Café Italia and Tesoro Pizza Napoletana have both been announced as finalists in the Best Restaurant (North West) category at the UK Italian Awards 2026.

They will compete against other top venues from across the region, with the winners set to be revealed at a gala final at the London Marriott Grosvenor Hotel on March 30.

Tesoro Pizza Napoletana, a family-run restaurant based on New Hall Lane in Heaton, specialises in authentic Neapolitan pizza.

Joe Whittaker and Peter Lancaster from Tesoro (Image: Newsquest)

The business says it has focused on quality over quantity since opening, using high-quality ingredients sourced from local suppliers alongside authentic Italian cheeses and cured meats.

Some of the produce used in the restaurant is also available to buy at its neighbouring deli, Provisions by Tesoro.

The restaurant also highlights the traditional approach taken by its team, with pizzas prepared by hand and baked in a traditional Neapolitan oven, visible to diners from the dining room.

Café Italia, which was established in 2014, is owned by Vito Cammarota, who trained as a chef in his native Italy before moving to the UK.

Mr Cammarota, who is originally from Naples, moved to England 17 years ago at the age of 18. After working in a number of Italian restaurants across Bolton, he took ownership of Café Italia in 2017.

Bruschetta from Café Italia (Image: NQ)

He told The Bolton News: “We’ve been going for at least seven years now and we actually won in 2020.

“It’s across the whole of the UK, so it’s a good competition to be a finalist in.

“It would be a great achievement to win, as it shows the hard work we’re putting in.

“We’d like to thank all of our customers because it means they appreciate what we’re doing.

“Hopefully it will be a good night.”

The UK Italian Awards 2026 celebrate Italian cuisine and businesses across the country, with categories including Best Chef, Best Pizza and Best Mixologist.

Regional awards aim to recognise talent nationwide, while London-specific categories are judged by an expert panel including several celebrity chefs.

Both Bolton restaurants will be hoping to bring the title back to the town and further highlight its thriving Italian food scene.

The United States won the men’s Olympic ice hockey gold medal for the first time in 46 years by beating neighbours Canada in a sensational conclusion to the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The final gold medal of the Games was sealed by Jack Hughes in overtime after the USA withstood pressure from the dominant Canadians throughout most of the match, goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck having the game of his life.

It is the first time since the ‘Miracle on Ice’ at Lake Placid in 1980 that the USA’s men have won Olympic gold.

And it is the first time the Americans have won the competition outside of their home country.

After a tight start, USA broke through in brilliant style through some individual magic by Matt Boldy.

Boldy picked up the puck inside his own half, chipped it over two defenders and outmuscled them to collect it before nudging it around a stranded Jordan Binnington.

Canada, as they had in the previous two knockout rounds, needed to come from behind but struggled to build momentum until towards the end of the second period.

USA, inspired by the possibility of a first men’s Olympic ice hockey gold on foreign ice, defended manfully – including a period when they were three against five with two in the penalty box.

But in the 38th minute, a quick switch from Devon Toews found Cale Makar wide open on the right and he drove the puck past Hellebuyck.

Canada continued to dominate in the third period, and in regular time had 41 shots to USA’s 26. But they could not find a winner, meaning three-on-three overtime for the first time in Olympic history.

In the gold medal match, both teams field three players plus a goalkeeper in overtime, and play 20-minute periods until a goal is scored – no shootout.

And after both sides had chances, 101 seconds into overtime Hughes buried his shot to write his name into American sporting folklore.

The statement said it was signed by the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria and the State of Palestine, as well as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Spurs: Vicario, Gray, Dragusin, Van de Ven, Spence, Palhinha, Bissouma, Sarr, Gallagher, Xavi, Kolo Muani

Subs: Austin, Richarlison, Tel, Solanke, Souza, Olusesi, Williams-Barnett, Rowsell, Wilson

Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Rice, Zubimendi, Eze, Saka, Trossard, Gyokeres

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Odegaard, Jesus, Martinelli, Norgaard, Madueke, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly

Multiple Arab nations have condemned the US ambassador to Israel after he said “it would be fine” if Tel Aviv took control of almost all of the Middle East.

In an interview published on Friday, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson pressed Mike Huckabee on his interpretation of Bible verses, where he said God promised Abraham and his descendants land that would today include “basically the entire Middle East”.

“That would be the Levant, so that would be Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon,” Carlson said. “It would also be big parts of Saudi Arabia and Iraq.”

The ambassador replied: “I’m not sure we’d go that far. I mean, it would be a big piece of land.”

Carlson then asked if Israel had a right to control that entire area, to which Mr Huckabee responded: “It would be fine if they took it all.”

The Donald Trump-appointed ambassador added, however, that Israel was not looking to expand its territory and that it has a right to security in the land it legitimately holds.

The comments sparked an immediate backlash from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman, as well as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States.

Egypt‘s foreign ministry called Mr Huckabee’s remarks a “blatant violation” of international law, adding: “Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory or other Arab lands.”

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia‘s foreign ministry labelled the comments as “extremist rhetoric” and “unacceptable”, and has called for the US state department to clarify its position on them.

The League of Arab States, a confederation of 22 countries, said: “Statements of this nature – extremist and lacking any sound basis – serve only to inflame sentiments and stir religious and national emotions.”

There was no immediate comment from Israel or the United States.

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Inside an illegal Israeli outpost

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Since being established in 1948, Israel has not had fully recognised borders, and its frontiers with Arab neighbours have often shifted after wars, annexations, ceasefires and peace agreements.

Israel has encroached on more land since the start of its war in Gaza, which was sparked by the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023.

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Under the current ceasefire, Israel has withdrawn its troops in Gaza to a buffer zone, but it still controls more than half of the enclave. Israeli forces are supposed to withdraw further, but there is currently no timeline for this.

In Syria, Israel’s military seized control of a demilitarised buffer zone after President Bashar al-Assad was ousted from power at the end of 2024. Israel said the move was temporary and meant to secure its border.

It has also attempted to deepen control of the occupied West Bank in recent months by greatly expanding construction in Jewish settlements and legalising outposts.

Mr Huckabee, an evangelical Christian and strong supporter of Israel and the West Bank settlement movement, has long opposed a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinian people.

In an interview last year, he said he does not believe in referring to the Arab descendants of people who had lived in British-controlled Palestine as “Palestinians”.

Call the Midwife will not air in its usual Sunday slot on BBC One tonight, leaving fans disappointed

Call the Midwife enthusiasts have been left heartbroken after the BBC suddenly pulled the period drama from tonight’s schedule.

This evening’s episode (February 22) will not broadcast at its usual time due to the BAFTA Film Awards taking over the customary 8pm slot.

The BAFTAs will run from 7pm until 9pm on BBC One, whilst BBC Two will be broadcasting the Winter Olympics closing ceremony.

Following immediately afterwards will be the new television adaptation of Lord of the Flies at 9pm, with Countryfile preceding the awards ceremony at 6pm.

The official Call the Midwife Instagram account announced the news, reassuring fans not to worry, stating: “Hello all! Just to remind you all that Call the Midwife WON’T be on this evening due to the BAFTA Awards.

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“But series 15 will continue as normal next Sunday! See you then,” reports the Express.

The account added: “Don’t panic! We’re just taking a week’s break for the BAFTA Film Awards!”.

Disappointed fans immediately took to the comments section, with one writing: “Oh, I was so looking forward to tonight’s episode.”

Another responded: “Damn it. I really wanted to watch it this evening!”

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Whilst a third commented: “BAFTAs should go on a different channel!”.

This follows speculation that series 15 might be the programme’s final run – however, the BBC has confirmed a 16th series will arrive in “due course”.

Scott Mills read out a statement from the broadcaster during his radio programme, which said: “The BBC would like to reassure fans that Call the Midwife will remain at the heart of the BBC for years to come.

“As previously announced, there are two Christmas specials, a new series, a film and a prequel series, before a sixteenth series in due course. Call the Midwife isn’t going anywhere!”

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Stephen Hendry reacted to what Quinten Hann did during a snooker tournament at the Crucible

Stephen Hendry has voiced his astonishment at Quinten Hann’s choice to jet back to Australia between matches at the World Snooker Championship. The 48-year-old used the break between his Crucible matches in 2003 to travel back to Australia before making the return journey to Sheffield.

Among the sport’s most unconventional characters, former snooker professional Hann once challenged opponent Andy Hicks to a fight during his first-round 10-4 defeat at the world championship in 2004. Tensions erupted after the pair traded words, with Hicks accused of mocking Hann before the official intervened.

The previous year, Hann had made the most of his opening round win by flying out to his homeland ahead of his second round match. While many still recall Hann’s confrontation with Hicks, news of his extraordinary journey to Australia the year before came as a surprise to seven-time world champion Hendry.

The former world No. 14 had beaten 1991 champion John Parrott in the opening round at the Crucible. With a week’s break before his next match, Hann travelled to Australia before returning to Sheffield for a 13-2 thrashing by eventual tournament victor Mark Williams.

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“I didn’t know that,” Hendry said on the Snooker Club podcast. “That’s unbelievable. How can you go back to Australia between matches? That is unbelievable.

READ MORE: Players Championship: John Higgins has made thoughts perfectly clear on Judd TrumpREAD MORE: Top five highest-earning snooker stars of past five years as Ronnie O’Sullivan falls down list

“He came up to Scotland once, and he was unpredictable. He wanted to practise with me. We set up to play a best-of-nine. We broke off for the first frame, and he smashed them from the back. I’ve made a century, and my manager was sat watching.

He asked him: ‘Why did you do that?’ And he said: ‘I just wanted to see what he could do. My manager felt like saying: ‘Did you not know what he can do?’”

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Hann was known for his unconventional opening shots against top players, including Ronnie O’Sullivan during the 2000 Grand Prix. When asked about his strategy after a 5-0 defeat, he explained: “I thought that if I couldn’t win the second frame from all the chances I had, I shouldn’t be out there.

“If a professional can’t win with those chances, then you are not a professional. Either way I played today, it was going to go the same way.”

Hann’s snooker career concluded in 2006 when he received an eight-year ban for match-fixing following the previous year’s China Open. He had resigned his World Professional Billiards and Snooker membership shortly before the sanction was confirmed.

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One of the first police officers on the scene of the 2017 London Bridge terror attack has been sacked for gross misconduct.

DC Mark Luker used the word ‘pikey’ in messages about Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people, a tribunal heard.

In one WhatsApp message, the British Transport Policeman used the term ‘dag’s, referencing a scene in the Guy Ritchie film Snatch in which Stephen Graham’s character struggles to understand Brad Pitt’s character’s accent when he mentions dogs.

Luker, in another message, referred to ‘scrap metal, lead roofing and cable’ which he admitted was a joke to associate theft with the Irish Traveller community, the panel was told.

The panel concluded he probably knew the language was ‘offensive’ to a minority community and ruled it gross misconduct.

Luker was a member of a WhatsApp group called ‘Selbie Gumshoes’ with other members of the Major Serious and Organised Crime (MSOC) team.

On December 31 2024, during a conversation about someone winning a bottle of whiskey which still had a security tag attached, he wrote: ‘Was this a raffle on a certain kind of site? Lots of mobile-type homes? Lots of ‘Dags?”

He then added: ‘You are the MSOC pikey liaison.’

The panel found that these were ‘deliberate messages that clearly link the Irish Traveller community to acts of theft.’

On March 17, 2025, another group member shared a video of ‘Paddy Day parade on Inishbofin’, with the message: ‘Just like a Disney World Parade. They know how to put on a show,’ the panel heard.

Luker replied: ‘Off to find some scrap metal, lead roofing and cable’, the panel was told.

The panel concluded that this was ‘deliberate and discriminatory’ in linking the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community to theft.

Luker said that he was one of the first responders to the 2017 terrorist attack on London Bridge, and one of his coping mechanisms for dealing with the day can involve the use of humour.

He said he did not intend for the word ‘pikey’ in the messages to be offensive, and the panel accepted that DC Luker was not ‘inherently racist’.

The panel wrote: ‘As an experienced BTP police officer used to dealing with a whole range of people, the panel found that, on the balance of probabilities, he probably would have known that this was an especially offensive use of language directed towards members of a minority community.’

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