Tennis player Elina Svitolina called her opponent, Russian Daria Kasatkina, a “brave one” following the Ukrainian’s upset win on Sunday.

Svitolina, who previously said she would not shake hands with Russian and Belarusian opponents out of respect for the men and women defending Ukraine, told reporters that she “acknowledged” Kasatkina after the match.

Kasatkina has been outspoken in her criticism of the war, describing it last year as a “nightmare,” according to the New York Times.

Last month, Kasatkina, Russia’s top-ranked female tennis player, also expressed her sympathy for Ukrainian tennis players who refuse to shake her hand after matches.

“Really thankful for her position that she took. She’s [a] really brave person to say it publicly, that not so many players did,” Svitolina said, after advancing to the quarterfinals of the French Open.

“She’s a brave one.”

Instead of a hand shake, Kasatkina gave her opponent a thumbs up at the net after losing match point.

“The saddest part is the war still going on,” Kasatkina said last month. “So of course, players from Ukraine have got a lot of reasons to not shake our hands. I accept it and it is how it is. It’s a very sad situation and I understand.”

Last year, the 26-year-old announced she was gay and also criticized Russia’s attitudes towards homosexuality.

Playing in her first major since the 2022 Australian Open and first since becoming a mother, Svitolina said she was just focused on recovery and preparing for her next match.

“Of course I would love to win here,” Svitolina said. “It will be the dream, but it’s always been in my career like step by step.

“I think this is the only right way to do, to not look too much into the future, because otherwise you lose your focus from the small things that brings you to win the matches.”

Sabalenka next

Svitolina will play Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in the next round on Tuesday.

World No. 2 Sabalenka stopped participating in customary post-match press conferences at the tournament after saying she didn’t feel safe at a previous press conference where she was questioned about her country’s involvement in the war.

Sabalenka said in March that she struggled to understand the “hate” she encountered in the locker room amid strained relations between some players following the invasion of Ukraine – Belarus is being used as a key staging ground for Russia.

“About the war situation, I said it many, many times, nobody in this world – Russian athletes, Belarusian athletes – supports the war. Nobody. How can we support the war? Normal people will never support it,” she said.

Russian and Belarusian players are currently still competing on the tours as neutral athletes without their flag or country displayed.

The Miami Heat leveled the NBA Finals with a crucial road win against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.

The Nuggets were in control of the matchup for most of Game 2, but coming down the stretch the Heat caught fire and soared to an impressive win at Ball Arena, Denver.

Erik Spoelstra’s team outscored the Nuggets 36-25 in the final 12 minutes to seal the win on the road and to take the home advantage back to Miami.

Prior to Game 2, Denver was 11-0 in the postseason when leading by double-digit points, and 37-1 this season when sporting at least an eight-point lead entering the fourth quarter, but Heat never-say-die attitude got them back in the game.

“During the fourth quarter, our guys love to compete,” said head coach Spoelstra. “They love to put themselves out there in those moments of truth.”

The Heat coach added that the difficulties Miami has faced throughout the year have helped power them to gritty victories, as they become the most successful No. 8 seed in NBA postseason history.

“We want to be able to have that privilege of having adversity and being able to overcome it. You gain strength from that,” Spoelstra added.

As so often has been the case during the postseason, Miami’s role players stepped up once more to give the team a much-needed spark.

Gabe Vincent led the Heat in scoring with 23 points, going 4-6 from beyond the arc, to continue his brilliant form in the playoffs – postgame Spoelstra called the guard a “special guy.”

“He’s just an incredible winning player. This year, he’s been a starter for us. He’s been great. He’s off the bench, he’s been great,” Spoelstra said of Vincent. “He’s like a lot of our guys, the competitive spirit. You get challenged like we’re getting challenged in this series, you hope it brings out the best in you. And that’s what it’s doing with him.”

Despite the Heat’s comeback victory in Game 2, Nuggets star Nikola Jokić delivered another vintage performance – something to be expected nowadays.

The two-time MVP dropped 41 points to go with 11 rebounds as he continued a record-breaking postseason.

Following Sunday’s game, Jokić became the first ever center to record 500+ points and 100+ assists in a single postseason, adding to his already incredible résumé.

The Serbian center only recorded four assists in Game 2, but Nuggets head coach Michael Malone was not bothered by this uncharacteristic low.

“Whether it’s 41 points, only four assists, or it’s 25 points and 15 assists, Nikola, one thing I trust about him is he’s going to make the right read time and time again,” Malone explained.

However, Malone was disappointed with the rest of his team’s efforts in the Finals matchup.

“Let’s talk about effort. This is NBA Finals, we are talking about effort; that’s a huge concern of mine,” he said.

Malone added: “We had guys out there that were just whether feeling sorry for themselves for not making shots or thinking they can just turn it on or off, this is not the preseason, this is not the regular season. This is the NBA Finals. That to me is really, really perplexing, disappointing.”

The series now heads to Miami for Game 3 on Wednesday with everything all to play for.

Aaron Judge is no stranger to highlight plays. And on Saturday, he added to his already long list with a spectacular catch.

In the eighth inning of New York Yankees’ 6-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, Dodgers’ J. D. Martinez unleashed a deep drive into the field.

The ball appeared to be falling to where no Yankees players was, but out of nowhere came Judge.

The 31-year-old sprinted, extended his left hand to snag the ball in a spectacular catch. His momentum took him crashing through a door into the bullpen, which caused Judge to stumble before he was able to throw the ball back into the infield.

“I think the fence got most of it,” Judge said afterwards. “Thankfully, it was that part of the wall where it had some give. I think that saved me quite a bit. If it was a solid wall, it might be a different story.”

According to Statcast per the MLB website, Judge covered 79 feet in 4.7 seconds to make the play, which had a catch probability of 50%.

“Just another awesome catch added to the list, in a big-time spot,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

“I knew it was going to be dead on the run with a tough catch there, and then your heart skips a beat when the fence goes flying open.”

Judge did appear to be briefly affected by the contact with the door, and was checked upon by a whole host of teammates and coaching staff.

But after insisting he was okay, Judge was able to finish out the victory.

However, on Sunday, the Yankees announced that Judge was ruled out of the team’s series finale against the Dodgers with an injury to his big toe on his right foot. The Yankees would win 4-1 without Judge.

New York said it expects him to undergo “X-rays and/or an MRI on Monday in New York.”

However, Judge said on Sunday that he hoped to avoid the injured list.

“I’ve got no answer yet,” he said, per MLB.com. “I’m hoping today and [Monday] having a little bit of rest, we’ll be good to go hopefully on Tuesday. But we’ll take it day to day right now.”

‘I’m still trying to come down from it a little bit’

Elsewhere, Jake Burger hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth to give the Chicago White Sox a dramatic 6-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday.

With the game approaching its end, Andrew Benintendi, Yoan Moncada and Tim Anderson were sat on the bases with Burger in bat.

But the 27-year-old was able to hit a curveball over the left-center field, although when it left his bat he wasn’t sure if it would make it over the fence.

“Honestly, off the bat, I didn’t think it was getting out,” Burger said. “I thought it was going to be off the wall; a single. It went out, and I’m still trying to come down from it a little bit.”

The victory was made even more special because of the adversity the White Sox have had to come through.

Burger didn’t play for almost two years between 2018 and 2020 while recovering from two Achilles tears.

And at the mound, Liam Hendriks picked up his first win after recovering from cancer.

Pitching in back-to-back games for the first time since his diagnosis, Hendriks pitched a perfect inning in the ninth before Burger’s grand slam.

And what made the moment even more special for Hendriks was the fact the win fell upon National Cancer Survivors Day.

“That’s one thing that’s pretty special,” Hendriks said afterwards. “As soon as you get diagnosed, you are considered a survivor. You’ve lived through this.

“Hopefully, I can continue moving forward and continue somewhat at least doing the right thing on the field and give some people some hope to continue fighting.”

Dommaraju Gukesh beat Nodirbek Abdusattorov in the battle of the teenaged chess prodigies at the Norway Chess tournament on Sunday.

Seventeen-year-old Gukesh and 18-year-old Abdusattorov could not be separated during the classical portion of the match with it ending in a draw.

Indian chess grandmaster Gukesh, who last week beat world No.1 Magnus Carlsen on his 17th birthday, eventually prevailed in an armageddon game – which is used in the tournament to separate ties – to claim an important victory in round five.

Gukesh said he thought the outcome and his performance was “pretty good.”

“In the armageddon, he played Catalan which he’s not very familiar with, and I got a very pleasant position out of the opening and there was no way I could lose,” he said.

According to chess.com, in the event of a tie “players contest an armageddon game where White has 10 minutes on their clock and Black has seven, with a one-second increment starting on move 41. Black has draw odds. The player who played White in the classical game plays White in the armageddon.”

The victory means Gukesh rises to fourth in the standings, while Uzbekistani grandmaster Abdusattorov slips to eighth.

In the tournament, which is held in Stavanger, Norway, 10 players compete in a single round-robin tournament. The winner will receive approximately $68,400, with second place winning $36,500.

Gukesh faces Dutch grandmaster Anish Giri in round six on Monday, while Abdusattorov faces the US’ Fabiano Caruana.

Elsewhere, American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura regained the world No. 2 spot for the first time since 2015 with a victory over Aryan Tari on Sunday.

Nakamura dominated throughout against Tari, eventually winning 3-0, to move to second in the world after Caruana had moved above him a day before.

“It was very similar to the Gukesh game [Nakamura won 3-0],” he said afterwards.

“At some point, I started using time, and every move that was played by my opponent was not the move that I was expecting, and finally, I just started moving quickly.”

Afterwards, Nakamura was informed that he’d beaten Tari on his birthday. “Normally, on your birthday, you do much worse,” remembering a London Chess Classic game where he also lost on his birthday against Wesley So. “So I know how it feels.”

Carlsen claimed his own important victory in round five, beating Giri in the armageddon round after their classical game ended in a draw.

Carlsen admitted afterwards that after a low-key beginning to the tournament in his home country, his victory on Sunday was a part of his plan to claw his way back into contention.

“I am on step 2 in my plan to get back into the tournament,” Carlsen said, per chess journalist Tarjei J. Svensen.

“Plan 1 was to change my looks, which didn’t work very well yesterday. The second part of my plan is to do what I did in a time when I had some success by just sacrificing a pawn as quickly as possible and focus on the center and attack after that. Let’s see if it works.”

Australia plans to triple the size of an ecologically important marine park and close off an area larger than Germany to fishing and mining, the government announced Monday, protecting millions of vulnerable seabirds and animals.

The remote Macquarie Island Marine Park, located off Australia’s southeastern coast between Tasmania and Antarctica in the Southern Ocean, is set to expand to 475,465 square kilometers (about 184,000 square miles).

Around 93% of the park will be a fully protected marine sanctuary “completely closed to fishing, mining and other extractive activities,” according to Australia’s Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek.

The wind-swept World Heritage-listed Macquarie Island and its surrounding waters is a site of outstanding geological and natural significance. It’s a breeding ground for millions of vulnerable seabirds and endangered wildlife, including nesting albatross, elephant and fur seals, whales and several penguin species including the royal penguin, which is found nowhere else on Earth.

“I want to protect our oceans for our kids and grandkids. This announcement is part of our mission to conserve Australia’s special places, particularly those that are home to threatened species,” said Plibersek in a statement.

The plan to expand the marine park was released in February and Monday’s announcement comes after two months of public consultations with more than 14,700 submissions that were 99% in support, according to the government.

One concession was to allow existing fishery operations of the Patagonian toothfish to continue around the island.

The marine park’s expansion was welcomed by environmental groups, saying it is a massive win for the region’s globally significant marine life.

“These animals rely on the waters surrounding Macquarie Island for all of their food, and having this area almost completely protected will help ensure the protection of these species for future generations.”

Fiona Maxwell, national oceans manager for the Pew Charitable Trusts, in a statement the government of Anthony Albanese “has got the balance right.”

By “giving Macquarie Island’s marine life the protection it deserves, while accommodating the small footprint of the existing, relatively well-managed and sustainable commercial Patagonian toothfish fishery.”

Macquarie Island was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1997 and the marine park established in 1999.

Darren Kindleysides, chief executive of the Australian Marine Conservation Society, said sanctuaries are vital for marine wildlife, healthy ocean ecosystems and sustainable commercial fisheries.

“Across the Southern Ocean, temperatures are rising and the rate of ice loss has tripled. Industrial fisheries are damaging areas of high biodiversity and food chains, and the ocean’s rich wildlife is struggling to adapt to these rapid changes,” he said.

“Strong sanctuary protection will help this unique Sub-Antarctic marine environment build resilience in the face of these growing threats and will also help to future proof this globally significant wildlife hotspot from threats such as seabed mining.”

A disruptive passenger on a Friday flight from Paris, France, to Detroit, Michigan, is facing criminal charges after his behavior caused the plane to be diverted to Canada, police said.

The 34-year-old man was acting in an “unruly manner” and was believed to be under the influence of alcohol, according to Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokesperson Cpl. Jolene Garland.

Officials have not named the passenger.

The man was arrested by Royal Canadian Mounted Police when the plane landed at the Stephenville Dymond International Airport in Newfoundland, Canada, Garland said.

The passenger is facing charges of endangering an aircraft and is expected to appear in Stephenville Municipal Court on Monday, according to Garland.

The flight, operated by Delta Air Lines, left Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris Friday morning and was in the air for about six hours before landing in Canada, according to flight tracker FlightAware. After about 90 minutes at the Canadian airport, it took off and headed to Detroit.

“Delta has zero tolerance for unruly behavior, especially when it potentially compromises the safety of our customers and flight crew,” a Delta spokesperson said in a statement regarding the incident.

Last year there were more than 2,300 reports of unruly passenger behavior, according to US Federal Aviation Administration statistics. Since late 2021, the FAA has referred more than 250 cases to the FBI for criminal review, the agency said.

The FAA has received reports of at least 740 unruly airline passengers in 2023 as of May 28, the transportation agency’s statistics showed.

Mention Dalmatia, and Split and Dubrovnik usually spring to mind. But head to the northern stretch of this coastal Croatian region and you’ll find a road a little less traveled.

Croatia’s coast from Zadar to Trogir manages to pack in an astonishing amount of history and culture, as well as mesmerizing landscapes, in under 90 miles (around 144 kilometers).

And that’s just the mainland – there are also dozens of islands scattered along the coast. Many are uninhabited; others are the sort of place to go when you need to get away from it all.

There’s even Kornati National Park, one of Croatia’s most compelling natural spaces, spread over 89 islands. You’ll soon see why getting around by boat is such an appealing option.

The great cities of Zadar and Šibenik take you back in time: Zadar to the Roman period, Šibenik to the time of Croatia’s medieval rulers. Meanwhile, Trogir – whose old town occupies its own little island – is a magical place protected by UNESCO World Heritage status. In between are alluring coastal villages, secluded beaches and an interior wine region.

Zadar and around

Step into the historic center of Croatia’s oldest city – founded by the ancient Liburnian tribe and colonized by the Romans in the first century BCE – and you’ll get an insight into what makes the country’s history such a fascinating one. In just one square within the walled old town you’ll be immersed in centuries of history.

Trg Opatice Čike is centered on the remains of the ancient Roman forum, many of whose stones were used to build the ninth-century St. Donat’s Church beside it. Next to the church is the romanesque cathedral of St. Anastasia.

Opposite, don’t miss the 11th-century bell tower beside St. Mary’s church – a renaissance Benedictine monastery (but with bits of Roman and medieval within). Both St. Mary’s and the baptistery of St. Anastasia were destroyed during Allied bombing in 1943 and had to be rebuilt.

Wander along Zadar’s waterfront and you’re firmly back in the 21st century when you come across two art installations by Nikola Bašić that have become major attractions.

Sit on the gleaming marble steps by the water’s edge and listen to the haunting sounds of the Sea Organ, an underwater set of pipes powered by waves. Just beside it, embedded into the waterfront is its companion piece, “Greeting to the Sun,” lit by blue glass panels that glow at night.

Once you’ve had a leisurely browse of Zadar’s excellent food market a five-minute walk away on ulica Hrvoja Vukčića Hrvatinića, it’s time to hit the beach.

Follow the coast just north of the center and you’ll come to family-friendly Borik and Diklo beaches, while just below the old town are city beaches – Kolovare gets our vote for its lively beach bars. If you’re after a full beach experience, head about four miles south of Kolovare and you’ll reach the village of Bibinje, whose nearly three miles of beaches ends at Croatia’s largest marina.

Before you leave the mainland, make a quick detour about 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Zadar to the attractive small town of Nin. Its setting is an unusual one: two protective spits of sandy beach curve around the old town, which sits on its own tiny island connected by two bridges.

The surrounding salt flats give a clue to Nin’s importance during the Middle Ages, which you can see for yourself with a visit to the Nin Saltworks.

Take a tour of the museum and discover that little has changed over the past 1,000 years – the salt is still being harvested by hand. Once you’ve explored the old town’s narrow lanes, head to the sandy Queen’s Beach just outside it, and join the locals smearing themselves in the “therapeutic” mud you’ll find in the reeds behind the beach.

Zadar archipelago

The numerous islands scattered off Zadar’s coast are some of Croatia’s most laid back, and many of them are reachable by ferry.

The two closest and easiest to reach – Ugljan and Pašman – are only 25 minutes away by boat and are almost like suburbs of Zadar, albeit suburbs smothered with olive groves, indented with pebbly coves and crisscrossed with hiking and biking trails.

Silba, around three hours or so by ferry from Zadar, is one of the furthest flung, a chilled-out place where cars aren’t allowed and even bikes are banned during the summer months. Its smaller neighbor, Olib, is on the same ferry route and feels even more remote.

Head about two hours west from Zadar by fast ferry and you’ll reach sinuous Dugi Otok, which translates as “long island.” Drive along its coastline to find tiny fishing villages, old Yugoslav military U-boat bunkers, and Veli Rat – the Adriatic’s highest lighthouse at 135 feet.

Climb to the top for views of Dugi Otok’s northern coast and neighboring islands. While you’ll see that most of the island’s beaches are pebbly coves, there’s sand at Sakarun on the west coast, while at the southern tip is the enchanting Telašćica Nature Park, whose 25 coves and six islets are wedged into a claw-shaped landscape of oak forests and olive groves lined with footpaths.

Follow the trail to the inland saltwater Lake Mir, or “peace.” When it’s not high season, it lives up to its name.

Kornati National Park

Sailors have long known about the joys of weaving through the Kornati National Park, an archipelago of 89 eerily barren but starkly beautiful islands just south of Dugi Otok.

If you want to go off grid, this is the place to do it – there’s no mains water or electricity anywhere on the islands, just rainwater, gas and solar energy. In fact, there’s not even a permanent population, apart from the odd flock of sheep.

Once the season kicks in, some of the islands, including Kornati, Priškera and Levrnaka, come to life. Restaurants and rental cottages open up for the boating crowd, and there’s also a well-equipped marina on Priškera.

There’s little to do but swim, eat, drink, maybe do a little hiking – and repeat. If you don’t have your own boat, join a boat tour from Murter, an island close to the mainland that’s connected by a bridge.

Šibenik

One of Croatia’s greatest cities is curiously overlooked by most tourists, but Šibenik is a must-visit.

Founded in the 11th century CE by Croatians – not Romans or Greeks, like other Dalmatian cities – it’s home to the magnificent UNESCO-listed Cathedral of St. Jakov, a gothic-renaissance marvel, with a frieze of 71 sculpted portraits around the outside.

The Venetians ruled here from 1412 to 1797, and it’s easy to get pleasantly lost in the labyrinth of marble lanes they left in the historic center, but save time to visit three of the city fortresses they built.

The quickest one to reach, St. Michael’s, is less than a 10-minute walk from the waterfront and doubles as an open-air venue for summertime pop concerts with superb views of the Adriatic beyond.

Look out, too, for signs leading you about five minutes south of the fortress to the fragrant Medieval Mediterranean Garden of St. Lawrence’s Monastery. Breathe in the scents of lavender, rosemary and wild herbs as you relax on the garden’s benches.

Šibenik is often used as the jumping-off point for visits inland to Krka National Park, whose waterfalls are at least as impressive as those in the more famous Plitvice Lakes National Park.

Buses leave Šibenik for the riverside town of Skradin 12 miles north, from where you take a boat east along the Krka River past seven stupendous waterfalls. The most famous is Skradinski Buk, with 17 cascades tumbling into each other.

At this point you can disembark and follow the footpath to get a closer look before going deeper into the lush greenery flanking the river. The boat stops at various points, including the thundering Roški Slap waterfall and the Visovac island monastery.

Late spring, early summer and fall are good times to visit, as water levels can drop during the summer months.

Primošten

Wine lovers can base themselves in the charming town of Primošten, about 18 miles (28 kilometers) south of Šibenik. You’ll be in a prime spot to visit the nearby wineries specializing in the indigenous Babić grape which produces a soft, fruity red wine in a landscape of rolling hills and olive groves – try Matošin or Prgin.

Primošten’s old town is on its own little island connected to the newer town by a causeway. Its stepped alleyways lead up to the 15th-century church St. George and lovely views of the Adriatic. Look out for a little promontory just to the north of the old town, where you’ll see pebbly beaches backed by pine trees.

Trogir

Tiny Trogir’s walled old town also sits on its own small island, sandwiched between the mainland – where the newer part of the city is – and the sprawling island of Čiovo, whose northern and western coasts are lined with beach resorts. Bridges connecting all three.

Stand in its central square beside the romanesque St. Lawrence’s Cathedral and you’ll instantly see why the old town is on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

It’s a delightful jumble of medieval palaces and cobblestone lanes, with squares where restaurants and bars squeeze into small courtyard gardens.

Wander along the Riva waterfront to reach the 15th-century Kamerlengo Fortress, an atmospheric venue for summertime performances of classical and pop concerts.

Mary Novakovich is the author of “My Family and Other Enemies: Life and Travels in Croatia’s Hinterland”

Dinner at Meza Malonga is not just a meal – it’s a tour of the African continent. Delicately plated dishes feature Nile perch from Uganda, Algerian olive oil, and penja peppers from Cameroon.

Combining ingredients and food cultures from different countries, founder and head chef Dieuveil Malonga has created his own “Afro-fusion” cuisine that he says embodies the heritage and traditions of a vast and varied continent – and that he hopes can spark a culinary “revolution” in Africa.

“Africa has an amazing diversity of food,” says Malonga. “The world doesn’t know about the ingredients and amazing recipes we have.”

Born in Brazzaville, in the Republic of Congo, Malonga grew up in Germany and began his career in some of Europe’s best Michelin-starred establishments, before embarking on a two-year trip around Africa to find inspiration for his restaurant. Settling in Kigali, Rwanda, he opened his eponymous restaurant in 2020 with the goal of platforming African recipes and ingredients.

While his restaurant has received recognition for its culinary artistry, Malonga’s ambitions are not just for himself – but the entire African dining scene.

After setting up the digital platform “Chefs in Africa,” which to date connects over 4,000 aspiring chefs and culinary professionals to career opportunities and skills development, Malonga decided to take education into his own hands and created a training school in his restaurant.

Hoping to produce the next generation of culinary pioneers, Malonga is on a mission to create the foundations of an innovative fine-dining scene on the African continent that can rival Europe’s – but with its own, distinctive, African flair.

“The school of grandmothers”

At Meza Malonga, the approach to fine dining is different from Europe’s, says Malonga.

“I was trained and worked at Michelin-star restaurants in Germany, and then southern France, but my concept is very different,” says Malonga, adding that the culture in Europe was one of exclusivity and competitiveness. “I focus more on education.”

“If you want to go far, you must share with people,” he adds.

His Afro-fusion cuisine has been shaped by this philosophy of sharing. Malonga visited 48 of the 54 African countries in a bid to better understand the diverse traditions, dishes and ingredients.

“I would go into the villages and go to meet the grandmothers, because they have amazing, old techniques,” says Malonga, who adds that his love of cooking comes from his own grandmother.

These village matriarchs shared their local delicacies and family recipes, teaching Malonga regional fermentation and preservation processes in what he calls “the school of grandmothers” – a very different kind of education to the more formal one he received years earlier at a culinary school in Münster, Germany.

Combining his Euro-centric training with his experiences of African cuisine, Malonga developed his signature style. West African fare from Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Ghana, and traditional dishes from ethnolinguistic groups such as the Maasai, Bantu, and Zulu, feature heavily in his cooking, although Malonga does not restrict himself.

By using the overlap in flavors and spices, ingredients or preparation processes, Malonga says he can create a cohesive experience of multiple cultures in a single dish.

“Food doesn’t have a border,” says Malonga. “Many things are connected, and that helps me to be creative – that’s all in my cuisine.”

Global recognition

While North African cuisine, like Moroccan and Egyptian fare, has been a mainstay of the global dining scene for decades, West African cooking has received less attention – but interest has been growing in recent years.

Nigerian restaurant Ikoyi became the first Michelin-star West African restaurant in the UK in 2018, and the meteoric success of Chika’s, a multi-million-pound UK snack brand that highlights Nigerian flavors, shows a growing appetite for West African food. In January 2021, the “Fufu Challenge,” a TikTok trend that asked viewers to film themselves eating fufu – a starchy dough often made from fermented casava – and thick, stew-like egusi soup for the first time. While the trend caused controversy and a backlash from some in Africa, it also sparked interest in West African cuisine among US internet users that has continued since.

“People are now open to new experiences, and African (food) is now coming onto the market,” says Malonga, adding that the international fine dining scene is becoming more varied.

“When I was young, people were only talking about European cuisine. And then came Thai dishes, Asian cuisine, and now South American. Next will be African cuisine – that’s why we are preparing the market,” he adds.

Recognition from international award bodies like Michelin and 50 Best Restaurants of African restaurants abroad help to elevate the continent’s culinary reputation, says Malonga – but he’s eager for these awards to pay more attention to African cuisine in Africa.

“It’s very important to promote the food culture, restaurant scene, and products in Africa. (Awards have) helped many countries in Europe and elsewhere, and I hope that maybe that will be the same in Africa,” says Malonga.

Michelin still doesn’t cover the African continent, and in 2022, just one of the 50 Best Restaurants were awarded to a venue in Africa, compared to 29 in Europe. But Malonga was recognized by the 50 Best as a “champion of change” in 2022, and in March he was nominated as one of the new candidates for the Best Chef Awards Top 100.

A food revolution

Malonga’s dedication to education is evident in his latest venture: a purpose-built “culinary innovation village” in the rural, northern district of Musanze, Rwanda, expected to open in late 2024.

This $1.5 million training-school-meets-restaurant is the evolution of the Meza Malonga concept, where Malonga hopes to continue his “food revolution” by connecting with remote and underserved communities. The school will increase the number of students he can teach, and Malonga hopes to see more students come from other countries across Africa.

And the new venue will offer Malonga a chance to further explore and refine his culinary art. Situated on the banks of Lake Ruhondo, it will provide access to fresh fish, and it’s close to the three-hectare farm that Meza Malonga already sources its vegetables from, where the fertile volcanic soil creates a bountiful supply of local produce.

“I like organic products – it’s very important for me to follow the whole process,” says Malonga, adding, “for me, Africa is the garden of the world.”

“It makes me proud to see what is happening now with African cuisine and the exposure we are getting,” he says. “The next food revolution is already here.”

Mercedes secured its first double podium of the year as Lewis Hamilton finished second and George Russell third at the Spanish Grand Prix, another race once again won by a dominant Max Verstappen.

“What a result for our team,” Hamilton told Sky Sports afterwards. “We definitely didn’t expect to have this result today so I just want to take my hat off to my team and a big, big thank you to everyone back at the factory who are continuing to push and bringing us closer to the (Red) Bulls.”

Hamilton turned in an impressive performance at the Grand Prix, overtaking Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz to take second place, and he never looked like relinquishing it.

Behind him, Russell gained nine places as he maneuvered his way through the field up to third and held off a late charge from Sergio Perez in the all-conquering Red Bull car.

“A sign of things to come hopefully,” Russell told Sky Sports afterwards. “It definitely feels better, just putting in those lap times and comparing with the other guys, Aston and Ferrari, we’re just quicker and quicker and quicker. Really pleased to be on the podium.”

Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton have struggled to hit their usual heights since that fateful race in Abu Dhabi 18 months ago when the British driver controversially lost out on a record-breaking eighth world title.

While Red Bull has exerted its dominance since, Hamilton finished sixth in the drivers’ championship last year and Russell finished fourth. This year, it is Hamilton who currently sits in fourth, with Russell a place behind him.

It was the first race this season in which Mercedes displayed its upgraded car, with hopes of surpassing its current rivals such as Aston Martin and Ferrari, even if Red Bull is still far ahead of all other competition.

“We took some decisions to go in another direction,” Mercedes’ team principal Toto Wolff told Sky Sports afterwards.

“We changed so many parts so had variables we didn’t understand. So it was a risky move but everybody pushed forward and we got a good race car. I think we just needed the shock at the beginning of the season to understand that this is not going forward.”

The upgraded car, however, was still no match for Verstappen who won his third consecutive race and fifth out of seven races this season.

“I think (Red Bull is) still a bit too quick at the moment but we’re working on it,” Hamilton added afterwards, tempering expectations. “One step at a time and if we can get close by the end of the year that would be awesome but if not next year.”

A soccer fan died on Saturday after falling from a stand during a match at River Plate’s Mas Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the club announced.

The game, which was being played between River Plate and Defensa y Justicia, was suspended after 26 minutes and the players did not return to the field. Medical teams arrived “immediately” at the incident, as did police and security teams, according to the club.

In a statement posted to its website on Saturday, River Plate said, “During the match tonight against Defensa y Justicia, a fan fell from the Sivori Alta stand and died in the act.

“The Sivori Alta grandstand, where the deceased had his season ticket, was at 90% capacity. At the time of the fall there was no intervention by third parties. It was also verified that there were no acts of violence in the stand or around it.”

The club detailed that the whole stadium was evacuated shortly after the incident, and that security agencies and the Specialized Fiscal Unit for Mass Events, headed by Dr Celsa Ramírez, have started investigations into the incident and closed the stand for 24 hours to obtain evidence.

River Plate also announced a day of mourning on Sunday during which the club flag will fly at half-staff, and expressed its condolences to the family and loved ones of the supporter.