Recommended Sunday reading—March 12

Putin and Merkel: A rivalry of history, distrust and power

Fast-forward more than 15 years, to a world where the Cold War seems resurgent, which has seen a procession of American and European leaders try and fail to engage Russia, and only Ms Merkel and Mr Putin remain. Their relationship, and rivalry, is a microcosm of the sharply divergent visions clashing in Europe and beyond, a divide made more consequential by the uncertainty over President Trump’s policy toward Russia and whether he will redefine the traditional alliances of American foreign policy. In The New York Times.

The Zambian “Afronaut” who wanted to join the space race

In 1964, Nkoloso wrote an Op-Ed about his space program that read to me like a parody of British colonialism in Africa, refracted through a paranoid Cold War sensibility. “We have been studying the planet through telescopes at our headquarters and are now certain Mars is populated by primitive natives,” he wrote. “Our rocket crew is ready. Specially trained spacegirl Matha Mwamba, two cats (also specially trained) and a missionary will be launched in our first rocket. But I have warned the missionary he must not force Christianity on the people if they do not want it.” Nkoloso accuses American and Russian operators of trying to steal his space secrets: “Detention without trial for all spies is what we need.” In New Yorker.

House always wins: The dark side of life in Macao’s casino economy

Away from glitzy casinos such as the Venetian, which boasts faux Italian avenues, an indoor canal and singing gondoliers, Macau’s centuries-old neighbourhoods are densely packed labyrinths. In Iao Hon district, close to Macau’s border with China, about a third of the population earn their living in the casinos. The area has a gritty feel, and the drab concrete apartment blocks have none of the colonial charm or casino glamour most often associated with the city. In The Guardian.

Where the world’s only grass-eating monkeys thrive

We crested one last rise. The parched earth and trees gave way to a lush, vivid carpet of green. Almost immediately, our hosts appeared. Three scampering geladas crossed the road, the smallest doing rhythmic half cartwheels. One landed on a rock 10 feet away. His eyes clocked us as we passed. A hay-colored mane spilled down his shoulders. His arms and fists appeared stuffed in black evening gloves. He looked almost regal. In National Geographic.

ABVP waves saffron shawls at burkhas on campuses

“I will continue wearing a saffron shawl as long as they wear a head scarf,” said a student at the Government First Grade College, Bellare, Dakshina Kannada, which witnessed a confrontation six months ago. Even though protests against head scarves or burkha on campuses have been reported since 2009 in Dakshina Kannada, boys wearing saffron shawls as a counter is recent. There have been four major instances since August 2016; in Bhatkal, Jayant Naika’s attackers said he was not wearing a shawl “despite being a Hindu”. In The Hindu.