela raids
Governor says city ‘at war’ after gunfights between troops and Red Command drug traffickers who reportedly used weaponised drones
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:59 PM
"This doesn’t solve the problem,” said Rene Silva, from @vozdascomunidades.com.br “Rio’s crime problem needs to be combated in other places – not just in the favelas" www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
“He’s not Joe Biden,” Lula’s friend and biographer, Fernando Morais, tells me. “He’s someone who has astounding physical energy, not to mention the energy of his soul”
Brazilian president will seek fourth term at age 80: ‘I’ve got as much energy as when I was 30’
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who first ran for elected office in 1982, announced he will run again in next year’s election
www.theguardian.com
October 23, 2025 at 4:31 PM
“He’s not Joe Biden,” Lula’s friend and biographer, Fernando Morais, tells me. “He’s someone who has astounding physical energy, not to mention the energy of his soul”
A Venezuela mission would not be the first in Latin America & the Caribbean conducted by the Night Stalkers, whose pilots specialise in infiltrating and exfiltrating special forces troops – called “customers” – from hostile places, nearly always at night.
US ‘Night Stalkers’ seen in Caribbean as fears of regime change rise in Venezuela
Elite helicopter unit’s part in military deployment comes as Donald Trump ramps up pressure on Nicolás Maduro
www.theguardian.com
October 22, 2025 at 1:41 PM
A Venezuela mission would not be the first in Latin America & the Caribbean conducted by the Night Stalkers, whose pilots specialise in infiltrating and exfiltrating special forces troops – called “customers” – from hostile places, nearly always at night.
Reposted by Tom Phillips
Keir Starmer will attend Cop30 in Brazil, No 10 confirms
Keir Starmer will attend Cop30 in Brazil, No 10 confirms
After speculation and conflicting pressures, prime minister will attend climate summit next month
www.theguardian.com
October 20, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Keir Starmer will attend Cop30 in Brazil, No 10 confirms
Reposted by Tom Phillips
Entrevista do diretor Kleber Mendonça Filho para o The Guardian
@kmendoncafilho.bsky.social
@theguardian.com
VIVA O CINEMA NACIONAL
@kmendoncafilho.bsky.social
@theguardian.com
VIVA O CINEMA NACIONAL
“I am very proud of what is happening in Brazil,” @kmendoncafilho.bsky.social
tells me as his incredible new film The Secret Agent hits the big screen www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oc...
tells me as his incredible new film The Secret Agent hits the big screen www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oc...
‘I hope he goes to jail’: Brazil’s Cannes-winning director on Bolsonaro and political amnesia
Kleber Mendonça Filho’s gripping thriller The Secret Agent is set in the 70s but casts light on present day politics
www.theguardian.com
October 20, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Entrevista do diretor Kleber Mendonça Filho para o The Guardian
@kmendoncafilho.bsky.social
@theguardian.com
VIVA O CINEMA NACIONAL
@kmendoncafilho.bsky.social
@theguardian.com
VIVA O CINEMA NACIONAL
“I am very proud of what is happening in Brazil,” @kmendoncafilho.bsky.social
tells me as his incredible new film The Secret Agent hits the big screen www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oc...
tells me as his incredible new film The Secret Agent hits the big screen www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oc...
‘I hope he goes to jail’: Brazil’s Cannes-winning director on Bolsonaro and political amnesia
Kleber Mendonça Filho’s gripping thriller The Secret Agent is set in the 70s but casts light on present day politics
www.theguardian.com
October 20, 2025 at 11:43 AM
“I am very proud of what is happening in Brazil,” @kmendoncafilho.bsky.social
tells me as his incredible new film The Secret Agent hits the big screen www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oc...
tells me as his incredible new film The Secret Agent hits the big screen www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oc...
“I just want to know why Donald Trump killing poor people just so,” Joseph’s uncle, known only as “Dollars”, said. “Just because he going after the people gas and their oil. He going after people riches and killing poor people children.” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
‘Trump is killing poor people’: Caribbean village mourns victim of US strike
Relatives of Trinidadian man believed killed in US military strike on alleged drug boat say he was denied due process
www.theguardian.com
October 17, 2025 at 4:24 PM
“I just want to know why Donald Trump killing poor people just so,” Joseph’s uncle, known only as “Dollars”, said. “Just because he going after the people gas and their oil. He going after people riches and killing poor people children.” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
“Since Milei took office & slashed spending, traffickers are taking advantage of rising needs, according to priests & community leaders. Gang bosses support soup kitchens, run events for children & offer jobs & loans in drive to expand their control of poor areas” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
‘Saying yes puts you in their debt’: narco gangs profit from Argentinian austerity
Drug traffickers gaining influence by stepping in and offering donations after Milei’s sweeping social cuts
www.theguardian.com
October 14, 2025 at 10:57 AM
“Since Milei took office & slashed spending, traffickers are taking advantage of rising needs, according to priests & community leaders. Gang bosses support soup kitchens, run events for children & offer jobs & loans in drive to expand their control of poor areas” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Reposted by Tom Phillips
In Venezuela’s ‘darkest hours’, will peace prize boost opposition or backfire?
In Venezuela’s ‘darkest hours’, will peace prize boost opposition or backfire?
María Corina Machado’s Nobel award puts focus on country but analysts doubt it will produce democratic change
www.theguardian.com
October 12, 2025 at 4:26 PM
In Venezuela’s ‘darkest hours’, will peace prize boost opposition or backfire?
“Would receiving the prestigious prize advance Machado’s tenacious campaign to unseat Maduro, or could it backfire and lead to greater repression from the autocrat’s feared security forces?”
In Venezuela’s ‘darkest hours’, will peace prize boost opposition or backfire?
María Corina Machado’s Nobel award puts focus on country but analysts doubt it will produce democratic change
www.theguardian.com
October 12, 2025 at 4:30 PM
“Would receiving the prestigious prize advance Machado’s tenacious campaign to unseat Maduro, or could it backfire and lead to greater repression from the autocrat’s feared security forces?”
“It caught her totally by surprise” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Venezuelan politician María Corina Machado wins Nobel peace prize
Opponent of Maduro regime receives award and praise for keeping ‘flame of democracy burning’
www.theguardian.com
October 10, 2025 at 4:28 PM
“It caught her totally by surprise” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
“The remark went viral and unleashed a torrent of criticism, with many comparing it to Bolsonaro’s callous and incompetent response to Covid, which killed more than 700,000 Brazilians.” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Brazilian governor apologies after joking about deadly methanol poisoning crisis
São Paulo’s teetotal governor, Tarcísio de Freitas, says of scandal that has killed three that he would only worry when ‘they start faking Coca-Cola’
www.theguardian.com
October 8, 2025 at 1:01 PM
“The remark went viral and unleashed a torrent of criticism, with many comparing it to Bolsonaro’s callous and incompetent response to Covid, which killed more than 700,000 Brazilians.” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
🤦🏽♂️
The Oregon Republican Party tried to help Donald Trump make the case for military intervention in Portland with an image of a fiery protest — but since Portland is calm, they had to fabricate one by merging old photos of police in Ecuador and protesters in Brazil www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Republicans post fake image of Oregon protest – using photos of South America
A federal judge had blocked Trump’s request to deploy California national guard to Portland
www.theguardian.com
October 7, 2025 at 11:28 AM
🤦🏽♂️
“Many observers suspect Trump’s counter-narcotics crusade is really a pretext to depose Maduro, either by sparking an internal rebellion against Hugo Chávez’s authoritarian heir or perhaps through direct military intervention within Venezuela itself” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Venezuela on edge over Trump regime change whispers: ‘If it does happen we are ready’
Allies of President Nicolás Maduro vow to resist any military intervention but experts suspect Venezuela’s leaders were rattled by Trump’s decision to bomb Iran
www.theguardian.com
October 7, 2025 at 9:33 AM
“Many observers suspect Trump’s counter-narcotics crusade is really a pretext to depose Maduro, either by sparking an internal rebellion against Hugo Chávez’s authoritarian heir or perhaps through direct military intervention within Venezuela itself” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
"I had a great talk with the president of Brazil. He's a good man ... Yeah, we'll start doing business" - Trump on Lula just now 👀
October 6, 2025 at 8:59 PM
"I had a great talk with the president of Brazil. He's a good man ... Yeah, we'll start doing business" - Trump on Lula just now 👀
“We exchanged numbers”
Brazil’s president asks US to scrap tariffs in ‘friendly’ call with Trump
Presidents spoke on a video call as expert speculates that Haiti could be an area where the two leaders can cooperate
www.theguardian.com
October 6, 2025 at 5:16 PM
“We exchanged numbers”
Reposted by Tom Phillips
No Guardian: "Animais selvagens são apanhados no fogo cruzado do Rio. De macacos-prego a gaviões-pombos, o Instituto Vida Livre trata de uma miríade de animais abatidos numa cidade devastada pela criminalidade com armas de fogo" www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
‘Not even animals escape the extreme barbarity’: wildlife caught in Rio’s rampant gun crime
From capuchin monkeys to mantled hawks - Instituto Vida Livre has treated a myriad of shot animals in a city blighted by gun crime
www.theguardian.com
September 30, 2025 at 12:45 PM
No Guardian: "Animais selvagens são apanhados no fogo cruzado do Rio. De macacos-prego a gaviões-pombos, o Instituto Vida Livre trata de uma miríade de animais abatidos numa cidade devastada pela criminalidade com armas de fogo" www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
"Not even animals escape the extreme barbarity we’ve been living through" 😥 www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
‘Not even animals escape the extreme barbarity’: wildlife caught in Rio’s rampant gun crime
From capuchin monkeys to mantled hawks - Instituto Vida Livre has treated a myriad of shot animals in a city blighted by gun crime
www.theguardian.com
September 30, 2025 at 12:09 PM
"Not even animals escape the extreme barbarity we’ve been living through" 😥 www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
“A final decision has not yet been taken on the prime minister’s attendance at Cop30, which will begin with a leaders’ summit in Belém, on the mouth of the Amazon, led by Brazil’s president, Lula”
‘History will remember who showed up’: Keir Starmer faces call to attend Cop30 summit
Response from leaders and key climate figures comes after PM’s aides advised non-attendance over concerns Reform may attack him
www.theguardian.com
September 26, 2025 at 11:24 AM
“A final decision has not yet been taken on the prime minister’s attendance at Cop30, which will begin with a leaders’ summit in Belém, on the mouth of the Amazon, led by Brazil’s president, Lula”
'Yu used ancient Chinese water systems to reimagine modern architecture, building systems to help cities conserve and re-use rainwater. "It’s important to make friends with water,” he once said.' www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
Renowned ‘sponge city’ architect Kongjian Yu dies in Brazil plane crash
The 62-year-old Chinese landscape architect was killed with three others while filming in the Pantanal wetlands
www.theguardian.com
September 24, 2025 at 2:05 PM
'Yu used ancient Chinese water systems to reimagine modern architecture, building systems to help cities conserve and re-use rainwater. "It’s important to make friends with water,” he once said.' www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...