Hodgkinson smashes 800m indoor world record with stunning run

Keely Hodgkinson smashed the women’s 800m indoor record by almost a second to extend the Olympic champion’s blazing start to the 2026 season.

Crossing the finish line in 1:54.87, Hodgkinson looked supreme en route to victory at the prestigious World Indoor Tour Gold meeting in Lievin.

Days after a stunning world-leading 800m run of 1:56.33 at the UK Indoor Championships heats, Hodgkinson bowed out of the final to instead focus on taking down Jolanda Ceplak’s mark of 1:55.82, which has stood for 24 years and coincidentally occurred on Hodgkinson’s birthday.

But that decision, to preserve her body for tonight’s audacious attempt, proved a smart one, with Thursday’s effort ensuring a revision of the record books and a precious addition to what is an already glittering resume.

“Thank god,” remarked an out-of-breath Hodgkinson moments after gathering herself, having collapsed after crossing the finish line. “That was fun. I’ve been looking forward to this for a few weeks. Merci.”

Hodgkinson came through 400m in 56.01 seconds, and hit the bell lap at 1:25.06 well ahead of the required pace, with her final 200m clocked at 29.81 seconds.

After Olympic gold and silver medals, as well as two silvers and a bronze at World Championships, Hodgkinson now has the indoor world record, completing an impressive response to what was a disappointing 2025 by her exceptionally high standards.

After struggling with injury in the build-up to last summer, Hodgkinson was forced to settle for bronze at the Tokyo World Championships, behind training mate Georgia Hunter Bell, who clinched silver.

But without an Olympic Games or World Championships this year, the 23-year-old has targeted time goals with a sizzling run in Lievin, the first statement run of her year.

After sensibly negotiating months of training with her “healthiest winter for years”, Hodgkinson insists she has “nothing holding me back” ahead of the World Indoor Championships in Poland next month.

“I’ve been very vocal about wanting to break it,” Hodgkinson said after her tune-up on Saturday in Birmingham. “I feel like it’s my record to take.”

In a packed field, including Ethiopia’s Olympic silver medallist Tsige Duguma, Switzerland’s European U23 champion Audrey Werro and world indoor silver medallist Nigist Getachew, also of Ethiopia, Hodgkinson had the competition required to push her to new limits.

And, following Poland’s 4x400m international Anna Gryc as the pacemaker, she backed up her run last weekend by expertly clicking off the laps before storming to victory in a new world record, 0.95 seconds ahead of the previous mark.

Werro finished second in 3.51 seconds back in 1:58.38, with Duguma third in 1:58.83 and Getachew fourth with a personal best of 1:59.54.

Her next priority will be a gold medal at the World Indoor Championships next month, while a shot at the women’s 800m outdoor world record, standing at a daunting 1:53.28, is sure to follow.

Set by Czechoslovakia’s Jarmila Kratochvílová in 1983, it remains the longest-standing, individual outdoor world record in athletics history, with Hodgkinson’s personal best set at 1:54.61.

Prince William is keen to prove he’s different – Gen Z don’t buy it

It is not an exaggeration to say that the Epstein story is shaping up to be one of the most shocking scandals of the modern age. It is a story reaching the highest offices across continents – spreading from the White House to royal palaces – and exposing a deep and rising global anger over what many see as a two-tier system of law, justice and accountability.

For the majority of “us”, there is an expectation that laws must be obeyed, we pay our taxes and face consequences if we do not. For “them” – the wealthy, the connected, the powerful and the titled – it feels to many that there is a different set of rules, where taxes can be avoided and laws seemingly broken with impunity, even in cases involving the most serious crimes.

We have watched, aghast, as powerful and wealthy men (and some women) continued to associate with Epstein long after his conviction for procuring a minor for prostitution. While the Clintons have agreed to sit for sworn testimony before the House Oversight Committee as part of its probe into the convicted paedophile, few others who may hold vital information have offered to cooperate. Platitudes have been issued about “thinking of the victims”, yet many of those victims have repeatedly pleaded for anyone with relevant information to come forward and largely been met with silence.

It was in this atmosphere that Prince William, our future king, made a surprise appearance on BBC Radio 1. Despite the scandal engulfing his family, he was neither asked about it nor volunteered any thoughts. Instead, he stuck firmly to the script: he was there to talk about men’s mental health. He spoke candidly about his own, including about the need to “understand his own emotions”. What his emotions were the morning after the arrest of his uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office, we will probably never know.

Until now, we have been simply served up a two-line statement on his thoughts on the whole Epstein scandal. Following the release of the latest tranche of Epstein files, which included a picture of Andrew crouching on all fours over a woman splayed on a carpet below him, the statement from Kensington Palace simply read: “I can confirm The Prince and Princess have been deeply concerned by the continuing revelations. Their thoughts remain focused on the victims.” There was no direct reference to Epstein, to Andrew, or to his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, who has also faced renewed scrutiny following the document release.

Prince William kept his counsel during his interview with Greg James, too, and we can presume, the Radio 1 interviewer was under strict instructions not to raise the Epstein scandal either. Yet speaking to the audience of Radio 1’s Life Hacks, who the future king was desperately trying to connect with, there is a growing sense that the appearance felt tone-deaf and was a serious misfire from a Prince struggling to read the room.

Many members of Gen A and Gen Z I have spoken to say that it came across that Prince William, like the rest of the royal family, is more concerned with self-preservation than with the wellbeing of his so-called “subjects”.

It is a difficult line to walk. While William was discussing the challenges men face in talking about mental health, his message landed awkwardly at a time of rising inequality – with 33 per cent of children in the UK now living in poverty – and as the misconduct of the rich and powerful dominates headlines.

Olivia, 15, listened with her mother, who had just completed a 14-hour hospital shift. “There are loads of doctors and nurses whose mental health is awful,” she said, “but they don’t have a few palaces to retreat to. He didn’t mention Epstein’s victims or how frightening things feel for so many people. It sounded like ‘poor me’. I feel disgusted by the royal family.”

Her sentiment reflects wider generational attitudes. Only 30 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds believe the monarchy is “good for Britain”, compared with 77 per cent of over-65s, according to YouGov – and that was before the Epstein/Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor scandal escalated. While the Prince and Princess of Wales remain the most favourably viewed royals, with roughly three-quarters of Britons holding positive views, support among younger generations is far weaker.

Having grown up amid a cost-of-living crisis, Gen Z and Gen A tend to have little patience for unearned privilege. They do not see William and Kate as the dynamic future of the monarchy, but as beneficiaries of inherited status, like Harry, Beatrice and Eugenie, they are all “nepo babies” living in taxpayer-funded palaces while their own peers struggle to secure housing and employment.

Clint, 18, says: “There were days my mum didn’t eat so we could. We were evicted twice, once at Christmas. William can shove his ‘woe is me’ routine. Try living like the rest of us.”

The long-running rift between William and Harry has unfolded like a national soap opera. Older generations may view Harry as a shirker who retained his titles while stepping back from duties. Many younger Britons, however, describe William as “cold” and “unkind”.

There is also a perception among some young people that Harry paid a heavier price for his actions than Andrew did, at least until recently, and that stripping Andrew of titles and turfing him out of his Windsor home was a case of too little, too late. Oliver, 19, says: “Andrew was bringing Epstein to Buckingham Palace. Come on.”

Complicating matters further, Epstein’s network has now intersected with one of William’s flagship initiatives. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, the Emirati businessman and former CEO of DP World, has appeared in the Epstein files as someone who corresponded with Epstein, including in emails referencing a “torture video”. His company was a founding corporate partner of William’s Earthshot Prize, to which he donated at least £1m.

There is no evidence that William had any knowledge of those connections. But for conspiracy-loving younger generations already suspicious of elite networks and institutional protection, these associations simply add to their mistrust.

It has not gone unnoticed that Prince Harry was the first royal to publicly criticise Andrew, highlighting what he saw as hypocrisy in the family’s treatment of different scandals. In his memoir Spare, he wrote that despite the allegations against Andrew, “no one had even suggested removing his security”. Indeed, even yesterday as he left the police station after being arrested, two royal protection officers were in the car with him.

Anger is running high, and much of it is directed at what feels like entrenched inequality and institutional protection of the powerful. If William’s interview this week was intended to humanise him, to suggest “I’m just like you”, it appears to have had the opposite effect among the younger listeners he is so desperate to connect with.

Grace, 24, says: “I don’t think the elite understand how angry people are. It feels like they’ve shown us that some lives matter less.”

The royal family may feel bruised and embarrassed by association with the Epstein scandal. But their discomfort is negligible compared with that of the victims, who, alongside their lawyers, have repeatedly called for Andrew to testify under oath before Congress. The fact that the King or Prince William have remained silent on the matter has also not gone unnoticed.

With multiple UK police forces now reviewing aspects of the Epstein-related material connected to Andrew, events may yet develop further and that might change. If Prince William hopes to steward a modern monarchy sustained by the consent of younger generations, he may need to recognise a simple truth: whatever personal struggles he faces, millions are facing far greater ones – and they expect accountability from those at the top.

Austrian climber guilty of manslaughter after girlfriend froze to death on mountain

An Austrian court has found an amateur mountaineer guilty of manslaughter over his girlfriend’s death near the nation’s highest summit, where he had left her to fetch help, local media reported.

The court in the western city of Innsbruck on Thursday gave Thomas Plamberger a five-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of €9,400 (£8,200) for causing the woman’s death in January 2025 by gross negligence. The offence carries a maximum jail sentence of three years.

Plamberger, 37, who pleaded not guilty, told the court he was “terribly sorry”.

The victim, named during court proceedings as Kerstin G, 33, died of hypothermia just metres below the summit of Grossglockner, which rises 3,798 metres in the Hohe Tauern range and is considered one of the most demanding winter ascents in the Alps.

“I loved Kerstin,” Plamberger said, “we always made decisions together on the mountain.”

The case is unusual because while climbing accidents are common, prosecutions over them are rare, even in situations where various mistakes are made.

The trial raises questions about the extent of legal liability in the high mountains, an inherently dangerous environment that climbers generally explore at their own risk.

Legal experts say the proceedings effectively test Austria’s “duty of care” doctrine, under which a person who assumes responsibility for another in a hazardous situation can be held criminally liable if they fail to act appropriately. Prosecutors argued that Plamberger, as the more experienced alpinist, bore that responsibility during the climb.

After a day’s climbing in which they fell behind schedule, the woman was exhausted and unable to go. She stopped about 50m below the Grossglockner summit on a freezing winter night, the court heard.

The defendant left his girlfriend exposed to strong winds, without wrapping her in her emergency blanket or bivouac bag for reasons he could not fully explain, to fetch help in a shelter on the other side of the summit. The equipment stayed in her rucksack.

Austrian media reported that wind speeds reached about 74kmph and temperatures dropped to around -8C, with wind chill making it feel closer to -20C. Rescue workers later told the court that when they recovered Kerstin’s body, she was still wearing her rucksack, her gloves were off and her boots open.

A short call to the mountain police did not trigger a search because, the police said, Plamberger did not make clear they needed rescuing, and he failed to answer calls back or WhatsApp messages asking if they needed help.

The defendant said his phone had been in airplane mode to save battery.

Prosecutors said a police helicopter had flown over the area earlier in the evening but did not spot any distress signals.

Webcam footage shown in court captured the couple’s headlamps near the summit late at night and the defendant’s light descending alone in the early hours.

During the trial, an ex-girlfriend testified that Plamberger had left her alone during a previous ascent of the same mountain in 2023 after an argument over the route. She described feeling dizzy and frightened in the dark after her headlamp failed, The New York Times reported.

The defence objected to suggestions that the earlier incident demonstrated a pattern of behaviour.

The presiding judge, Norbert Hofer, himself an experienced mountaineer and rescuer, said he did not consider the defendant a murderer but found that he had failed to properly assess his partner’s limits in extreme winter conditions.

“You have borne an incredible burden – you lost a person,” Mr Hofer told Plamberger. “You are an excellent alpinist, but someone who finds it very difficult to make the switch between your own limits and those of others.”

The court said mitigating factors included the defendant’s previously clean criminal record and the personal loss he had suffered. The verdict is subject to appeal.

Asos co-founder dies after falling from 17th floor balcony in Thailand

Quentin Griffiths, a co-founder of online fashion retailer Asos, died after falling from a high-rise condominium in Thailand, police said. He was 58.

Thai police said Mr Griffiths, a British passport holder, fell from the 17th floor of his apartment building in the eastern seaside town of Pattaya on 9 February.

Officers were alerted after reports that a man had fallen from an 18-storey condominium, and police and paramedics later located Mr Griffiths beneath the balcony of his residence.

An investigator told the BBC andThe Sun that Mr Griffiths had been alone in the apartment, which was locked from the inside, with no signs of a break-in. An autopsy did not reveal evidence of foul play.

The exact cause of death will be determined following a full post-mortem, and the investigation is ongoing.

A Foreign Office spokesperson told The Sun: “We are supporting the family of a British national who has died in Thailand and are in contact with the local authorities.”

Mr Griffiths helped establish Asos in 2000 alongside Nick Robertson and Andrew Regan. The business was originally an online fashion start-up, but went on to become a £3bn global retailer. High-profile figures, including the Princess of Wales and Michelle Obama, have worn its own-label designs.

A former advertising executive, Mr Griffiths, stepped down as marketing director in 2005 but remained a significant shareholder. He made around £15m from selling shares in 2010, and received a further stock windfall in 2013.

In later years, Mr Griffiths became involved in legal and financial disputes. He sued his accountants at the company Binder Dijker Otte (BDO), alleging he had been given incorrect advice on minimising tax liabilities linked to the sale of shares in Asos and Achica, an online retailer he also co-founded.

At the time, a BDO spokesperson said the firm “will be defending the claim brought against us, which relates to tax advice given by BDO in the UK and in Guernsey between 2013 and 2015, but are unable to comment further at this stage given the legal process is ongoing”.

Mr Griffiths’ Thai ex-wife accused him of stealing £500,000 from a company they operated together, according to reports.

Last year, he was arrested and questioned by detectives after she alleged he had forged documents to sell land and shares in the business without her knowledge. He denied the allegations and was released after questioning, but the investigation was ongoing at the time of his death.

Police have also said he was involved in two ongoing court cases.

Mr Griffiths moved to Thailand around 2007.

He is survived by his three children.

UK Athletics admits causing death of Paralympian

UK Athletics has admitted causing the death of a Paralympian who was hit on the head by a metal pole during training.

Father-of-five Abdullah Hayayei, 36, who represented the United Arab Emirates, was fatally injured at Newham Leisure Centre in east London on 11 July 2017. He was preparing to represent his country in the F34 class discus, javelin and shot put at the World Para Athletics Championships in London when part of a throwing cage fell on him, and he died at the scene.

A joint investigation launched by Scotland Yard and Newham Council’s health and safety team established that the throwing cage had not been put up correctly, making it unstable.

UK Athletics Ltd admitted corporate manslaughter at the Old Bailey on Friday, having previously pleaded not guilty. The charge said the national governing body for athletics caused the death of Mr Hayayei by “supplying for use at an organised para-athletics training event in which he participated a discus/shot put cage which it used and operated without its base structure and which collapsed” into the Paralympian while he was practising shot putting.

At the same hearing on Friday, Keith Davies, 78, who was head of sport for the 2017 World Paralympic Athletics Championships, pleaded guilty to a health and safety charge. The 78-year-old, of Leytonstone, east London, had denied gross negligence manslaughter.

In a statement, UK Athletics said it “deeply regrets” the incident, adding: “Our deepest thoughts and sympathy remain with his family, friends, teammates and all those affected by the events of that day.

“As you will appreciate, due to the ongoing court proceedings UK Athletics is unable to comment any further at this time.”

Prosecutor Karen Robinson invited the court to set a two-day sentencing hearing in early June. She confirmed the prosecution would not seek a trial and the outstanding charges would be dealt with at the conclusion of the sentencing.

Davies was granted continued bail on the condition he liaise with the Probation Service for a pre-sentence report.

The Metropolitan Police said the conviction was the result of a meticulous investigation that required detailed engineering expertise to understand the chain of events that led to the tragedy. Officers examined more than 1,500 documents, took around 160 statements, spoke with more than 80 witnesses and collated a number of expert reports.

Detective Sergeant Brett Hagen, who led the investigation, said: “Our thoughts are with Mr Hayayei’s family during what will be a significant moment for them. We thank them for their ongoing patience, understanding and dignity throughout this lengthy and complex investigation.

“The resulting charges and early guilty plea reflect our perseverance and dedication, and the significant work undertaken to build a comprehensive and compelling case against the defendants. Cases of this nature are rare and particularly difficult to prosecute due to various complexities surrounding the legislation, so we welcome this outcome.”

Colin Gibbs, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Abdullah Hayayei was a father-of-five who should have been able to compete on the world stage and return home safely to his family.

“There can be no doubt that UK Athletics were grossly negligent in their safety management, which caused the death of a talented athlete. They left equipment in a seriously unsafe condition, and Mr Hayayei’s death was wholly avoidable – a fact the organisation has admitted. For years, there was a failure to inspect, maintain and properly manage basic safety components, leaving a heavy metal structure dangerously unstable.

“Our thoughts remain with Mr Hayayei’s family, and we hope these convictions bring them some measure of justice.”

Traditions and tastes to savour: Hong Kong at Chinese new year

The air crackles and sparkles with pink, red, green and gold as fireworks stream through the inky skies. Crowds gather either side of Victoria Harbour, awestruck by a spectacle that outshines even Hong Kong’s iconic skyscrapers.

Held annually on the second day of Chinese New Year, this incredible display is just one highlight in a calendar of must-experience events that will herald the Year of the Horse this February. Daytimes are equally vivid; streets bloom with flower stalls and colourful paper lanterns, while the air is perfumed with incense, citrus fruits and crisp yau gok: fried dumplings believed to bring good fortune for the year ahead.

Hong Kong is at its brightest and boldest during Chinese New Year celebrations, with all its rich customs, cultural traditions and culinary delights on dazzling display. Here we explore the events and spectacles that usher in the Year of the Horse, offering a glimpse of what this diverse, compelling destination offers throughout the seasons.

There’s no danger of missing the celebrations. Stretching over 15 days, this is a party that barely pauses to take a breath (or snack on a rice ball). Festivities traditionally start with the Night Parade on the 17th of February in Tsim Sha Tsui, on the southern tip of the Kowloon peninsula. The area is famed for its skyline views across the harbour and this event, held on the first night of the new year, brings spectacle after breathtaking spectacle, with dancers and musicians starting the party in style before the floats parade past, each one more colourful and ornately decorated than the last.

Another highlight in this stellar line-up of events is the annual Raceday. Locals and visitors gather at Sha Tin Racecourse to try their luck and usher in good fortune with lion dances, where lavishly costumed performers shake and shimmy away evil spirits. It’s one of the biggest days in the racing calendar and new year celebrations, so the atmosphere – whether watching a nail-biting finish to races like the Chinese New Year Cup or seeing top musicians perform – is guaranteed to be electric.

Throughout the new year period – and beyond – moments of celebration and quiet reflection can be found all around the city. Flower markets fill the streets with vivid hues with the heady scents of chrysanthemums, orchids and peach blossom among the blooms believed to bring good luck. Victoria Park, a verdant bubble of calm in the midst of the urban bustle, hosts one of the biggest and most impressive markets, while petals and floral charms add pops of colour to every stretch and corner of Hong Kong.

The region is rich in cultural sites and monuments that can be enjoyed any time of year, but are enhanced during this time of vibrant celebration. The Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees in the Tai Po District, for example, draw visitors with the promise of making dreams come true via wishes, written on a piece of joss paper and hung on nearby wooden racks – while Chinese New Year festivities throw live music, food stalls and traditional dancing into the mix.

It’s a wonderful window onto the rich heritage of Lam Tsuen, an area made up of 26 traditional villages where ancient practices and customs are very much, and vividly so, alive. Nearby Tin Hau Temple, dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea, was built in 1865 by local fishermen. Today, worshippers and tourists alike visit the site in the busy Yau Ma Tei area, burning coils of incense or simply soaking up the bustling, scent-filled atmosphere.

Hong Kong’s temples draw even bigger crowds to partake in and witness rituals that are specific to the new year. At Wong Tai Sin, the first worshippers to burn incense are believed to be the most blessed for the year ahead. Man Mo, in the heart of the city, sees worshippers pray for good fortune and health in the tradition of An Tai Sui – a Taoist ritual practised by those whose birthdays conflict with the ruling zodiac sign of that year. While at Che Kung Temple in Sha Tin, kau chim or fortune sticks are drawn to predict the year ahead.

One core element threaded throughout all the celebrations is food. From tangerines believed to bring luck, to dumplings doled out by street vendors and impeccable chef-led menus served at the most coveted tables in town, Chinese New Year serves up a mouthwatering array of edible delights.

Traditional tastes here go deeper than mere deliciousness; they are firmly rooted in Hong Kong’s culture and history. Fish symbolises prosperity, while poon choi – a many-layered dish originating in the villages of the New Territories, where families would throw whatever food they had into one communal pot – perfectly showcases togetherness in every bite, with ingredients ranging from charred pork to oysters and bamboo shoots.

Tong yuen, squishy little rice flour balls filled with peanut, red bean paste or chocolate, offer a sweeter way to celebrate unity, and can be found everywhere from longstanding dessert shops to Hong Kong’s constellation of Michelin-starred restaurants.Making it even easier to negotiate Hong Kong’s rich and varied culinary scene, this year sees the launch of Taste Hong Kong, a curated guide with 250 restaurant recommendations from over 50 local master chefs and Chinese Culinary Institute graduates, organised by neighbourhood. It’s all about hou mei – the Cantonese expression for ‘delicious flavours’ – and the tastes and traditions worthy of celebration, at Chinese New Year and beyond.

For more travel inspiration and to plan your trip visit Discover Hong Kong

Rare boost for Reeves as government gets £30bn borrowing surplus

Rachel Reeves has been handed a rare boost after Britain posted its biggest ever borrowing surplus since records began.

The latest official figures from Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed there was a public sector net borrowing surplus of £30.4bn in January.

It is the highest borrowing surplus – when the government receives more in tax and other revenues than it spends – for any month since records began in 1993.

In what will be a relief for the chancellor as she prepares to deliver the spring statement, the surplus was £6.3bn bigger than predicted by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) and £15.9bn higher than the same month a year ago.

The rise was sparked by a jump in self-assessed tax payments and a fall in debt interest to the lowest level for almost six years.

ONS chief economist Grant Fitzner said: “January – which is traditionally a strong month for self-assessed tax receipts – saw the highest surplus since monthly records began.

“Revenue was strongly up on the same time last year, while spending was little changed, due to lower debt interest payments largely offsetting higher costs on public services and benefits.

“Across the first 10 months of the current financial year, borrowing is lower than the same period a year ago.”

It came after the government received a record tax take of £109.7bn for January, the ONS said.

The government brought in more tax revenue via capital gains tax, rising by £7bn to £17bn for the month, surpassing forecasts.

This increase was linked to a rise in capital gains tax for most assets in the Labour government’s first autumn budget in 2024.

Friday’s data also showed that self-assessment income tax receipts lifted by £3.6bn to £29.4bn for January, again beating OBR forecasts.

Meanwhile, government spending edged slight lower – by £0.6bn – to £86.1bn for the month.

This was supported by a drop in debt interest costs, with recent falls in interest rates helping to bring these payments down by £5bn to £1.5bn – the lowest level since March 2020.

The latest figures point towards a strengthening of the state finances, in the final borrowing data before Ms Reeves reveals her spring statement on March 3.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray said: “We have the right plan to build a stronger, more secure economy.

“We have doubled our headroom, we are bringing inflation down, we are making sure that taxpayers’ money is spent wisely, and borrowing this year is forecast to be the lowest since before the pandemic.”

Sir Mel Stride, shadow chancellor, said: “Labour have borrowed £112.1 billion so far this year – the fifth highest borrowing on record.

“Record high taxes and irresponsible spending have weakened the economy.”

Epstein considered buying record label for access to women

Convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was interested in investing in music label EMI after a friend suggested it would provide access to women, new files have revealed.

The US Department of Justice published millions of Epstein’s emails and files in February, releasing over 2,000 videos, 18,000 images and 1.4 million emails, which suggest the existence of a “global criminal enterprise”, according to the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Now, a released email chain between Epstein and an associate, businessman David Stern, appears to suggest that the financier was considering investing in EMI as the music industry is “related to P” – a way that Epstein would often refer to women that appears to be an abbreviation for the vulgar slang “p***y”.

In an email sent in February 2010, Stern told Epstein: “Troubled industry but related to P: EMI (music) needs approx US$ 190m to survive or may be taken over by Citigroup.

“Terra Firma own EMI, my friend is in charge of this investment. Should I talk to them ?”

Epstein responded by saying that he was “interested” and asked whether they needed help from Peter Mandelson, who was First Secretary of State and Business Secretary for the UK at the time.

Stern tells him that the friend is a “right hand man” to the boss of Terra Firma and that he has meetings scheduled to discuss the opportunity. “In my view it is too early to get Mandelson involved before I know more,” he added.

“It seems that the debt mountain is too big, covenant breach is imminent and citigroup want to take control.” Stern was an aide of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and a director of his Pitch@Palace initiative before resigning in 2019.

Epstein appears to have contacted Mandelson a few days later, asking for “bens contact info” and to “havehim cal me re emi [sic]”. It is not clear who “ben” is, however Mandelson replies: “Gave to [redacted]. Email is [redacted]. Talk re EMI ??” The Independent has contacted Mandelson’s representatives for comment.

Epstein contacted Stern again, saying that he would bring his friend, US businessman and former Sony Music company CEO Tony Mottola, in to “fix” EMI if he did invest. The music industry executive appears in approximately 600 documents within the Epstein files, however appearing in the Epstein files does not indicate wrongdoing alone. The Independent has contacted Mottola’s representatives for comment.

In subsequent emails, Stern uses the letter “P” once again while referring to women, asking Epstein in September 2011 whether he wants tickets to a “special Chinese catwalk” at London Fashion Week to “review Chinese P”. He also attempts to convince Epstein to acquire EMI again that year, telling him: “EMI may now come up for sale. Could actually be of interest to Chinese if structured properly. Also, most certainly great asset to have for P!”

In January 2016, he sent Epstein a birthday message, writing: “HAPPY BIRTHDAY and blessings of health and lots of P.”

While Epstein’s investment deal with EMI did not go ahead as the company’s main lender Citigroup took control, Epstein’s associates discussed a bid for EMI again in 2011. Connecticut businessman Kevin Law wrote to Epstein: “Tell your buddy Andrew from the UK if he’s interested in EMI as we discussed I can put him in the syndicate w KKR.” It is unclear whether Law is referring to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in the email.

Law told BBC News he “never bid on EMI with any group” or did “a business deal with Epstein”. He also said that he did not know Mountbatten-Windsor.

KKR is a private equity firm that had a large stake in EMI’s rival BMG at the time. The Independent has contacted private equity firm KKR for comment.

EMI is now defunct, having been acquired by Universal Music in 2012. It was one of the largest record companies during its tenure, with labels including EMI Records, Parlphone, Virgin Records and Capitol Records.

Epstein was in custody for federal charges of sex trafficking minors when he died by suicide aged 66 in August 2019, and had served 18 months in prison in 2008 for procuring a child for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute in Florida.