Rowing is one of the best low impact cardiovascular exercises for people of all fitness levels. But sitting on a freezing cold river at 6am in the morning is, understandably, not for everyone. This is where rowing machines come into play.

The best rowing machines these days, from brands including Concept2 and Hydrow, can take your heart rate, monitor your progress and have you Boat Race ready in no time… maybe.

Ex-Team GB athlete Mike Dostal explains: “Not only does rowing engage up to 86 per cent of your body’s muscle groups, it is also incredibly low impact. It’s gentle on the joints – unlike high impact forms of exercise like running and cycling. It’s also a time effective workout, making it one of the best pieces of home gym equipment you can invest in.

We’ve tried air, water and magnetic rowers and, with the help of our experts, compiled a guide to the best at-home rowing machines on the market today. Here’s a quick look at our top five:

The best rowing machines: At a glance

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How to choose the best rowing machines

We spoke to ex-professional rowers, rowing coaches and fitness instructors about the rowing machines they use themselves, which they rate the most highly and how they choose which machines to train themselves or others on.

One of the most important factors is size. Too big and unwieldy and it will have to be stored away, which might reduce motivation if you have to heft it out to work out.

Whether you’re using a rowing machine for a goal, or just to get fitter, our experts recommended looking for smart connectivity. This way you can connect a heart rate monitor, check how many calories you’re burning and your speed, and compare how that changes over time.

Finally, consider what type of rowing machine you want, whether that be a water rower, air rower, magnetic rower or hydraulic rower, which changes the amount of resistance. Air rowers are the most popular, which use wind to create resistance. More on that in the FAQs section below.

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Strictly Come Dancing have announced their new hosts

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The BBC has announced their new Strictly Come Dancing hosts. Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe have been confirmed as the hosts. And former Strictly pro dancer and fan favourite Johannes Radebe will also present the show.

The BBC announced it in an Instagram post, where all three appeared. “Quiet please, Strictly host reveal 2026, please take your positions,” a voiceover said.

Emma Willis sat down first before she was joined on a stool by Johannes. As they posed for photos in front of a purple backdrop, Emma called Josh over, teasing: “What are you doing over there? We can’t do it without you”. In the caption, they said: “It’s official…September 2026”.

Emma and Josh had both become frontrunners for the role in the last week, with Josh being quizzed about it on Good Morning Britain just hours before the announcement. Josh coyly refused to answer, but said he would “love to do it”.

Many fans had also been calling for Johannes to be a presenter as he has long been a fan favourite. It’s been over a decade since there were last three presenters on Strictly. The last time was in 2013 when Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman both hosted alongside Bruce Forsyth, reports The Mirror.

Tess and Claudia have both been involved in the hit BBC dance show since 2004. Back then, Tess was the host alongside Bruce and Claudia fronted spin off show It Takes Two. In 2010, Claudia joined the main show, where she and Tess both remained until last year, when they announced their exit in a shock Instagram post.

In the comments of the BBC’s announcement about the new hosts, there were many positive reactions, including from Tess herself. Tess wrote: “Can’t wait to tune in. The ultimate trio.”

Zoe Ball, who was tipped to join Emma until she revealed she ‘failed’ her audition, commented: “CREW. congrats Emma Jojo and Josh. You’re gonna ROCK IT.”

Judge Motsi Mabuse cheered: “Let’s go @johannesradebe I am crying at this point. So proud of you!!! Welcome @emmawillisofficial & @josh_widdicombe can’t wait for the season !!!!!!! Can it not be September already.”

Her sister and former pro dancer Oti Mabuse yelled: “We are screaming.” Fellow professional dancer Neil Jones added: “Omg this is brilliant news. Welcome, welcome and @johannesradebe welcome to the role you are made for.”

“Yassssss. This is going to be amazing! What a day! What a series ahead! Xxxx,” pro Amy Dowden said. Likewise, the BBC bosses were highly complimentary of their choices. Sarah James, Strictly Come Dancing executive producer for BBC Studios, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to finally share this wonderful news. The combination of Emma, Josh, and Jojo was unexpected, but their magic was undeniable the moment they came together.

“Emma brings a wealth of presenting experience and a natural warmth — she truly belongs in the ballroom and will guide our new celebrity cast through their Strictly journeys with love and care.

“Josh had us all in stitches with his unique style of self-deprecating humour and razor-sharp wit — and let’s not forget, he got a 10 from Anton in the Christmas Special, so I think he already considers himself a pro dancer, and then there’s Jojo – a one-of-a-kind talent who’s been a beloved part of the Strictly family for eight years and will bring all his experience and knowledge to this new role – plus of course his legendary wardrobe.

“Most importantly, what truly shines through is the love and passion all three share for this show. That’s the key ingredient and we hope our audience will love them as much as we do.”

Kate Phillips, the BBC’s chief content officer, said: “Emma, Johannes and Josh’s chemistry is undeniable. “There’s been so much speculation and hype, so I’m relieved we can share the news with the public at last! I’d like to thank all the brilliant people we saw before making this tough decision.

“But the most beloved ballroom in the UK always leads the way, and in a Strictly first we have chosen three outstanding hosts to take up the mantel.

“Along with our amazing Strictly team, who are busy planning fabulous and unforgettable treats for this new series, I know this terrific trio can’t wait to join our judges and pros to bring us must-see TV on the BBC this autumn.”

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A Romanian F-16 jet deployed with NATO air policing forces in the Baltics shot down what is believed to have been a Ukrainian drone over southern Estonia on Tuesday, authorities said.

Ukraine apologized for the “unintended incident,” and Russia warned of retaliation if Ukrainian drones are launched from Baltic countries.

Given the trajectory of the drone, “we decided that we need to take it down,” Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said.

“Most probably, today we can say that it was (a) drone which was, let’s say, meant to hit some Russian targets,” he told The Associated Press.

It was the latest in a string of incidents in recent months in which Ukrainian drones aimed at Russia have crossed or come down in NATO territory, with Western officials blaming what they say is likely Russian electronic jamming of the weapons.

Those incidents have come as Kyiv has steadily ramped up its drone raids, focusing on energy facilities and arms factories deep inside Russia as its domestic technology and scale of production improve.

On Sunday, authorities in Russia said that one of the largest Ukrainian drone strikes on the country killed at least four people, including three near Moscow, and wounded a dozen others.

Long-range drone attacks are a hallmark of the war, which began more than four years ago when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

Experts from Ukraine and Estonia were working on measures to prevent such occurrences in the future, Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi said.

Ukraine apologizes “to Estonia and all of our Baltic friends for such unintended incidents,” Tykhyi said in an X post.

Estonia’s defense minister said that Ukraine has been advised to be careful.

“Our messages have not changed,” Pevkur said. “We’ve said to the Ukrainians all the time that if you’re attacking Russian positions or Russian targets, then these trajectories have to be as far from the NATO territory as possible.”

The strikes have caused some tensions within the Baltic states, which are supporting Ukraine’s war effort, and between them and Russia.

Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, known by its acronym SVR, said in a statement Tuesday that Ukraine is preparing to begin launching drone attacks against Russia from the territory of the Baltic countries and warned of retaliation.

It said that the Ukrainian military personnel had already deployed to Latvia and warned that the country’s membership in NATO wouldn’t protect it from “just retribution.”

“Modern surveillance systems allow precise determination of the coordinates of the drone launch site,” the SVR said.

Last week, Latvia’s government collapsed, with the prime minister resigning after the defense minister was forced to quit over the handling of multiple incidents involving stray drones suspected to be from Ukraine, and his party withdrew its support.

Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs posted on X that “Russia is lying about Latvia allowing any country to use Latvian airspace and territory to launch attacks against Russia or any other country.”

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said in a statement following Tuesday’s incident that Ukraine has every right to strike Russian military targets.

“Estonia has not permitted its airspace to be used for attacks against Russia,” he said. “Incidents such as this are linked to Russian jamming activities.”

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Geir Moulson contributed to this report from Berlin.

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Follow the AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

The vote was prompted by the resignation of Labour MP Josh Simons, who stepped down to make way for Mr Burnham to contest the seat.

In a statement, Mr Burnham said: “I am proud and humbled to have been selected as Labour’s candidate for Makerfield.

“These proud working-class communities represent the very best values of our country and they deserve so much better.

“It would be my honour to work for them every day, if elected as their MP, to achieve that. Many people here feel Westminster isn’t working for them and they are right.

“I am standing to change that and get the voice of these communities heard loud and clear.

“I am glad that this by-election has finally put the places that make up the Makerfield constituency into the national spotlight.

“They have been neglected by national politics for too long.

“It is a good thing that all political parties are now on the hook to tell the voters here what they are going to do for them.

“More than anything, people need life to be more affordable again.

“As Mayor, I have brought in changes which are helping, such as the £2 fare cap, free bus travel for our 16-18 year-olds and removing the 9.30am restriction from older and disabled people’s bus passes.

“But there is only so much I can do from Greater Manchester.

Congratulations to @AndyBurnhamGM – Labour’s candidate for Makerfield. pic.twitter.com/avag1HJon3

— The Labour Party (@UKLabour) May 19, 2026

“If elected, I will have a relentless focus on reducing people’s everyday costs and bills and well as securing the investment these communities need.

“I have been an elected representative in Greater Manchester for 25 years.

“Throughout that time, I have fought for the people of the North West of England on so many fronts.

“I am now ready to bring the whole weight of that experience to fighting for the communities of the Makerfield constituency and would be privileged to be given that opportunity.”

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. stock market is giving back a bit more of its record-setting rally on Tuesday.

The S&P 500 fell 0.5% and was on track for a third dip after setting its latest all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 397 points, or 0.8%, as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.6% lower.

That followed mixed movements for stock markets abroad, while oil prices eased in their latest yo-yo move. Falling technology stocks in Asia dragged South Korea’s Kospi down 3.3%, but Germany’s DAX returned 1% for two of the world’s bigger moves.

Tech stocks are slowing following huge runs made because of excitement around artificial-intelligence technology, runs that critics said made them too expensive. Uncertainty is hanging over all kinds of markets, from how long the Iran war will keep the Strait of Hormuz closed for oil tankers to whether bond markets worldwide have seen yields climb enough to drag on economies and all kinds of other financial markets.

The wait is on, meanwhile, for Nvidia to report its latest quarterly results. The chip company is due to report on Wednesday, and it’s routinely blown past analysts’ expectations each quarter. Not only that, it’s provided forecasts for future growth that have consistently topped Wall Street’s.

How it does could determine whether technology stocks and the larger U.S. stock market can keep up their rally. Nvidia slipped 0.7%.

“Every flow has its ebb,” Rex Feng, Venu Krishna and other strategists at Barclays Capital wrote in a report. They said investors have been pumping more money than usual into U.S. stock funds, which helped fuel “the fastest rebound in decades; now the pendulum could swing backwards.”

Akamai Technolgoies dropped 3.9% for one of Wlal Street’s sharper losses after the cybersecurity and cloud computing company said it wants to raise $2.6 billion through a convertible note offering.

Home Depot fell 2.2% after its results for the latest quarter edged past analysts’ expectations. An important measure for retailers, how much revenue grew at stores open more than a year, came in below some analysts’ expectations.

CEO Ted Decker said Home Depot saw similar demand from its customers as it did throughout last year “despite greater consumer uncertainty and housing affordability pressure.”

So far, many big U.S. companies have been reporting stronger-than-expected profits for the latest quarter as their customers keep spending even with high gasoline prices and other challenges weighing on them.

In the bond market, Treasury yields climbed. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.66% from 4.61% late Monday and from less than 4% before the war with Iran began.

It rose even as oil prices eased. The price for a barrel of Brent crude fell 0.7% to $111.39.

Oil prices have swung sharply but largely remained above $100 with the unofficial U.S. driving season beginning Monday. Brent’s price was around $70 before the war with Iran began.

The average price for a gallon of gasoline rose again overnight to $4.53, according to the AAA motor club, or about 43% more than it cost last year at this time.

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AP Business Writers Yuri Kageyama and Matt Ott contributed to this report.

As officers pull up outside a Victorian terraced home in east London, they take note of the number plate of the car parked on the driveway.

They fear it could belong to a domestic abuser who has been banned from the home because he is suspected of violently assaulting his partner. He was never prosecuted for the alleged attack because the victim was not prepared to make a statement. But if they find him here, it will be grounds for his arrest.

When three officers knock on the front door, a housemate tells them the victim is out at work, but reveals the suspected abuser has been staying there too. Officers make an urgent note to return that evening.

“It’s worrying that he’s been here. That’s the whole purpose of these visits, to potentially get that window of opportunity to help,” explains Sergeant Amar Sehmby, part of the Metropolitan Police’s safer neighbourhood team for Havering.

The unannounced house call is part of a new force-wide initiative called Operation Sallus to better enforce Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPOs) – often under-used court orders which are supposed to help protect victims, often by banning perpetrators from contacting them.

In the past, survivors have claimed such orders were so badly monitored they were worth little more than the paper they were written on.

However, this operation, which was last month in use in every London borough following a gradual rollout, is designed to counter that perception by taking a proactive approach with regular checks on active DVPOs in each neighbourhood.

“This is quite a soft use of enforcement, but it’s very much a kind of community-based linking our community officers with victim-survivors of domestic abuse,” detective chief superintendent Andrew Wadey, the force’s lead for public protection, told The Independent, which was invited to join officers making house calls last week.

“It’s an in-person visit by local officers, and the intention there is to hopefully speak to the victim and ascertain if there’s been any further issues. Is the offender there, do they need any kind of referrals or signposting to support agencies and essentially just take a really sort of victim-led approach to providing assurance, reassurance, and another avenue towards reporting any kind of breaches or concerns.”

Often, police turn to a magistrate for a protective order when there is not enough evidence for a trial or a victim is not ready to support a prosecution. They are a civil order and a breach can result in an arrest, with a mandatory court appearance within 24 hours. However the short-term orders only last a maximum of 28 days and breaches are a civil offence only punishable by a fine or up to two months in prison.

They will eventually be replaced with tougher Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs), which are currently being trialled and carry a maximum penalty of up to five years imprisonment, or a fine, or both.

In one case on the list of 10 addresses to be checked last week, the offender has already breached the DVPO twice and been arrested both times.

Other victims Sgt Sehmby and his team of two constables visit include a mother who was a victim of non-fatal strangulation at the hands of her own son and a woman who was strangled and thrown to the ground by her partner, who had previously threatened to kill her.

At the mother’s home, no one answers the door. But, back in the van, officers manage to speak to her on the phone where she tells them she is safe and staying with her daughter.

PC Jake Tibbs told her: “If anything does happen, please call the police, obviously the order is there to protect yourself. And obviously we can deal with it as we need to.”

The other strangulation victim was not at home, but officers planned to return later that night.

At a family home in east London, officers also visited a father who was protected by an order after his ex-partner was accused of seriously injuring him in a violent attack which caused grievous bodily harm and criminal damage. The officers spent 20 minutes inside the home, ensuring the order was being fully complied with.

They are also trained to look for signs of coercive and controlling behaviour and check on any children in the house.

The Met plans to start using the same tactics to enforce Stalking Protection Orders and Sexual Risk Orders in the coming months.

According to the force, the strategy, along with other innovative approaches to tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG), is starting to bear fruit.

In addition to Operation Sallus, the Met has been using counter terrorism tactics to track the highest risk VAWG offenders through their V100 programme and deployed undercover patrols to crack down on predatory behaviour in nighttime hotspots as part of Project Vigilant.

New figures show that arrests and charges for rape offences have more than doubled over the last year in London, making the Met the force with highest detection and charge rate for rape.

Arrests and charges for domestic violence have also increased by 82 per cent year on year, and arrests and charges for violence against women and girls have increased by 71 per cent.

DCS Wadey said they are “really starting to see the dial turn in terms of more people being charged”.

“And whilst the work is by no means done, there’s still so much more to do, this is really giving us momentum, I think, which is key. And hopefully it is giving greater confidence, particularly to women and girls, to report,” he added.

He admitted there still “much to be done” to rebuild confidence in the force after a difficult few years which saw the organisation labelled as “institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic” in a damning report by Baroness Louise Casey in 2023. It was commissioned following the rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer in 2021, who used his warrant card to trick her into his car.

Yet more scandal has followed, with another officer, David Carrick unmasked as one of Britain’s worst sex offenders in 2023 and a damning undercover BBC Panorama investigation at Charing Cross police station last year, which showed officers making offensive comments and bragging about using violence.

The police chief believes Labour’s ambitious manifesto pledge to halve VAWG in just ten years is achievable, but will require a “whole system approach”.

Domestic abuse charity Refuge has welcomed the efforts to improve monitoring and enforcement of DVPOs in London, but called for an increase in their use, adding: “Only when these orders are properly implemented will survivors be able to access the full protection of the law.”

Some 3.8 million people experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2025, according to the Crime Survey for England and Wales. In comparison, only 11,401 DVPOs were granted in year to March 2024, according to the most recent ONS figures.

Bo Bottomley, policy and public affairs manager at Refuge, said: “One in four women in England and Wales will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, but Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPOs) are used in only a very small number of cases.

“Where protective orders are in place, survivors often tell us they are ineffective and not properly monitored and enforced by the police. Perpetrators routinely breach these orders, but police often fail to act when they do, leaving survivors at an increased risk of harm.

“We welcome efforts to improve monitoring and enforcement of DVPOs in London, but to truly improve survivor safety and strengthen confidence in the police response to domestic abuse, Refuge is calling for increased use of DVPOs in relevant cases, and a corresponding increase in criminal proceedings following order breaches.”

A haulage firm with a 50-year history is poised to enter administration, according to reports. Sunhill Transport Ltd, based on Deeside, was founded in 1972 and is currently operated by the third generation of the founding family.

Widely regarded within the industry, the company is understood to operate a fleet of approximately 30 vehicles and employs numerous long-serving members of staff. However, the firm has now filed a Notice of Intention to appoint an administrator.

Jeffrey Donaldson, 63, has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences.

The historical sexual offences trial of former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is “on track” to begin on May 26, a judge has said.

Judge Paul Ramsey told Newry Crown Court he is hopeful the process of swearing a jury in the case will begin on that date.

Proceedings against Donaldson and his wife Lady Eleanor Donaldson have been delayed twice due to medical issues related to her.

Jeffrey Donaldson, 63, has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences.

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The charges include one count of rape and allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency, and span a time period between 1985 and 2008, involving two alleged victims.

Eleanor Donaldson, 60, of Dublinhill Road, Dromore, is facing charges of aiding and abetting, which she denies.

Neither of the Donaldsons attended Tuesday’s hearing in Newry courthouse.

During the brief hearing, the judge said the court had received a report relating to Eleanor Donaldson which would require some legal argument.

The judge said: “We are on track to commence the case next Tuesday.”

Prosecuting barrister Rosemary Walsh KC said the timeline worked “as far as the prosecution is concerned”.

Defence barristers also indicated they hoped to be in a position to begin the case next week. The judge said he hoped to make a start on swearing the jury in on Tuesday.

Jeffrey Donaldson, a former long-standing MP for Lagan Valley, was arrested and charged at the end of March 2024.

He resigned as DUP leader and was suspended from the party after the allegations emerged. Weeks before his arrest, he had led the DUP back into Stormont after a two-year boycott of the powersharing institutions.

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