As many a European coloniser found, procuring goods from distant lands is harder when basic facilities ports, roads, docks are inadequate.

ECONOMIST: China and Latin America

And since it will go through Russia, America thinks that Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia should have a route safe from the whims of their former coloniser.

ECONOMIST: Caspian pipedreams no longer | The

Since the former coloniser, Portugal, is still recognised as the administrating power by the United Nations, East Timorese feel justified in regarding their plight as an international issue.

ECONOMIST: East Timor

The former coloniser guaranteed future land rights, but post-independence governments further restricted grazing rights and the latest proposal would remove almost 40% of Loliondo's highland prairie and forested mountains.

BBC: Tanzania's Maasai battle game hunters for grazing land

The coloniser left an indelible impression.

ECONOMIST: French blows its horn | The