Fitness

England head coach Charlotte Edwards says her players have categorically addressed the issues surrounding their fitness.

The physical condition of England’s players was a hot topic of debate before Edwards’ appointment.

England’s early exit from the Women’s T20 World Cup just under 18 months ago prompted former spinner Alex Hartley to say some players were “letting the team down” in terms of fitness.

Athleticism again came into focus during the Ashes in January 2025, and former coach Jon Lewis attributed it to a cultural difference between the UK and Australia.

Edwards introduced minimum fitness standards for England players when she replaced Lewis in charge last year.

When asked on a BBC Test Match Special debate show if the fitness issue had been put to bed, Edwards responded that it “100%” had.

“We’re in a really good place. The results are all so high. I couldn’t be more chuffed – we’ve made real progress,” Edwards said.

“It’s not just all about whether you can run round a track. It’s all the other elements to it that we’ve tried to make just as important.”

Edwards will celebrate a year in charge of England, who host the T20 World Cup this summer, on Wednesday.

The 46-year-old said the introduction of specific benchmarks relating to fitness have had the desired impact.

“I think once you set out the expectation, the players know what they need to do. And we’ve added in sort of benchmarks over the winter,” Edwards added.

“We’ve got to keep raising the standard. The players have fully bought into that, which, that was, I guess what I set out to do and am really pleased with the buy-in.

“I don’t know if anyone watched the fielding from the recent [intra-squad] series, but it’s some of the best fielding I’ve seen, certainly from our group, the improvements we’ve made.”

Watch the full debate about England’s women’s team on BBC iPlayer or listen to it as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Delays are expected at check-in, baggage handling and other services affecting UK holidaymakers

Major UK tourist hotspots are set to face disruption within days due to widespread strike action. The Canary Islands in Spain is getting ready as unions prepare to go on strike this and next month.

Airports across the Canary Islands are bracing themselves for industrial action by ground handling staff over the Easter period. Trade unions representing workers at Menzies and Groundforce have announced walkouts.

More than 1,500 employees throughout the islands are expected to take part, according to Spanish website Canarias7. Aviation hubs in the Canary Islands are making preparations for the ground handling strike announced for Easter week, which forms part of a nationwide protest.

Three major spots used by Brits are set to be affected, according to the website. Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura are all set for disruption.

The industrial action has been organised by staff at Menzies and Groundforce. Reports say the action will almost certainly lead to hold-ups in ground operations – including check-in, baggage processing and collection.

Menzies has a workforce over 600 and handles operations for carriers including Norwegian, British Airways, and EasyJet, among others. It operates at Gran Canaria, Tenerife North, and Tenerife South airports, as well as on the mainland at major airports such as Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Málaga and Alicante.

The UGT union-coordinated action will kick off this weekend (28th and 29th March), with further stoppages planned for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th April, during the peak travel period for Easter week. Groundforce is a Globalia group firm providing services to Air Europa. We reported earlier this week that the action is taking place over rights and working conditions for staff.

Unions say they are taking strike action over the implementation of pay scales among other things. Close to 900 employees across the Canary Islands – encompassing Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura – face disruption. The Groundforce industrial action is set to begin tomorrow, 27th March, with walkouts planned for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays across staggered time slots: 5:00-7:00am; 11:00am-5:00pm; and 10:00pm-midnight.

On the Menzies action, Spanish media reports say that should no agreement be reached, the strikes will continue every Saturday and Sunday until 31 December, following the same timetable. That could lead to months of disruption.

FITNESS influencer and ovarian cancer researcher Stephanie Buttermore has died suddenly at the age of 36.

Her fiancé and partner of 10 years, Jeff Nippard confirmed the shocking news in a statement on Instagram.

“It is with profound sorrow that we share the sudden passing of Jeff’s fiancée and partner of ten years, Stephanie,” his team wrote in a statement on Friday.

“As many of you know, Stephanie meant the world to Jeff. She will be remembered for her warmth and compassion, her love for her family, and her PhD research on ovarian cancer.

“We kindly ask for privacy as we navigate this tragic loss. Thank you for your understanding and support during this difficult time.”

The cause of her death is not known.

On Valentine’s Day, Jeff shared an image of the loved-up couple beaming into the camera.

“Relationshipmaxxing with tea time to lower cortisol levels,” he wrote in the caption followed by a heart.

“Love you forever,” Stephanie replied.

The bittersweet post has since been flooded with comments sending prayers to Jeff and other members of the influencer’s family.

“Be strong Jeff, my heart is broken,” one wrote.

“Heaven gained an amazing angel. Someone who cared so deeply for others. Praying for you Jeff and her family,” fellow influencer Heidi Somers Guzman commented.

“I can’t believe it .. I watched her all the time .. this is so unfair.. take all the time to grieve and honour her Jeff, we’re all here for you, you and Steph were the biggest inspiration and we all loved her,” a third said.

Buttermore, from Canada, gained over 500,000 followers on Instagram by sharing her fitness and nutrition journey but announced in 2024 that she would be stepping back from social media.

In her last update on May 20, 2024, she said her mental health had become “the best it’s ever been” as her “previously crippling” anxiety levels reduced to almost nothing.

However, she admitted to missing her community and updates from her friends.

“Overall the pros have outweighed the cons for me. Sometimes I still feel a void in my day-to-day life from being so removed from this app, but the positives from taking this break has been worth it,” she said.

“But believe me when I say I Iove and miss you, I truly mean it.”

More to follow…

The voyage departs from Barcelona in November 2027 and will take guests to the most remote destinations

One of the longest continuous cruises on the planet is Villa Vie Residences’ World Uncharted voyage, which is due to set sail in 2027. Passengers aboard the Villa Vie Residences will explore more than 100 countries across five continents over 301 days.

The extraordinary cruise will transport guests to some of the most isolated destinations, from the Amazon to Antarctica, the Panama Canal and Greenland. The 301-day journey, with prices starting from approximately £27,000 or $119 (£90) per day, will depart from Barcelona, Spain, in November 2027 and conclude in London in 2028.

World Uncharted will take holidaymakers “from Europe’s grand capitals to the icy frontiers of Antarctica, the wild beauty of the Amazon to the serene villages of Northern Europe”.

Kathy Villalba, CEO of Villa Vie Residences, said: “In our eighth month of sailing with full-time Residents, we’re proud to introduce our boldest adventure yet. World Uncharted embodies how far we’ve come-and just how far we’re going.”

Passengers can remain on board for up to five years, or buy a cabin and make it their “forever” home, as the company provides a “3.5-year continuous world journey, repeating,” reports the Express.

Accommodation includes complimentary weekly cleaning and laundry service, and each villa is tailored for long-term life at sea, with storage solutions such as wardrobes and cabinets. The cruise also boasts refined restaurants, a spa, theatre, fitness centre, pickleball courts, a business centre and even a medical centre with experienced healthcare professionals.

Villa Vie Residence provides holidaymakers with the chance to transform it into a lifelong adventure by purchasing a villa at sea with five-year ownership.

The firm explained: “You will enjoy your own villa for an extended chapter of exploration, comfort, and community. It’s a refined way to embrace a global lifestyle with every detail taken care of. The Villa Vie Ownership program presents an affordable opportunity – starting at only $129,999 (£97,772). Rent or sell your villa at any time.

“ogether, our pathways meet you where you are: Ownership for full-time living on board the ship, Golden Passport with age-advantage pricing for lifetime residency, Month-to-Month with Rent-to-Own for flexible stays, and Home Suite Home, limited side-by-side villas for extra space and comfort.”