Category: World News

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Cyclone Maila upgraded, as PNG and Solomons brace for more

Source: Radio New Zealand

Flooding caused by Cyclone Maila at Baia Village in PNG’s West New Britain province. Supplied

Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila has been upgraded to a Category 4 system, as it hovers over the Solomon Sea and is forecast to track back towards Papua New Guinea’s mainland later this week.

Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology first announced the upgrade on Tuesday evening, closely followed by the two countries most affected by Maila so far, Solomon Islands and PNG.

Roads have been flooded and bridges taken out in provinces in PNG’s Niugini Islands region, while coastal communities have been inundated by storm surges in the west of Solomon Islands.

West New Britain governor Sasindran Muthuvel said his province experienced heavy rain for the past four days. He said roads had been badly affected in numerous parts of the province.

“All the roads within Gloucester-Kandrian (district) are very badly affected. In fact, in our New Britain Highway, one bridge is almost like washed away, or it’s in a very bad shape.”

He said photos shown by his MP colleagues in East New Britain and Bougainville indicate other parts of the Niugini Islands region have been hit hard too.

“I can see very similar damage, like, it’s just just high, I mean, high level of rain or heavy downpour that caused, because our drainage is already poor,” Muthuvel said.

“So most of our drainage has been filled and water is on the road, flowing on the road, and some water is like flowing on top of the bridge, and that’s when some of these main roads have been cut off.”

The category 3 system is in the Solomon Sea, hundreds of kilometers south-southwest of the autonomous Papua New Guinea region. zoom/earth

Loop back

After forming at the weekend, and shrouding parts of PNG in rain and wind, Maila moved out of PNG waters into Solomon Islands waters by Tuesday, but was forecast to loop back towards PNG from Thursday.

Milne Bay province could be directly affacted, again, by the cyclone, with the PNG Weather Service urging people in Milne Bay to take any lull in the weather as an opportunity to get prepared.

RNZ Pacific understands the PNGDF is readying to deploy defence enginners out of Lae to be on standby for rescue and recovery work as required.

It comes as several people, including a critically injured patient, have been missing at sea since last week after embarking from Woodlark Island as part of an emergency medical evacuation to Milne Bay’s Alotau General Hospital in a 23-foot dinghy.

It is likely that PNG’s government will be asked to help fix damages in numerous provinces, with Muthuvel saying the national cabinet stood ready to help once it received damage assessments from each province.

“The PM (Prime Minister) also mentioned that once they receive all the reports, then cabinet can deliberate on it and see how they can they can support.

“Actually, the Department of Works has more of a role to play in terms of trying to help with fixing those roads or fixing those affected bridges and all those things, because most of these roads have hardly any maintenance – that’s one of the reason why some of these roads are badly affected,” Muthuvel said.

Cyclone Maila caused flooding of the main road along the New Britain Highway, including at Bialla. Supplied

Inundated

People in Solomon Islands’ Choiseul Province are being urged to seek shelter on higher ground until Cyclone Maile moves away from the country.

Maila has been causing tidal surges across Western and Choiseul provinces with multiple videos of the ocean flooding being posted on social media.

The Provincial Police Commander for Choiseul Berry Pogesopa, who is also chair of the provincial disaster response, said whole villages including schools and a hospital had been impacted by ocean inundation.

Warning people against going to sea, he also said people should take shelter, including on higher ground.

Earlier, a resort owner in Western Province, said his main concern was for the thatched rooves of their bungalows. Joe Entrikin of Zipolo Resort in Munda said so far they’d had strong winds and heavy rains.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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UK festival cancelled after headliner Kanye West blocked from travelling to UK

Source: Radio New Zealand

Organisers of a popular London music festival say it has been cancelled after the headliner, Kanye West, was blocked from traveling to the United Kingdom.

The announcement that West, who is known as Ye, would headline the three-day Wireless Festival had sparked criticism from Jewish groups and politicians, who highlighted his repeated antisemitic remarks in recent years.

The backlash saw major sponsors Pepsi and Diageo withdraw from the event, which had been scheduled for 10-12 July. It also drew criticism from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who had called the decision for West to headline “deeply concerning.”

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

JUSTIN TALLIS / POOL / AFP

Now, British officials have blocked West from entering the country, saying his presence in the UK would not be conducive to the public good.

On Tuesday (all times local), Starmer said that West “should never have been invited to headline Wireless.”

“This Government stands firmly with the Jewish community, and we will not stop in our fight to confront and defeat the poison of antisemitism,” the British leader said in a statement posted on X.

“We will always take the action necessary to protect the public and uphold our values.”

In the wake of the government’s decision, Festival Republic, the firm that organises Wireless Festival, said the event would be called off.

“Wireless Festival is cancelled and refunds will be issued to all ticket holders,” the company said in a statement Tuesday.

“Antisemitism in all its forms is abhorrent, and we recognise the real and personal impact these issues have had. As YE said today, he acknowledges that words alone are not enough, and in spite of this still hopes to be given the opportunity to begin a conversation with the Jewish community in the UK,” Festival Republic added.

The rapper had previously issued a statement saying he had been following the conversation surrounding his Wireless appearance and wanted “to address it directly.”

“My only goal is to come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace, and love through my music,” read the statement in an update to his Wall Street Journal letter “To Those I’ve Hurt,” circulated by Festival Republic earlier on Tuesday.

“I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with members of the Jewish community in the UK in person, to listen,” said West.

“I know words aren’t enough – I’ll have to show change through my actions,” he added. “If you’re open, I’m here.”

‘Deeply regrettable’

West – who previously said he had bipolar disorder before saying last year that he had been misdiagnosed and instead has autism – took out a full-page advert in the Wall Street Journal in January to apologise for his previous comments.

Reacting to the news that West had been blocked from entering the UK, the charity Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) said the government “has clearly made the right decision.”

“Someone who has boasted of making tens of millions of dollars from selling swastika t-shirts and who released a song called ‘Heil Hitler’ just months ago clearly would not be conducive to the public good in the UK,” said a CAA spokesperson in a statement Tuesday.

“Wireless Festival, in its desperate quest for profit, defended the invitation until the end. That is shameful, and its sponsors should continue to stay away,” they added.

Jewish community organisation the Board of Deputies of British Jews also said that it welcomed “the government listening to the concerns of Jews in the UK and preventing Kanye West from entering the country.”

“It is deeply regrettable that Wireless Festival invited him in the first place and then doubled down when the Jewish community and our allies objected,” said Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, in a statement Tuesday.

“We note that the Festival has now been cancelled but it should never have reached this point. The situation could and should have been resolved much earlier.”

Wireless is one of the UK’s biggest music festivals, attracting up to 150,000 attendees each year.

West has not performed in the UK since headlining Glastonbury in 2015.

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Cyclone Vaianu cuts off roads, closes schools and cancels flights in Fiji

Source: Radio New Zealand

Videos shared by the Fiji Meteorological Service – sent by the public – showing real-time weather updates of the impacts of Vaianu show rain and strong winds affecting different parts of the country. Screengrab / Facebook/Fiji Meteorological Service

Dozens of roads and crossings are inaccessible in Fiji’s Western Division due to heavy rainfall caused by severe tropical cyclone Vaianu.

Authorities are advising people to avoid flooded areas and take necessary precautions.

Videos shared by the Fiji Meteorological Service – sent by the public – showing real-time weather updates of the impacts of Vaianu show rain and strong winds affecting different parts of the country.

Vaianu is not expected to make landfall in Fiji.

A forecasting officer said on Tuesday morning the wind is expected to pick up over most places on Tuesday.

Forecasting officer Shivneel Prasad said some marine areas can expect wind up to 40 knots and gusts of up to 50 knots, or about 93 kilometres an hour, which means hazardous conditions at sea.

“For land, basically we expect the northerly winds to prevail over the Fiji Group. This will bring about… occasional periods of rain and heavy falls as well.”

He said the Metservice had received reports of flash flooding.

Prasad said Vaianu is expected to stay on its projected south-east path, and weather conditions will continue to affect Fiji on Wednesday but should start to ease.

“Come tomorrow morning we’ll start to see a trend of easing of the winds over the Fiji group, and with regards to the rain – because there’s an extension of this system up to the north – the rain will start to ease off by end of tomorrow.”

A heavy rain warning remains in place for the whole Fiji group. Schools and universities are closed until further notice.

The National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDRMO) has advised those living in low-lying and flood-prone areas to move to evacuation centres.

“Do not attempt to cross flooded roads, rivers, or crossings under any circumstances,” the country’s acting permanent secretary for disaster management Mitieli Cama said at a news conference on Monday.

The Water Authority of Fiji is advising people to store water in advance as the impacts of Vaianu could affect water production and supply.

“This could lead to low water pressure or temporary supply interruptions in some areas. Poor road conditions may also delay water cartage services to affected communities,” it said.

Fiji’s Maritime Safety Authority (MSAF) has issued a notice advising all passenger and cargo transport operations in the Western Division to cease effective 9am on Tuesday local time.

“Ship masters are permitted to reposition vessels for safety purposes without the need for standard clearances, provided that no passengers or cargo are on board,” the notice said.

It urged all maritime operators and seafarers to remain vigilant and prioritise safety at all times.

Multiple flights into and out of Nadi were cancelled on Tuesday due to the adverse weather connected to cyclone Vaianu.

Fiji Airports said all Fiji Link domestic flights were cancelled, as were a number of international flights.

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Promoter defends plan for Kanye West to headline festival

Source: Radio New Zealand

One of the promoters of an annual London music festival on Monday defended plans for Kanye West to headline it, amid a backlash over the US rapper’s previous antisemitic outbursts.

Disgraced 48-year-old hip-hop star West – now known as Ye – is due to play three nights at the Wireless Festival in the British capital in July as part of a European comeback tour.

The decision to book him as the headliner has already prompted several sponsors to pull out of the event, including drinks giants Pepsi and Diageo.

According to media reports, the government is reviewing whether West should be allowed to enter the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer having already called his booking “deeply concerning”.

In a statement issued late Monday, Melvin Benn, managing director of Festival Republic which helps promote the event, urged West’s critics to show him “some forgiveness”.

Benn called the rapper’s past comments about Jews and Hitler “abhorrent” but said the festival would not provide “a platform to extol opinion of whatever nature”.

He asked critics to “reflect on their instant comments of disgust at the likelihood of him performing” and “offer some forgiveness and hope to him as I have decided to do.

“He has a legal right to come into the country and to perform in this country,” Benn added.

The US rapper has subsequently expressed regret for his conduct, blaming it on his bipolar disorder.

Festival organisers announced West’s appearance on social media last month, prompting criticism from Jewish organisations and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) on Sunday urged the government to bar him from entering the UK, on the grounds his presence would “not be conducive to the public good”.

“Surely this is a clear case,” the group said on X.

The interior ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment about such a move.

West, who has not performed in Britain since he headlined Glastonbury in 2015, has been heavily criticised in recent years after he made a series of antisemitic remarks and voiced admiration for Adolf Hitler.

In May 2025, he released a song called ‘Heil Hitler’, months after advertising a swastika t-shirt for sale on his website.

The song was banned by major streaming platforms.

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‘Passive’ screen time may raise dementia risk

Source: Radio New Zealand

Watching television and other “mentally passive” sedentary behaviours are linked to a higher risk of developing dementia, while more mentally engaging activities such as crossword puzzles appear to offer some protection, according to a new study.

The findings add nuance to what we know about brain health and aging, and they suggest that cognitive activity is important alongside physical activity.

To better understand what this research means and how we can better protect our brain health, I spoke with CNN wellness expert Dr Leana Wen, an emergency physician and clinical associate professor at George Washington University. She previously served as Baltimore’s health commissioner.

The study followed more than 20,000 adults in Sweden over nearly two decades. (file image)

Unsplash / Curated Lifestyle

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Is it safe to eat cold leftovers?

Source: Radio New Zealand

Food poisoning is caused by eating food contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, fungi or viruses.

Although most people know that it can result from poorly cooked foods or risky food preparation habits, improperly stored leftovers are also a key cause. It’s therefore extremely important you take care when storing leftovers to avoid harming your health.

Here’s my advice as a microbiologist for staying safe when eating your favourite cold leftovers.

If cooked rice needs to be saved, it should be covered once cooked, cooled quickly, then refrigerated for no more than 24 hours.

Kelly Gibney

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‘Never have I felt so dependent on … feelings of one administration’: Nicola Willis on Trump and Iran

Source: Radio New Zealand

Nicola Willis speaks after the latest government update on fuel supplies, 6 April. RNZ / Giles Dexter

The finance minister says she has “never felt so dependent on the actions and feelings of one administration and its leaders”, as concerns grow about the fuel shock triggered by the US-Israel war on Iran.

Few ships carrying stock have been allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz since Iran effectively closed it just over a month ago, in retaliation for the attacks. That has triggered a global spike in prices at the pump, and New Zealand – wholly dependent on importing refined fuels – has not been spared.

At the weekend, US President Donald Trump issued an expletive-laden threat at Iran, telling it to “open the F*****’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell” or its civilian infrastructure would be attacked. He followed that up on Monday (US time) with a claim the “entire country can be taken out in one night”.

The comments come as Foreign Minister Winston Peters heads to the US to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Asked about Trump’s comments on Tuesday morning, Nicola Willis first was diplomatic.

“We actually want to see all parties acting with restraint, moving toward a negotiated solution so the crisis can end,” she told Morning Report.

“And it’s simply the fact that the longer the conflict goes on, the more severe the impact. And once again, we call on the US, Iran, all actors in this conflict to uphold international law.”

Asked again, she replied:

“Well, I have reflected that never have I felt so dependent on the actions and feelings of one administration and its leaders as New Zealand is right now. And I see the pain that so many New Zealanders are experiencing as a result of this fuel shock, and I wish for it to end.

“And the sad reality is that it’s not in New Zealand’s hands that lies in the hands of countries very far away.”

Steady as she goes

Willis was resisting the temptation to cut fuel taxes and road user charges (RUC) as prices spiked – particularly for diesel – saying it would make no sense to encourage fuel consumption at the same time as calling for restraint.

According to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s (MBIE) latest data national fuel stocks are stable, with sufficient stock levels – for now.

Diesel levels have dipped slightly since the last report, while jet fuel and petrol levels have risen slightly. There is now just 17.5 days’ worth of diesel in the country, with more on ships headed this way – 12 outside our exclusive economic zone and four inside.

“We haven’t had any reports of any issues with those shipments that are in international waters,” Willis told Morning Report. “We would expect to get reporting from fuel importing companies if they were seeing any issues with those. They seem to be safely on their way.”

Gaspy figures show diesel is now more expensive than 91 at more than $3.70 a litre, while its users also have to pay RUC.

“That price is really, really tough on many, many businesses in our economy, and also individuals and families who use diesel,” Wilis said. “We’re used to seeing diesel at the pump cheaper than ’91. And of course, what’s happened internationally is that diesel is the most disrupted fuel, both in terms of getting the refined products, but also in terms of the cost escalations that we’ve seen internationally. It’s very much an international phenomenon.

“What we’ve said is that in the first instance, we don’t want to remove fuel tax or road user charges as a measure because it’s such a broad and blunt instrument, particularly if we could be moving into a phase where we’re calling for demand restraint. It doesn’t make sense to also be reducing the price of fuel if you’re calling for demand restraint.

“And we’re conscious, look, we are in a huge amount of debt as a country. We are running a significant deficit already. We need to be financially responsible, which is why we’ve opted for that targeted relief, targeted at low-income families who are really, really up against us.”

Willis said there were no signs of price gouging, whether by petrol suppliers or retailers affected by fuel price increases, but it was being monitored.

“[Removing RUC] would do nothing to the price of diesel at the pump. I think that’s an important thing for people to remember – that price you’re paying at the pump is just the price of diesel.”

Taking RUC off then applying it again when prices dropped would risk inflation, Willis said.

“I wish as much as anyone else that this conflict occurring in the Middle East wasn’t happening in a way that’s creating so much pain for New Zealanders. But there is a price to be paid for everything. And we really have a choice about short-term pain or long-term deeper pain.

“And we saw after Covid, when we let loose the rule book and spinned up a storm, actually, that results in higher inflation in the medium term, big amounts of debt and it’s a hard thing to dig a country out of.”

She said fuel importers had had success in securing refined fuels from outside the Middle East, and extra storage should be ready at Marsden Point by the end of May.

‘Crunch’ on the way if war not resolved

Soaring diesel prices are forcing some farmers to change what they grow and how they grow it. Some are shifting to crops that use less fuel and have started cutting back on fertiliser, moves that could ultimately lower production and increase prices.

Federated Farmers arable chair David Birkett told Morning Report on Tuesday farmers were adjusting to the new reality for now, but if the war was not over and usual deliveries resumed by the end of the southern hemisphere winter, there would be a “crunch”.

“Initially supply was a big issue and we are still hearing isolated cases where farmers are running out, but in general the supplies are getting through, but they are certainly being delivered in smaller batches.

“The concern now, I guess, as a lot of farmers stored fuel on the farm, that storage has now been used and the full price impact is coming through now. So we’ll start to have an economic impact from now on.”

Farmers were considering switching to crops that use less fertiliser, he said, and using smaller tractors.

“The thing is here, I guess for farmers, is looking at what can they do to make sure that profitability doesn’t drop away. And that’ll be one of the two questions. One, does it reduce the amount of fuel that’s needed? And two, will it impact on the profitability at the end of the day as well?

“Because while some sectors are going well, other sectors are struggling with their profitability at the moment. Price and supply are obviously an issue… At what point do those stock levels become a real operational risk for what you can produce?”

David Birkett. RNZ/Anisha Satya

Birkett said the timing of the shock was “very lucky”, with much of our crops already planted and the quiet winter period ahead.

“Our next peak demand will be springtime. And that’s probably our next area of concern is, what will the price be like come springtime? So we’re talking August. And what will the price be as well? … The next crunch period will be spring, and I would certainly hope that the war is finished by then. But yeah, no, I don’t think anyone’s holding their breath.”

The price of fertiliser in spring remained a big source of uncertainty.

“We know that the Australian prices of fertiliser have already gone up significantly, so that gives us a bit of an idea of where those fertiliser prices will probably get to. So yeah, both fuel and for us here in New Zealand are pretty linked, and they’re the two which we’re keeping a very close eye on.”

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Trump’s strategy with Iran is the ‘Madman Theory’, an international law expert explains

Source: Radio New Zealand

US President Donald Trump on March 4, 2026. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP

An international law expert says the US President appears to be employing what’s known as the “Madman Theory” in an attempt to end the war in Iran.

In an expletive-laden post overnight, Donald Trump vowed to strike Iran’s power plants and bridges if the country’s leaders don’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Waikato University Professor Al Gillespie told RNZ such actions would technically amount to war crimes, but he believed there was a deeper strategy at play.

“Madman Theory” was a strategy brought to fame by Richard Nixon’s unsuccessful attempt to end the Vietnam war, Gillespie said.

The strategy involves behaving in an irrational, erratic manner, and threatening to go to extreme lengths to end a war or conflict.

“The idea is that you don’t know whether the person will or won’t do it, and the opposition will be scared into making a deal.”

The issue with Trump’s use of the strategy in the case of Iran, is that it relies upon a rational opposition, Gillespie said.

Waikato University Professor Al Gillespie. Alexander Gillespie

“In the case of either religious regimes or autocratic regimes, they often don’t have that fear.

“And then there’s the concern that they don’t actually believe the person making the threat.”

He said he did not believe the strategy would be successful, because the Iranian regime did not care about what the US did to its civilian population.

“Iran feels emboldened by Mr Trump’s increasingly extreme rhetoric … I think they almost want it right now.”

But there was also a concern that Trump might not be bluffing, he acknowledged.

“He doesn’t respond in a rational way often. And the one thing that’s certain is that he’s a poor loser – and he may lash out in unexpected ways.”

A post by US President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform. Screenshot

The elevation of US threats against civilian infrastructure is part of a wider trend away from the conventions of modern international law.

“Everyone’s doing this now. Whether you’re dealing with the war in Gaza, or whether you’re dealing with the war in Ukraine, increasingly the practice is to put the weight of the war on civilians, not on combatants.”

There was an increasing gap between the theory of international law and the reality of its practice, he said.

“The list of good guys is getting very small.”

If the US were to follow through on Trump’s threats, Gillespie suspected Iran would further increase strikes against infrastructure in the region – and would extend its stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz and its blockage of the Red Sea.

“The implications for this is that the price of oil, and anything that’s relying on international transport through that part of the world will continue to increase.”

In the wake of Trump’s threats, the New Zealand government needed to be calling for a return to international law, Gillespie said.

“We need to be trying to find ways that this can be negotiated out, and we should be supporting efforts at the Security Council.

“And then we need to be working out what principles we are prepared to defend in terms of freedom of the high seas, because there is a movement right now to try to open up the straits through the Security Council, of which there is some ambiguous language.”

He advised strongly against any military involvement in the Strait of Hormuz until a ceasefire agreement was reached.

“If it’s after and it’s a peacekeeping force, then there may be a role for New Zealand to play.”

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Foreign Minister Winston Peters off to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Source: Radio New Zealand

Winston Peters with Marco Rubio in 2025. AFP / Saul Loeb

Foreign Minister Winston Peters is travelling to the United States, where he is set to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, among others, in Washington DC.

Peters said the meetings would advance New Zealand’s diplomatic, security and economic interests and facilitate greater mutual understanding of each country’s respective priorities.

“We intend to discuss our shared commitments to cooperate in the Pacific and Indo-Pacific, as well as significant international developments – particularly the conflict in the Middle East and its impacts on our region,” Peters said

Peters said the current global context was the most challenging New Zealand had faced in the past 80 years.

“In times as complex as these, we highly value opportunities to meet face-to-face.”

Peters’ trip comes just days after Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke announced she would not be travelling to an International Monetary Fund event in Washington DC due to global events and the struggle for people at home to pay for fuel.

Peters will return to New Zealand on 10 April.

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UK royal family’s dilemma over Andrew’s daughters

Source: Radio New Zealand

The downfall of the former prince Andrew has left the British monarchy with a right royal headache — how to handle his daughters caught up in the scandal of US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The uncertain future of princesses Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 36, the children of Andrew — now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, has filled the British press in recent weeks.

Andrew, the second of the late queen Elizabeth II’s three sons and brother to King Charles III, was arrested in mid-February amid new revelations of his ties to the late billionaire Epstein.

He was questioned for hours at a police station on suspicion of misconduct in public office during his decade-long role as a UK trade envoy. Mountbatten-Windsor has denied any wrongdoing, and has not been charged, but remains under police caution.

“We can now also confirm that we are providing early investigative advice to Thames Valley Police in relation to” Mountbatten-Windsor, prosecutors told AFP on Thursday.

Andrew was stripped of his royal titles in October by the king amid the growing scandal around Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.

And while his daughters are not active members of the royal family, Buckingham Palace has made it clear they retain their titles as princesses.

They have always been seen as close to the king’s two sons, heir Prince William and Prince Harry, and were part of the royal family’s inner circle.

In December, they attended the family’s traditional Christmas church service on the eastern Sandringham estate even though their parents were not invited.

But the two women and their young families would not be at Windsor this weekend for the traditional Easter gathering, a royal source confirmed to AFP.

The two had made alternative plans, but will be seen at future family celebrations, the source added.

“They want to avoid any association with them, as the York brand has become toxic,” said royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams.

New emails released in January showed Andrew remained in contact with Epstein long after the American’s conviction for trafficking and sex with a minor.

He also appeared to have shared sensitive UK information with Epstein such as trade documents.

The documents also revealed the extent of the ties between Epstein and Ferguson, with the princesses’ names appearing in numerous emails, although there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by them.

In one of the documents, Epstein writes that “Ferg and the two girls” came to visit him, less than a week after he was freed from prison in 2009, following a conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution.

In light of these new revelations “hard questions will need to be asked”, said royal expert Ed Owens.

“If it is shown that they have benefited from an elite network, that was partially introduced to them by Jeffrey Epstein… this is problematic,” said Owens.

Andrew biographer Andrew Lownie said he believed the sisters are “deeply implicated” rather than “collateral damage”, highlighting a 2010 incident in which Fergie was secretly filmed by a tabloid selling access to Andrew.

“This was a family business. The girls were taken on these taxpayer-funded trips,” he said.

“They’ve built up a very useful contact book which they are exploiting to this day.”

Both women have successful careers. Beatrice was vice president of strategic partnerships at Afiniti, an AI technology company, for a decade, and has now set up her own advisory group.

Eugenie is a director at Hauser & Wirth contemporary art gallery in London. But last month she quit her role as a patron for the Anti-Slavery International charity.

Both Lownie and Owens believe the royal family must distance itself from the two women.

Their hybrid status “one foot in the monarchy, one foot out” endangers the entire Windsor family, said Owens.

Fitzwilliams added: “We don’t know what might come up next. There might be new scandals”.

Lownie agreed. “There are scandals still in their cupboard” waiting to be exposed, he said.

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